The German language examination for university admission (DSH) is a language test for international applicants who wish to study at a German university.
It proves that you have sufficient German language skills to successfully complete a degree program at a German university.
At LANES Germany, we optimally prepare you for all parts of the DSH exam - listening comprehension, reading comprehension, text production, and oral exam - so that you can successfully pass your language examination.
87%
Success rate of our graduates
in the DSH exam last year
Benefits of DSH preparation
Targeted preparation for the DSH exam significantly increases your chances of success and enables direct access to studies at German universities.
🏛️ University Access
Direct university admission with DSH-2 or DSH-3. The exam is recognized by all German universities.
📚 Academic German
Training for academic texts, lectures, discussions, and typical university task formats.
🎯 Exam Strategy
Targeted strategies, time management, and simulations to help you approach the exam with confidence.
DSH Levels
The DSH exam is evaluated in three levels. Which level you need depends on your desired field of study:
📘
DSH-1
B2 Level
Minimum requirement - often not sufficient for many degree programs
Partially sufficient for some programs
Limited selection - depends on university/subject
📗
DSH-2
C1 Level
Standard for most degree programs at German universities
Access to most Bachelor/Master programs
Most common requirement at German universities
📙
DSH-3
C2 Level
Highest level - for particularly demanding degree programs
For e.g., Medicine/Law depending on university
Very high linguistic proficiency in academic context
DSH Exam Structure
The DSH consists of a written part and an oral examination. The exact proportions may vary depending on the university.
Exam Part
Duration
Content
Listening Comprehension
approx. 60 min
Lecture/conversation, note-taking, tasks
Reading Comprehension
approx. 90 min
Academic text, tasks, summary
Text Production
approx. 70 min
Graph description, opinion/argumentation
Oral Exam
20 min + preparation time
Presentation, discussion, argumentation
Note:
The exact structure and evaluation may vary by university. We prepare you for common formats.
DSH Preparation at LANES
Our preparation courses are specifically tailored to the requirements of the DSH exam.
📚
Authentic Materials
Exercises with typical task types and academic texts
🎯
Exam Simulations
Simulation under time pressure with evaluation and strategy
👨🏫
Experienced Instructors
Individual feedback on writing and speaking
📋
Learning Plan & Control
Structured plan with homework and progress monitoring
Requirements for DSH
For the DSH exam and preparation, you should meet certain requirements:
🗣️ Recommended Language Level
For preparation: at least B1/B2 (depending on course format)
Target: DSH-2 (C1) or DSH-3 (C2)
🎓 General Requirements
Desire to study in Germany / aiming for university admission
Regular participation and willingness to learn
Self-study time (approx. 5-10 hours/week)
Dates & Registration
DSH exam dates vary by university. We recommend timely preparation - ideally 8 weeks or more.
📅
Winter semester: Exams usually in September/October/January
📅
Summer semester: Exams usually in March/April/July
⏰
Recommended preparation time: 8-12 weeks (depending on level)
💶
Costs: Exam fee depending on university (often approx. €100-200)
The DSH is conducted by universities and is strongly focused on academic requirements. TestDaF is a standardized test that you can take in many countries. Both are recognized - depending on the university, differences may apply.
It depends on your starting level. With B2, you should ideally train specifically for 8-12 weeks. For lower levels, correspondingly longer.
Yes. Many universities allow a retake after a few months. We support you with targeted training on your weaknesses.
Yes, we offer DSH preparation courses at all our locations: Duisburg, Düsseldorf, and Mönchengladbach. Please contact us for current dates in Mönchengladbach.
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