TUHH: Language Courses at TUHH

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Language Courses and Credit Recognition

Our semester-long language courses are generally open to all members of TUHH. However, some courses are specifically designed for particular groups, such as students enrolled in English-taught degree programs or doctoral candidates.

Below you will find an overview of the courses, including their respective target groups and information on whether credits can be awarded. Please note that this information is provided for guidance only and is not legally binding. Be sure to also consult the examination regulations applicable to your degree program, which you can find here.

A complete overview of all language offers is available here.

Bachelor and master students (German-language study programs)

Course and number of credits	Eligibility	Countable towards NTA area*
Language courses in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Hamburg (VHS), 3 credits, different levels	x	2 CP
German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses in cooperation with the VHS, 4 credits (Levels A1 to C1.2)	find information here (General information and recognition)
German courses for students in international degree programs in cooperation with IBH (international master and bachelor programs), 4 credits (from Level A1)	-	-
Course Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft (from Level B1), 4 credits	x	2 CP
x = Eligible - = Not eligible * = A maximum of 2 credits in the bachelor's and in the master`s programs are eligible for recognition. A foreign language course of the same language at the same language level can only be recognized once in the non-technical supplementary courses and only in the Bachelor's or Master's programs.

Students in English-language degree programs

Students in most English-language degree programs are generally required by the Subject-Specific Examination Regulations to complete 4 credits in a German course (IBH) or the course Literatur, Kultur und Wissenschaft. Make sure to check your study program’s current FSPO to see if a mandatory German course applies to you. After completing the compulsory German course, a further German course (IBH/VHS) is an additional option, which is recognised with 2 credits. Further details below.

Course and number of credits	Eligibility	Countable towards NTA area*
Language courses in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Hamburg (VHS), 3 credits, different levels	x	0 CP or up to 2 CP
German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses in cooperation with the VHS, 4 credits (Levels A1 to C1.2)	x	0 CP or up to 2 CP
German courses for students in international degree programs in cooperation with IBH (international master and bachelor programs), 4 credits (from Level A1)	x	4 CP
Course Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft (from Level B1), 4 credits	x	4 CP
x = Eligible - = Not eligible * = Non-technical Students in most English-taught programs are generally required by the Subject-Specific Examination Regulations to complete one German course worth 4 credits with IBH or through the course "Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft". Students who are exempt from the German requirement according to Annex 1 to the study regulations are not required to take this course. After completing the required German course with IBH, students may take an additional German course (IBH or VHS), which can count for a maximum of 2 credits in the NTA area. However, this additional course can only be counted as a non-technical elective if it is taken at a higher level than the previously completed course. A VHS German course can only be recognised as an NTA (with 2 CP) if you have previously completed an IBH course. Thematic German courses (e.g., "Deutsch für den Berufseinstieg" or "Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft") cannot currently be counted as the second German course for the NTA module. If you have already earned credits from such a thematic course, no additional credits can be obtained from another German course. Foreign language courses are generally not eligible for credit recognition. If a student has been officially exempted from the German requirement, up to 2 credits in the Bachelor’s program and 2 credits in the Master’s program may be counted from VHS language courses. A language course in the same language at the same proficiency level can only be counted once in the non-technical supplementary area.

Exchange students

Course and number of credits	Eligibility	Credits to be transferred to home university*
Language courses in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Hamburg (VHS), 3 credits, different levels	x	3 CP
German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses in cooperation with the VHS, 4 credits (Levels A1 to C1.2)	x	4 CP
German courses for students in international degree programs in cooperation with IBH (international master and bachelor programs), 4 credits (from Level A1)	-	-
Course Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft (from Level B1), 4 credits	x	4 CP
x = Eligible - = Not eligible * = Language courses generally have a workload of 3 ECTS. For TUHH students, however, only 2 ECTS are recorded on the transcript in accordance with the regulations for non-technical subjects. The actual workload of 3 ECTS is documented on the VHS certificate and can be used for recognition at the home university.

PhD candidates

Course and number of credits	Eligibility
Language courses in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Hamburg (VHS), 3 credits, different levels	x
German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses in cooperation with the VHS, 4 credits (Levels A1 to C1.2)	x
German courses for students in international degree programs in cooperation with IBH (international master and bachelor programs), 4 credits (from Level A1)	only special thematic courses
Course Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft (from Level B1), 4 credits	x
x = Eligible - = Not eligible

Other employees

Course and number of credits	Eligibility
Language courses in cooperation with the Volkshochschule Hamburg (VHS), 3 credits, different levels	x
German as a Foreign Language (DaF) courses in cooperation with the VHS, 4 credits (Levels A1 to C1.2)	x
German courses for students in international degree programs (international master and bachelor programs), 4 credits (from Level A1)	-
Course Kultur, Literatur und Wissenschaft (from Level B1), 4 credits	-
x = Eligible - = Not eligible