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

The following German courses are available for members of the public, although not every course is available every term. Check the course timetable below to see which courses are running in Autumn and Spring 2025-26.

Stage 1.1: This course is 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: This course gives students who prefer a less intensive option the chance to learn how to use the language effectively in real life situations. It is ideal if you already have some basic knowledge of the language and would like to brush this up to be able 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): A set of 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.

2025-26 course timetable

Enrolment on our Autumn courses is now closed.

Spring 2026

Enrolment on our Spring 2026 courses will close on 23 January 2026 at midday.

Teaching starts w/c 9 February 2026 until w/c 27 April 2026. There is no teaching w/c 30 March 2026 and w/c 6 April 2026 due to Easter. All courses take place in person at our Claverton Down campus.

You can meet the teacher or the Languages Team before teaching starts the following week. For all Meet the teacher sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Please read and understand our Terms and Conditions before enrolling.

Course fees

Course fees for 2025-26 are:

Fees include all tuition and course materials and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment, through our online booking system.

Available discounts

We offer a 10% discount to Discovery Card holders. To qualify for the discount, you should:

1. Enrol on your chosen course and pay the full course fee.
2. Complete this form to request your Discovery Card discount.
3. We will verify the details you have provided and issue you a refund of 10% of the course fee within 5 working days of receiving your refund request.

The Discovery Card discount is only available on full course fees, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discounts, including the subsidised prices offered to University students and staff.

Qualification fees

You may wish to take up the opportunity of entering for a globally recognised language qualification, to accredit your language proficiency. Exam preparation workshops are offered in the Spring alongside the core language course at no additional charge. You must be enrolled on a language course to be able to join the exam preparation workshops; they are not available to enrol onto as standalone courses.

If you choose to enter for an examination, additional costs will be payable for examination entry to the respective awarding organisations. These costs vary by language, level and provider and are subject to change, but typically range from £70 to £250 per exam. Full details of costs can be found on the awarding bodies' websites and will be provided by your teacher. Please note that if you choose not to take an exam, the costs are limited to the course fees.

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.

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.

Meet the teacher

You can come along to meet the teacher and ask any questions about your course before teaching starts the following week. There are also opportunities to meet the Languages Team. For all the sessions, just drop in at the time that suits you best.

Spring 2026

To locate a room, read more information on finding your way around campus.