Proof of German Proficiency

Applicants holding a foreign university entrance qualification who do not have German citizenship must prove their German language proficiency by passing a language examination recognized by the Film University.

This page provides information on when you need proof of German language proficiency, which German language proficiency is required for your desired degree program, and which language certificates are recognized by the Film University as proof of proficiency.

IMPORTANT: For your application to be processed, you must upload a copy of your language certificate together with your application documents within the stipulated application deadline.
Please also note the guidance for your application on this page.

When do you need proof of German?

You must prove your German language proficiency by means of a recognized language examination if you have acquired your university entrance qualification or completed your first degree program qualifying for a profession in a non-German-speaking country and do not hold German citizenship.

Which applicants do not need to present proof of German proficiency?

Applicants do not need to present proof of German proficiency if they can present one of the following certificates acquired abroad:

  • A university entrance qualification certificate from a German School Abroad recognized by the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK)
  • The proof of German proficiency in the French Diplôme du Baccalauréat acquired after attending a German-French bilingual program at a secondary school (agreement between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Government of the French Republic from July 7, 1980)
  • The French Diplôme du Baccalauréat, Option internationale of the German section
  • The European universiy entry qualification from the European Schools with a successful exam in German as either the first (L1) or sencond (L2) language
  • US Advanced Placement Exam (AP Exam) in German (resolution of the Conference of Ministers of Education (KMK) from September 10/11, 1992)
  • A university entrance qualification of the secondary school education of the German-speaking community of the Kingdom of Belgium
  • A certificate of secondary education of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
  • A university entrance qualification certificate of the schools with German as language of instruction in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/South Tyrol (Italy)
  • The university entrance qualification of the international German section at the Liceo Ginnasio "Luigi Galvani" in Bologna, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of the international German section at the Liceo Ginnasio "M. Gioia" in Piacenza, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of the international German section at the " Educandato Statale Collegio Uccelis" in Udine, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of a German-Irish bilingual secondary education (Bilingual Leaving Certificate) at St. Kilian's German School, Dublin, Ireland
  • The university entrance qualification of the bilingual department at the Liceo Ginnasio Statale "Romagnosi" in Parma and at the Liceo Classico Statale Socrate in Bari, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of the international German section at the Scuola Internazionale Europea "A.Spinelli" in Turin, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of the internationel German section at the Liceo Classico "Guiseppe Garibaldi" in Naples, Italy
  • The university entrance qualification of the international German section at the Liceo Classico Statale "Umberto I" in Palermo, Italy
  • The Polish "Matura" exam in German from a  bilingual lyceum with German as the second language

Which levels of German proficiency are required?

Important note: Only the following language certifications are accepted:

DSH-1

DSH-2

Bachelor Programs:

Acting, Animation, Cinematography, Editing, Directing, Production, Sound, Set Design, Visual Effects & Virtual Productions

Bachelor Programs:

Digital Media Culture, Screenwriting/Dramaturgy

Master Programs:

Direction of Animation, Cinematography, Creative Technologies, Directing, Editing, Film Music, Production, Sound for Picture, Set/Production Design

Master Programs:

Screenwriting/Dramaturgy, Film Heritage, Media Studies

Language certificates that are accepted by the Film University

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Language certificates that are accepted by the Film University

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German Language Test for University Admission (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang / DSH) – overall rating of at least DSH-1

German Language Test for University Admission (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang / DSH) – overall rating of at least DSH-2

Test of German as a Foreign Language (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache / TestDaF) – minimum of 3 points in each of the 4 categories

Test of German as a Foreign Language (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache / TestDaF) – minimum of 4 points in each of the 4 categories

Goethe-Zertifikat B2Goethe-Zertifikat C1
-telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule

Assessment Test (Feststellungsprüfung / FSP) of a German Studienkolleg institution

Assessment Test (Feststellungsprüfung / FSP) of a German Studienkolleg institution

Level-2 German Language Certificate of the Conference of Ministers of Education (Deutsches Sprachdiplom II der Kultusministerkonferenz / DSD II)

Level-2 German Language Certificate of the Conference of Ministers of Education (Deutsches Sprachdiplom II der Kultusministerkonferenz / DSD II)

German Proficiency Certificate (Deutsche Sprachprüfung II) of the Sprachen & Dolmetscher Institut (SDI) München

German Proficiency Certificate (Deutsche Sprachprüfung II) of the Sprachen & Dolmetscher Institut (SDI) München

 

Important notes for applicants

For your application to be processed, you must upload a copy of the language certificate confirming the level required by the degree program, together with your application documents, by the application deadline.

If you do not have a language certificate for the level required by the degree program by the application deadline, you may apply if you have any language certificate for a lower level.
If you do not have one of the language certificates listed above, we strongly recommend that you begin an appropriate language course immediately.


An application without a language certificate is incomplete and will not be accepted for the assessment procedure.

If you are admitted to your desired degree program, you must submit a language certificate confirming the level required by the degree program by the time you begin your studies.