Language requirements

Proofs of language proficiency – bachelor's programs

The University of Mannheim currently only offers German-language bachelor's programs. All prospective students who do not have German citizenship or a German university entrance qualification must therefore prove their German language skills as part of their application. However, some bachelor's degree programs require a minimum level of certain skills in a foreign language for all applicants.

You can either attach the relevant proofs to your online application or you can order the testing institutes to submit your results electronically and directly to us.

Some of the language tests will be offered as At Home testing procedure. These tests will also be accepted.  

As a rule, the definitive deadlines for application also apply for the proofs of language proficiency.

Some selection statutes or examination regulations, respectively, allow a later submission date for the proof of English language proficiency.

Please find informational summaries on the accepted proofs below.

  • Business Administration

    Very good knowledge of English

    • continuous attendance of English classes throughout the German secondary school education with a minimum average of 11 points.
    • English-language university entrance qualification
    • completion of a program of study taught in English
    • TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) with a score of at least 100 points (Test Date Score)
    • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) to Level C or better
    • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) to Level C or better
    • IELTS (Academic Test) with a band score of 7.0 or better
    • telc Level C1
    • Language Certificate of the Studium Generale of the University of Mannheim with at least Level C1 throughout

    Please note:

    • Proofs from any of the tests may be no older than two years. Other results are not subject to any sort of expiration date.
    • In case the proof is demonstrated by means of grades obtained at school:
      • This proof can only be obtained via a German (or EU/EEA) general or subject-specific university entrance qualification, which qualifies you to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Mannheim.
      • For this, only the English grades of the final four semesters of secondary school (not the grade of the Abitur exam) are counted, while points may not be rounded up (i.e. 10.75 points are not sufficient).
    • Even if you do not have a proof of language proficiency, yet, you can apply and take part in the selection process. However, the proof of foreign language proficiency is very important for your application, as it gets many points. In order to be able to receive the points in the selection process, you need to submit your English language certificate by 15 July. Please also note that if you are admitted, you must submit proof of your English language proficiency by the beginning of lectures of the year of your application at the latest (see corresponding examination regulations).
  • Current English Linguistics and Literary Studies (CELLS)

    Very good English language skills (amendment of the statutes as of the fall semester 2024 in planning)

    • continuous attendance of English classes throughout the German secondary school education with a minimum average of 10 points.
    • English-language university entrance qualification
    • completion of a program of study taught in English
    • TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) with a score of at least 72 points (Test Date Score)
    • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE),
    • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE),
    • IELTS (Academic Test) with a band score of 6.0 or better
    • telc with minimum level B2
    • Language Certificate of the Studium Generale of the University of Mannheim with at least Level B2 throughout

    Please note:

    • Proofs from any of the tests may be no older than two years. The cut-off date is the definitive deadline for application for the program of study. Other results are not subject to any sort of expiration date.
    • In case the proof is demonstrated by means of grades obtained at school:
      • This proof can only be obtained via a German (or EU/EEA) general or subject-specific university entrance qualification, which qualifies you to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Mannheim.
      • For this, only the English grades of the final four semesters of secondary school (not the grade of the Abitur exam) are counted, while points may not be rounded up (i.e. 9.75 points are not sufficient).
    • If there are other forms of proof available, the admissions committee decides on their equivalence in a case-by-case decision. In case you are unsure whether your proof of language proficiency can be approved, please contact the school directly under bachelor.phil@uni-mannheim.de. Please upload their response together with the proof of language proficiency.
    • Even if you do not have a proof of language proficiency, yet, you can apply and take part in the selection process. However, the proof of foreign language proficiency is very important for your application, as it gets many points. In order to be able to receive the points in the selection process, you need to submit your English language certificate by 15 July. Please also note that if you are admitted, you must submit proof of your English language proficiency by 15 October of the year of your application at the latest (see corresponding examination regulations).
  • Culture and Economy: English and American Studies

    Very good English language skills

    • continuous attendance of English classes throughout the German secondary school education with a minimum average of 10 points.
    • English-language university entrance qualification
    • completion of a program of study taught in English
    • TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) with a score of at least 72 points (Test Date Score)
    • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE),
    • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE),
    • IELTS (Academic Test) with a band score of 6.0 or better
    • telc with minimum level B2
    • Language Certificate of the Studium Generale of the University of Mannheim with at least Level B2 throughout

    Please note:

