Good language skills are essential for a successful study abroad experience. During your exchange semester, you will need to follow lectures, participate in discussions, write assignments and, where required, sit examinations in the language of instruction. Make sure you realistically assess your language abilities before applying.

The required language level depends on the host university and is listed in the Exchange Opportunities Portal under "Required Language Skills"  ("Erforderliche Sprachkenntnisse"). Please check the requirements for each partner institution carefully.

For the internal application process, the International Office accepts a range of recognised language certificates. As a general rule, certificates should not be more than three years old at the time of application. However, the most recent evidence of language proficiency is always preferred.

For the WeltWeit Programme, language certificates are usually required at two stages:

1. When applying for a place through the International Office, approximately one year before your exchange.
2. When applying to the host university, usually several months before your departure.

• If the language of instruction at your host university is English, the language certificate submitted with your WeltWeit application should already meet the level required by the host institution
• For destinations where the language of instruction is Spanish, French or Portuguese, it may be possible to apply with a certificate below the level ultimately required by the host university. However, you must be able to demonstrate that you are on track to reach the required level before applying to the host institution.

Language certificates must not be more than three years old at the time of application.

You can demonstrate your English language proficiency for your application to the International Office in one of the following ways:
 

Option 1: You already have an official language certificate. Accepted certificates include:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Cambridge Certificate
• Duolingo English Test
• DAAD Language Certificate
• Oxford Online Placement Test (University of Augsburg or Augsburg Adult Education Centre (VHS Augsburg))

⇒ Simply upload your certificate as part of your application.
 

Please note: The German Abitur certificate is not accepted as proof of English language proficiency for applications to the WeltWeit Programme.

Option 2: You do not have an official and up-to-date language certificate

⇒ Students of English-related degree programmes (Teacher Training in English, BA English and American Studies, ANIS): Please contact the Head of the English I Section at the Language Centre and request a DAAD Language Certificate based on your English language practice modules or take the Oxford Online Placement Test (see below).
 

⇒ Students of all other degree programmes: Please take the Oxford Online Placement Test and upload your test result with your application.
 

Registration and Fees

The test is offered regularly by VHS Augsburg

• Dates and registration information can be found on the VHS Augsburg website.
• Simply enter “Oxford” into the search field on the homepage.
• Select a suitable test date and complete the registration form.
• The test fee of €27 will be charged to your account shortly before the test date.

Further Information about the Oxford Online Placement Test

• Please remember to bring a valid photo ID and your Campus Card to the test.
• The test takes approximately 60 minutes and assesses grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension and listening comprehension.
• You will receive your officially stamped test result immediately after the test. This document can then be uploaded as part of your WeltWeit application at the University of Augsburg.

Language certificates must not be more than three years old at the time of application.

Option 1: You have an official language certificate indicating your language proficiency level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Examples of accepted certificates include DELE (Spanish), DELF (French), DIPLE (Portuguese) and the DAAD Language Certificate.

⇒ Upload the relevant certificate as part of your application.

Option 2: You have completed a language course or examination at the Language Centre

⇒ If you have already taken a relevant examination at the University of Augsburg Language Centre, please upload either your certificate of achievement or a verifiable STUDIS module/course confirmation, with the relevant language course clearly highlighted.

Students in many degree programmes can register for Language Centre examinations via STUDIS. If you wish to take an examination at the Language Centre in order to obtain a language certificate, you must register for the appropriate examination through STUDIS. Registration for an examination via STUDIS is independent of attendance on the corresponding language course.

If your degree programme does not allow registration for Language Centre examinations through STUDIS, please contact the relevant Head of Section at the Language Centre.

If you have any questions, please contact the Language Centre directly.

Option 3: You have completed a language course or examination at an external institution

⇒ If you have completed a language course at an external institution (e.g. a language school or another university), please upload the corresponding certificate showing the CEFR level you achieved.

Option 4: You do not have any of the certificates listed above, but you studied the language continuously up to your Abitur

⇒ Upload a copy of your Abitur certificate.

In most cases, you do not need to provide evidence of proficiency in an Asian language when applying for a place at a partner university in Asia, provided that your courses will be taught in English.

However, if you are already studying an Asian language, this can be an advantage in your application. In this case, you are welcome to submit additional evidence of your language skills alongside your English language certificate. Examples include certificates from completed language courses or a STUDIS module confirmation ("Modulbestätigung").

Please note: As Mobility-Online only allows you to upload one document as proof of language proficiency, you must combine your English language certificate and any additional language certificates into a single PDF file before uploading them.