Known for the country’s outstanding universities, Germany is a top pick among international students for their higher education. Complementing its name for cultural diversity, higher education institutions in Germany offer a wide range of programs that are affordable, recognized, and conducive for international students.

Most programs in Germany are taught in the German language, however, in recent years there’s been a spike in English-taught programs that are especially catered for foreign nationals. These programs often require proof of English language proficiency like IELTS which guarantees a student is fit to follow an English-taught program.

In this article, we look at some of the universities in Germany that accept an IELTS score of 6.0 and above.

Do Universities in Germany Consider Students with an IELTS Band of 6.0?

Most English-taught undergraduate and graduate programs require students to have an overall IELTS band score of 6.0 or above, with some universities requiring students to have 6.0 in all four individual modules of the exam. Since Germany is not English-speaking, an IELTS score of 6.0 or even 5.5 is considered proficient.

For example, the Free University of Berlin offers master’s programs in Biochemistry and Mathematics that require an IELTS score of just 5.0. Other examples include the Urban Management master’s degree offered by the Technical University of Berlin which requires an IELTS score of 6.0 and English-taught Bachelor of Arts or Sciences at the University of Freiburg which requires a B2 level of proficiency of the CEFR (equivalent of an IELTS overall band of 5.5-6.5).

Universities in Germany Accepting IELTS 6.0 Band Score

It’s wrong to assume that universities requiring lower IELTS scores are low-tier. Even some of the country’s top universities offer programs that only need an overall IELTS band score of 6.0.

1. Free University of Berlin

The Free University of Berlin is a hub for cultural diversity with 40,000 people hailing from 150 nations studying, teaching, or working at the prestigious institution. The university offers a North American Studies (Bachelor of Arts) program which is the only English-taught undergraduate program at the university. Apart from that there are several master’s programs in arts, sciences, law, and medicine that are fully taught in the English language.

The North American Studies program requires an English language proficiency level of C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for languages. A CEFR level of C1 corresponds to an IELTS score between 7.0 and 8.0. However, the master’s programs often require lower IELTS scores. Some of those master’s programs and their corresponding English language requirements are mentioned below.

  1. Master’s in Biochemistry – IELTS 5.0
  2. Master’s in Physics – IELTS 5.5 – 6.5
  3. Master’s in Planetary Sciences and Space Exploration – IELTS 5.5-6.5

To know more about the admission requirements of other English-taught programs at the university click here.

2. University of Tübingen

With over 48 degree programs taught in the English language, the University of Tübingen is ranked among the best in the world. Being one of the top public universities in the world, the university emphasizes practical education, research, and bringing diversity to the student community. The university has an international student body of around 10% enrolled across over 200 programs offered at the university.

An IELTS score of 6.0 could suffice for most English-taught Arts, Science, and Education master’s programs offered at the university. The Computational Linguistics Bachelor’s program is one of the undergraduate programs that require an IELTS score between 5.5 and 6.5.

3. University of Leipzig

The University of Leipzig is a popular pick among international students because of its affordability and quality standards of education. Being one of the oldest universities in the world, and the second oldest in Germany, the university has prospered well for over 6 centuries, opening up opportunities for international students too. While most programs are taught in the German language, some courses are taught entirely in English too.

The general English language proficiency level required to study at the University of Leipzig is a CEFR proficiency level of B2, which corresponds to an overall IELTS band score between 5.5 and 6.5. The Master’s programs in Anthropology and Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry are some programs that require a B2 level of proficiency. Explore more on the university’s “courses page”.

4. Humboldt University of Berlin

Humboldt University’s fierce competition for enrolment vouches for its excellence in affordable education as a private university in the capital city of Germany. With a history of over 200 years, the university has made it to the midst of the top university in the world.

Across disciplines, the most common language of instruction is German, with only some programs taught in the English language. For international students, programs like medicine, Master’s in Global History and Global Science, and some programs in law are made available provided they fulfill the English language proficiency level of at least a score of 6.0 in the IELTS exam.

5. Technical University of Munich

Known for its namesake for research and teaching especially in the fields of engineering and natural sciences, the Technical University of Munich is a leading university in Germany for international students. With one of the narrowest acceptance rates resembling world-class universities, the selection process for the university is very strict.

The university offers 178 degree programs, with several of them in the English language. It offers programs that are taught both in English and German. However, some programs are taught entirely in English. Notably, the university makes an exception for bachelor programs in aerospace, information engineering, management and technology, and sustainable management and technology where English language proficiency is verified through their aptitude test. The language requirements for other courses can be viewed on your course’s respective webpage.

6. University of Göttingen

Renowned internationally as a pioneer in providing research-based education in Germany, the University of Göttingen proudly boasts a sizable international student population. Over 4,500 students at the university hail from 138 nations across the world, with 510 partnership programs that the university is actively involved in. The university offers a few bachelor’s programs and over 50 master’s and Ph.D. programs in the English language.