    • Proofs from any of the tests may be no older than two years. The cut-off date is the definitive deadline for application for the program of study. Other results are not subject to any sort of expiration date.
    • In case the proof is demonstrated by means of grades obtained at school:
      • This proof can only be obtained via a German (or EU/EEA) general or subject-specific university entrance qualification, which qualifies you to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Mannheim.
      • For this, only the English grades of the final four semesters of secondary school (not the grade of the Abitur exam) are counted, while points may not be rounded up (i.e. 9.75 points are not sufficient).
    • If there are other forms of proof available, the admissions committee decides on their equivalence in a case-by-case decision. In case you are unsure whether your proof of language proficiency can be approved, please contact the school directly under bachelor.phil@uni-mannheim.de. Please upload their response together with the proof of language proficiency.
    • Even if you do not have a proof of language proficiency, yet, you can apply and take part in the selection process. However, the proof of foreign language proficiency is very important for your application, as it gets many points. In order to be able to receive the points in the selection process, you need to submit your English language certificate by 15 July. Please also note that if you are admitted, you must submit proof of your English language proficiency by 15 October of the year of your application at the latest (subject to approval of the corresponding examination regulations at the end of May 2024).
  • Business Informatics

    Solid knowledge of English

    • continuous attendance of English classes throughout the German secondary school education with a minimum average of 7 points.
    • English-language university entrance qualification
    • TOEFL Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT) with a score of at least 79 points (Test Date Score)
    • TOEFL (CBT) with a minimum score of 213 points
    • TOEFL (PBT) with a minimum score of 550 points
    • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) Level C1 or better,
    • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) Level C1 or better
    • IELTS (Academic Test) with a band score of 6.0 or better
    • telc with minimum level B2
    • Language Certificate of the Studium Generale of the University of Mannheim with at least Level B2 throughout

    Please note:

    • Proofs from any of the tests may be no older than two years. The cut-off date is the definitive deadline for application for the program of study. Other results are not subject to any sort of expiration date.
    • In case the proof is demonstrated by means of grades obtained at school:
      • This proof can only be obtained via a German (or EU/EEA) general or subject-specific university entrance qualification, which qualifies you to pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Mannheim.
      • For this, the English grades of the final four semesters of secondary school and the grade of the Abitur exam are counted, while points may not be rounded up (i.e. 6.75 points are not sufficient).
    • If there are other forms of proof available, the admissions committee decides on their equivalence in a case-by-case decision. In case you are unsure whether your proof of language proficiency can be approved, please contact the school directly under studiengangsmanagement@wim.uni-mannheim.de. Please upload their response together with the proof of language proficiency.
    • The language certificate is a prerequisite for admission (part of the entrance examination) and must therefore be submitted by 15 July.

For the following bachelor's programs there are recommendations for certain language skills you should have.
In other cases, language certificates are not yet necessary for the application. You can prove your language skills at a certain time during the program.

  • Culture and Economy: Romance Studies (French, Spanish or Italian)

    Good French, Spanish or Italian language skills, respectively at B1 level at the start of the program are necessary for successful studies.

  • Romance Languages, Literatures and Media

    • Good French, Spanish or Italian language skills, respectively at B1 level at the start of the program are necessary for successful studies.
    • Even if you do not have a proof of language proficiency, yet, you can apply. However, you need to provide a proof of language proficiency by the beginning of the lecture period of the same year as you submitted your application (see corresponding examination regulations).

    Language level B1 can be demonstrated by meeting one of the following criteria:

    • School certificates proving that the Romance language has been studied for at least 4 years. Proof of 3 years is also sufficient if the Romance language has been studied for the last three years before receiving the higher education entrance qualification. In both cases, the average grade of the last two years of language instruction must be at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or 5 points respectively
    • a bilingual higher education entrance qualification in which the language in question is one of the main languages of instruction
    • a minimum of six months of education at a secondary educational institution (e.g. university) in which the language in question is the primary language of instruction
    • or one of the following foreign language certificates that is no older than two years:
    LanguageLanguage certificatesLevel
    FrenchUNIcert I® – FrenchB1
    Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)2
    Language certificate the Service und Marketing GmbH of the University of MannheimB1
    Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française (DELF)B1
    Test de connaissance du français (TCF)300 – 399
    The European Language Certificates (TELC Français)B1
    ItalianUNIcert I® – ItalianB1
    Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)2
    Language certificate the Service und Marketing GmbH of the University of MannheimB1
    Certificazione di competenza di italiano come lingua straniera (CILS Uno)B1 (Level 1)
    PLIDA/ CELI 2/ CIC Intermedio/ Ele.IT/ TELC ItalianoB1
    SpanishUNIcert I® – SpanishB1
    Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)2
    Language certificate the Service und Marketing GmbH of the University of MannheimB1
    DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera)B1 (“Nivel Inicial”)
    TELC EspañolB1
  • Bachelor of Education (Teacher Education for Gymnasium)

    For most of the subjects of the Bachelor of Education for teaching at a German Gymnasium, you must prove your language proficiency as a prerequisite for studying. However, you can also catch up on foreign languages during your studies. Please see our information regarding the deadlines you need to observe and for detailed information on language certificates.