ISSK offers German language courses for students, PhD candidates, postdocs, visiting scholars, and employees at JGU. All classes take place during the semester and are free of charge for members of JGU and participants from cooperating academic institutions.

Please note: The registration period for ISSK courses differ from registration phases of the regular semester events at JGU. Please find registration dates here.

Registration is conducted in three steps. We look forward to seeing you!

Our German language courses are divided into different levels according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF or CEFR) and some have a specific focus (e.g. program of study & appointment or scientific writing). You can find more details in the course descriptions.

The language level is taught over 2 semesters. Depending on demand, several
courses (a, b, c, ...) are offered.

German course A1.1a (absolute beginners)
Instructor: Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen
German course A1.1b (absolute beginners)
Instructor: Julia Kraft
German course A1.2 (beginners with a solid foundation in the A1.1 level)
Instructor: Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen

SoSe 2026

The language level is taught over 2 semesters. Depending on demand, several
courses (a, b, c, ...) are offered.

German course A2.1a (learners with an elementary understanding of German)
Instructor: Dr. Ulrich Eschborn
German course A2.1b (learners with an elementary understanding of German)
Instructor: Diana Kanaan
German course A2.2a (learners with basic conversational skills)
Instructor: Dr. Ulrich Eschborn; Daniela Roth

SoSe 2026

The language level is taught over 2 semesters. Depending on demand, several
courses (a, b, c, ...) are offered.

German course B1.1 (intermediate learners)
Instructor: Diana Kanaan

SoSe 2026

The language level is taught over 2 semesters. Alternatively, level B2.1 can be achieved as an online-course in one semester.

Digital German course "FORTHEM" B2.1 (upper intermediate)
Instructor: Katharina Both; Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen
Format: online
German course B2.1 studies & career (upper intermediate)
Instructor: Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen
German course B2.2 studies & career (upper intermediate)
Instructor: Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen
German course B2/C1 conversation class
Instructor: Dr. Dorota Piestrak-Demirezen

SoSe 2026

The language level is taught over 2 semesters.

German course C1.1 (advanced)
Instructor: Romina Agostino-Huth

SoSe 2026

Depending on your previous knowledge (e.g. documented by a language certificate or a placement test), you will find the course recommendation here.

Choose the German language course A1.1. No knowledge of German is required for the German course for absolute beginners.

You do not need a certificate or placement test for this course.

Approved language certificates and proof of language proficiency:

No proof of language proficiency is required for the German language course A1.1

The following language certificates / proofs of language proficiency are required for attending the German language course A1.2

Proof of successful participation in the German language course B1.1 at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course A2.1:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course A1.2 at ISSK Uni Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat A1
telc German A1 certificate with the result “befriedigend”, “gut” or “sehr gut”
ÖSD Certificate A1
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result: A1

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course A2.2:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course A2.1 at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of participation or photo transcript of records)
the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 with the result “sehr gut”
the telc German A1 certificate with the result "sehr gut""
the ÖSD certificate A1 with the result “sehr gut”
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: Test result: A1 in all four parts (grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening comprehension)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course B1.1:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course A2.2 at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of participation or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat A2
telc German A2 certificate with the result "befriedigend", "gut" or "sehr gut"
ÖSD Certificate A2
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: Test result A2

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course B1.2:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course B1.1 at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat A2 with the result "sehr gut"
telc German A2 certificate with the result "sehr gut"
ÖSD certificate A2 with the result "sehr gut"
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result A2 in all four parts (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course B2.1 Study and Appointment:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course B1.2 at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
German Language Diploma of the KMK level DSD I
Goethe-Zertifikat B1
telc German B1 certificate with the result "befriedigend", "gut" or "sehr gut"
TestDaF certificate with level TDN 3 in all four partial qualifications
ÖSD B1 certificate
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result B1

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course B2.2 Study and Appointment:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course B2.1 Study & Appointment at ISSK University Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
German Language Diploma of the KMK level DSD I
Goethe-Zertifikat B1 with the result "sehr gut"
telc German B1 certificate with the result "sehr gut"
TestDaF certificate with level TDN 3 in all four partial qualifications
ÖSD certificate B1 with the result "sehr gut"
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result B1 in all four parts (grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension, reading comprehension)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course B2/C1 Conversation:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course B2.2 Study & Appointment at ISSK in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat B2
telc German B2 certificate with the result "befriedigend" or "gut" or "sehr gut"
TestDaF certificate with at least two partial qualifications at level TDN 4 and a maximum of two partial qualifications at level TDN 3
ÖSD B2 certificate
DSH 1
DSD II
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result B2 in all four parts (grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension, reading comprehension)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course C1.1:

Proof of successful participation in German language courses: B2.2 program of study & appointment or German language course C1.1 at ISSK Uni Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat B2
telc German B2 certificate with the result "befriedigend" or "gut" or "sehr gut"
TestDaF certificate with at least two partial qualifications at level TDN 4 and a maximum of two partial qualifications at level TDN 3
ÖSD B2 certificate
DSH 1
DSD II
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: test result B2 in all four parts (grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension, reading comprehension)

The following language certificates/proofs of language proficiency are accepted for the German language course C1.2:

Proof of successful participation in the German language course C1.1 at ISSK Uni Mainz in the last two semesters (certificate of attendance or photo transcript of records)
Goethe-Zertifikat B2 with the result "sehr gut
DSD II (test result: C1 level in at least 2 skills)
telc German B2 certificate with the result "sehr gut"
TestDaF certificate with at least three partial qualifications at TDN 4 level
ÖSD certificate B2 with the result "sehr gut"
DSH 2
Erasmus+ OLS German language test: Test result: 2 x B2 and 2x C1 (or better) in the four parts (grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading)
Assessment test in the subject German at a university

Participants without proof of language proficiency can check their language proficiency using a free placement test. Our placement test is provided online by Klett-Verlag.

The table below shows you which of our German language courses matches your test result.

Bring the result of your online placement test to the 1st appointment of your German language course.

Here you will find detailed instructions for the online placement test in English.

Test result (points)	Recommended German language course at ISSK
0 -18	German language course A1.1
19 - 36	German language course A1.2
37 - 54	German language course A2.1
55 - 72	German language course A2.2
73 -96	German language course B1.1
97 - 120	German language course B1.2
121 -144	German language course B2.1 Program of study and appointment
145 - 168	German language course B2.2 Program of study and appointment
169 - 192	German language course B2 / C1 or German language course C1.1
193 - 220	German language course C1.2
221 - 240	German language course C1.2

Registration for German courses online via JOGU-StiNe.

Registration method JOGU-StINe:

Log in with your JGU account (login name & password) on the JOGU-StiNE home page (top right)
Studies
Modules/events
Registration
Module/event registration
Additional qualifications
International Preparatory and Language Center

Important:

Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email.
You may register for ONE German language course per semester only.

Registration for German courses online via JOGU-StiNe.

Registration method JOGU-StINe:

Log in with your JGU account (login name & password) on the JOGU-StiNE home page (top right)
Staff courses
Registration
International Preparatory and Language Center

Important:

Please note that you will not receive a confirmation email.
You may register for ONE German language course per semester only.

Adjunct lecturer	Email address
Katharina Both	kaboth@uni-mainz.de
Ulrich Eschborn	ueschbor@uni-mainz.de
Laura-Sophia Simon	lsimon04@uni-mainz.de

German course A1.1b (absolute beginners)