German Language Courses

Unless you already know the language, taking a German course even before you arrive here is an excellent idea. The Goethe-Institut, for example, offers high-quality courses all around the world. You can also find numerous free alternatives online, such as from Deutsche Welle. Eventually, however, you will probably learn the most right here in Germany. Here, you will be surrounded by the language every day, which will give you plenty of chances to practice! 

Our region is home to numerous language schools that provide German courses for every learning level, as well as for different areas of specialization. Some of the most affordable options are available at local Volkshochschulen, which can be found throughout the region. 

To aid your search for a suitable language school near you, take a look at the list of local options we have assembled for you.

Meanwhile, there are lots of additional ways to improve your German. Language cafes and tandem partners represent two fun opportunities to practice while interacting with native speakers.

Tip!

Keep your eyes open for bulletin boards at your university and its students' organization (Studentenwerk), at institutions like the IBZ, and in online forums. There are plenty of people who are interested in learning your language and willing to help you with your German in Exchange, so called tandem partners.

As a foreign citizen, you have the option (and, in some cases, the obligation) to take part in a state-subsidized integration course. The objective of this course is to help you acquire the German language skills you need to be an active member of German society and its culture. To successfully complete the course, you will need to pass a Zertifikat Deutsch exam (corresponding to level B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). 

The course includes the following:

• Basic and intermediate lessons (600 in total) designed to impart adequate German language skills 
• Orientation (60 lessons) designed to teach you about the legal system, culture, and history of Germany

The language lessons are divided into six modules corresponding to different levels of aptitude.
At the cost of €1.20 per lesson, the state-subsidized integration course is an unbeatable deal!
For certain groups of people, participation in an integration course is mandatory. 

This applies to you if you:

• Receive benefits (such as for unemployment) within the meaning of Book II of Germany's Code of Social Law and are to enter into a corresponding integration agreement, or;
• Have been directed to participate by the foreign citizens' office on the basis of special necessity

You are not required to participate if you:

• Are currently attending vocational training or another form of educational activity in Germany
• Can provide documentation of your participation in comparable educational activities in Germany
• Are unable to do so for the required duration, or if doing so would constitute an unreasonable burden
• Hold a long-term residence permit in another EU member-state in which you have already participated in integration activities

If you are an EU citizen and wish to attend an integration course in order to improve your German, you can submit an application to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Since you are not officially entitled to participate as an EU citizen, your permission to do so will depend on whether there is enough space available in the course in question. 

The following groups are also not explicitly entitled to participate in an integration course:

• Highly skilled individuals
• Children, teenagers, and young adults who are starting school or continuing their education in Germany
• Those adjudged to have little need of integration
• Those who already have adequate German language skills
  
  

Registration and attendance

The foreign citizens' office responsible for you will let you know whether you are entitled or required to participate. It will also issue you a corresponding confirmation. With this document, you can register for any integration course you choose, provided it is offered by an approved organization. You can also apply to have the cost of the course waived when you register.

The Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion has a close-knit network of different public and private organizations where you can attend an integration course. The BAMF website makes it easy to find one in your area. 

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