DSH examination The most important information on the topics of: exam contents, last date for applications,  exam dates for Munich, etc.  Studienkolleg  Who requires the Studienkolleg exam? Level of difficulty, failure rates, time-table, course contents, etc. TestDaF  What ist TestDaF? What does it test? What is it good for? Is this a test for me? University Tuition Fees   Political discussion, introduction, loans etc. Statement of Motivation   As of summer semester 2004: every applicant must justify his motivation. Content, layout, etc. Study visa Who receives a visa? What requirements need fulfilling? Which topics should one choose? Certificates The most important information to an oft-neglected topic: recognition of certificates as pre-requisite to study. Universities Universities and high-schools in Munich and Bavaria: overview and links. Preparation  The risk of failing the DSH and Studienkolleg entrance exams without preparation is very high. What you need to be prepared for. Courses  The direct path to university: DSH and Studienkolleg in Munich. Criteria for choosing a course.

        Steps towards Studying in Germany                         

Steps towards Studying in Germany

Foreign nationals who wish to study at a German university or high-school generally need a visa. They also need to prove that they have adequate ability in the German language. This is usually accomplished by either passing the 'DSH' exam or taking the one-year 'Studienkolleg' course.

This page is to inform those wishing to study in Germany which steps to take.

 

DSH is an abbreviation for "Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang ausländischer Studienbewerber", the German Language exam for foreign applicants for higher learning, set by the German universities to test whether an applicant has sufficient knowledge of German to be able to study here.

 

                 

 

Who needs the DSH ?

- all those who wish to study at higher level at a German institution and whose school certificate, like the German Advanced Level Certificate ('Abitur'), would allow them to enter university back home.

Everyone else needs to take the Studienkolleg  course.

What is the DSH for ?

The universities want to ensure that foreign students have the language ability that studying in Germany demands.

This means that the applicant :

- will be able to follow lectures and to take notes.

- will understand scientific texts and be able to analyse them.

- will be capable of giving a written or oral dissertation on any given topic.

What is the 'Studienkolleg' ?

The Studienkolleg is a teaching institution which aims to bridge the gap between a foreign Advanced Level school certificate taking 12 years, and the German certificate, which takes 13 years. Lately, certain German states, including Bavaria, are starting to reduce the time at grammar school from 9 to 8 years; thus it will take at least this long before the foreign and German A-levels are regarded as equivalent.

This means that many foreign applicants still need to take the Studienkolleg course. In addition to German, other subjects are taught during the course year as preparation for university entry.