Intensive German Courses
Here you find details about our intensive German courses for adults, such as starting dates, prices and levels offered from A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 to C2.
The German courses in levels A1, A2 and B1 are each 5 weeks long. The German courses in levels B2, C1 and C2 each comprise 10 weeks. All intensive courses can be booked for a duration of 2 weeks or longer. For long-term courses from 10 weeks, we offer a reduced course fee.
In Berlin and Constance, the German courses for adults are offered as complete packages with accommodation, full board, leisure and cultural programs and weekly excursions. This immersion concept is what makes the Humboldt-Institut’s German courses so unique and allows students to immerse themselves in the German language in a continuous German-speaking learning environment.
Alternatively, the German courses can also be booked without additional services.
Course Content
What do I learn in the intensive German course?
In the intensive courses, all language skills (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking and writing) are systematically trained. In addition, attention is paid to the active mastery of grammar.
Because the lessons are activity-oriented, the course participants often have the opportunity to apply and practice the course content both orally and in writing. Varied social and learning forms such as partner work, role-playing or presentations help to loosen up the lessons and create a positive learning atmosphere in the classroom.
Through cooperative learning and working methods, the students are activated and have an above-average amount of speaking time in class. Thus, they transfer the lesson content into their own vocabulary through active use in class and improve their active German skills step by step.
Curriculum and books
The Humboldt-Institut’s curriculum is based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). It is independent of text books and is based on decades of teaching experience.
This means that the teachers – depending on the respective level and topic – work with a combination of different textbooks and materials. The aim is to provide students with the best possible learning material and to close individual knowledge gaps on each level.
The Humboldt Institute provides all course materials and books needed for the lessons to its students free of charge.
Certificates and exams
All course participants receive a Humboldt certificate after successful participation in the course, indicating the number of lessons taught and the level achieved. Grades are given for listening and reading comprehension, oral and written expression as well as for grammar skills.
The Humboldt-Institut’s intensive courses are well suited as preparation for officially recognized examinations such as telc Deutsch and TestDaF:
German course | Exam |
---|---|
B1 intensive course | Preparation for telc Deutsch B1 |
B2 intensive course | Preparation for telc Deutsch B2 |
C1 intensive course | Preparation for TestDaF and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule |
Course schedule
Lessons timetable
All intensive courses comprise 30 lessons of 45 minutes per week. Five lessons are taught every morning from Monday to Friday, one lesson on Monday afternoon and two lessons each on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.
The exact lesson times can be found, for example, in the weekly schedule for Constance or in the weekly schedule for Berlin-Mitte .
Course duration
The courses can be booked from a duration of 2 weeks or longer. The total duration depends on the learning objective of the student and is fully flexible.
- The German courses of levels A1, A2 and B1 comprise 5 weeks each.
- The German courses of levels B2, C1 and C2 comprise 10 weeks each.
- For long-term courses of 10 weeks or more, we offer reduced course fees.
Starting dates
Each month there are several starting dates to choose from, suitable for students with previous knowledge.
For total beginners, there are starting dates every five weeks when a new course phase begins with level A1. For more information on the course levels, please visit the course system page.
Classes always start on Mondays. For students who have booked their German course including accommodation, the arrival day is Sunday.
Bank holidays
With a few exceptions, the intensive courses in Berlin and Constance also take place on public holidays. Holidays without classes are:
October 3, 2024
November 1, 2024 (only Constance)
December 22, 2024 – January 4, 2025 (Christmas break)
April 18, 2025
May 1, 2025
June 9, 2025
October 3, 2025
December 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026 (Christmas break)
Locations & services
Course locations
In Berlin and Constance, the Humboldt-Institut offers intensive courses for all levels as complete packages including accommodation, full board as well as leisure and cultural programs at two attractive locations:
On the one hand Germany’s capital Berlin, with more than 3.5 million inhabitants, which is the largest and most vibrant city in the country with a large variety of sights and cultural offers.
Constance, on the other hand, is an unhurried and laid-back city of 85,000 inhabitants and is rated as having the highest quality of life in Germany due to its gorgeous location on the shores of Lake Constance and its proximity to Switzerland and the Alps.
With the combination course, you have the opportunity to experience two uniquely distinct regions of Germany within a short amount of time. A bus transfer between the cities (Constance–Berlin or Berlin–Constance) is included in the course fee when booking two consecutive courses of a minimum of five weeks in each of the two cities.
German courses with accommodation – Immerse yourself in German with Humboldt
The intensive courses in Berlin and Constance are offered as a complete package, including accommodation and full board.
