If you are a French speaker and would like to study in a German-speaking higher education institution

Amongst other things access to a degree course in Germany is dependent on being able to prove linguistic skills in German. There are two main certificates in German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache – DaF) which you might be asked for: the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) or the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF). Other diplomas / tests may also be accepted subject to certain conditions, such as the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KMK) Stufe II, the Zentrale Oberstufenprüfung (ZOP), the Kleines Deutsches Sprachdiplom (KDS) or the Grosses Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS).

Please note however that there is no general rule, so it is important to find out in advance about the requirements and admission criteria for your intended course, especially for cross-border courses.

You can prepare for these tests and diplomas at most of the „University of the Greater Region“ universities: Metz, Nancy or Liège, Kaiserslautern, Saarbrücken and Trier, with the exams being held in Germany. Saarland University also offers specialist German language courses: the programme includes physics, chemistry and biology.

If you are a German speaker and would like to study in a French-speaking higher education institution

Officially proving your command of French is also a step which will often be necessary for enrolling in an institution in France or Wallonia. The best known certificates and those most widely accepted are the Advanced Diploma of the French Language (DALF) and the Diploma of studies in French (DELF) which are the French equivalents of the English proficiency test TOEFL.

Please note that here too the rules vary, sometimes even from one course to another, so it is essential to find out about the requirements for your intended course.

Most of the universities of the „University of the Greater Region“ project can offer you preparation courses as well as the option of sitting the exams locally at recognised centres: the University of Liège, Paul-Verlaine University Metz and the universities of Nancy, Kaiserslautern and Trier.

We would like to draw your attention to the particular case of the University of Luxembourg, which has four teaching languages (German, English, French and Luxembourgish). As a command of more than one of these languages is one of the conditions of access to the courses available, no beginners' foreign language courses are offered. The University does however offer enrolled students the opportunity of perfecting their skills in German, English and French.

The „University of the Greater Region“ project aims to network the language centres of the partner universities in order to encourage multilingualism in the Greater Region.

For further information about the DSH and other German language diplomas / tests, consult the website of the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)

For further information about the DELF/DALF and other French language diplomas / tests, consult the website of the CIEP (Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques)

Language Centres

The language centres of the universities of the „University of the Greater Region“  project naturally offer other foreign language courses than German and French. Please consult the appropriate websites:

• Saarland University
• University of Liège
• Paul-Verlaine University Metz, Language Promotion Centre
• Paul-Verlaine University Metz, Department of Media and Languages
• University Henri Poincaré, Nancy
• National Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine
• University Nancy 2
• University of Kaiserslautern
• University of Trier, Language Centre