Language proficiency
During your semester abroad, you should be able to successfully participate in lectures and seminars, give presentations and write term papers. Therefore, it is important that you have sufficient language skills, which is why the International Office checks your language skills through required test certificate when you apply. The international partner universities also expect exchange students to have a certain language level in order to be able to study there without any problems.
Some partner universities have special requirements, which are listed in the database of the corresponding partner universities.
Studying abroad is not primarily for language learning, but for studying at a foreign university. Therefore, advanced knowledge of the respective language of instruction is required in order to be able to follow the courses.
An orientation aid for self-assessment is provided by the European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is divided into six levels of competence - from beginner level (A1/A2) through intermediate level (B1/B2) to very good command of the language (C1/C2).
Pforzheim University requires students to provide a B2-Level certificate in English during application.
If studying in a language other than English, a B2 certificate in that language is required.
ATTENTION: Partner universities might expect a specific language certificate for their application. Please inform yourself early on about the requirements of your preferred universities.
For a successful application for the semester abroad, an official B2- level language certificate is required.
We accept the following language tests:
TOEFL ITP (>560)
Cambridge Certificate Advanced
Duolingo (>110)
Certificate by the university's language center
For languages other than English, a B2 certificate is required, which can also be obtained in French and Spanish at the Language Center of HS Pforzheim.
NEW UPDATE: Bachelor Students Business Faculty or Master students with a Bachelor degree from HSPF Business faculty: If you have passed the B2 English test at the beginning of your bachelor studies, you can upload your transcript with the proof on Mobility Online. Students of the Faculty of Engineering can also submit that specific test result if they passed the test.
From October 2024, the Language Center of Pforzheim University will no longer offer TOEFL ITP tests, therefore a B2 certificate in English is sufficient for the application for the semester abroad. However, the partner university to which you are assigned may require an official language certificate such as a TOEFL IBT, IELTS, TOEIC, etc. As soon as you have been accepted by a partner university, you must immediately check which language certificates are accepted by the partner university and, if necessary, complete an official language certificate with an external provider.
Which different tests are available?
TOEFL iBt: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test that assesses the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. The test is recognized by many universities in English-speaking countries, especially in the USA, as an admission requirement. There are two different types of test, the internet-based TOEFL test (iBT) and the paper-based TOEFL test (PBT). The IBT was introduced as a new test format in the USA, Germany, France and Italy at the end of 2005 and replaced the previous TOEFL test forms. Other countries followed this changeover in 2006 and 2007.
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System and is a globally recognized test of English language skills.
TOEIC: TOEIC is a language test that assesses listening, reading and grammar skills in international business English and provides corresponding certification.
Cambridge Certificate: The Cambridge Certificate is an English language certificate from the University of Cambridge for non-native speakers.
Duolingo: Accepted by some American universities.
Here you can find a short list of possible institutions where you could take a test:
- VHS Prüfungszentrale Baden-Württemberg (Cambridge, DELE)
- ETS (TOEFL IBT)
- British Council (IELTS)
- Institut français (DELF)