Germany guide · German language · 3 min read
How much German you need, for study and for work, and how long it takes from Nepal.
For an English-taught master's in Germany you don't need German to get in, but A2 makes daily life and part-time work possible, and B1 is needed for settlement later. For a German-taught bachelor's you usually need B2 to C1 (TestDaF or DSH), and B1 to sit a Studienkolleg entrance test. From zero, most of our students reach A2 in 3 to 4 months of classes and B1 in 6 to 9.
The short version
- English-taught master's: no German needed to enter, but A2 for daily life and part-time jobs.
- German-taught bachelor's: usually B2 to C1 (TestDaF or DSH); B1 for most Studienkolleg entrance tests.
- Settlement later usually needs B1.
- From zero, with regular classes: A2 in 3 to 4 months, B1 in 6 to 9 months.
- Tests: Goethe-Zertifikat, telc, ÖSD for general levels; TestDaF or DSH for German-taught degrees.
The levels, in plain words
| Level | What you can do | Typical time from zero, with regular classes |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Introduce yourself, shop, ask simple questions | 6 to 8 weeks |
| A2 | Handle daily life: the bank, the landlord, a simple job | 3 to 4 months |
| B1 | Work in German in many jobs; talk about your studies | 6 to 9 months |
| B2 | Follow most lectures; study some subjects in German | 9 to 12 months |
| C1 | Study and work comfortably in German | 12 to 18 months |
These are the levels of the Common European Framework (CEFR), used by every German test.
Which level your route needs
| Your route | To get in | To live and work well |
|---|---|---|
| English-taught master’s | None (IELTS or TOEFL for English) | A2 to B1 |
| Studienkolleg after +2 | Usually B1 for the entrance test | B2 by the end |
| German-taught bachelor’s | B2 to C1 (TestDaF or DSH) | C1 |
| Settlement after graduating | B1 | |
| Opportunity Card | A1 or English B2 for points |
The tests
| Test | Use | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat (A1 to C2) | General proof of level, accepted widely | Goethe-Zentrum Kathmandu and partner schools |
| telc Deutsch | General proof; telc C1 Hochschule for universities | Licensed centres |
| ÖSD | General proof | Licensed centres |
| TestDaF | German-taught degrees (usually TDN 4 in all four parts) | Test centres; check dates and the nearest centre |
| DSH | German-taught degrees, taken at the German university | In Germany |
How to fit German into your plan
| If your intake is | Start German |
|---|---|
| An English master’s in October | By February, to land with A2 |
| Studienkolleg | 9 to 12 months before the entrance test |
| A German-taught bachelor’s | 12 to 18 months before |
From our files. Sagar Rai started German classes the week he applied for his MSc in Mechatronics in Chemnitz and landed with A2, so he could look for part-time work from his first week. It was the first step to the B1 he’ll need for settlement.
Learning German alongside IELTS
Many students need both: IELTS for an English master’s, German for life. Do them in that order if your intake is close (IELTS first, because the admission depends on it), or in parallel with fewer hours of each if you have a year. Our IELTS classes run 6 weeks; German usually takes longer, so start it first.
Our view
Students who skip German because their master’s is in English usually regret it by the second month. You don’t need fluency to arrive. You need enough to rent a room, open a bank account and take a job, and that’s A2, about 3 to 4 months of classes.
