Language Courses in Germany

Studying in Germany is an aspiration of millions of people in the world. While Germany may be famous for its academic excellence and research prowess in the field of life sciences, engineering, physics and chemistry, the country also offers brilliant bachelor’s and master’s courses in modern languages, literature, history and international relations. The country takes immense pride in its language, culture and history which is why there are several universities and thousands of schools teaching language courses in every German city! In this blog, we have compiled the top language courses in Germany for all those who wish to learn the native language and become experts! 

Study in Germany: Latest News!

• Germany has begun distributing a digital immunization pass that can be used throughout Europe as the region prepares for the peak summer travel season. According to the country’s health minister, beginning this week, vaccination clinics, doctor’s offices, and pharmacists would issue digital permits to fully immunized persons.
• Students seeking to pursue higher education in key study destinations like Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain may breathe a sigh of relief as European Union (EU) authorities decided on Thursday to relax Covid-19 travel restrictions for non-EU visitors who are vaccinated. At the same time, students are in a pickle since, of the two major vaccines used in India, only AstraZeneca (Covishield) is on the EU’s authorized list, with no mention of Covaxin.

Why Study Language in Germany?

Before we make a list of all the language courses in Germany, let’s first take a look at the major reasons why the country is becoming popular for its language programs:

• There is no better place to study the German language than Germany! The country lives and breathes the language with over 100 million German speakers, not to mention, it’s the place where the language was born!
• It is one of the most popular languages in the world; apart from Germany, it is the official language of countries like Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
• Learning German is a gateway to higher education in Germany. The public-funded universities in Germany have many courses in their official language and knowing the language is often a prerequisite. 
• Knowing the language also makes you eligible for several scholarships in Germany.
• It makes you eligible for bachelor’s in modern languages, German literature and language courses at top public universities
• Lastly, if you can have a great command of the language, it will definitely help in getting jobs in the country and even permanent residency.
• Also, other than German language courses, you can also choose from various other languages like Spanish, French, and Italian language programs.

Why Learn the German Language

German is frequently overlooked in favour of studying other languages like English, French, or Spanish. There are, nevertheless, several reasons to learn German. It is one of the three official languages of the European Union and the language spoken by the majority of European natives. Because Germany is Europe’s largest economy, learning German provides a plethora of economic prospects. In addition, Germany boasts several renowned colleges where education is nearly free, German…

German is commonly characterized as a tough language, but because they are both Germanic languages, you receive a lot for free if you already know English. This makes learning vocabulary, in particular, a lot simpler because there are so many parallels. If you know another Germanic language, such as Dutch or Swedish, learning German pronunciation will be considerably easier.

Top Language Schools in Germany

Almost all universities and colleges in Germany require international students to acquire some level of proficiency in the German language which means you may have to study German as an elective before or during your programme. Here is a list of schools that offer German language courses for graduates, postgraduates and working professionals:

• Humboldt-Institut, Berlin
• The New School – Language School Berlin (Die Neue Schule- Sprachschule Berlin)
• ALPADIA, Berlin
• F+U Academy of Languages, Berlin
• Die DeutSCHule, Berlin
• Dil lingua, Munich
• Anda Sprachschule, Berlin 
• German Academy Language School or DeutschAkademie, Hamburg
• Goethe-Institut, Hamburg 
• Dil lingua, Munich
• DeutschAkademie, Munich
• DeutschAkademie, Frankfurt

Humboldt-Institut, Berlin

Humboldt – Institut is one of the oldest, most reputed language schools and universities in Berlin for German language courses in Germany. The institute caters to all age groups and offers a bunch of programs like intensive courses, one-to-one intensive courses, and part-time courses for international students. The institute has numerous campuses spread across Germany and Austria. The school offers accommodations and provides activities and immersion programs to help students learn faster. It is the best institute for learning the German language, its culture, and its lifestyle.

Also Read: Scholarships in Germany

Alpadia, Berlin

Alpadia Language School is another great language school for young students and professionals situated in Berlin. The school is affiliated with Kaplan International Languages which offers language courses in France and Switzerland as well. They offer language courses for individuals above the age of 16, language campuses for 8-16 ages and online classes too. They also have pathway programmes for people who wish to pursue higher education in public universities in Germany and for those who wish to enter the German workforce.

Die Neue Schule- Sprachschule Berlin

The New School – Language School Berlin is a language school located in the western part of Berlin. The school offers a wide range of language courses such as German, French, Spanish and Italian. Founded in the year 1984, It is amongst the oldest and the largest languages school in Berlin. The school offers German language courses in Germany for every level of advancement, from beginner to advanced. They offer private lessons and courses for preparing for TestDaf (an advanced language test for non-native German speakers).

DeutschAkademie, Hamburg

The German Academy Language School is a great choice for improving your language skills or learning the language. The school is extremely famous with schools in all big cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg. They offer physical and online courses for non-native speakers who wish to learn the language. The school offers several types of language courses in Germany for students to pick from, they have intensive courses, semi-intensive, grammar courses, conservation courses and even exam preparation courses for all German proficiency tests at affordable prices. 

