DaF - German as a Foreign Language - Exams - DSH

Exam dates 2024-2025:

Please note that exam dates for which the maximum number of participants has been reached are no longer listed in the registration forms. Then, registration is no longer possible.

• Universität Regensburg applicants (with letter of admission)
• OTH Regensburg applicants (with letter of admission)
• Universität Regensburg students (with student ID)
• OTH Regensburg students (with student ID)
• Participants in the Preparatory German courses
• Outside candidates (with necessary prior knowledge)

Please read Information about registering

*) Reduced exam fee of €50 only applies for the exam date that immediately follows the Intensive German course of the current semester

Universität Regensburg and OTH Regensburg applicants and students as well as participants in the Preparatory German courses pay the exam fee when they get to the exam room.

Outside candidates will receive information about how to make the payment along with their official admission to the test.

• Spoken material comprehension (Time: 10 minutes after the first round and 40 minutes after the second round) The presentation itself and any extra work load do not count toward the time you have to prepare for the spoken material comprehension task.
• Reading comprehension and academic language structures (Time: 90 minutes including reading time)
• Task-oriented written production (Time: 70 minutes)

Since the DSH test is available for candidates from all disciplines who might not necessarily have much prior knowledge about certain subjects, the tasks and topics are fairly general and accessible.

The oral exam consists of a short presentation of a maximum of 5 minutes that should be as descriptive as possible, and a 15-minute conversation on general academic problems or questions about the candidate’s field of study based on a short text or a diagram (Time: 15 minutes preparation, 20 minutes for the exam).

To pass the entire exam, participants need to pass both the written as well as the oral part of the exam.

For the written exam, the four sub-tests; listening comprehension, reading comprehension, comprehension and working on academic language structures, and writing are weighted by a 2:2:1:2 ratio.

Test scores are divided into one of three levels:

• DSH-1 if you get a score of at least 57% in both the written and oral part of the exam
• DSH-2 if you get a score of at least 67 % in both the written and oral part of the exam
• DSH-3 if you get a score of at least 82 % in both the written and oral part of the exam

In general, level DSH-2 is the minimum language level to get into a degree program at Universität Regensburg. Level DSH-1 is sufficient for the following programs:

• Chemie (B.Sc. und M.Sc.)
• Data Science (B.Sc.)
• Deutsch-Französische Studien (B.A.)
• Deutsch-Italienische Studien (B.A.)
• Deutsch-Polnische Studien (B.A.)
• Deutsch-Tschechische Studien (B.A.)
• Informatik (B.Sc.)
• Interkulturelle Europa-Studien (M.A.)
• Mathematik (B.Sc.)
• Slavische Studien (B.A.)

Level DSH-3 is required for the following degree programs:

• Humanmedizin (Staatsexamen)
• Zahnmedizin (Staatsexamen)
• Rechtswissenschaft (Staatsexamen)
• Digital Law (LLB)

Master’s programs at Universität Regensburg taught in English do not require proof of German proficiency.

More detailed information on the DSH can be found here: Ordnung für die Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang an der Universität Regensburg. There you can also find out about exams and certificates that are accepted at Universität Regensburg instead of DSH.

• At least two ballpoint pens with blue or black ink
• Photo ID (passport, ID, permit)
• Letter of admission (Universität Regensburg or OTH Regensburg)
• Exam fee*
• Monolingual German dictionary

          *Does not apply to external candidates

Please note

• that you are not allowed to take the DSH test if you are unable to present a valid form of ID at the time of admission to the exam
• that health or insurance cards, student IDs, debit or credit cards, photocopies of personal identification are not accepted as proof of identity
• that you should bring something to eat and drink as the exam takes about five hours and you are not allowed to leave the premises during the exam
• that all electronic devices must remain switched off during the entire duration of the exam

• Langenscheidt Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache
• PONS Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache
• Wahrig Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache

Underlining, highlighting, referencing (in numbers, e.g. page), and creating an alphabetical register in the approved dictionaries is permitted. Any additional handwritten or typewritten entries are not allowed.

The DSH test can be repeated as often as needed. Please note that if you repeat the test, you have to take the entire test again. It is not possible to repeat just one part of the test.

The following certificates are accepted as alternatives to the DSH test at Universität Regensburg:

* DSH-3 equivalence only with "very good" and "good" results

Test Preparation Courses (DSH Training Courses)

The Department of German as a Foreign Language offers a wide array of different test preparation courses. These courses are subject to a fee.

Preparatory German Courses

Passing the DSH test successfully requires a very good command of the German language. DSH-2 is equivalent to language level C1 according to the CEFR. Applicants who do not have sufficient German proficiency have the opportunity to take Preparatory German courses at the Department of German as a Foreign Language.

Mock Exams

Universität Regensburg does not provide digital DSH mock exams. You can buy a set of 5 mock exams (with audio CD) from the Office of the Department of German as a Foreign Language.

The DSH certificate is usually issued 3 weeks after the date of the exam by the Department of German as a Foreign Language. Alternatively, you can pick up your certificate in person from the Office of the Department of German as a Foreign Language. All candidates will receive more information via email as soon as the certificate are available.

The DSH certificate does not expire.

You can get a second certificate for €15. To request a second certificate, you can contact the Office of the Department of German as a Foreign Language. Please include your name, your current address, and the date of the exam.