One of the essential qualifications international students must have and prove is, without a doubt, English language proficiency to study higher education abroad, including in Germany. Universities in Germany offer numerous degree programs taught in English, and hence, English language acquisition must be the top priority for international students to increase their chances of being enrolled in a study program in Germany.
Students applying to degree programs in Germany must prove their English language skills by providing their proficiency scores in IELTS, a globally recognized and accredited English proficiency exam. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about minimum IELTS Academic requirements at the top universities in Germany.
Do Universities in Germany Consider Students Who Have Not Passed the IELTS Exam?
The answer is, no. The majority of study programs in Germany require students to pass the minimum IELTS band, and even though there are a few universities that may not ask for the IELTS score, international students must prove their English language skills via IELTS to obtain their student visa. In this case, a certificate of the highest IELTS Academic band is a major requirement to be able to study in Germany.
However, students enrolled in a German-taught program are exempt from this requirement, yet similar to English-taught programs, they are expected to prove their German language proficiency to be able to have a study permit and enroll in a study program in the German language.
Minimum IELTS Band Requirements in German Universities
Below, we list the most prestigious German universities and their minimum IELTS Band requirements.
1. Technical University of Berlin
Founded in 1771, Technical University of Berlin is a respected public research university in Germany. There are several English-taught programs, including computer science, space engineering, urban design, and more. Undergraduate courses at the Technical University of Berlin are mainly taught in German, yet some programs may require additional documentation of English via IELTS Academic. However, there are more English-taught options at the master’s level, and proving English skills via IELTS is mandatory.
Please note that the English language requirement is not only for English-taught programs but also for some German-taught programs that have English-taught courses in their curriculum; hence, it’s best to advise program-specific requirements on the university’s catalog.
2. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) is a prestigious university offering a variety of English-taught international programs, mainly at the master’s level. Popular programs at LMU are biochemistry, astrophysics, chemistry, and physics. There are several options for entirely or partially English-taught programs, and the language requirements depend on the prerequisites of each study program.
International students enrolled in degree programs entirely delivered in English are obliged to prove their English language proficiency by obtaining a minimum band of 6.5 in IELTS Academic for most programs, yet for program-specific requirements.
3. University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg, or in other words, Freiburg Albert-Ludwigs University, is the fifth-oldest university in Germany and is respected globally for its quality education. Freiburg is also known for its diverse campus, hosting over 4,000 international students in its degree programs.
Freiburg offers a wide range of English-taught programs at both bachelor’s and master’s levels, and the English proficiency requirement is B2 of the CEFR, which is equivalent to band 5.5 or above in IELTS Academic. The recommended score, however, should be 6.5 or above to be able to document the advanced level – B2 or above – in English.
4. Bielefeld University
Located in Bielefeld, Bielefeld University is one of the prominent universities in Germany, and it is known for its unique style of academics and organization by recognizing research as the main stance of its vision and mission. Bielefeld has a variety of English-medium programs at the master’s level, some of which include data science, sociology, quantitative economics, mathematics, and more.
Bielefeld University requires a minimum score of 5.5 in IELTS Academic for English-taught study programs, equivalent to the B2 level of CEFR. However, one exception is the master’s in British and American Studies, where students must obtain a minimum of band 7.0 in IELTS to be eligible for the program. For more programs accepting IELTS scores, you can find the university page and check the language requirements.
5. University of Tübingen
The University of Tübingen is a prestigious public research university located in the Baden-Württemberg state. Tübingen is prominent in various disciplines, specifically in medicine, law, humanities, and history. Moreover, artificial intelligence studies have recently gained increasing importance with innovations and research opportunities at the university.
Tübingen has a welcoming attitude toward international students and offers numerous programs taught in English at the postgraduate level, from economics to biochemistry, archeology, geosciences, mathematical physics, or nanoscience. As the program catalog is rich at Tübingen, the required IELTS Academic scores range from band 6 to 7, depending on the program prerequisites. Most programs require band 6.5, yet some programs, such as neurobiology, require band 6.0, whereas some other programs, such as machine learning, expect students to obtain a minimum of band 7.0 in IELTS.
Proving English language skills is an essential step for students to raise their chances of being enrolled in the best universities in Germany, yet it’s also crucial to obtain a high score in IELTS to be able to stand out during the application period. The first thing you should do is to start preparing for the IELTS Academic and obtain the highest band you can get.
We hope that this article on IELTS Band requirements for universities in Germany was helpful. You can check out the English Language Proficiency Exams to better prepare for the language requirements needed for admission. If you are interested in studying in Germany, make sure to check out Available Programs in Germany for international students!
