FAQ
Do you have any questions about our German courses? Here you will find the answer to many frequently asked questions. If you can’t find a question that addresses your issue, please e-mail us and we will answer you as soon as possible.
1. Before the course starts
Do I need previous knowledge of German?
Do I need to have command of the Latin alphabet?
Interested participants, who are not able to read and write in the Latin alphabet (as their native language uses the Cyrillic, Arabic, Greek, Hebrew or any other alphabet, or Asian characters) nonetheless are given the opportunity to learn the German alphabet in private lessons before the regular language course starts.
Which course levels are offered?
Level | Course duration |
A1 Elementary 1 | 5 weeks (for total beginners, leads to telc Deutsch A1) |
A2 Elementary 2 | 5 weeks |
B1 Intermediate 1 | 5 weeks |
B2 Intermediate 2.1 | 5 weeks |
B2 Intermediate 2.2 | 5 weeks (leads to telc Deutsch B2) |
C1 Advanced 1.1 | 5 weeks (leads to TestDaF) |
C1 Advanced 1.2 | 5 weeks (leads to telc Deutsch C1 and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule) |
C2 Advanced 2.1 | 5 weeks |
C2 Advanced 2.2 | 5 weeks |
What is my language level?
According to the results the participant will then be assigned to a class that reflects his or her level. This ensures that our classes are linguistically very homogeneous.
During the summer months, a placement test is given on the first day of the course, i.e. usually there are no lessons on that day, but it’s rather an orientation day without instruction.
If you want to test your German level right now, just fill out our online placement test.
Do you offer travel health insurance?
The travel health insurance covers sickness and accidents (and any necessary medical treatment) that occur during your stay in the program.
Any treatment related to sickness or accidents that occurred before the start of the course will not be covered by the travel insurance. Any kind of self-inflicted health issues will not be covered either. The travel health insurance does not include a liability insurance.
Does my child need any special vaccinations?
Please observe that a measles vaccination is mandatory in all German educational institutions for children and teenagers. Therefore we ask during the booking process whether your child has been vaccinated against measles.
How can I enroll?
What to bring? - Packing your suitcase
Payments – what to consider when paying for a course?
Bank transfers within the European Union are free of charge if you use the IBAN and BIC/SWIFT numbers.
Our account details:
Account holder: | Humboldt-Institut e. V. |
Bank: | UniCredit Bank AG in 70173 Stuttgart, Germany |
BIC: | HYVE DEMM 473 |
IBAN: | DE87 6002 0290 0008 4280 00 |
or
Account holder: | Humboldt-Institut e. V. |
Bank: | Volksbank Ulm-Biberach eG, 89073 Ulm, Germany |
BIC: | ULMV DE66 XXX |
IBAN: | DE66 6309 0100 0211 8630 09 |
Please contact us by email if you wish to pay by credit card.
Does my child need pocket money?
Please make sure to give your child the pocket money in small bills. Also, please do not forget to bring some money for any transfer costs or possible bank fees and also for the deposit.
Is there any financial support or scholarships available?
Can I take Bildungsurlaub (educational leave) for a German course?
Do I need a visa? What kind of support do you offer?
If you do need a visa, please proceed as follows:
After receipt of your enrollment form, we will send you a written confirmation and an invitation for the course.
Once you have received both documents, you have to file an application for a visa at the competent German Embassy or Consulate.
You will have to submit:
- The invitation of the Humboldt-Institut;
- The proof of health insurance; (If you have taken out health insurance through the Humboldt-Institut, you will receive the corresponding proof of insurance included in the invitation.)
- The proof of the financing of your stay in Germany: After your payment of the course fee, you can prove your financing either through a receipt of your bank or by asking the Humboldt-Institut to send you a corresponding receipt.
Students who plan on transferring to a boarding school in Germany after their language course will additionally need an invitation of the boarding school.
Should any unexpected difficulties arise for the granting of your visa, we will gladly help you. In that case please contact the Humboldt-Institut immediately.
Important notice for part time courses:
For students requiring visas no visa will be granted for courses with fewer than 18 lessons per week
May I cancel a booking?
Is there a minimum number of participants?
Which language is spoken in the course center?
Where can I find information about Germany as a travel destination?
2. Arrival and accommodation
When can I arrive? When is the departure?
The addresses of each of the course centers can be found on the respective page of the course center, and additionally in the documentation which we send to you before your course starts.
The fees for transfer services will be doubled for transfers on other days than the official days of arrival and departure.
Is there a transfer service from the airport or train station?
Our staff members pick up the participants at the airport and bring them to the course center by car, minibus and occasionally coaches. Similarly, on the departure day they will take the course participants from the school back to the airport.
