FU Berlin German Prep - German Language Preparation Courses

With FU Berlin German Prep, Freie Universität Berlin offers an intensive German language preparation program for international prospective students who wish to improve their German language skills within a few months in order to pursue a degree in Germany. This program is particularly aimed at those who would like to study at Freie Universität Berlin and who want to prepare themselves for their studies by improving their German language skills.

The program starts on November 2, 2026, with a B2.1 course and leads to the completion of the C1 level by May 2027 after completing four consecutive courses (B2.1, B2.2, C1.1, C1.2) . The courses are designed to develop reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills at the university level. The intensive course format enables participants to make rapid progress and achieve significant improvement in their learning.

At the end of the program, participants take an internal C1-level final examination administered by Freie Universität Berlin. The examination is based on the language requirements associated with DSH II level; however, it is not a DSH examination and does not lead to the award of a DSH II certificate.

Participants who successfully pass the final examination receive a certificate issued by Freie Universität Berlin. This certificate is accepted by Freie Universität Berlin as proof of the required German language proficiency for admission purposes. Whether the certificate is also accepted by other universities depends on the respective institution’s admission and recognition requirements.

The close affiliation with Freie Universität Berlin allows participants—especially those, who plan on pursuing a degree at Freie Universität Berlin—to gain valuable insights into the university environment while attending the FU Berlin German Prep language courses. Furthermore, participants are prepared for their studies and the application process at Freie Universität through a series of informational events which offer guidance and advice.

Course program

Courses

B2.1 course Course duration: November 2 - December 10, 2026 (6 weeks)
Contact hours: 150
Course description: B2.1 syllabus (in German; PDF)
Student profile:
This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the basic level and the first part of the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
Course objectives:
The course is designed to systematically develop your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Particular emphasis is placed on the consistent practice of self-correction. Furthermore, you will develop effective reading and listening strategies, expand your vocabulary, and deepen and solidify your knowledge of grammatical structures.
Registration: You can register for the course using our registration form.
B2.2 course Course duration: December 14, 2026 - February 4, 2027 (6 weeks, including a 2 week break from December 21 -31, 2026)
Contact hours: 150
Course description: B2.2 syllabus (in German; PDF)
Student profile: This course is designed for students who have a sound knowledge of German at the B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and have successfully completed the B2.1 level of German. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
Course objectives: see B2.1
Registration: If you would like to register only for the B2.2 course and/or subsequent courses, please send an email to germanprep[at]international.fu-berlin.de.
C1.1 course Course duration: February 15 - March 25, 2027 (6 weeks)
Contact hours: 150
Course description: C1.1 syllabus (in German; PDF)
Student profile: This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the intermediate level of German and who have a sound knowledge of German at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
Course objectives: The course is designed to further develop your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills by systematically expanding your vocabulary to a higher level of language proficiency, enabling you to present and discuss information, ideas, and opinions at an academic level. Particular emphasis is placed on the consistent practice of self-correction. Furthermore, you will deepen and solidify your knowledge of grammatical structures.
Registration: If you would like to register only for the C1.1 course and/or the subsequent course, please send an email to germanprep[at]international.fu-berlin.de.
C1.2 course and exam preparation Course duration: April 5 - May 20, 2027 (7 weeks)
Contact hours: 175
Course description: C1.2 syllabus (in German; PDF)
Student profile: This course is designed for students who have successfully completed the intermediate level of German, who have a sound knowledge of German at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and furthermore have successfully participated in the C1.1 module. This course is intensive and is intended for dedicated, highly self-motivated students who will take responsibility for their learning.
Course objectives: see C1.1
Registration: If you would like to register only for the C1.2 course, please send an email to germanprep[at]international.fu-berlin.de.

Place of instruction

The course is designed as an in-person program and is normally taught in classrooms at Freie Universität Berlin. Regular online participation is not available.

In exceptional circumstances, the teaching location or format may be changed in accordance with the General Terms and Conditions. Participants will be informed of any changes in due time.

Time of instruction

Classes are generally held Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. There are two breaks per course day.

Certificates

At the end of each course, you will take a final exam. If you have already booked the subsequent course or intend to continue with it, you must pass this exam in order to participate in that course. Upon successful completion of a course, you will receive a certificate from Freie Universität Berlin stating the course duration, the number of contact hours, and the grade achieved.

After completing the C1.2 course, you will take an internal C1-level final exam. This exam is based on the language requirements associated with DSH II level; however, it is not a DSH exam and does not lead to the award of a DSH II certificate.

Fees and deadlines

The German courses are fee-based. Participants are responsible for paying the course fees themselves. No discounts are available.

Here you can find an overview of course fees and registration deadlines:

Course	Time period	Course duration	Registration deadline	Course fee
B2.1	November 2 – December 10, 2026	6 weeks	September 28, 2026	1.200 €
B2.2	December 14, 2026 – February 4, 2027	6 weeks	November 9, 2026	1.200 €
C1.1	February 15 – March 25, 2027	6 weeks	January 11, 2027	1.200 €
C1.2 & exam preparation	April 5 – May 20, 2027	7 weeks	March 1, 2027	1.600 €

Click here to register for the B2.1 course.

If you would like to register for a higher-level course (B2.2, C1.1, C1.2), please send an email to germanprep[at]international.fu-berlin.de.

Registration

Registration for the FU Berlin German Prep German language courses is conducted exclusively online via the registration form provided.

Courses are generally limited to 25 participants, although additional participants may be admitted in exceptional cases.

Registration form

Click here to access the registration form for the B2.1 course (start date: November 2, 2026).

To register for the B2.1 course, please click on the registration link and start by creating a personal profile. To do this, first select “Register and Sign Up to Participate” and enter your personal information there. Next, using this newly created profile, you can register for the course or courses on the homepage under “Sign Up as a Participant.” You will also find your invoice there once you are registered.

If you would like to register for a higher-level course (B2.2, C1.1, C1.2) rather than the B2.1 course, please send an email to: germanprep[at]international.fu-berlin.de.

Registration requirements

You must be of legal age (at least 18 years old) at the time of registration.

Registration for the B2.1 course:

You have already completed least 600 contact hours of German language lessons.
You have successfully completed at least the B1 level and have a valid language certificate. You must upload this certificate when you register. Your certificate cannot be more than 2 years old and is required to have been issued in German or English.

Without adequate proof of your German language proficiency, you cannot register for or participate in the course.

Registration for the B2.2 course:

You have already completed at least 700 contact hours of German language lessons.
To register, you are required to submit a language certificate at the B2.1 level or higher.

Registration for the C1.1 course:

You have already completed at least 850 contact hours of German language lessons.
To register, you are required to submit a language certificate at the B2 level or higher.

Registration for the C1.2 course:

You have already completed at least 1000 contact hours of German language lessons.
To register, you are required to submit a language certificate at the C1.1 level or higher.

Please also make sure you have the necessary time available to participate in the intensive language courses. Classes are taught Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You should also set aside sufficient time for preparing for and reviewing the lessons, as well as for exam preparation.