Language skills open doors!
Learning and using languages is an important part of studying abroad. You’ll not only improve your language skills but also learn to communicate confidently in an international environment and connect with people from different cultures. These experiences strengthen your personal and professional skills and are a valuable asset for your future. English, as an international language of communication, plays an important role, as does the local language of your host country.
FAQs
FAQs
Do I need to provide proof of my English language skills as part of my application?
Yes.
Proof of English language proficiency must be uploaded with your application.
Do I need to provide proof of proficiency in the local language as part of my application?
Yes, but…
If you do not (yet) speak the local language, you can upload a statement with your application instead of proof of language proficiency, in which you describe how you plan to acquire the necessary language skills by the start of your stay abroad.
If you already have language skills, this can improve your chances of securing an exchange place. Please also note the language requirements of your host university, which you will need to meet when you apply later.
How old can my language certificates be?
A maximum of 3 years at the time of your application.
Which language certificates are accepted?
See below
What applies if English is both the teaching language and the national language?
In that case, you only need to upload one language certificate for English.
Accepted language proofs
Accepted language proofs
To ensure your application is successful, you must provide evidence of your proficiency in English and the local language.
Proof of language proficiency can be provided in 6 different ways.
1. Proof of language proficiency via your A-level certificate
If you have studied a foreign language (e.g. French) for at least seven years at school up to your Abitur, a copy of your Abitur certificate or equivalent is sufficient as proof of language proficiency.
However, your certificate must not be more than three years old. If your certificate is older than this, please update your proof of language proficiency.
Depending on your Abitur marks, you can use this to demonstrate the following proficiency levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
2. Proof of language proficiency through a completed language course
You can also provide evidence of your language skills by uploading a certificate of completion from a language course you have completed (e.g. a language course at the Language Centre of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, at a language institute or at another higher education institution).
Please ensure that the language level (A1 – C2) is clearly indicated.
3. Proof of language proficiency via a language certificate
You can also provide evidence of your language skills by submitting a recognised language certificate. Recognised language certificates
include, for example,
- TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificates, etc. for English,
- DELF/DALF for French, or
- DELE for Spanish.
As always, the language certificate must not be more than 3 years old.
4. Proof of language proficiency via a language test at the Language Centre
If you do not have proof of your language proficiency or your proof is more than 3 years old, you can sit a language test at the Language Centre of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
The test takes about 20 minutes.
It assesses your reading and listening comprehension as well as your oral language skills.
To assess your writing skills, you will also need to provide a text you have written yourself in the relevant language (approx. 300–400 words or one A4 page). You can bring
the text with you to the test or send it to the examiner in advance.
You could, for example, use your personal statement from your application.
Link: to the Language Centre’s teaching staff
5. Language proficiency certificate via the VEPT online test for English
You can take the online English placement test (VEPT) anytime, anywhere.
To do so, you must complete the test and send the results to the Language Centre. There, your results will be converted into a language certificate, which you can then upload as part of your application.
6. Proof of language proficiency through active use of the language
Have you actively used the language in the last 3 years, e.g. through a work and travel programme, in bilingual lessons or as your mother tongue?
If so, you can upload a brief statement instead of a language certificate. Describe when, for how long and how you have used the language, and state your language level (A1–C2).
Our recommendation
Be sure to attend a language course at the Language Centre. This will allow you to refresh or improve your language skills before you embark on your study abroad adventure.