Proof of Language Proficiency for Cooperative Bachelor’s Programs

If you have already learned the required foreign language at school, you can provide proof of language proficiency through your school education if you meet the following criteria:

• Basic knowledge / passive proficiency: 2 years of school lessons at secondary school; final grade at least “fair” (4.0, “ausreichend”).
• Proficiency: Option 1: Four years of school lessons in secondary education with a final grade of at least “fair” (4.0, ausreichend). Option 2: Three years of school education in upper secondary education (Gymnasium) leading to the Abitur (German General Higher Education Entrance Qualification): For G8: school years 10–12; for G9: school years 11–13. During the final two years of upper secondary education (referred to as grades I and II in the German system), the average grade over four semesters must be at least “fair” (4.0, ausreichend).
• Latinum / Graecum certificate: Note stating that the Latinum has been passed / Graecum exam in the secondary school leaving certificate (Abiturzeugnis).

If your university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur certificate) includes proof of sufficient language proficiency, Student Services will recored this as “passed” in the system during your first semester. As we already received your university entrance qualification with your application, the process will be completed automatically and no additional steps are required on your part.

If your university entrance qualification does not demonstrate sufficient language proficiency, you may be required to submit additional certificates or documentation in individual cases. At the beginning of the second semester (February or March), please check whether your language proficiency has been recorded as “passed” in the system by Student Services. If this is not the case, please contact your responsible Student Services advisor.

The proof of language proficiency you do need to provide is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). You need to provide proof for the following levels of language proficiency:

• Basic knowledge / passive proficiency: Language proficiency level A2 or higher
• Proficiency: Language proficiency level B2 or higher

The Latinum and Graecum certificates are state supplementary examinations organized and held by a Regierungspräsidium (regional council) in Baden-Württemberg. Please note that you need the regular Latinum certificate as proof, you do not need the advanced Latin certificate (“Großes Latinum”). To prepare for the examination to obtain the Latinum certificate, we recommend attending the Latin courses offered by the History and Philosophy departments. In addition, you can take advantage of the courses offered by the Heidelberger Pädagogium, which are subject to a fee.

The supplementary examination required to obtain the Latinum certificate is usually offered by the regional councils three times a year only. You can repeat the examination once. We recommend making your first attempt at the beginning of the fourth semester at the latest. This way, you would be still in time if you need to take the exam again. Please take this into account when planning your studies and start with the preparatory Latin courses in the first semester. You are free to choose which regional council you take the exam at. Information on supplementary examinations, dates, and registration can be found on the regional councils' websites:

Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe

Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart

Regierungspräsidium Freiburg

Regierungspräsidium Tübingen

Language courses provided by the departments
Some departments offer language courses to help students acquire the necessary language skills. We recommend that you take advantage of these language courses. For French, Italian and Spanish, we strongly recommend participation.

If you are taking the language you need to prove proficiency in as a subject, you can demonstrate your language skills by successfully completing your regular language courses.

Language courses provided by Studium Generale
Studium Generale offers various foreign language courses. These will enable you to acquire the necessary level of language proficiency.

Language courses provided by external institutions
To acquire the necessary language skills, you can also make use of courses offered by external providers such as the Abendakademie or adult education centers. To obtain the Latinum or Graecum certificate, the Heidelberger Pädagogium offers preparation courses that are partly aligned with the academic calendar of Mannheim.

Language courses provided by the departments
If you acquire your language proficiency through language courses provided by the departments, Student Services will automatically record this as proof of language proficiency after you have successfully completed the course and passed the exam. Please register for the respective exam during the exam registration. Exceptions are the preparatory courses for the Latinum certificate in the subjects History and Philosophy/Ethics, which are not sufficient as proof of language proficiency.

Alternative acquirement of language proficiency
For language proficiency acquired outside the courses offered by the University of Mannheim, the Studium Generale language certificate serves as proof. The language certificate is issued for English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Language proficiency is considered proven if you have achieved the required proficiency level in three of the four areas assessed in the language certificate. Please use the language certificate form (PDF, 123 kB) as proof.
If Studium Generale does not issue a certificate for a particular language, you need to provide other evidence of your language skills. This evidence must show that you have passed and clearly indicate the language level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Latinum and Graecum
As proof of the Latinum, you must submit the certificate issued after successfully passing the state supplementary examination.

Please submit the certificate via e-mail to your responsible Student Services advisor in due time.