English placement tests at German universities
Not every university places students with a C-Test. We read the language centre pages of 57 universities: here is where a C-Test counts, where another test does, and where the university does not name the test type. Every row links the official page.
Last checked:
C-Test for English course placement (25)
A C-Test, but not for course placement (6)
| University | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| University of Siegen | onSET in C-Test format for the English courses | onSET | Universität Siegen |
| LMU Munich, English Philology | C-Test of 4 texts of 25 gaps as a self-assessment for some degrees, not for language courses | C-Test - Institut für Englische Philologie - LMU München |
| University of Greifswald, law faculty | entry test with multiple choice and tasks in C-Test format, only for subject-specific English | Eingangstest Englisch |
| TU Braunschweig | C-Test as the first part of a paid language exam for study abroad and English Studies, not a course placement test | Sprachzeugnisse für Auslandsaufenthalt und Anglistik-Studium |
| University of Jena | no placement test for general English courses; a C-Test is part of the in-house language certificate for exchange programmes | Uni-interne Sprachnachweise |
| Bielefeld University | no C-Test for English courses since the 2024 summer semester (still for French and Spanish) | Spracheinstufung |
Another test (15)
| University | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | online multiple-choice test on grammar, listening and language, up to 30 minutes | Placement test |
| University of Freiburg | Oxford Online Placement Test, 77 minutes at most | Sprachprüfungen Englisch – Sprachlehrinstitut |
| University of Regensburg | digital test with multiple-choice tasks and gap texts, 60 minutes | Englisch - Zentrum für Sprache und Kommunikation - Universität Regensburg |
| LMU Munich, Language Centre | computer test on grammar, vocabulary and listening, 70 minutes at most | Englisch - Sprachenzentrum (SpraZ) - LMU München |
| University of Augsburg, Business English | Oxford Online Placement Test | Einstufungstest |
| Paderborn University | two parts, Use of English and Listening, about 40 to 60 minutes; the invitation goes to Oxford University Press | FAQ - Zentrum für Sprachlehre (ZfS) | Universität Paderborn |
| University of Cologne | Berlitz online test, then a placement by phone with Berlitz Köln | Sprachkurse |
| University of Hamburg | multiple choice on grammar and vocabulary, reading and listening, 1 hour 5 minutes | Einstufungstest Englisch (OpenOLAT) : Sprachenzentrum : Universität Hamburg |
| TU Dortmund University | choice tasks, typed words, listening and reading in Moodle; no writing, no speaking | Placement - FS - TU Dortmund |
| University of Oldenburg | oral placement test of 10 minutes, online | Englisch |
| University of Erfurt | Dynamic Placement Test, about 30 minutes, supervised on campus | Kurse und Prüfungen |
| University of Vienna | optional placement conversation of 10 to 15 minutes | Sprachniveaus und Einstufungen |
| University of Innsbruck | online test in three parts: listening, reading, multiple choice, about 45 minutes | Einstufungstest für Englisch |
| University of Mannheim | refers to a free online self-assessment test by telc GmbH | Einstufungstests - Studium Generale |
| University of Lübeck | no own test; refers to an external placement test by a publisher | Sprachkurse Wintersemester 2026/27 |
Test type not stated (11)
| University | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| TU Dresden | online placement test in Moodle, 25 minutes; compulsory for international students without a German Abitur | Einstufungstests | Sprachausbildung TU Dresden |
| Heidelberg University | free online test on an external platform | Einstufungstests - heiSKILLS |
| Trier University | online placement test on fixed dates, link by email; result valid for one year | Einstufungstests | Universität Trier |
| University of Würzburg | about 30 minutes, only once; the page names C-Tests for other languages, not for English | Einstufungstest - Zentrum für Sprachen |
| Technical University of Munich | placement test in Moodle behind a login; no help and no retakes to improve the result | FAQ - Language Center |
| Free University of Berlin | ABV placement test online via E-Examination@Home, decides between B2 and C1 courses | ABV-Einstufungstests für das Wintersemester 2026/27 |
| Technical University of Berlin | placement test once per semester; points and level straight after | All about the registration - TU Berlin |
| Osnabrück University | voluntary online test, 30 to 60 minutes depending on the language; currently not compulsory | Foreign Languages for General and Professional Purposes |
| Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg | about 30 minutes on site, no listening or speaking part; compulsory for all English courses | Einstufungstests |
| Leuphana University Lüneburg | at the Self-Access Center with your own laptop and headphones; result valid for two semesters | Language Placement Tests |
| RWTH Aachen University | 60 minutes on site after registration; once, and the level is not corrected afterwards | Einstufungstest Englisch | Sprachenzentrum der RWTH Aachen University |
What this means for your preparation
- Check your language centre’s page first: targeted C-Test practice pays off only if it says "C-Test".
- Where the test type is not named, the time often tells you something: 25 to 35 minutes without listening fits a C-Test; 60 minutes or more with listening points to a multiple-choice test.
- Even if your university uses another written test, the gaps train grammar and vocabulary in context, and multiple-choice tests check those too.
Frequently asked questions
Which universities use a C-Test for English?
On this page there are 25, including Münster, Tübingen, Hannover, Mainz and HU Berlin. They are in the first table, each with its source.
What if my university uses the Oxford Placement Test?
Then C-Test practice helps only indirectly. The Oxford Placement Test checks grammar, vocabulary and listening with multiple choice; practise with tasks in that format.
My university is missing. Why?
We only list what the university’s official page says. If the page cannot be reached or names no test, the university is not listed here.