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General Information on Proof of Language Proficiency

General

If you require proof of language proficiency for a stay abroad or an application, such as for a degree program or an internship, you can take the corresponding examination at the language center. The examination will determine your current language level according to the proficiency levels (A1-C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Requirements

In order to obtain proof of language proficiency at the Language Center, you must be studying or working at Philipps University.

Cost and Payment Method

The fee for the proof of language proficiency is €30.00 and is paid via SEPA direct debit.

Registration and Organization

Registration for an examination date is necessary. Please read the information for the specific language (see below) for details on the process.

Important Points to Note

  • Before the examination date, you must undertake certain preparatory steps. Therefore, please read the information for the specific language carefully.
  • Please schedule an appointment at least two weeks before the end of your application deadline.
  • The DAAD proof of language document is only available for students planning a stay abroad; for master's applications, you will receive a proof of language document from the Language Center.
  • Both documents do not hold the same value as internationally recognized certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, Goethe certificates, TestDaF, DELE, DELF, DELI, etc. Please inform yourself about which certificate you need to submit.
  • The proof of language proficiency is issued based on an examination or course participation at the Language Center, not based on school certificates, achievements, or self-assessments.
  • Theproof of language proficiency is not an exam for which specific content is learned and tested. For meaningful preparation, you can use the Self-Learning Center and the provided links and materials. For questions and advice, you can also contact the assistants at the Self-Learning Center.

Specific details for each language

  • German as a foreign language

    Your contact person is Astrid Burmester

    The exam itself takes about 75–90 minutes depending on your language level. You first take a listening test and will then work on a reading text with a writing task. At the end, there will be an interview of about 10 minutes about the content of the text.

    Please submit the fully completed registration form before the scheduled date of your exam, either as an original to the Service Center (Room 023, Biegenstraße 12) or as a scanned copy via email to .

    After the exam, the examiner will fill in and stamp your certificate template. You will receive the original if you can provide proof of payment.

  • English

    Your contact person is Dr. Fabienne Quennet.

    Procedure


    1) Please contact the International Office (Erasmus and non-European mobility programs), your department, or the foreign university to find out which language certificate and language proficiency level you need. The certificate is valid for two years. 

    2) If necessary, find out about the language levels of the Common European Framework of Reference. 
    If you would like to consult with us—for example, to get an assessment of whether it is realistic for you to achieve the required level—please send an email to Dr. Quennet.

    3) Book an appointement for the oral exam AND for the computer-based written test at the Self-Study Center on our website. This applies from October 2026 onward.  If possible, you should take the computer-based written test before your oral exam.

    4) If you are planning to study abroad, please fill out the DAAD language certificate. (Please fill in the first page with your information and a scanned copy of your signature, and put your name and English into the heading of every single page. Then send the PDF back to quennet@staff.uni-marburg.de - even before you have completed all the parts of the test. Do not save the file as a read-only PDF. The language center's certificate (f.ex. for Master program applications) must be downloaded from our document center, printed and brought to the oral exam.

    5) If you need a language proficiency certificate for enrollment at Philipps University (e.g., for a master’s program application), you will need the language certificate provided by the Language Center. After you have completed the written and oral parts of the test, please contact Dr. Quennet in person to have the certificate issued. (Biegenstraße 12, Room 012)

    6) If you are taking an English course at the moment, please print out either the DAAD language certificate OR language certificate provided by the Language Center and ask your course instructor if he or she can fill in the form. If they can access your proficiency, they will tick the correct boxes. Once they did this, you have to go to the Service Center to let the form be stamped with the official stamp. 

    Come to the self-study center for the written test (75 min: vocabulary questions, a writing assignment based on a text, reading and listening comprehension + log in time). Check the fixed dates for the written test below. If you can not make the dates, go to the self-study at a convenient time for you; be sure to check the hours of the self-study center.  Please bring your own device plus a headset in case the eight pc station will be taken up. No extra registration needed.

    7) Come to the Self-Study Center on the scheduled date for the computer-based written test which includes reading, comprehension, and vocabulary questions, listening comprehension, and a writing task based on the text you read - (75 min). Only if you are truly unable to attend any of the scheduled dates for the written part of the test you may come to the Self-Study Center during its regular opening hours and take the test there. No separate registration is required for these times; however, the center is operating as usual and there is no formal testing environment (keyword: noise level).

    8) Please arrive on time for your oral exam. After the exam, we will issue your certificate. The DAAD language certificate will be sent to you as a PDF. The language certificate is valid for two years.

    If you have any questions or problems, please contact .



  • French

    Your contact person is Ariane Wenz.

    If you need a “Language Certificate for Candidates from Germany Applying for a DAAD Scholarship Abroad” and do not yet have a template, please download the necessary DAAD document. Contact Ms Wenz to make an appointment for the on-site exam and to receive the login information for the online test.

    Please send the completed questionnaire to Ariane Wenz. Take the online test before you take the on-site exam.

    Please submit the fully completed registration form before the scheduled date of your exam, either as an original to the Service Center (Room 023, Biegenstraße 12) or as a scanned copy via email to .

    The exam takes about 90 minutes, and it consists of a written and an oral part. The written part includes tasks on reading and listening comprehension as well as a production task. After the written part, there will be a 10-minute interview.

    You will receive the language certificate immediately after the exam.

  • Italian

    Your contact person is Elisa Saresera. 

    If you need a “Language Certificate for Candidates from Germany Applying for a DAAD Scholarship Abroad” and do not yet have a template, please download the necessary DAAD document. Contact Elisa Saresera to make an appointment for the on-site exam and to receive the login information for the online test.

    Please send the completed questionnaire to Elisa Saresera.

    Please submit the fully completed registration form before the scheduled date of your exam, either as an original to the Service Center (Room 023, Biegenstraße 12) or as a scanned copy via email to .

    The on-site test takes about 90 minutes, and it consists of a written and an oral part. The written part includes tasks on reading and listening comprehension as well as a production task. After the written part, there will be a 10-minute interview.

    You typically receive your language certificate about one week after the exam.

  • Japanese

    Your contact person is Akiko Sawatari-Elter.

    If you do not yet have a template for your language certificate, please download a copy of the necessary DAAD document. Inquire with Ms. Sawatari-Elter about available times for an appointment.

    Please submit the fully completed registration form before the scheduled date of your exam, either as an original to the Service Center (Room 023, Biegenstraße 12) or as a scanned copy via email to .

    The exam takes about 60 minutes. You will read a text and work on a production task. After the written part, there will be a 10-minute interview about the subject of the text.

    You will receive your language certificate immediately after the exam.

  • Spanish

    Your contact person is Dr. Edmund Voges.

    If you do not yet have a template for your language certificate, please download a copy of the necessary document for your specific purpose. The most common certificate used is the language certificate of the DAAD.

    Steps:
    1) Please register online for a date: Go to the registration for an exam date

    2) Please send the completed questionnaire to Dr. Edmund Voges. Please complete the online test of the Instituto Cervantes and send your result along with your email.

    3) Please come to the Language Center on your booked date. The exam will take approx. 90 minutes and consists of a written and an oral part. The written part of the exam covers listening and reading tasks, tasks on vocabulary and grammar and will also contain a written text production. The written part of the exam will be followed by a 10-minute oral interview.

    You will receive the language certificate immediately after the exam.