Our foreign language programme

Our courses are open primarily to students, doctoral students, employees and apprentices of the University of Heidelberg. Students of the University of Mannheim and College of Education (Pädagogische Hochschule Heidelberg) can also be admitted, as can, depending on availability, others interested in our language courses.

The Language Centre’s foreign language programme is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference, with courses in English, French, Italian and Spanish take place until level C1. The progression varies across different languages; that of any of the languages offered can be seen on the internet site of the language department in question.

On successfully passing written and oral exams, course takers may obtain a supplementary extracurricular language qualification that may be useful for applications:

• a general-language certificate (Sprachzeugnis) in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. The proficiency level attested documented corresponds to a curriculum of 16 semesters hours (SWS: (Semesterwochenstunden). Admission to the oral examination that leads to a general-language certificate requires the successful completion of (at least) the fourth course in of one of the languages mentioned above. Further details are available on the internet pages of the different language departments.

• a specialized, academic discipline-related language certificate (Sprachzertifikat) in English, French, Italian and Spanish. Admission to the oral examination that leads to a specialized, academic discipline-related certificate requires the successful completion of two C1-level courses amounting to a total 8 semester hours (SWS: (Semesterwochenstunden). Further details are available on the internet pages of the different language departments.

In addition to our 15-weel courses, we also offer intensive language courses during the lecture-free time, the successful completion of whichqualify course takers to participate in a follow-up or complementary course in the following semester.

The Language Centre also makes it possible for students to learn foreign languages on their own in our foreign language / media library on the ground floor.

Information on how to enroll and other important information can be found at Important information about us.

The Language Centre comprises three areas: the Foreign languages programme, Speech training training / Speech science, and the Writing Program.