"DSH" stands for "German Language Examination for University Admission". LANES prepares international students for this exam in cooperation with the University of Duisburg-Essen. All LANES language students who have admission to the University of Duisburg-Essen receive a student ID, which allows them to use all public transport and obtain a room in the student dormitory. Upon passing the DSH exam, students have the opportunity to begin their studies at any university or college.
The regulation regarding taking the language examination for university admission also affects Germans who did not take their Abitur in Germany but abroad. Therefore, many universities and universities of applied sciences throughout Germany offer exams several times a year for internal and external students. Additionally, since 2014, there is a framework regulation according to which the examination must be conducted.
The exam consists of two parts, an oral and a written examination. The written part lasts about four hours and can be divided into three sections: Listening, Reading and Text Production.
The written part consists of the following tasks:
1. Understanding and processing a listening text (60 min.)
2. Text production (60 min.)
3. Understanding and processing a reading text and academic language structures (90 min.)
Total duration: Approx. 4 hours
Parts: Listening comprehension, Text production, Reading comprehension
The oral examination lasts about 40 minutes, including 20 minutes of preparation time. At the beginning of the exam, you receive a diagram, chart, or short text and can prepare quietly. In the first minutes of the examination conversation, you should briefly describe this task and summarize the content. This is followed by a conversation or further questions from the examiners. A major role in the oral examination is played by linguistic correctness, vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation, but also conversational behavior, i.e., communication with the examiners and strategies for dealing with problems.
Participants usually receive the exam results 2-4 weeks after the exam. If either the written or oral exam is passed with the result DSH 1, it is no longer possible to obtain a DSH 2 certificate. In this case, the exam should be repeated. This can be done as many times as desired.
The overall result of the exam is divided into three levels, with achieving DSH 2 level being the goal to aim for.
From 57%
Minimum requirementFrom 67%
Recommended for studiesFrom 82%
For Medicine & high requirementsAt DSH 1 level, enrollment may be conditional upon attending further language courses and retaking the exam. Normally, without further conditions, it is only sufficient for enrollment in bilingual (e.g., English-German) degree programs. However, for most degree programs at German universities, DSH 2 level is required. Only for studies in human or dental medicine and for some other degree programs with increased language requirements, DSH 3 is necessary.
In admissions procedures, the levels are evaluated analogously to the TDN-3 to TDN-5 levels of TestDaF, which determine a language level between B2 and C2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
How each university organizes and conducts the exam can be found on the universities' websites. The exam dates also vary. Generally, universities offer the DSH exam four times a year.
The exam must be paid for in any case, with the fees varying from university to university. Both universities and LANES recommend a preparation course to learn strategies for solving the tasks.
We offer various German courses designed to prepare international students for the DSH exam. The courses are divided into five different levels: A1-A2-B1-B2-C1.
Exam dates: Usually 4 times per year
Preparation course: Recommended for better results
More information about exam dates:
Secure your place in our next DSH preparation course
✅ Register for DSH preparation nowDie Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) ist eine Sprachprüfung für internationale Studienbewerberinnen und -bewerber. Sie weist nach, dass Sie über ausreichend Deutschkenntnisse für ein Studium an einer deutschen Hochschule verfügen.
Die DSH entspricht in der Regel den Niveaustufen B2–C1 des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Referenzrahmens (GER).
Im DSH-Vorbereitungskurs bei LANES trainieren Sie gezielt alle Prüfungsteile: Leseverstehen, Hörverstehen, wissenschaftliches Schreiben sowie mündliche Prüfung.
Unsere Dozentinnen und Dozenten arbeiten mit originalgetreuen Prüfungsaufgaben, üben wissenschaftlichen Wortschatz und zeigen Ihnen Strategien für jede Prüfungsphase.
Die DSH-Prüfung findet mehrmals im Jahr statt. Die genauen Termine können je nach Hochschule und Prüfungsort variieren.
Aktuelle DSH-Termine bei LANES und an unseren Partnerhochschulen erhalten Sie direkt in unserem Büro oder per E-Mail. Wir beraten Sie gern, welcher Termin für Ihre Studienbewerbung geeignet ist.
Im Unterricht arbeiten wir mit Originalaufgaben und Musterprüfungen. So lernen Sie Aufbau, Schwierigkeitsgrad und Bewertungskriterien der DSH genau kennen.
Zu Hause können Sie mit zusätzlichen Übungsblättern, Hörtexten und Beispielklausuren weitertrainieren. Ihre Lehrkraft gibt Ihnen individuelle Rückmeldungen zu Ihren Lösungen.
Schreib uns!