German as a Foreign Language
with additional subject-specific psychology materials
As part of the DAAD and BMBF campus initiative to promote international specialists, the IPU Berlin will be offering courses in German as a foreign language with additional subject-specific psychology materials for the first time from the winter semester 2024/25 to acquire the language skills of course levels B1 through C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The courses comprise 160 lessons of 45 minutes each with a total of 10 to 11 lessons per week. The courses in the winter semester usually run from mid-October to mid-February, while the courses in the summer semester take place from the beginning of April to mid-July. The courses end with a voluntary internal IPU exam, which is based on either the Goethe or telc Certificate exams and prepares students for them, but is only recognized by the IPU. At the end of the course, a certificate of attendance can be requested if a minimum attendance of 70% has been achieved.
The aim of the course is to enable those who wish to study psychology in Germany or are already studying in Germany to gain access to the language requirements for studying clinical psychology and psychotherapy in German and to integrate some technical language elements at an early stage. Successful completion of all four examination modules B1 or B2 Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking counts as admission to the B2 or C1 course at IPU Berlin. If the C1 course is completed with at least 70% in all modules, this is considered proof of language proficiency for admission to the psychology course at IPU Berlin. As a prerequisite for booking the course, an official, internationally recognised certificate of the previous language level and either the university entrance qualification for Germany or a certificate of enrolment must be presented.
Participation fees:
€110 per course including teaching materials
Registration:
Application form B1 Online Course
Application form B2 Online Course
- Course start: 13.10.2025
- End of course: 13.02.2026
- Winter break: 19.12.2025 - 05.01.2026
Prospective psychology students and current psychology students from all over the world.
The course is limited to a maximum of 18 participants. Registration is considered complete when the course fee has been credited to the specified IPU bank account. The “first-come-first-serve” principle applies. In principle, preference will be given to those who are explicitly interested in studying psychology.
- An official and internationally recognized B1 certificate (CEFR) with an average of 80% from all four examination areas
- The university entrance qualification for Germany or a certificate of enrolment (Germany or abroad)
- A short letter of motivation
The following technical requirements must be met in order to participate in the online course:
- Computer / laptop
- Webcam
- Microphone
- A stable internet connection. Please note: The camera must be switched on during the entire lesson.
Here you will also find further information on technical issues relating to the allango platform: Technical Questions – Ernst Klett Sprachen Help Center (klett-sprachen.de)
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
The course materials include:
- Online: Online version of allango „Kontext Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ B1
- Excerpts from various areas of psychology
- Further accompanying materials
What does a successfully passed exam entitle me to?
The exam is only valid within the IPU. Successful completion of all four examination modules B1/B2 Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking with at least 70% counts as admission to the B2/C1 course at IPU Berlin.
Course participation can be canceled free of charge up to 14 days before the start of the course. In the event of a later cancellation, the participation fee will not be refunded.
Dr. Andreas Lieb
Claudia Groß
Kerstin Saniter-Limbach
- Course start: 13.10.2025
- End of course: 13.02.2026
- Winter break: 19.12.2025 - 05.01.2026
Prospective psychology students and current psychology students from all over the world.
The course is limited to a maximum of 18 participants. Registration is considered complete when the course fee has been credited to the specified IPU bank account. The “first-come-first-serve” principle applies. In principle, preference will be given to those who are explicitly interested in studying psychology.
- An official and internationally recognized B1 certificate (CEFR) with an average of 80% from all four examination areas
- The university entrance qualification for Germany or a certificate of enrolment (Germany or abroad)
- A short letter of motivation
Only for Online Course
The following technical requirements must be met in order to participate in the online course:
- Computer / laptop
- Webcam
- Microphone
- A stable internet connection. Please note: The camera must be switched on during the entire lesson.
Here you will also find further information on technical issues relating to the allango platform: Technical Questions – Ernst Klett Sprachen Help Center (klett-sprachen.de)
You will learn: to understand the main ideas of complex texts on concrete and abstract topics, to follow light professional discourse in the field of psychology, to communicate spontaneously and fluently so that a normal conversation with native speakers is easily possible without major effort on either side, to express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of topics, to explain a point of view on a topical issue and to state the advantages and disadvantages of various options
The course materials include:
- Online: Online version of allango „Kontext Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ B2 / In Person: „Kontext Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ B2
- Excerpts from various areas of psychology
- Further accompanying materials
What does a successfully passed exam entitle me to?
The exam is only valid within the IPU. Successful completion of all four examination modules B2 Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking with at least 70% counts as admission to the C1 course at IPU Berlin.
Is it possible to retake individual parts of the exam?
Yes, it is possible to retake the exam in the following academic year as part of the next course.
Course participation can be canceled free of charge up to 14 days before the start of the course. In the event of a later cancellation, the participation fee will not be refunded.
Dr. Andreas Lieb
Claudia Groß
Kerstin Saniter-Limbach
- Registration deadline: Registration for the summer semester 2025 is no longer possible
- Course start: 31.03.2025
- Course end: 24.07.2025
- Easter break: 21.04.2025 - 25.04.2025
- Pentecost break: 09.06.2025 - 13.06.2025
- Dates (expected):
- Monday: 5.30 p.m. - 8.25 p.m. (including 15-minute break)
- Wednesday: 5.30 p.m. - 8.25 p.m. (including 15-minute break)
- Thursday: 4.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. (including 15-minute break)
Online
Prospective psychology students and current psychology students from all over the world.
The course is limited to a maximum of 18 participants. Registration is considered complete when the course fee has been credited to the specified IPU bank account. The “first-come-first-serve” principle applies. In principle, preference will be given to those who are explicitly interested in studying psychology.
In Person
Students of psychology in Germany.
The course is limited to a maximum of 18 participants. Registration is considered complete when the course fee has been credited to the IPU account. The “first-come-first-serve” principle applies. The course is open to all students already enrolled in Germany, but preference will be given to students already enrolled at IPU Berlin.
- An official and internationally recognized B2 certificate (CEFR)
- The university entrance qualification for Germany or a certificate of enrolment (Germany or abroad)
- A short letter of motivation
Only for Online Course
The following technical requirements must be met in order to participate in the online course:
- Computer / laptop
- Webcam
- Microphone
- A stable internet connection. Please note: The camera must be switched on during the entire lesson.
Here you will also find further information on technical issues relating to the allango platform: Technical Questions – Ernst Klett Sprachen Help Center (klett-sprachen.de)
You will learn to use the German language effectively and flexibly in public, academic and professional life. You will acquire the ability to understand a wide range of demanding and longer texts on unfamiliar topics and to grasp implicit meanings. You will also be able to write clearly structured and detailed texts on complex topics. Finally, you will learn to express yourself spontaneously and fluently and to argue a position convincingly.
The course materials include:
- Online: Online version of allango „Kontext Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ C1 / In Person: „Kontext Deutsch als Fremdsprache“ C1
- Excerpts from various areas of psychology
- Further accompanying materials
What does a successfully passed exam entitle me to?
The exam is only valid within the IPU. Successful completion of all four examination modules B2 Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking with at least 70% counts proof of language proficiency for admission to the psychology course at IPU Berlin.
Is it possible to retake individual parts of the exam?
Yes, it is possible to retake the exam either in July of the following year or in the following academic year as part of the next course.
Course participation can be canceled free of charge up to 14 days before the start of the course. In the event of a later cancellation, the participation fee will not be refunded.
Online
Monday: Dr. Andreas Lieb
Wednesday: Dr. Andreas Lieb
Thursday: Claudia Groß
