DSH is a university language test. It examines whether applicants have the German language skills necessary to take up academic studies at a German-speaking university. The DSH at the University of Cologne is registered with the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK) according to the Framework Regulations on German Language Examinations (RO-DT). The examination is created independently by the Department German as a Foreign Language. 

The DSH is taken by the participants of the preparatory German courses (level C1) at the Department German as a Foreign Language. External students or applicants cannot take the examination at the University of Cologne.

The DSH consists of a written and an oral exam. Both parts must be passed separately in order to pass the exam as a whole. The oral exam only takes place after the written exam has been passed. I the written exam is not passed the oral exam does not take place. The DSH comprises the following partial tests:

•    Listening comprehension (80 minutes)
•    Reading comprehension and academic language structures (90 minutes)
•    Task-oriented text production (70 minutes)

As well as the

•    Oral exam (15 minutes preparation time and 15 to 20 minutes examination time)

There are 15-minute breaks between each part of the written examination.

The DSH takes place at the end of the preparatory German course (level C1). The exact dates will be announced in time within the course.

There is an examination fee of € 80,- for participation in the DSH.

TestDaF is a standardised language test that can be taken at over 500 test centres in 100 countries. It entitles international applicants to take up academic studies in Germany and is therefore comparable with IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

TestDaF is taken by the participants of the preparatory German courses (level C1) at the Department German as a Foreign Language. External students or applicants cannot take the examination at the University of Cologne.

TestDaF consists of four parts testing reading and listening comprehension, written and oral expression. All of the four partial tests are mandatory and have the same weighting.

•    Reading Comprehension (60 minutes)

Break 10 minutes

•    Listening Comprehension (40 minutes)

Break 30 - 60 minutes

•    Written expression (60 minutes)

Break 10 minutes

•    Oral expression (30 minutes)

The TestDaF takes a total of 3 hours and 10 minutes (without breaks).

Currently we are not conducting TestDaF.

Currently we are not conducting TestDaF.

Telc C1 Hochschule is a standardised language test conducted at over 3000 test centres in Germany and abroad. It entitles applicants to take up academic studies in Germany.

Telc C1 Hochschule is taken by the participants of the preparatory German courses at the Department German as a Foreign Language. External students or applicants cannot take the examination at the University of Cologne.

Telc C1 Hochschule consists of a written exam comprising the following parts

•    Reading comprehension (70 minutes)
•    Language modules (20 minutes)
•    Listening comprehension (40 minutes)
•    Written expression (70 minutes)

And the oral exam comprising

•    Oral expression (20 minutes preparation time and 16 minutes examination time)

The written exam takes 3 hours and 20 minutes (break not included). The oral exam is taken in groups of two or three students.

Telc C1 Hochschule takes place at the end of the preparatory German course (level C1). The exact dates will be announced in time within the course.

There is an examination fee of € 150,- for participation in telc C1 Hochschule.