DSH

DSH (German Language Examination for Admission to University)

The DSH is an examination testing the German skills of prospective students from abroad who intend studying at a German university and have to prove that they are sufficiently proficient in German. You can only sign up for the DSH in Erlangen if you have been offered a place at Freidrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) or are already registered at the University (e.g. as an exchange student).

DSH Dates

DSH dates

Posted:
28. August 2019

Only for those, who have been offered a place at Freidrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) for the summer semester 2025.

DSH is an exam which is an on-campus examination. Hence it cannot be done online

DSH examination (written):

  • Date: Monday, 29 September 2025
  • Time: 1 pm to 8 pm
  • Room: H5 (Hörsaal 5), Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg

DSH examination (oral):

  • Date: Monday, 06 October 2025
  • Time: individual appointments from 9 am
  • Room: Language Centre, Bismarckstr. 10, 91054 Erlangen, Room SZ 00.213

Payment of examination fee (80 euros):

  • Date:
  • Date: Monday, 29 September 2025
  • Time: 11 am to 12 am
  • Room: 2.432, Lange Gasse 20, 90403 Nürnberg

Payment mus be made in cash. The examination fee cannot be paid by bank transfer.

Final results and certificates

  • The publication of the final results of the DSH  is scheduled for 08.10.2025, 11:00.
  • As of 08.10.2025, the DSH certificates can be collected from the Infotheke of the Language Centre in Erlangen during its opening hours.

Advance notification: DSH in spring 2026: 30.03.2026 (subject to change)

Results of DSH

Results of DSH

Posted:
19. March 2018

Results of DSH are not available.

General information

Registration

You have to register for DSH by 1 March for spring and by 1 September for autumn.
  • Prospective students are sent a registration form together with their letter of acceptance to FAU.
  • Students already enrolled at the University can request a registration form (sz-daf-dsh@fau.de).
  • Students taking a DSH course should ask in their courses.

Registration forms should be sent by post to: Sprachenzentrum der FAU; Abt. Deutsch als Fremdsprache Bismarckstr. 10 91054 Erlangen An e-mail is sent automatically confirming that the registration has been completed successfully.

Examination fee

At present, the examination fee is 80 euros. This must be paid in cash before the examination on the day indicated on the registration form. It cannot be paid by bank transfer. You can ask someone else to pay on your behalf, however.

Results

The results of the written examination are published anonymously no later than one week after the examination on this website and posted on the notice board in the Language Centre. Results are listed according to examination number. The dates for the oral examination are announced together with the results. More specific information will be given during the examination. The overall results of the examination are published anonymously no later than one week after the oral examination on this website and posted on the notice board in the Language Centre. Results are listed according to examination number. More specific information will be given during the examination.

DSH certificates

You can collect your DSH certificate from the information desk in the Language Centre one or two days after the overall results are announced. Please note our opening times. More specific information will be given during the examination.

Requirements

The DSH examinations are always held shortly before the semester begins, i.e. in March/April and September/October, and generally require that students have already applied to FAU. Students who are already enrolled at FAU and students taking preparatory courses can also sit the DSH if they can prove that they have completed level B2. No-one else is allowed to sit the DSH at FAU. Requirements for applying to FAU are listed on the website of the Admissions Office. If you cannot provide proof of the required proficiency in German but can prove that you have German skills of at least level A2, you can apply for a place on a preparatory German course at FAU. These courses have to be paid for, however.

DSH examination preparation course

A four-day long DSH examination preparation course is held before the DSH. You can register for the course at the same time as registering for the DSH.

Overview of DSH

The examination consists of a written and an oral examination. The written examination consists of the following components:
  • Reading comprehension: understanding a written text and answering questions on it
  • Grammar: completing tasks on language-related structures taken from the reading comprehension text
  • Listening comprehension: understanding and processing a listening text
  • Text production: producing a text for a certain task

The oral examination is held after the written examination and lasts approx. 15–20 minutes. Candidates receive a short text which they should read and then discuss with the examiners. The oral examination is compulsory.

Examination regulations

DSH examination regulations at FAU

FAQs on DSH

Please click here for FAQs..

Contakt

sz-daf-dsh@fau.de