International Students

Language courses...

• are compulsory for some study programs. Please check your Modulhandbuch (modul handbook).
  
• are essential when you are applying for a semester/internship abroad or planning to attend in international meetings.
• help you improve your language skills for publishing in English and German.
• are generally required when applying for a job or another degree program.
• are vital if you want to communicate in the country you are living in.
• will earn you extra credits.

The Language Center offers over 20 languages each semester. With some exceptions, all language courses are open to you.

Please be aware, that not all language courses are valid for your studies, please check your module handbook. The courses can also be attended on a voluntary basis.

If your German level is below B1, you can participate in the following courses without any problems. For more information, click on the language you are interested in.

• 1) German courses at the level (Grundkurs 1, Grundkurs 2 and Grundkurs 3)
• 2) All English courses
• 3) All courses of the African languages (Bambara, Swahili, Wolof)
• 4) Grundkurs 3 (G3) or higher in all other languages (Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Polish, Korean, Japanese and Arabic).
• 5) If you have no previous knowledge of Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese or Italian, we offer one Grundkurs (G1) course in each oft these courses through the medium of English. Make sure you sign up for the right Grundkurs 1/Elementary course I.)

• Language classes are not lectures: active participation is required. 
• Attendance is compulsory. In a course with 4 hours per week you may miss a total of 4 times, and in a course with 2 hours per week you may miss a total of 2 times.
• There is a maximum number of participants (20-25). Registration via cmlife is mandatory. If you are not officially registered for the course you will be obliged to leave.
• There is a final exam at the end of every course.

Option A: Taking the free German courses at the university

• Like many other universities, the UBT Language Centre offers two consecutive courses leading to level A1 (A1.1 and A1.2). 
• Information on A1.1 (basic course 1) is available here. Registration begins on 16 October at 13:00.
• Information on A1.2 (basic course 2) is available here. Registration begins on 16 October at 13:00. You can only register directly for the A1.2 course if you have previous knowledge (see ‘Placement’ (4)).

Option B: Self-study and fee-based standardized certificate

• If you don't have the time or inclination to attend German courses, you can study independently and then take a fee-based exam at the IIK, for example. Only official TELC and Goethe A1 exams are accepted. The cost is at least €150.

Even if you already have prior knowledge, you must prove your level in order to meet the language requirement. There are two ways to do this.

Option C: Prior knowledge but no official certificate

• If you have prior knowledge but no official certificate (TestDaF certificate, Goethe-Institut certificate, TELC, DSH, UNIcert), you have the following two options.
• a) Take the placement test (see below for information) --> Attend the recommended course during the semester --> Pass the exam --> Your language requirement will be removed by the Student Office after you have successfully passed the course exam.
• b) Take a fee-based exam at the IIK, for example. Only official TELC and Goethe A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 exams are accepted. The cost is at least €150.

Option D: Prior knowledge and an official certificate

• If you have previous knowledge and an official certificate (TestDaF certificate, Goethe-Institut certificate, TELC, DSH, UNIcert), you can, but do not have to, take a language course.
• If you only want to be exempted from the language requirement, submit one of the above certificates to the Student Office. Your requirement will then be removed.
• If you want to continue learning German, submit this certificate additionally via the Language Center's form server. You will receive further information within 24 hours.

Both courses (A1.1 and A1.2) are offered during the semester (several parallel courses) and during the semester break (one course each), so that students are able to reach A1 level by the end of their first academic year.

• Option 1 (STANDARD): A1.1 in semester #1 and A1.2 in semester #2
• Option 2 (TURBO TRACK): A1.1 in semester #1 and A1.2 DURING the semester break (semester #1) 

The dates of the block courses can be viewed here from the end of June/December.

• No. The placement test does not replace an official certificate (see below) or a successfully completed course (with exam!!!) at the Language Center.
• Why? Unlike official certificates or final exams at the Language Center, the placement test is neither standardized nor does it test all four skills. It is therefore not equivalent.
• What can I do if I have previous knowledge? Take the placement test and then attend the course you were placed in during the semester. Pass the exam. Once you have successfully completed the exam, the Student Office will exempt you from the requirement.

No. Students receive 4 credits for the final exam. These credits are awarded not only for taking the exam, but also for attending classes. Attendance at classes is compulsory.

• Students who arrive late on campus due to visa problems and can provide proof of this can register for courses up to one month after the start of classes (30 November 2025), provided there are enough places available. 
• They must provide proof of their late arrival via the SZ form service.
• Once approved, students will be admitted to the course. Missed classes must be made up through the ‘Language Lounge Recovery Programme’. Further information can be found here.

If you have prior knowledge of a language, you will need to take a placement test, unless you have already taken a course or a placement test at the University of Bayreuth. For further information, please click here.

The placement tests always take place in the first week of term. For further information, please click here.

Yes, you must register for all language courses through CMlife. 

Places are allocated on a "first come, first served" basis. If the course is fully booked, you will automatically get a place on the waiting list (WL) and move up according as other students deregister. If you are still on the waiting list (WL) after registration closes, you may NOT attend the course.

Yes, but deregistration is only possible until registration closes (the end of the second week of the semester). If you drop the course after the deadline "X- 5,0" will be entered in your student record.

Yes, there is compulsory attendance at all language courses at the Language Centre.

• 1) Start your language training early.
• 2) Register as soon as you know your schedule, some courses are booked very quickly.
• 3) If you need a placement test, sign up via CMlife. (Tests normally take place in the week before the semester begins.)
• 4) Sign up for your language course via CMlife. (Course registration normally begins in the first week of the semester).
• 5) Start your language course in the second week of the semester.
• 6) Deregister from a course if you know you will be not able to attend.

You may participate in the placement tests without your student card. Please go along to one of the sessions and tell the supervisor about your problem. To register for the language courses, however access to the system is mandatory.

 That depends. Please contact the Sekretariat of the Language Center (address below).

If you haven't got a place in a mandatory course, please contact the Sekretariat of the Language Centre (address below).

Yes, because this information is data protected.

Come to our Language Lounge to a) be paired for a language twin and b) to attend the Sprachstammtische that we offer.

• The following German courses G1, G2, G3, G4, Kompaktkurs Aufbaustufe 1 (B2.1), Kompaktkurs Aufbaustufe 2 (B2.2) and Kompaktkurs C1.1 can only be taken in sequence.
  
• From level B2.1 on, courses with 2 SWS may be attended in the same semester, e.g. the course "Schreiben im akademischen Kontext (B2)" can be booked on its own or in combination with "Kompaktkurs Aufbaustufe 1 (B2.1)", "Kompaktkurs Aufbaustufe 2 (B2.2)". 

Our English courses start at level B1+/B2.