The Bachelor of Arts in World Literature offered at the university which is partly taught in English requires a CEFR proficiency level of B2 equivalent to a score between 5.5 and 6.5. The university also offers many highly recognized master’s and Ph.D. programs which can be viewed in the courses page linked above.

7. University of Bonn

The University of Bonn is a leading research university in Germany with a relatively high acceptance rate. Most students online reflect on their wholesome study experience at this prestigious university.

The bachelor’s programs in Molecular Biomedicine, Media Studies, and Musicology/ Sound Studies that are conducted both in German and English accept an IELTS overall band score of 6.0 and above.

8. University of Freiburg

Founded in 1457, the University of Freiburg, also known as the Albert Ludwigs University, located in the heart of the city of Freiburg, easily programs international students.

The Bachelor of Arts program in Liberal Arts and Sciences is an entirely English-taught program at the university which requires a B2 level of proficiency. There are also other master’s programs in Physics, Social Sciences, and other fields that are conducted in English.

9. Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is a top public university in Germany for international students. The programs offered at the university are diverse with some mixtures of different fields and English-taught programs. The university’s only campus is located in the city of Düsseldorf, in the heart of Europe.

There are many English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programs at the university and many accept an IELTS score of 6.0. The Bachelor’s in Quantitative Biology for example requires only an IELTS score of 6.0. Other master’s programs at the university require only 5.5 on the IELTS language proficiency test.

10. University of Konstanz

With 13 departments across 3 faculties, the University of Konstanz is a public university known for its good teaching, relaxing atmosphere, and a variety of programs offered. The university has top-tier research facilities and boasts of international and interdisciplinary collaborations. The university offers programs in Latin, French, Italian, German, and English, with some programs not even requiring any certification of English language proficiency.

Several programs like Law, Sociology, and Philosophy are delivered in both German and English languages. These programs do not require any proof of foreign language skills.

11. University of Marburg

The University of Marburg is also one of the older universities in the country, but it has seen a spike in terms of international students in recent years. Being a public university, studying at this renowned institute is going to cost you much less than studying at a private university. Statistics reveal that the acceptance rate for the University of Marburg is 10% making it one of the more competitive universities to get into.

Admission requirements across programs vary at the university. The Department of Physics at the University of Marburg accepts an English language proficiency of B2 of the CEFR which corresponds to an IELTS overall band score between 5.5 and 6.5. Most other English-taught programs at the university also require a proficiency level of C2.

12. RWTH Aachen University

The experience of studying at RWTH Aachen University would be very light on the bank since all students are exempted from paying any tuition fees. The public university is one of the best institutions in Germany. The university, with its outstanding reputation in research and industry, educates over 40,000 students and offers around 50 degree programs taught in English.

While most programs at the RWTH Aachen University are conducted in German, the few programs that are taught in English, like the Bachelor’s in Computer Science, require an English proficiency level of B2 or IELTS 5.5 – 6.5. Students who are originally from native English-speaking countries are exempted from this requirement.

Tips to Score Well in the IELTS Exam

If you are not a native English speaker, the standards for the IELTS exam might seem a bit overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you secure a better overall band score in the IELTS exam.

Tip 1. Practice working with variety

When the accessible resource material is limited we tend to become fixated on the style and tone we use. The trick to overcome the monotone of uniformity when communicating is to add variety through your vocabulary. Read and listen to challenging material delivered in the English language like news, novels, and podcasts to accustom yourself to new vocabulary and styles of speaking.

Tip 2. Prepare as you should

Perfecting the study material is only going to get you so far. We recommend you also learn the format and scoring system of the IELTS exam to understand better how to score higher on the exam. This is part of your preparation.

It would be helpful if you time yourself and take some practice tests. Doing this would help you develop strategies to score points in the exam where it matters. There are plenty of resources online to make use of to help you do this.

Tip 3. Present yourself well

By definition, IELTS is an exam that assesses a student’s everyday English language skills employed in social and professional settings. It has partly got to do with how you carry yourself. Whether you are taking the exam or online, it can be a great idea for you to prepare yourself mentally and physically.

Dressing up in decent attire and showing up to the exam well-rested and hydrated are some tell-tale signs that you will be confident and capable of giving a good test.

 

Universities in Germany offer some of the best and most in-demand programs in English. Taking time to prepare yourself for the IELTS exam is very much worth it. We hope that these tips help you begin your educational journey at one of the top universities in the country.

 

For more information about studying abroad check out these pages – Study in Germany, English Proficiency Exams, and Available Programs in Europe! You’ll find everything you need from study programs to take, scholarships, tips, and more!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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