Steps towards Studying in Germany
The DSH examination
This examination is held by the University itself and consists of 4
written parts:
1. Oral comprehension
2. Reading comprehension
3. Writing
4. Linguistic structure.
There follows the final oral examination.
The universities are allowed to set their own version of the exam within the given framework. It is therefore important to enquire about the particular requirements of the university in question.
What is required in the examination ?
1. Oral comprehension
A text of 50-100 lines is read out twice. You should take notes during
the 2nd reading.
Afterwards, questions relating to the structure and content of the
texts need to be
answered and a summary produced.
2. Reading comprehension
A scientific text of 30-60 lines, often adapted for the general reader,
needs
analysis. This consists of answering questions as to content and
stucture, an
explanation of the constituent parts, and the summarizing and
re-structuring of the text.
3. Writing
From the given starting material - theses, short pieces of text,
diagrammes and pictures
- you are required to write a longer continuous piece of text in which
the individual
parts are described and explained. In this, it is not only contextual
criteria such as the
text structure and logical consistency that are important, but also the
quality of use of
language.
4. Linguistic structure
This test involves extension and convertion,
using the vocabulary in the given written or oral presentation. The
requirement is
competence in grammatical structure such as is typically present in
scientific texts.
The duration of the written DSH test is generally
180 minutes in total. The individual parts can vary depending on the
tasks.
The
oral test takes 20 minutes. Beforehand, you receive a short text or
picture,
normally from your specialisation,
Formalities
Be careful not to
miss the final
date of application date. The
university must have received all the necessary
documents by that date, otherwise
your application will be denied !
Required Documents:
- a fully-completed application form ( not forgetting your minor subjects !);
- an officially certified copy,in the local language, proving
entitlement to higher education.
Depending on the country, this could be issued by:-
a German embassy or consulate;
the school or university which gave the matriculation certificate;
an attorney having the necessary authorization.
In Germany this could be:
your country's embassy or consulate;
an attorney;
an accredited, sworn, translator.
- an officially certified translation of the permit for higher
education, except for the
following languages:
- An official notificaton of recognition from the Certificate
Recognition Office (Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle) is required for certain
countries.
- Curriculum Vitae up to the date of application.
- Statement of Motivation (Motivationsschreiben).
- Proof of knowledge of German (Intermediate Level II).
Note: only send certified documents, never originals!