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Last modified: 2026-10-02

# German Language Courses in Germany: Formats, 2026 Prices and the Visa for Adults

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There are two ways to learn German inside Germany. A course of up to 90 days can be taken on an ordinary Schengen visa, while an intensive course lasting several months requires a national language-course visa: daily classes of at least 18 hours a week, the course paid in full in advance, and $1,233 (€1,091) for every month of your stay in a blocked account. Tuition at private schools in 2026 runs from $141 (€125) to $282 (€250) a week — around $904–1,130 (€800–1,000) for four weeks — and accommodation booked through the school starts at $243 (€215) a week. If you live in Russia, note that the German Embassy in Moscow does not run courses and the Goethe-Institut has closed there.

| At a glance | What applies in 2026 |
| --- | --- |
| Course up to 90 days | Schengen C visa; the "90 days in any 180" rule applies |
| Course longer than 90 days | National language-course visa (section 16f of the Residence Act) |
| Intensity required for the visa | Daily classes, at least 18 hours a week; evening and weekend courses do not qualify |
| Funds for the visa | $1,233 (€1,091) per month for the whole course: $7,396 (€6,546) for six months, $11,094 (€9,819) for nine |
| Tuition examples | did deutsch-institut: $226 (€200) a week for 20 lessons; TANDEM Munich: $164 (€145) a week for 18 lessons |
| Where Russian citizens apply | National visas only at the embassy in Moscow; biometric passport required since 1 January 2026 |
| Working during the course | The law allows up to 20 hours a week; the Moscow embassy checklist (February 2025) says work is not permitted — check the wording on your own permit |

The Goethe-Institut headquarters building in Munich, November 2017. Photo: Henning Schlotmann / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Goethe-Institut_9448.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## Why take a course in Germany, and when not to {#section-1}

A course in the country gives you what an online class cannot: German from morning to night, everyday life in the language and exam preparation in the environment where you will later study or work. It pays off most for three groups:

- future students who need to move from B1 to C1 before TestDaF or DSH;
- people preparing for an Ausbildung or a job who need a solid B1–B2;
- adults who want to break through a plateau in a 2–8-week intensive.

If you only want A1–A2 for personal use, six months abroad rarely makes sense: those levels are cheaper at home, and Germany is better used for an intensive or exam preparation. For the bigger picture see our [Germany country guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-germany), and for a full annual student budget see [the cost of studying in Germany](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-germany).

## Course formats {#section-2}

| Format | Workload | Best for | Valid for the national visa? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard group course | 16–20 lessons a week (a lesson is 45 minutes) | All levels, longer stays | Yes, with at least 18 lessons a week on weekdays |
| Intensive | 24–30 lessons a week | Moving through a level faster | Yes |
| Exam preparation (TestDaF, telc, Goethe, DSH) | 4–5 week course | B2 and above | Only combined with a main course |
| One-to-one lessons | By arrangement | Specific goals, professional German | As an add-on to a group course |
| Evening and weekend courses | 2–8 hours a week | People already living in Germany | No |
| University summer courses | 3–4 weeks, usually in summer | Students and graduates wanting academic German | Usually on a Schengen visa |
| Courses for teenagers aged 14–17 | Language plus activities, host family or residence | School pupils on holiday | Schengen visa plus parental consent |

Mind the difference between a "lesson" and an "hour". Schools count 45-minute teaching units; TANDEM in Munich states explicitly that visa students need at least 18 such units a week. To avoid questions at the consulate, ask the school to state the number of lessons per week, their length and that classes are held daily.

## What courses cost in 2026 {#section-3}

The figures below come from schools' official 2026 price lists. Other schools will differ, but the order of magnitude is similar.

### did deutsch-institut (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich)

| Course | 1 week | 4 weeks | Each further week |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standard, 20 lessons | $226 (€200) | $904 (€800) | Weeks 5–8: +$226 (€200); from week 9: +$113 (€100) |
| Intensive, 24 lessons | $282 (€250) | $1,130 (€1,000) | Weeks 5–8: +$282 (€250); from week 9: +$169 (€150) |

On top: a non-refundable registration fee of $56 (€50), materials of about $28 (€25) a month, and a high-season supplement of $40 (€35) a week from 29 June to 14 August 2026 (only for bookings shorter than nine weeks). TestDaF preparation costs $565 (€500) for four weeks plus a $243 (€215) exam fee. A 12-week standard course is $2,260 (€2,000) before registration.