Both schools offer comfortable rooms with private bathrooms. The accommodation directly in the institute offers many advantages such as short distances to class, optimal learning conditions and a family atmosphere.
Due to the completely German-speaking environment in the schools, students are immersed in the language not only in class, but also during meals, free time, and excursions. This German immersion program allows for the practical application of what is learned in the classroom in everyday situations and contributes significantly to students’ learning success and motivation.
Three meals and a fruit basket are included in our package deal. Our kitchen team pays attention to a varied, healthy diet and cooks fresh every day.
Included services
All German courses with accommodation include
- Tuition and course material
- Small classes with an average of 10 students
- Accommodation
- Full board (in residence) or half board (host family)
- Daily leisure and cultural program
- Weekly excursions (entrance fees not included)
- Humboldt certificate
German courses without accommodation include tuition, course material and a certificate.
How can I book a course?
You can easily book our German courses online via our booking form or one of the green “Book” buttons. First select the desired course location, course, starting date and course duration.
Additionally, you can book accommodation and optional services such as airport transfers. You will receive a transparent price overview at any time during the booking process. After submitting the booking request, you will receive a confirmation from our booking office within one business day.
Learn German on educational leave (Bildungsurlaub)
The Humboldt-Institut’s German courses in Berlin and Constance are recognized as educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) in Baden-Württemberg, Berlin and Brandenburg.
After a detailed online placement test, you will find out your level and possible start dates for your course. Based on the results of your placement test, you will be placed in one of our regular classes that correspond as closely as possible to your current level. Depending on the start date, this may be an existing class.
During the course, all language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) as well as vocabulary and grammar are systematically practiced. Detailed information on teaching, methods and levels of the courses can be found in our course system overview.
The intensive courses can be booked as educational leave for courses lasting one week or longer. Please contact us if you would like to book a German course as Bildungsurlaub. We will provide you with all the necessary documents for submission to your employer.
What is my level of German? You are welcome to have your German language level tested at our institute before your course starts. Please call to make an appointment for the test. Alternatively, you can test your German skills by taking our online placement test. Please note: the online test is only a rough guideline; it does not replace the placement test in the school.
Intensive Course 30
Berlin-Mitte ages 18 and older
incl. residence accommodation and board
Tuition: Monday – Friday
April 21, April 28, April 7, August 11, August 18, August 25, August 4, Dezember 1, Dezember 8, Februar 11, Februar 18, Januar 14, Januar 28, Januar 7, Juli 14, Juli 21, Juli 28, Juli 7, Juni 16, Juni 2, Juni 23, Juni 30, Juni 9, Mai 12, Mai 19, Mai 26, März 17, März 24, März 3, März 31, November 17, November 24, November 3, Oktober 13, Oktober 20, Oktober 27, September 15, September 29, September 8
Starting dates for total beginners 2024:April 21, August 4, Februar 11, Januar 7, Juni 30, Mai 26, März 17, November 17, Oktober 13, September 8
April 13, April 20, April 27, April 6, August 10, August 17, August 24, August 3, Dezember 7, Februar 16, Februar 9, Januar 12, Januar 26, Januar 5, Juli 13, Juli 20, Juli 27, Juli 6, Juni 1, Juni 15, Juni 22, Juni 29, Juni 8, Mai 11, Mai 25, März 16, März 2, März 23, November 16, November 2, November 23, November 30, Oktober 12, Oktober 19, September 14, September 28, September 7
April 20, August 3, Februar 9, Januar 5, Juni 29, Mai 25, März 16, November 16, Oktober 12, September 7
plus 50 EUR/week seasonal surcharge from June 15 to August 23, 2025
Berlin-Mitte ages 18 and older
incl. host family accommodation and board
Tuition: Monday – Friday
