German courses for students of all disciplines at the Language Centre are open to all students enrolled at FAU and other members of the University. Members of the University include employees, those doing a work placement, guest researchers and doctoral candidates. Partners of people in one of the named groups are not entitled to attend the German courses offered by the Language Centre.

Courses are held during the semester. Classes usually start in the second week of the semester. You can register for courses in Erlangen in the first week of the semester. During the first week of the semester, course registrations are reviewed and course places are assigned. All courses on offer can be found in the course catalogue.

If you want to attend a course, you first need to have your ability in German assessed. Generally speaking, you can only register for courses aimed at your ability. Absolute beginners are allocated automatically to level A1 or A1.1.

The courses are offered at different levels roughly equivalent to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CER).

Further information on how language proficiency is assessed can be found here:

You must register for the German courses in Erlangen and in Nuremberg on your own within the registration period on studon. Alternatively, you can also visit the course catalog on campo and get to studon from there via a link.

When you register on studon you will first be put on a waiting list. There is no first-come-first-serve on this waiting list. Then, during the first week of the semester, the department “German as a Foreign Language” checks if your registration(s) are correct. After that, the course places will be assigned. If there are more applicants for a course than course places available, the department decides on the allocation of the course places. You will be informed by the end of the first week of the semester whether you have received your course place. German courses usually start in the second week of the semester. This applies to both the courses in Erlangen and the courses that take place at the Nuremberg location (WISO).

Anyone who fails to attend the first week of classes without a good reason will lose their place on the course. Their place will then be given immediately to someone on the waiting list.

In justified exceptional cases (illness, visa and immigration problems) you may be allowed to start the course after the first class, provided your language ability has been officially assessed. It is not generally possible to join the course any later than the second class.

Attendance is compulsory in the German courses (see Credits below).

Attendance is compulsory in the German courses. Specifically, this means that in order to receive the credit (grade and ECTS credits) for the course, you have to attend at least 85% of classes and successfully complete the final test set by the teacher.

The grade achieved is entered in mein campus for all students on the course who are enrolled at the University. Those taking the course who are not enrolled at the University can be given a ‘traditional’ certificate stating the grade they achieved once the semester has finished. Anyone who fails the final test can be given an ungraded confirmation of attendance (without ECTS credits).

If you have not passed a final exam or could not take part in the final exam due to illness (a medical certificate is required), you have the right to repeat the final exam at the end of the following semester. You can do this even if you have not attended the corresponding course again in the following semester.

If you wish to repeat an examination, you must notify the head of the German as a Foreign Language Department at least four weeks before the examination date. The head of the dept. will check the claim and select a suitable examination date. This means that it is not possible to appear unannounced for a final examination. Participation in the examination must have been clarified in advance.

Students (yellow FAU card) and guest researchers (green FAU card) can take part in these German courses without paying a fee. Guest students and regular employees at FAU (blue FAU card) are charged 30 euros per SWS and semester. Fees should be transferred to the University in the first half of the semester. Further information can be found at: www.sz.fau.de/leitung/hinweise.

Classes generally have no more than 25 members. If more than 25 people register for a course, the Head of Department will decide on how to allocate places. Particular attention will be paid to whether attending a course is necessary from the point of view of the curriculum. It is not possible to reserve a place on a course.

Courses with less than 5 students are usually cancelled.

Although the courses are offered at different levels roughly equivalent to those of the Common European Framework of Reference (CER), successfully completing courses on one of these levels does not automatically mean that you have reached that specific level of proficiency. Completing a certain number of courses on one level just means that we think it would make sense for you to take courses at the next level.

The Language Centre does not issue certificates stating that you have reached a certain level of proficiency. If you want proof of having attained a specific level of proficiency, we would recommend taking an examination designed for this such as the various certificates from the Goethe Institut or Volkshochschulverband (telc). For more information, please refer to: Tests and examinations

contact: sz-daf-info@fau.de