In most course centers we offer a transfer service from and to the closest railway station free of charge if this service is mentioned in the program descriptions.
The transfer service is usually shared with other students (i.e. group transportation). Waiting time is usually not longer than one hour.
Please note that in order to organize your transfer and guarantee a smooth operation we do need your flight details (flight number, airline, arrival and departure time) no later than 7 days before arrival. Longer waits may result for anyone who is late in submitting his / her information. Additionally, a late booking fee will be charged.
We will also transfer students who want to continue at another Humboldt center to their new location. A fee is charged for this service.
We must be advised beforehand if a student is traveling as an unaccompanied minor (UM).
Do I need to make a deposit?
Where do I stay during my course?
In some locations we also offer accommodation with host families. An overview of the accommodation choices can be found on the respective page for each course center.
In Berlin and Constance we also offer German courses without accommodation.
Are there any hotels nearby?
Is internet access and/or Wi-Fi available at the schools?
Is there a laundry service?
Please pack only clothes of easy-to-care fabrics, which can be washed in a washing machine.
Bed linen will be provided and changed regularly in all course centers.
Which special meals are available for allergic, diabetic or vegetarian persons or for members of certain religions?
Are the schools accessible for students with a disability?
3. During the course
Is there a placement test?
According to the results the participant will then be assigned to a class that reflects his or her level. This ensures that our classes are linguistically very homogeneous.
During the summer months, a placement test is given on the first day of the course, i.e. usually there are no lessons on that day, but it’s rather an orientation day without instruction.
For questions concerning your placement, the director of your course center will gladly assist you.
Will certificates of other language schools be recognized?
Which books and materials do I need?
What's the duration of one lesson?
How many weekly lessons are there in a course?
What's the duration of the classes?
How many students are there in a class?
Are the meals included in the course fee?
How can course participants be reached?
Do you offer lessons on bank holidays and during vacation times?
Bank holidays 2021 (no tuition) |
January 1, April 2 (only in Berlin-Mitte and Constance), Mai 24 (only in Berlin-Mitte and Constance), November 1 (only in Bad Schussenried, Lindenberg, Constance) |
Is there homework?
Are there any exams?
Who takes care of young course participants?
Our supervisors are prepared for their assignment at the institute in detailed, personal interviews or in workshops. At the beginning of their activity at the course location, they receive a comprehensive introduction to the processes, responsibilities and educational requirements in the leisure activities and care. Each assignment is evaluated and on-site reflection sessions are held to deepen and consolidate the skills required for this pedagogical activity and to ensure and further improve the quality of care over the long term.
Are children and teenagers allowed to leave the school premises?
Are the locations of the courses safe?
What about health care in Germany?
Medical care in Germany is generally very good. Hospitals, emergency doctors, specialists and general practicioners are within easy reach of all our course centers. Please check with your child’s health insurance whether the coverage also includes Germany. If not, you can always book a travel health insurance through the Humboldt-Institut (see above).
Please inform us of any food intolerances, allergies, pre-existing conditions or similar prior to your child’s arrival. This ensures that our staff on site is informed and well-prepared in case of an emergency. If your child needs to take medication, please supply him or her with sufficient quantities and inform us in writing about dosage and administration and supply sufficient quantities.
Please hand your child a copy of his or her international vaccination card if available.
Am I allowed to visit my child?
Is it possible to interrupt my course?
What are the course rules?
4. After the course
Do I get a certificate?
What is the departure day?
I am looking for a boarding school / secondary school in Germany. Can you help me?
To be admitted to a German school it is usually necessary to have successfully completed the language level B2 of the Humboldt-Institut. We also offer a special school transition course.
I want to study at a German university. What do I have to take into consideration?
5. Exams
Which exams can I take at the Humboldt-Institut?
The Humboldt-Institut offers most of the telc-exams, the TestDaF as well as the TestAS. Dates, locations and fees can be found on our list of exams.
When will my results be available?
Have we answered all of your questions? Or is there anything else we can help you with? Please don’t hesitate to write to us or to call us:
Your contact
For all questions concerning our course offerings or for booking a German course our staff at the booking office will gladly assist you:
Humboldt-Institut e.V.
Schloss Ratzenried
88260 Argenbühl
Phone +49 7522 9880
info@humboldt-institut.org
We can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm CET. Apart from German and English, our staff members also speak French, Polish, Spanish and Russian.
Questions in writing will be answered in German or English.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Downloads
Humboldt Brochure 2021 |
Dates & Fees 2021 |
Boarding School Brochure |
Secondary Education Prep Year |