Why universities ask for proof, and the CEFR scale behind it
Universities need evidence that incoming students can follow lectures, write assignments and sit exams in the language of instruction, so almost every degree programme — including English-taught ones in non-English-speaking countries — sets a minimum language level as a formal admission requirement. That level is expressed via the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): a shared six-step scale, from A1 and A2 (basic use) through B1 and B2 (independent use) to C1 and C2 (proficient, near-native use), which every major test reports its own scores against. In practice, bachelor's programmes commonly ask for around B2 — German university guidance points to B2 as the level that satisfies the language requirements of the large majority of degree programmes — while master's and doctoral admission more often expects C1. [1] [2]
Proving English: IELTS, TOEFL iBT and other accepted tests
IELTS, jointly owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, is the most widely used English test for university admission worldwide. Its Academic version tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking on a 0–9 band scale in half-point steps within a roughly two-hour-45-minute sitting, and IELTS itself recommends treating a result as valid for two years. TOEFL iBT, run by ETS, tests the same four skills and is accepted by more than 13,000 institutions in over 160 countries. As of 21 January 2026, ETS moved TOEFL iBT to a new 1–6 overall scale, still reporting a comparable 0–120-style score during a two-year transition period; TOEFL scores likewise remain valid for two years from the test date. A growing number of programmes also accept Cambridge English qualifications (up to C2 Proficiency) or the Duolingo English Test, but acceptance is decided programme by programme, so always check the admissions page before booking. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Proving German: TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat and more
For German-taught programmes, DAAD names two main exams: TestDaF, available at more than 500 test centres in around 100 countries and usually taken before leaving home, and the DSH exam, which is taken in Germany itself — typically after arrival — and offered by many higher-education institutions directly. TestDaF results (TDN levels) are recognised by every German university and, per TestDaF's own information, never expire once issued. Several further certificates are accepted by many, though not all, institutions: the Goethe-Zertifikat C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the Deutsches Sprachdiplom level II and, for some degree programmes, the Goethe-Zertifikat B2/C1 or ÖSD Zertifikat B2/C1. Because, in DAAD's own words, institutions set their own specific rules for each degree programme, always confirm the accepted certificate and required level directly with the programme before registering for an exam. [2] [8]
Other languages: French and beyond
France runs its own official exams through the Ministry of National Education and France Éducation International: the TCF is valid for two years, the TEF (administered by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce) is scored on a 0–7 scale, and the DELF and DALF diplomas — unlike most other certificates covered here — are valid indefinitely once awarded. French-taught programmes generally accept one of these, alongside the university-track DUEF diploma for students completing a preparatory French course. Other EU study languages work on the same principle: each country runs its own recognised test through a national ministry or cultural institute — such as Spain's DELE or Italy's CILS/CELI — and the destination university's admissions page names exactly which one it accepts. [9]
When you may be exempt from a language test
Two situations most often lead to an exemption. First, short or English-medium stays: DAAD notes that international and postgraduate programmes taught in English, as well as typical two- to three-semester exchange stays, are generally not held to the German-language requirement — though they still need proof of English instead. Second, prior education: many universities waive a test for applicants who hold the citizenship of a country where the teaching language is official, or who completed secondary or higher education fully taught and examined in that language. Neither exemption is automatic or EU-wide — each university decides case by case — so request it in writing from the admissions office, and keep the answer, before skipping a test you might still need. [2] [1]
Costs, timing and how to plan your test
Test fees are set independently by provider and test centre and vary considerably by country, so treat any figure found online as a starting point and confirm your own city's fee on the provider's site. Processing time matters more than most applicants expect: IELTS computer-delivered results arrive in one to two days, online in six to eight and paper-based in about 13, while TOEFL iBT reports reach institutions in roughly four to twelve business days depending on delivery method, longer by post. A practical sequence: (1) confirm the exact test, minimum level and deadline on the programme's own admissions page, never a summary site alone; (2) book with enough buffer for both the test date and that reporting time; (3) have official score reports sent directly to the institution, not only a personal copy; (4) keep the certificate afterwards, since some countries' visa or residence-permit applications ask for it again. [10] [4] [7]
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL if my programme is taught in English but the country isn't English-speaking?
Usually yes. Studying in English in, say, Germany or the Netherlands does not remove the language-proof requirement — it just changes which language is tested. DAAD, for example, confirms that English-taught international and postgraduate programmes are exempted from the German-language requirement precisely because they instead ask for proof of English, most often IELTS, TOEFL or an equivalent the programme names. [2]
How long are my test results valid?
It depends on the test, not on a single EU-wide rule. TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date, and IELTS recommends the same two-year guideline for its results. TestDaF certificates and the French DELF/DALF diplomas, by contrast, never expire. Whatever the test provider's own policy, check separately whether your target university sets a stricter window for admission purposes. [4] [7] [8] [9]
Are there fee reductions or waivers for language tests?
Fees are set by each test provider and local test centre, so they differ by country and sometimes by city, and no single EU-wide discount or waiver scheme applies. If cost is a concern, ask the test provider's local office about any reduced-fee arrangement in your country, and ask your target university's international or financial-aid office whether it offers support towards test fees. [10]
Can I be exempted from submitting a language certificate?
Sometimes, but never automatically. The two most common grounds are citizenship of a country where the teaching language is official, and prior education taught and examined entirely in that language. Both are decided by the individual university case by case — DAAD's own guidance stresses that institutions set their own rules per programme — so request the exemption in writing before assuming it applies. [2] [1]
IELTS, TOEFL or a national test like TestDaF — which should I take?
Whichever your target programme actually lists as accepted — that single detail matters more than any general reputation one test has over another. If several are accepted, decide on practical grounds: test-centre availability near you, format (computer, online or paper) and, since fees vary by location, cost. All major tests report onto the same CEFR scale, so none is inherently a "harder" or "easier" route to the required level. [3] [6] [8]
Sources
- IELTS — Official Website (British Council / IDP / Cambridge) · accessed on ↩
- IELTS Scoring in Detail · accessed on ↩
- IELTS Academic Test — Format and Purpose · accessed on ↩
- Booking Your IELTS Test · accessed on ↩
- TOEFL iBT Test — Official Overview (ETS) · accessed on ↩
- TOEFL iBT Scores — Understand Your Scores (ETS) · accessed on ↩
- Requirements Overview - DAAD · accessed on ↩
- German Language Certificates for University Admission - DAAD · accessed on ↩
- TestDaF — Official Website · accessed on ↩
- Learning French - Campus France · accessed on ↩