Placement/Registration
Placement Exam for Class Registration
If you would like to take classes with us, you have to first take a placement test to prove that you have the required level for the class.
If you have not taken a placement test before, please take one of the following online tests (the tests are free):
You may take the test for each language only once per semester.
If you would like to register in the First Phase or Late Registration Phase, you have to take the test by the latest on 19.03.; for the Second Phase the deadline is 26.03. by the latest in order for your registration to be valid.
The exam will be provide your result after the test has been completed with the corresponding language level achieved. There you will also find further details on what you need to know before taking our Digital Placement Exams for the languages English, Spanish and French.
Your score is saved in OpenOLAT, from where we will export it. You don't need to do anything else other than register in STiNE during the registration phases. We will not send you any additional notifications.
Important: You will need to sign into OpenOLAT with your UHH login to take the test. Should you not have received your UHH login yet, please write us an email (testing.sz"AT"uni-hamburg.de).
Placement results are valid for 3 years
Have you taken the test within the past 3 years (including 2020)? Then you don't need to do anything. Your results are still in our system. Simply register for the classes in STiNE.
Have you taken the test before 2020? Then please make sure to re-take the test.
Alternatives to taking the test
If you have obtained an internationally recognized langauge certificate, or if you have been tested level B2 or higher by the Allgemeinsprachen, you can send in this certificate instead via our web form. Here too, though, this is only valid for 3 years. If you sent your certificate before 2019, you will have to send us a new certificate or take the test.
Recognized language certificates that we accept:
English: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Certificate, PTE Academic, UNIcert
French: DELF, DALF, UNIcert
Spanish: DELE, UNIcert
Should you have other official certificates that are not included in this list, please send us your inquiry for potential recognition via the web form.
Have you attended two B2 classes? Then you can also use this to register for a C1 class. Please send us the following information via our web form: which two classes did you attended and in which semester did you attended them.
For the languages not listed above (Italian, Russian, Turkish, Portuguese, Chinese)
the class teachers will decide whether or not your level is sufficient for the class.
Placement Exams for Language Certificates issued by the Language Center (incl. DAAD)
We issue language certificate for: applications for exchange programs (such as ERASMUS, DAAD, and other exchange programs), master applications, other applications or something similar or to participate in classes offered by the faculty of law (for Fremdsprachenscheine).
[Please note: If you would like to take classes offered by the Language Center, you do not need to present one of these language certificates. Please take the online tests listed above.]
The test can be taken once per semester and once in the lecture free period.
For language certificates English
please send the digital proof of enrollment you can download from STiNE or alternatively a photo/scan of your student ID to testing.sz"AT"uni-hamburg.de. You will then receive a log-in code for the test and further instructions on how to proceed. After completing the test, you will receive an electronic certificate from the Language Center via email.
Please note: This is a more elaborate test than the one we use for course participation. So even if you already took the test linked above to take a class with us, you will still have to take this test with log-in code in order to receive a language certificate.
For most ERASMUS and master applications as well as for the classes offered by the faculty of law, this certificate from the Language Center is usually sufficient. If in doubt, please ask the institution you are sending your application to directly.
Should you ADDITIONALLY require a DAAD/bvmd certificate or another special document your exchange institution is asking for, please contact Mr. Feddersen (benjamin.feddersen"AT"uni-hamburg.de) to arrange a telephone appointment for a quick oral exam. Should you have already taken this test with log-in code with us in the past and have received the Language Center certificate, you can of course contact Mr. Feddersen directly. It is not necessary to repeat the test.
For language certificates in French/Spanish
We issue language certificates if required for: Stays abroad (e.g. ERASMUS, DAAD and other exchange programmes), Master's applications, job applications and the like, as well as for law students who wish to attend foreign language courses offered by the Faculty of Law.
You should take a written and an oral examination.
The written exams are expected to take place in the following weeks of summer semester 24: CW17, CW20 and CW25 and will take place at the University of Hamburg (Von Melle Park 5). The exact dates and rooms for the exams will be announced in advance.
The tests may be taken once per semester.
Please note: To take the test, you must log in to OpenOLAT with your UHH ID. If you do not yet have an ID, please contact us at testing.sz"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
After the written exam, you should contact Verónica Guijas Gento (Spanish: veronica.guijas.gento"AT"uni-hamburg.de) or Carole Beckmann (French: carolebeckmann@yahoo.de(carolebeckmann"AT"yahoo.de)) to make an appointment for an oral exam (Zoom or face-to-face).
However, there are alternatives to the exams if you have already attended our courses:
For Erasmus certificates:
1 completed B2 or C1 course (grade: 1.7, 1.3 or 1.0)
1 completed B2 or C1 course + written confirmation of the level from the lecturer
For DAAD certificates:
2 completed B2 or C1 courses (grade: 1.7, 1.3 or 1.0)
2 completed B2 or C1 courses + written confirmation of the level from the lecturer
Send this information (transcript with course grades or lecturer confirmation) to Verónica Guijas Gento or Carole Beckmann if you wish to use the alternative.
All others should take the written and oral exam.
Here you can find more information about DELE (Spanish) and DELF/DALF (French).
Please understand that we receive a lot of requests and that we are very busy; we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Course Registration
Registering for Courses (Summer 2024)
You can register for our courses via STiNE during the registration phases:
1. Phase (random selection): Mon, 19.02. (9 AM) until Thu, 07.03. (1 PM)
Late registration period (random selection): Mon, 18.03. (9 AM) until Thu, 21.03. (1 PM)
2. Phase (First-Come-First-Served): Tue, 02.04. (9 AM) until Thu, 11.04. (1 PM)
Since registration in the second registration phase works on first come, first served basis, we recommend that you first sign up for the class you would like to do the most.
How Do Employees Register?
University staff who do not have a STiNE account can register via a registration form. Visit our pages for staff classes or for the classes for doctoral candidates and academic staff for the registration form and further information.
Read more on course registration...