Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible participants for the Language Center courses include students and staff of KIT, students from other universities, as well as students from Eucor and EPICUR universities.
Please note: You may not attend courses in your own native language (e.g., native Spanish speakers may not participate in Spanish courses). ECTS credits earned in such cases will not be accepted by the faculties.

Semester courses take place during the lecture period and begin in the second week of lectures. Information regarding intensive courses during the lecture-free period is posted on our homepage. The Language Center is located in two buildings: Bldg. 08.03 (near Marktplatz) and Bldg. 50.20 (at Durlacher Tor). You can find the exact locations under Contact and Directions.

Registration for our courses is handled via SignMeUp. Those interested in an English course who have not previously participated in one must take a placement test before registering. No placement test is required for other languages.

Priority Registration: Students in certain degree programs (e.g., EUKLID, Ethics, Art History) as well as students and staff preparing for a stay abroad may be eligible for priority registration (usually 4 weeks before the regular start).

All details regarding dates and required documentation can be found under Registration.

One course per semester is free of charge for KIT students and students of Eucor and EPICUR universities (funded by quality assurance resources). Additional courses in the same semester are subject to a fee. General information can be found under Fees.

Eligibility for a 50% discount on course fees is determined by the center's statutes. You can find out what you need to keep in mind here.
Important: Documentation must be presented upfront. Retrospective refunds are not possible!

Intensive courses for English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish are offered during the lecture-free period. Further information on dates can be found under the respective language section.

Min.: 10 (beginner courses) or 7 (advanced courses)
Max.: up to 25 participants.

The Language Center offers the option of earning ECTS credits (SQ/ÜQ) in both semester and intensive courses. Information regarding requirements and the credit transfer process can be found under Key Qualifications.

The Language Center does not issue separate language certificates for course participation. If you require proof of language proficiency for a semester abroad (e.g., Erasmus), you can use your transcript of records. You can read about how to include language courses in your transcript under "How do I get ECTS points (Credits)?". If a language course is not sufficient for your application, you can take a Language Proficiency Test to verify your current level.

The provisional program (subject to change) including course times is published on the respective language pages approximately one month before the start of the course. Please check the details again shortly before registering and before attending the first lesson, as short-term changes may occur.

Yes! Exams are regularly offered for English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Please find more information here. Students from other universities may only take exams with us for languages not offered at their home institution. According to the statutes, a fee of 35 EUR applies for such exams, payable via bank transfer.

Language 1: for absolute beginners or those with almost no prior knowledge.
Language 2: for beginners with minor prior knowledge.
Language 3: solid basic knowledge.
Language 4: good colloquial skills.

Language Intensive: Intensive course with 3 SWS. After two intensive courses, you reach the level normally achieved after three standard courses (2 SWS).
Language rápido / express 1: 4 SWS covering the content of Language 1 and 2 within one semester.
Language rápido / express 2: 4 SWS covering the content of Language 3 and 4 within one semester.

Current Topics / Conversation: Participants should be able to speak fluently on moderately difficult subjects (independent language use).
Technical/Business Language: Specialized technical or business-oriented content.
Parallel courses are distinguished by letters (e.g., Chinese 1 a, 1 b, 1 c) but represent the same level. Information on content and materials will be provided by the teachers.

English courses are accredited for UNIcert^® certification and are structured differently. More info here.

You can check the "Content" page of the respective course to see if a book is required. If so, we recommend the KIT book exchange.

Visit the office hours of the respective department heads or send them an email. You can find your contact persons under Contact.