German Language Courses at Faculty 09
Starting in the winter semester 2026/27, Faculty 09 offers its own German language courses for students in our international degree programmes.
Learn German as part of your studies
The courses are designed to help you develop the German language skills you need for everyday life, university and living in Germany. Courses are offered at different language levels and are available both on campus and online.
Who can participate?
B.Sc. Environmental Sciences and B.Sc. Global Food Systems
Language Acquisition is a mandatory part of both Bachelor's degree programmes:
- Language Acquisition I – 6 CP
- Language Acquisition II – 6 CP
If your German is below C1 CEFR, you take German language courses as part of these modules.
If you can provide proof of German language proficiency at C1 level or higher, you take one or more other languages that are not your native language, totalling 6 CP per module. JLU's Centre for Foreign Language and Professional Skills (ZfbK) offers a wide range of language courses. Please send proof of German at C1 level or higher – for example, a German Abitur certificate or another suitable language certificate – to: daf-fb09
Further information about choosing another language will be provided during the Introduction Days.
International Master's degree programmes
Students in our international Master's degree programmes can take a German language course worth 6 CP as a profile module.
German is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend learning German during your studies. Even if your degree programme is taught entirely in English, German language skills will make everyday life in Giessen and Germany much easier.
M.Sc. One Health – online option for late arrivals
First-semester students in the M.Sc. One Health who arrive in Giessen on time start with the five core modules scheduled for the first semester. Detailed information about the modules, registration and studying at Faculty 09 will be provided during the Introduction Days.
If your arrival in Giessen is delayed, however, you can start your studies from abroad by taking an online German language course worth 6 CP. The course can be recognised as a profile module and therefore counts towards your Master's degree.
Course format and workload
Each German language course comprises 6 semester hours per week (6 SWS) and is worth 6 CP.
Courses are planned for two broad proficiency groups:
- beginner courses
- advanced courses
Both on-campus and online courses are currently planned.
Preliminary course schedule – winter semester 2026/27
The following course times are currently planned:
| Course | Format | Weekly schedule |
| Beginner | On campus | Tuesday 08:00–12:00 and Thursday 14:00–16:00 |
| Beginner | Online | Tuesday 08:00–12:00 and Thursday 14:00–16:00 |
| Advanced | On campus | Thursday 12:00–14:00 and Friday 08:00–12:00 |
| Advanced | Online | Thursday 12:00–14:00 and Friday 08:00–12:00 |
Please note: This is a preliminary schedule. The final number of courses, proficiency levels and course formats will depend on the results of the placement test and student demand. We may therefore adjust the level or format (online/on campus) of individual courses after the placement phase.
Placement test – what you need to do
Before you can be assigned to a German course, you must complete a German placement test and questionnaire by 27 September 2026.
This also applies if you have no previous knowledge of German.
The placement test is not an exam and there is no minimum level you need to achieve. Its purpose is simply to determine your current German language level so that we can assign you to a suitable course.
You can find the placement test, questionnaire and detailed instructions in Stud.IP
Please complete the test on your own and without using dictionaries, translation tools, AI or other assistance. Otherwise, the result will not reflect your actual language level and we may assign you to a course that is not suitable for you.
What happens after the placement test?
Once the placement phase has been completed, we will review the results and determine the final course structure.
Based on your language level, you will be assigned to a suitable German course and enrolled in the course in Stud.IP.
Please check your JLU email account regularly. We will use your JLU email address to inform you about your course assignment and any changes to the preliminary course schedule.