What German level do I need to study at a German university?

For German-taught degrees the standard is C1-level proof: TestDaF TDN 4, DSH-2, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or ÖSD C1/C2. Some programs accept B2; medicine and law often need C2 or DSH-3. English-taught degrees usually do not require German for admission. Always check the program's own admission page.

Is TestDaF or telc C1 accepted for German university admission?

TestDaF with TDN 4 in all four sections is accepted virtually everywhere. For telc it must be the 'telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule' variant, not the generic telc C1. DSH-2 and Goethe C1/C2 are also binding proof. ECL is generally not listed among accepted university proofs.

YOUR GOAL

I'm applying to a German university

THE ANSWER

For German-taught degrees the de-facto standard is C1-level proof: TestDaF TDN 4 in all four parts, DSH-2, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or ÖSD C1/C2. For English-taught degrees, German is usually not required for admission.

German-taught programs

C1-equivalent (TestDaF TDN 4 / DSH-2) is the de-facto standard accepted almost everywhere.

TestDaFTDN 4(in all four parts; upper-B2 to C1 band)
GoetheC1 or C2
telcC1 Hochschule(the Hochschule variant only)
ÖSDC1 or C2

English-taught programs

Not required

German is usually not required for admission to English-taught degrees. A1 to B1 still helps your visa interview and daily life.

GoetheA1-B1(optional, for visa and daily life)
telcA1-B1(optional)

'telc C1' must be the 'telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule' variant, not the generic C1. Goethe and ÖSD at C1 are recognized; you do not always need C2. Some programs accept B2; language-intensive ones (medicine, law) need C2 or DSH-3. DSH is taken on campus. ECL is generally not listed among accepted university proofs, so confirm with your program before relying on it.

Every university and program sets its own level

No certificate guarantees admission by itself. Check the specific program's admission page for its required level and accepted providers.
Some universities accept only their own DSH; confirm before you book a different exam.

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TestDaF dates Goethe dates telc dates ÖSD dates

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SourcesAs of 17 Jun 2026

German language requirements for study · DAAD
TestDaF as proof for university study (TDN 4) · TestDaF-Institut
telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule (university entrance) · telc gGmbH

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The five German exams at a glance

All five are CEFR-aligned and accepted as a class. Which one counts is set by the institution you apply to.

Exam	Levels	Mainly used for	Note
Goethe-Institut	A1 to C2	All routes; strong for university (C2) and visas	Most exam centers in India
telc	A1 to C2	Ausbildung, nursing (B1·B2 Pflege), jobs	Slots tend to open more often
ÖSD	A1 to C2	All routes; Austria's official exam	Accepted across routes
TestDaF	B2 to C1 (TDN 3-5)	University admission	No A1; not for a spouse visa
ECL	A2 to C1	General immigration / jobs	No A1 or C2; rarely used for university

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