April 21, April 28, April 7, August 11, August 18, August 25, August 4, Dezember 1, Dezember 8, Februar 11, Februar 18, Januar 14, Januar 28, Januar 7, Juli 14, Juli 21, Juli 28, Juli 7, Juni 16, Juni 2, Juni 23, Juni 30, Juni 9, Mai 12, Mai 19, Mai 26, März 17, März 24, März 3, März 31, November 17, November 24, November 3, Oktober 13, Oktober 20, Oktober 27, September 15, September 29, September 8
Starting dates for total beginners 2024:April 21, August 4, Februar 11, Januar 7, Juni 30, Mai 26, März 17, November 17, Oktober 13, September 8
April 13, April 20, April 27, April 6, August 10, August 17, August 24, August 3, Dezember 7, Februar 16, Februar 9, Januar 12, Januar 26, Januar 5, Juli 13, Juli 20, Juli 27, Juli 6, Juni 1, Juni 15, Juni 22, Juni 29, Juni 8, Mai 11, Mai 25, März 16, März 2, März 23, November 16, November 2, November 23, November 30, Oktober 12, Oktober 19, September 14, September 28, September 7
April 20, August 3, Februar 9, Januar 5, Juni 29, Mai 25, März 16, November 16, Oktober 12, September 7
plus 50 EUR/week seasonal surcharge from June 15 to August 23, 2025
Berlin-Mitte ages 18 and older
Tuition: Monday – Friday
April 1, April 22, April 29, April 8, August 12, August 19, August 26, August 5, Dezember 2, Dezember 9, Februar 12, Februar 19, Januar 15, Januar 29, Januar 8, Juli 1, Juli 15, Juli 22, Juli 29, Juli 8, Juni 10, Juni 17, Juni 24, Juni 3, Mai 13, Mai 20, Mai 27, März 18, März 25, März 4, November 18, November 25, November 4, Oktober 14, Oktober 21, Oktober 28, September 16, September 30, September 9
Starting dates for total beginners 2024:April 22, August 5, Februar 12, Januar 8, Juli 1, Juli 8, Mai 27, März 18, November 18, Oktober 14, September 9
April 14, April 21, April 28, April 7, August 11, August 18, August 25, August 4, Dezember 1, Dezember 8, Februar 10, Februar 17, Januar 13, Januar 27, Januar 6, Juli 14, Juli 21, Juli 28, Juli 7, Juni 16, Juni 2, Juni 23, Juni 30, Juni 9, Mai 12, Mai 26, März 17, März 24, März 3, November 17, November 24, November 3, Oktober 13, Oktober 20, September 15, September 29, September 8
April 21, August 4, Februar 10, Januar 6, Juni 30, Mai 26, März 17, November 17, Oktober 13, September 8
Constance ages 18 and older
incl. accommodation and full board
Tuition: Monday – Friday
April 21, April 28, April 7, August 11, August 18, August 25, August 4, Dezember 1, Dezember 8, Februar 11, Februar 18, Januar 14, Januar 28, Januar 7, Juli 14, Juli 21, Juli 28, Juli 7, Juni 16, Juni 2, Juni 23, Juni 30, Juni 9, Mai 12, Mai 19, Mai 26, März 17, März 24, März 3, März 31, November 17, November 24, November 3, Oktober 13, Oktober 20, Oktober 27, September 15, September 29, September 8
Starting dates for total beginners 2024:April 21, August 4, Februar 11, Januar 7, Juli 7, Juni 30, Mai 26, März 17, November 17, Oktober 13, September 8
April 13, April 20, April 27, April 6, August 10, August 17, August 24, August 3, Dezember 7, Februar 16, Februar 9, Januar 12, Januar 26, Januar 5, Juli 13, Juli 20, Juli 27, Juli 6, Juni 1, Juni 15, Juni 22, Juni 29, Juni 8, Mai 11, Mai 25, März 16, März 2, März 23, November 16, November 2, November 23, November 30, Oktober 12, Oktober 19, September 14, September 28, September 7
April 20, August 3, Februar 9, Januar 5, Juni 29, Mai 25, März 16, November 16, Oktober 12, September 7
plus 50 EUR/week seasonal surcharge from June 15 to August 23, 2025
Constance ages 18 and older
Tuition: Monday – Friday
April 1, April 22, April 29, April 8, August 12, August 19, August 26, August 5, Dezember 2, Dezember 9, Februar 12, Februar 19, Januar 15, Januar 29, Januar 8, Juli 1, Juli 15, Juli 22, Juli 29, Juli 8, Juni 10, Juni 17, Juni 24, Juni 3, Mai 13, Mai 20, Mai 27, März 18, März 25, März 4, November 18, November 25, November 4, Oktober 14, Oktober 21, Oktober 28, September 16, September 30, September 9
Starting dates for total beginners 2024:April 22, August 5, Februar 12, Januar 8, Juli 1, Juli 8, Mai 27, März 18, November 18, Oktober 14, September 9
April 14, April 21, April 28, April 7, August 11, August 18, August 25, August 4, Dezember 1, Dezember 8, Februar 10, Februar 17, Januar 13, Januar 27, Januar 6, Juli 14, Juli 21, Juli 28, Juli 7, Juni 16, Juni 2, Juni 23, Juni 30, Juni 9, Mai 12, Mai 26, März 17, März 24, März 3, November 17, November 24, November 3, Oktober 13, Oktober 20, September 15, September 29, September 8
April 21, August 4, Februar 10, Januar 6, Juni 30, Mai 26, März 17, November 17, Oktober 13, September 8