I have found the course to be well constructed and easy to follow. The interaction between instructor and students is particularly useful. German student, Autumn 2025

Available courses

Please note: The information on this page is only applicable to members of the public. If you work at the university, or are an existing undergraduate or postgraduate student, visit MySkills for more information.

The following German courses are available for members of the public, although not every course is available every term.

Stage 1.1: Suitable if you have never studied German before.

Stage 1.2: Enrol if you have completed Stage 1.1, or can:

• use basic structures and vocabulary related to greetings, introductions, family, numbers, time, food
• form simple sentences using present tense verbs, basic question forms, and negations
• engage in simple conversations

German for Business (equivalent to CEFR A1): Enrol if you have never learned German before and would like to learn the language for employment with German companies in the UK or abroad, or international companies trading with Germany. This course focuses on using the language in everyday situations alongside using German in work-specific contexts. It will give you the opportunity to:

• start developing proficiency in the language
• use the language within a work-related context
• further your understanding of German society, culture, and work environments
• enhance your employability skills and employment opportunities

Accreditation for the business strand of our German courses can be obtained by sitting the Goethe-Test PRO: Deutsch für den Beruf. For Stages 1 and 2 we encourage our students to accredit their proficiency by sitting the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 and A2 examinations.

Stage 2.1: Enrol if you have completed Stage 1.2, have Grade 4-6 in German GCSE or similar, or can:

• use basic structures and vocabulary related to everyday topics
• use the present and the perfect tense
• engage in longer conversations on familiar topics and express basic opinions

Stage 2.2: Enrol if you have completed Stage 2.1, have Grade 4-6 in German GCSE or similar, or can:

• use a wider range of vocabulary covering topics including work, education, hobbies
• use the present and perfect tense, the simple past tense, and have a good understanding of modal verbs
• engage in longer conversations on familiar topics, express basic opinions, and make suggestions

Stage 3.1 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.1): Enrol if you have completed Stage 2.2, have Grade 7–9 in German GCSE or similar, or:

• have a substantial vocabulary covering a wide range of topics
• can use different tenses, modal verbs, and have a sound understanding of basic German word order
• can engage in longer conversations and express opinions on a range of topics

Stage 3.2 (equivalent to CEFR level B1.2): Enrol if you have completed Stage 3.1, have Grade C at German AS level or equivalent, or:

• have an extensive vocabulary across a wide range of topics
• can use the different tenses, modal verbs, relative clauses, and more advanced grammatical structures
• can engage in reasonably fluent and spontaneous conversations, presenting arguments and expressing opinions

Stage 4.1 (equivalent to CEFR level B2.1): Enrol if you have completed Stage 3.2, have Grade A – B at German AS level or equivalent, have an A level in German or equivalent, if you have lived in a German speaking country, or you:

• have an extensive vocabulary across a wide range of topics
• have a strong command of grammar including passive voice, conditional tense
• can engage in reasonably fluent conversations on a wide range of topics

Stage 4.2 (equivalent to CEFR level B2.2): Enrol if you have completed Stage 4.1, have an A level in German or equivalent, have lived in a German speaking country, or you:

• have an extensive vocabulary across a wide range of topics
• have a strong command of German grammar including passive voice, conditional tense
• can engage in reasonably fluent conversations on a wide range of topics

German in your Suitcase: Gives students who prefer a less intensive option the chance to learn how to use the language effectively in real life situations. It's ideal if you have some basic knowledge of the language and want to brush this up to hold simple conversations when travelling. Enrol if you:

• have a basic knowledge of the language
• prefer a slower and more relaxed pace of learning
• would like to brush up your language for travel purposes

Goethe-Zertifikat Exam Preparatory Workshops (A1/A2/B1/B2): 5 preparatory workshops for all students who opt to sit for the Goethe-Zertifikat qualifications. These are held in the spring and run alongside the core courses; they're not available to enrol onto as standalone classes.

Placement test

If you have never learned German with us before, please take this placement test so that you know which course is suitable for you. To complete the test:

1. Select the test you would like to complete
2. To start the test click on Test starten
3. Click on weiter to move from one question to the next
4. After you answer the final question click Test beenden

You will then receive your result. This is an example of the result from the A1.1 placement test:

• Sie haben den Test beendet (You have finished the test)
• Ihr Ergebnis: 23.5 von 25 Punkten (Your result: 23.5 out of 25 points)
• Sie können mit A1.2 beginnen (You can start with A1.2)

This table shows the class that is most appropriate for each Placement Test score:

We recommend reading our Terms and Conditions for information about what to do if you enrol at the wrong level and need to transfer to a different course.

Course timetable

Enrolment on our Spring 2026 courses is now closed.

Our Spring 2026 courses are now closed and we cannot accept any late bookings. If you would like to be notified when enrolments open for any future courses, please complete this form.

Course fees

Course fees will be published when future courses are available to book.

Terms and Conditions

Please make sure you have read and understood our Terms and Conditions before enrolling on a course. By purchasing a course, you will be deemed to have accepted the Terms and Conditions, so it's important you have read them before you complete your purchase.

All personal data will be collected and processed in accordance with UK GDPR and any other relevant legislation. Further details of how your personal data will be processed can be found in our Terms and Conditions. Some of our courses are delivered online. As part of the online delivery via Teams / Zoom, please note that your username and email address used to attend the lessons will be visible to other students.

Qualifications

You have the option of entering for Goethe-Zertifikat qualifications at A1, A2, B1 or B2 level. Goethe-Zertifikat exams take place on campus at the end of the academic year. To help you prepare for the exams, you can join our Goethe-Zertifikat preparation workshops in the spring, which are offered free of charge if you are enrolled on another German course; they are not available to join as standalone classes. If you would like to join the relevant workshop, please speak to your teacher after you have enrolled on your core course.

More ways to develop your German language skills

Outside the classroom, we share cultural events organised by German associations in the UK such as the Goethe-Institut London, UK-German Connection and Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) with our students. These events offer additional opportunities for you to develop your knowledge of German language and culture.

We also organise our own cultural events and Language Cafés. If you are enrolled on a language course, you are welcome to take part in these activities; please ask your teacher for more details after you have enrolled.

Information for students and staff

The information on this page is only applicable to members of the public, who are not employed by the university or studying here as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.

If you work at the university, or are an existing undergraduate or postgraduate student, please visit MySkills to find out about the language courses available to you.