What do you want to achieve in German? Test your language skills with us free of charge, and together we will find the right course for you. We offer courses from level B1 to C2 online, in Zurich and in Winterthur that will allow you to communicate in German even more proficiently in just a short space of time.

Your path to finding the right course

Select a course and register directly

Choose the course from our course programme that will allow you to meet your objectives. You can register for a course online without taking a placement test if:

• you can demonstrate your level of German by presenting a Goethe, telc or ÖSD certificate (issued no more than one year ago)
• you have attended a German course at the ZHAW within the past 12 months and passed the ZHAW final exam.
• you have taken a placement test at the ZHAW within the past 12 months.

Take a free placement test and get a course recommendation 

Are you unsure what level your German is at? We can determine your current level of German with a thorough placement test. We will send you a link to the test for the courses at levels B1 to C1 or at level C2. Upon taking your placement test, you should also inform us of your personal goals for learning German. This will allow us to suggest courses that match your goals.

Experienced lecturers will assess your test, and you will receive your personal course recommendation from us within a few days.
Based on the results of your placement test, you can choose the offer that suits you best.

German courses on offer 

• Online courses
  Would you like to practise your German skills as part of a motivated learning group from any location? If so, our online courses are the perfect solution for you. With lessons conducted in a digital classroom and our learning platform to support independent learning phases, these courses deliver rapid learning success.
• Level-based courses
  In these courses, you will practise all the language skills – reading, listening, speaking and writing – and reach the next level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in just one semester. At the end of the semester, you can demonstrate your progress by taking the ZHAW level test or a Goethe exam.
• Specialised courses
  In the specialised courses, you will work on the skills that are important to you: writing, communication, reading, or pronunciation. You decide what you want to learn. 

Level B1

Your goal is to become linguistically independent in everyday life. You want to understand important information in conversations, texts and on television and to be able to express your opinion.

Level B2 

You want to be able to communicate spontaneously and confidently in German in your professional environment, education and everyday life. During the course, you read, for example, non-fiction texts and newspaper articles and learn how to present your opinion orally and in writing.

Level C1 

You want to be able to exhibit linguistic expertise in everything you do, including at university and at work. During the course, you also read longer texts from non-fiction books and newspapers and learn how to express yourself in writing and orally in a clear and structured manner.

Level C2

You want to be able to communicate effortlessly, competently and successfully in German in any situation. In our C2 course, you read demanding non-fiction or literary texts. You learn to express yourself fluently and correctly in writing and orally on complex issues.

Here is what former course participants have to say