Language requirements & language courses: frequently asked questions
Here you can find out more about the language requirements for your degree programme at HSD Hochschule Döpfer and the options available for attending language courses.
If you wish to study a German-language degree programme, A2-level German is not sufficient; in this case, you must provide official proof of B2-level proficiency before the start of your studies. However, if you are applying for a degree programme taught entirely in English, you may apply with German language skills at A2 level.
To be admitted to a German-language degree programme, you must provide evidence of German language proficiency at B2 level; the relevant certificates must not be more than two years old. The following are recognised: the DSH 1, the TestDaF with a minimum score of TDN 3 in all four sections, the Goethe-Zertifikat B2, telc Deutsch B2, the Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD) and the German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) at Level II (DSD II).
To be admitted to an English-taught degree programme, you must provide evidence of the required language proficiency; certificates must not be more than two years old. The following are recognised: IELTS with a score of at least 6.0, TOEFL iBT with at least 70 points, the Duolingo English Test with at least 95 points, the OET (Occupational English Test) with a score of at least 250, the Pearson PTE Academic with at least 52 points, and the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) with a score of at least 169.
If you have already completed your school education or bachelor’s degree in German or English, this may be sufficient proof. Please submit an official confirmation from your educational institution stating the language of instruction (medium of instruction). As we assess each case individually during the application process, there is no automatic guarantee. In exceptional circumstances, significant professional or life experience in the relevant language may also be recognised – in this case, please contact us directly for a case-by-case assessment.
HSD students have the opportunity to attend German language courses run by our partner institution, the SDI International University of Applied Sciences in Munich, free of charge. Of particular interest are the online courses offered on a regular basis, which can be flexibly integrated into students’ daily study routines. Further information can be found here: https://www.sdi-muenchen.de/kurse/deutsch-lernen/online-abend-deutschkurse
