German as a foreign language A1-A2
The Hamburger Volkshochschule runs German as a foreign language courses on behalf of Universität Hamburg. These courses are designed for Erasmus students as well as international students in other programs at this institution.
The courses are free of charge for students of Universität Hamburg able to provide current and valid student ID. Other groups will be charged course fees according to the VHS conditions of participation.
The intensive pre-semester German language courses in summer 2024 cover level A1, the winter semester courses are held on level A1 and A2, modeled on the language proficiency levels developed by the Council of Europe's CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Upon successful completion of a language course, students receive a course certificate detailing both grade and number of credit points.
current news
- depending on the current situation, the courses take place face-to-face
- no personal consultation; please write an e-mail
Registration
Registration period for the pre-semester intensive courses Sept./Oct. 2024
Registration period and online application form for the German intensive pre-semester courses available from
9th of September 2024 to 22nd of September 2024 |
Please note: Students with prior knowledge of German registering for the first time have to complete a placement test before registering themselves using the online registration form. Further information available under the section on placement on this page.
Registration period for the semester courses Winter 2024
Registration period and online application form for the German Winter semester courses available from
01st of October 2024, 12h00 | to | 18th of October 2024, 12h00 |
Please note: Students with prior knowledge of German registering for the first time have to complete a placement test before registering themselves using the online registration form. Further information available under the section on placement on this page.
Registration details
Registration for the German courses is available via the online registration form during the registration period.
Please note:
- Student ID number: If unknown, please enter 99999
- Studies certificate: Proof of enrollment from your university. Staff should render a signed letter from institution.
- Credit or placement certificate: Credit certificate of prior course or result of placement test (scan in or photograph certificate).
You will receive an e-mail in receipt of your registration application.
Should you choose to fax your registration documents, please use the number provided in Contact. We cannot accept non-form registration documents.
Please check whether you will need to pay a fee for your course. Further information is available under the conditions of participation section here on this page (Please scroll down.).
Placement
The beginners course, level A1.1, does not require a placement test. To register for courses at an advanced level, starting from level A1.2, a current language certificate have to be available. It is therefore necessary to take a placement test if you have not taken part in a preceding course from our program or have not done a placement at the Language Center (SZ) in the past 12 months . Please do the Cornelsen online test under the following link: https://www.cornelsen.de/empfehlungen/sprachtest. An overview of the results of the placement will be sent to you by e-mail so that you can register for the German course online to be able to add.
Course program
Registration period for the pre-semester intensive courses Autumn 2024
The registration period for the German intensive courses Autumn 2024 will be announced asap.
Registration via the online registration form.
Please note: Students with prior knowledge of German registering for the first time have to complete a placement test before registering themselves using the online registration form. Further information available under the section on placement on this page. Further information on the German courses is available on the virtual learning platform SprachCommSy.
Please take note of any changes in the course program that may take place at the beginning of the registration period.
Registration period for the semester courses Winter 2024
The registration period for the German semester courses Winter 2024 commences on
1st of October 2024, 12h00 via the online registration form (18th of October 2024).
Please note: Students with prior knowledge of German registering for the first time have to complete a placement test before registering themselves using the online registration form. Further information available under the section on placement on this page. Further information on the German courses is available on the virtual learning platform SprachCommSy.
Please take note of any changes in the course program that may take place at the beginning of the registration period.
Conditions of participation
Conditions of participation and fees
German language courses are aimed at Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus and guest students participating in other programs at the partner universities of Universität Hamburg, the HafenCity University Hamburg and the University of Fine Arts (HFBK). Academic staff and doctoral students at these partner universities are also very welcome!
Course fees are detailed in the table below. Please note the conditions for students from other universities.
Four participant categories determine course fees:
- Students / Erasmus students at Universität Hamburg
- Doctoral students at Universität Hamburg
- Students at other institutions (e.g. HCU, HAW, HfbK), interns and trainees
- Staff students at Universität Hamburg, students doing contact studies
Overview of course fees (effective as of 1 January 2021) by category and teaching units:
Teaching units | 28 | Place allocation / course |
Group A | free |
preferential treatment up tomax. number of participants |
Group B | EUR 45 | |
Group C | EUR 85 |
in case of free places up to 2 per category |
Group D | EUR 145 |
If classes start between the 1st and 15th of the month your account will be debited with the fee via SEPA Direct Debit(SDD) on the 8th of the following month. If classes start between the 16th and the end of month your account will be debited with the fee via SDD on the 23rd of the following month.
Cancellation
Should you wish to withdraw from a language course, you have to do so by submitting your withdrawal to the office team. Withdrawals submitted to instructors will not be acknowledged or processed. Also non-appearance does not constitute withdrawal.
As a paying participant please note the following:
- Students may cancel up to three days before the start of the course. Cancellations have to be submitted in writing to k.wittke"AT"vhs-hamburg.de or about our contact form.
- Students who withdraw after the course begins may only receive a refund (and in some cases only a partial refund) in the following cases:
- confirmation by responsible physician of illness or other extenuating circumstances
- proof that your course schedule has been altered
Data protection
The General Languages Team considers the protection of personal data when eliciting, processing and using this data during visits to the homepage very important. We only process and use mandatory and voluntary information for the exclusive purpose of providing our service and providing the best possible guidance. Data will not be passed on to third parties.
Grades and credit points
Students receive a course certificate upon successful completion of a language course according to the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) detailing the grade achieved and the number of credit points accrued. You can attain three credit points depending on the number of teaching units.
In order to accrue credit points, you have to attend at least 80 per cent of the course and pass the examination with at least sixty per cent.