Do I need to learn German to study in Germany?

If you’re planning on heading to Germany for your PhD, you may be wondering how much German (if any!) you’ll need to know. Applying for a Masters/ PhD abroad can come with a long to-do list, and the prospect of learning a new language – on top of finding a course, securing funding, and arranging your visa – can be intimidating!

Do German universities offer courses in English?

The short answer to this question is yes – most German universities do offer English-taught options for PhD students! However, whether you’ll be able to study in English largely depends on the type of PhD you choose.

Structured doctoral programmes are generally aimed at international students and are almost always taught in English. Rather than being pure research degrees, these programmes have a set curriculum with lectures, seminars and interim assessments.

If you opt for a traditional PhD, it’s possible that you’ll be required to write your thesis in German. However, some universities will allow submissions in English.

That said, improving your German will make it much easier to socialise and improve your prospects for finding employment during and after your studies – so it’s always a good idea to put in the effort (more on that below!).

Depending on your native tongue and the language you’ll be studying in, you may have to take either a German or English language test as part of your PhD application.

The most common German language test is TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language). You’ll usually have to pass the TestDaF with at least a level four to gain admission onto a German-taught university course.

If you’re a non-native speaker applying for an English-taught course in Germany, you may have to take an English language test. An exception may be made if you studied your undergraduate degree in English.