IELTS Score Requirements for Germany
Sources checked 2 September 2026
Quick answer
Germany sets no national IELTS score. The student visa checklist asks only for proof of language skills in the programme’s language of instruction, and most bachelor’s degrees are taught in German, requiring DSH-2 or TestDaF 4 rather than IELTS. English-taught master’s programmes typically ask 6.0 to 6.5, with TUM setting a university-wide 6.5. The EU Blue Card requires no English test, and nursing registration needs German at B2 plus a specialist language examination.
What IELTS score do you need for Germany?
The band you need depends entirely on why you are taking the test. Each row below links to the authority that publishes the figure, because requirements change and the source page is always more current than any summary of it.
| Purpose | Typical requirement | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | No IELTS score set - the university's language of instruction requirement applies (as a rule at least B2) | The German missions' student visa checklist asks only for proof of language skills in the language of instruction, naming no test or band. | |
| Skilled migration / work visa | No English test required | BAMF lists a degree or qualifying professional experience and a job offer of at least six months for the EU Blue Card; German is mentioned only for later settlement, not for the card itself. | |
| Undergraduate study | Usually no IELTS - German proficiency (DSH-2 or TestDaF 4 in all sections) instead | Heidelberg states all undergraduate programmes are taught in German, and RWTH's own language table lists German for almost every Bachelor's course. | |
| Postgraduate study | Typically 6.0-6.5 overall for English-taught master's programmes | TUM sets a university-wide minimum of 6.5; RWTH's standard English clause accepts 6.0, rising to 7.0 for a small number of programmes. | |
| Nursing / medical registration | No English test - German at CEFR B2 plus a subject-specific language examination | The federal recognition portal lists knowledge of German at B2 and a specialist language examination among the requirements for authorisation to use the nursing title. |
What do Germany universities ask for?
These are the minimums each university published on its own admissions pages when we checked on 2 September 2026. They are institution-wide floors: individual courses frequently ask for more, so confirm the figure on the page for your exact programme before you book a test.
| University | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical University of Munich (TUM) | 6.5 overall where the programme is taught in English | 6.5 overall | A single university-wide minimum band score of 6.5 applies to every degree programme taught in English; German-taught programmes require German instead. | |
| RWTH Aachen University | Mostly not applicable - almost all Bachelor's courses are German-taught | 6.0 overall (standard English clause); 7.0 for a small set of programmes | Programme-specific: RWTH's language table assigns each course a statutory clause - the common English clause accepts IELTS 6.0, and the higher clause used by e.g. Biomedical Engineering M.Sc. and Materials Engineering (International profile) M.Sc. requires 7.0. | |
| Freie Universität Berlin | Not applicable - Bachelor's programmes are German-taught | 5.5-6.5 overall where B2 English is required; 7.0 where C1 is required | Programme-specific: FU publishes an IELTS-to-CEFR mapping and each master's programme states whether it wants B2 or C1. | |
| Heidelberg University | No IELTS - DSH-2 level German required | 7.0 overall for the MA Transcultural Studies | Programme-specific: Heidelberg publishes no university-wide IELTS minimum; the 7.0 figure is the MA Transcultural Studies C1 requirement, and German-taught master's programmes require DSH-2 instead. |
How should you plan for a target score?
Work backwards from the per-skill minimum rather than the overall band. Almost every requirement above includes a floor for each of the four skills, so a strong average with one weak skill still fails. Establish where you are per skill, then target the gap — and remember that the overall band is the rounded mean of the four, so 6.25 rounds up to 6.5 and a single half-band improvement can clear a threshold outright.
To see what the examiners are actually looking for at your target band, read the IELTS band descriptors.
IELTS requirements for Germany: FAQ
Do I need IELTS for a German student visa?
The German missions’ student visa checklist asks for proof of language skills in the language of instruction and names no test or band. If your programme is taught in German you will need German — as a rule at least B2, and often DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. If it is taught in English, the university’s own IELTS requirement applies instead.
What IELTS score do German universities require?
Only for English-taught programmes, and it is set per university. TUM publishes a single university-wide minimum of 6.5 for every English-taught degree; RWTH Aachen’s standard English clause accepts 6.0, rising to 7.0 for a small set of master’s programmes. Heidelberg publishes no university-wide figure at all.
Can I study a bachelor’s degree in Germany with IELTS?
Usually not on its own. Heidelberg states that all its undergraduate programmes are taught in German, and RWTH’s language table lists German for almost every bachelor’s course. Undergraduate study in Germany generally means German proficiency at DSH-2 or TestDaF 4, with English-taught options concentrated at master’s level.
Do I need English for a German work visa?
The EU Blue Card requirements listed by BAMF are a degree or qualifying professional experience plus a job offer of at least six months; no English test appears. German is mentioned in connection with later settlement rather than the card itself. Confirm current conditions on the BAMF site.
Other destinations
For the Canada PR CLB conversion table and UK visa levels side by side, see the main IELTS score requirements guide.