Language Examinations
The Department German as a Foreign Language conducts the German Language Examination for University Admission (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang, DSH) and is a licensed test centre for the examination of telc C1 Hochschule and TestDaF. All three examinations entitle applicants to take up academic studies in Germany.
The examinations can be taken by the participants in the University of Cologne preparatory German courses as well as external prospective students. The examinations are always held at the end of the preparatory German courses on level C1. In the courses you will be specifically prepared for the relevant examination.
What is DSH?
The DSH is the German Language Examination for University Admission. It is an academic 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 and evaluated independently by the Department German as a Foreign Language.
How is the examination structured?
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 is held a few days after the written exam. Participants who have not passed the written exam do not take the oral exam. Participants who have not passed the oral exam only have to retake the oral DSH examination.
The DSH comprises the following examination parts:
Written exam
- Listening comprehension (80 minutes)
- Reading comprehension and academic language structures (90 minutes)
- Task-oriented text production (70 minutes)
Oral exam
- Preparation (15 Minutes)
- Examination (15 to 20 minutes)
How much is the examination fee?
There is an examination fee of € 80,- for participation in the DSH.
What is telc C1 Hochschule?
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.
How is the examination structured?
Telc C1 Hochschule consists of a written and an oral exam. The oral exam is given in groups of two or three students. The oral exam is held a few days after the written exam.
Telc C1 Hochschule comprises the following examination parts:
Written exam
- Reading comprehension (70 minutes)
- Language modules (20 minutes)
- Listening comprehension (40 minutes)
- Written expression (70 minutes)
Oral exam
- Preparation (20 Minutes)
- Examination (16 minutes)
How much is the examination fee?
There is an examination fee of € 150,- for participation in telc C1 Hochschule.
What is TestDaF?
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).
How is the examination structured?
TestDaF comprises three written and one oral examination parts. All examinations are held on the same day.
TestDaF comprises the following examination parts:
- Reading comprehension (60 minutes)
- Listening comprehension (40 minutes)
- Written expression (60 minutes)
- Oral expression (30 minutes)
How much is the examination fee?
At the moment we are not conducting TestDaF. Therefore, there is no current information on the examination fee.