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 in the winter semester 2025/26 will take place on 16.12.25, 07.01.26, 13.01.26 & 20.01.26 at the University of Hamburg (Von Melle Park 5). 

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 will have to take an oral exam. You will be given further details to arrange a date for the oral exam (Zoom or face-to-face) after the written exam.

 

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

 
Please send this information (transcript with course grades or lecturer confirmation) for French to the testing email box (testing.sz"AT"uni-hamburg.de) if you wish to use the alternative.

All others should take the written and oral exam.

What are DELF and DALF?

DELF/DALF diplomas are internationally recognized certificates issued by the French Ministry of Education and are valid for life. Whether for a semester abroad or an internship, they serve as official recognition of your level of French.

To study at a university in France, most universities require a DELF B2 or DALF C1 level.

Information on the test procedure can be found below.

Next exam dates at the Institut Français Hamburg in 2025 and 2026:

2025

November 13 (A2 and B1) November 14 (A1 and B2) November 15 (C1 and C2

Registration deadline: November 4, 2025

2026

March 12 (A2 and B1) March 13 (A1 and B2) March 14 (C1 and C2)	Registration deadline: March 2, 2026
June 18 (A2 and B1) June 19 (A1 and B2) June 20 (C1 and C2)	Registration deadline: June 8, 2026
September 24 (C1 and C2) September 25 (A1 and B2) September 26 (A2 and B1)	Registration deadline: September 14, 2026
November 19 (A2 and B1) November 20 (A1 and B2) November 21 (C1 and C2)	Registration deadline: November 9, 2026

Registration

Please register directly at the Institut Français Hamburg.

Costs

Please refer to the Institut Français website for costs. Discounts are available for students.

Test procedure

The DELF/DALF exams cover the four skills of the CEFR: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, written language skills, and oral language skills.

The exam usually takes one day, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

There are three group tests, in which other candidates take the test at the same time in the same room, and an individual test, in which each candidate is alone with two examiners.

Each part of the test is scored out of 25 points.

To obtain the diploma, you must score at least 50 out of 100 points.

Further information can be found on the Institut Français Hamburg website.

A detailed presentation of the DELF/DALF exams and sample questions can be found on the France Education International website.

Language levels and validity:

The six DELF DALF certificate levels can be taken completely independently of each other. Depending on your language level, you are free to choose which language certificate you would like to obtain.

Once passed, the DELF DALF language certificate is valid indefinitely.

Information:

Website: Institut Français Hamburg

Further information: nathalie.scheil"AT"institutfrancais.de