Dil Lingua, Munich

Based in Munich, the school offers customised language courses in Germany for students and working professionals. They have several programs for learning the language; they offer online, private lessons and also mini-group lessons so that students can learn better. They have customised language courses for medical professionals as well.

Anda Sprachschule, Berlin 

Anda Sprachschule is a great language school for not only learning German but also other foreign languages like Spanish, French and Italian language courses in Germany. It is a great place for learning the native language because all the teachers are highly qualified native speakers, class groups are small in size and the courses are available at reasonable costs. They have an interactive form of teaching wherein students are involved in several activities so that they can learn faster and through interaction. They also help in finding accommodation for international students.   

How Much Does it Cost to Attend a German Language School?

It is debatable. If you want to take a language center course at the university, you will usually not be charged any costs. Private German language schools, on the other hand, have varying costs. Fees for your German language education will be determined by factors such as the course provider, the course you choose, and any personal adjustments you want. As you may guess, each greater benefit or choice comes at a larger price. For example, if you want a personal tutor who will be available to work with you at whatever time you are available, the fee will almost certainly be more.

What are the Age Limits?

Students of all ages are welcome to enrol in German Language Schools. Junior programs are often attended by younger teens. Adult courses normally have a minimum age requirement of 16 to 18 years old. Because there is no maximum age restriction, you will most likely be studying alongside students from all generations, all with the same objective of learning and improving their German. The average student is between the ages of 19 and 30.

How Long Does it Take to Complete a German Language Course?

The German language training usually lasts 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the course provider and the German language level you want to prepare for. If you have a basic understanding of the German language and study quickly, you should be able to finish the course by the scheduled end date.

Scholarships for Language Courses in Germany

There are numerous university scholarships offered for language courses in Germany and some of the popular ones are:

• DAAD Scholarship for university summer courses
• Summer school grants of the Free State of Bavaria for German language courses in Bavaria
• Bavarian-Czech Academic Agency for the Czech Republic students

Top Universities for Language Courses in Germany

Did you know that most universities in Germany offer FREE language courses to their students? Here are the top universities that teach students A1 to C1 German language courses to help them understand the nuances and grasp the language:

Name of the University	QS World University Rankings 2022
Technical University of Munich	50
Heidelberg University	63
Ludwig Maximilian Universityof Munich	64
Free University Berlin	127
Humboldt University of Berlin	=128
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology	136
Technical University of Berlin	159
RWTH Aachen University	165
University of Freiburg	172
University of Tübingen	=177

Do You Need a Visa to Attend a Language School in Germany?

EU/EES citizens do not require a visa to study in Germany. Many other nations’ citizens can enter the EU for up to 90 days, while others require a visa from the start (read more at EUR-lex). All non-EU/EES nationalities will require a student visa for longer visits. Based on your nationality and course of study, your German Language School may advise you on the visa you require.

Types of German Study Visas

While applying for a visa to study in Germany, it is important that you know about the types of study visas available for different purposes. There are mainly three types of German Study Visas, i.e.

1. German Student Visa: A standardized student visa for those applying for a full-time programme to study in Germany

2. German Student Application Visa: This type of German study visa is for those who are going to Germany to carry out the admission process in person. A German Student Application Visa does not apply for those wanting to study in Germany but for those visiting it to complete their admission process in certain shorter time duration. It is mainly issued for 3 months but can be extended to another 6 months during which you can obtain the acceptance letter and switch to a student visa afterwards.

3. German Language Course Visa: This German study visa is for those planning to pursue a German language course in Germany.

Can You Work While Pursuing a Language Course in Germany?

• The permission to work in Germany is linked to the type of visa you have:
• Nationals of the EU/EES are free to work.
• Other nations who are visiting Germany on a tourist visa or a visa waiver are not permitted to work.
• Working during your studies in Germany is permitted for university students on a student visa, however, working during your studies at a language school requires specific authorization from the German authorities.

German Student Visa: Things You Should Know

Once you have got the German student visa, you will be required to get a Student Residence Permit on your arrival in the country. For this, you need to register your address in Germany at the nearest Local Residents’ Office and then set up an appointment with the nearest Immigration office to validate your student residence permit. Here are the key pointers you must know once you have obtained a Student Residence Permit:

• With a student residence permit to study in Germany, you are allowed to pursue full-time work opportunities for 120 days or part-time jobs for 240 days a year throughout the duration of your chosen course. However, you can not sign long-term contracts during this duration.
• You can extend your student residence permit if the study program stretches out for longer for which you can apply for an extension at the nearest Immigration office and submit an extension fee which mainly varies as per the duration you need to extend your permit for.
• You can only extend your student residence permit for up to 18 months in case you have completed your study program and need to stay for a few months in the country to explore work opportunities. If you get a job opportunity, you can then apply for a German Employment Residence Permit.

Thus, this was all about language courses in Germany. Learning the native language of any country is essential if you wish to apply for an academic program there and there is always a lucrative demand for language specialists around the world! Want to study in Germany? Sign up for a free session with our Leverage Edu experts and we will help you at every step of the admissions process.