### TANDEM Munich

| Lessons per week | Weekly price, 2026 | Weekly price, 2027 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 16 | $141 (€125) | $153 (€135) |
| 18 | $164 (€145) | $175 (€155) |
| 20 | $186 (€165) | $198 (€175) |

Plus a one-time service fee of $56 (€50) and a summer supplement of $23 (€20) a week from 6 July to 28 August 2026. The 16-lesson course runs Monday to Thursday and does not meet the visa requirement; the 18- and 20-lesson courses run Monday to Friday.

### What six months costs

For a 24-week visa course, tuition comes to about $3,672 (€3,250) at did deutsch-institut (standard course plus registration) or $3,988 (€3,530) at TANDEM (18 lessons a week, without summer supplements). School-arranged accommodation adds at least $5,830 (€5,160) for a self-catering room at did deutsch-institut. The six-month blocked-account amount of $7,396 (€6,546) is separate living money and does not cover the course.

## Accommodation during the course {#section-4}

| Option | Weekly price (did deutsch-institut, 2026) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-catering private room | $243 (€215) | The cheapest school-arranged option |
| Host family, single room with breakfast | $311 (€275) | German at home every day; half-board $378 (€335) |
| Student apartment | $367–503 (€325–445) for 2–4 weeks; cheaper for longer stays | One-time service fee $169 (€150) and deposit $339 (€300) |

Berlin adds a 7.5% city tax for stays under 25 weeks; Frankfurt adds $16 (€14) a week for stays up to 12 weeks. For longer courses, a room in a shared flat from the third month is often cheaper — city prices are in [student housing in Germany](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-housing-germany).

## Visa: Schengen or national {#section-5}

### Courses of up to 90 days

A Schengen C visa is enough. You cannot stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, and you cannot switch to a study or work residence permit inside Germany. For Russian citizens, the Schengen visa fee is $102 (€90). Check the embassy website on the day you book to see where Schengen applications are currently accepted in Russia: arrangements are changing after the St Petersburg consulate closed on 18 September 2026.

### Courses longer than 90 days (section 16f)

The national language-course visa covers time-limited intensive courses. The Moscow embassy's checklist asks for:

- a school invitation stating the address, dates, starting and target levels and hours per week, plus proof that the course is paid for the whole stay;
- living funds of $1,233 (€1,091) per month for the full course, through a blocked account with a provider abroad or formal sponsorship from Germany;
- a detailed motivation letter: why this course, why Germany, what comes next, and how long and where you have studied German;
- a CV in table form and your latest education certificate with a translation;
- where relevant, a letter from your employer that German is needed for your job, or that you will work remotely or are released from work during the course;
- health insurance from an EU insurer (usually an incoming policy);
- for minors, notarised parental consent and a birth certificate.

Prior German is not strictly required, but the embassy considers whether you tried to learn at least the basics at home. An integration course for immigrants does not count as a language course for this visa.

If you plan to go on to university or an Ausbildung after the course, say so when you apply. According to the embassy checklist, a change of purpose inside Germany is possible after the course is completed successfully; but if a university has already admitted you on condition of a preparatory language course, the correct visa is the student visa, with $1,121 (€992) a month. See our [German student visa guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-germany).

National-visa appointments are booked through the RK-Termin waiting list, and applications are filed in person in Moscow with a $85 (€75) fee. Processing takes weeks, so pick a school that lets you move your start date if the visa is late; postponement and refund terms are set out in the school's terms and conditions. The embassy and the immigration office decide on the visa.

## How to check a school {#section-6}

There is no single state accreditation for private language schools in Germany, so quality is judged by several signals:

- the school issues a visa invitation with the details the embassy requires and states its postponement policy for visa delays;
- groups follow the Common European Framework levels (A1–C2) with a placement test;
- it runs or prepares for recognised exams — TestDaF, telc, ÖSD — and says which ones universities accept;
- it belongs to professional associations and undergoes external quality checks; verify membership on the association's own list;
- all prices and fees are published: registration, materials, seasonal supplements, accommodation, transfers.

A course completion certificate confirms attendance; it is not an exam. Universities and visas need a recognised exam result — see [TestDaF, DSH and Goethe exams](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-german-language-tests-testdaf-dsh-goethe).

## Notes for Russian citizens {#section-7}

- No courses "at the embassy". The German Embassy does not teach German. Courses and exams in Russia were run by the Goethe-Institut; according to its own notice on goethe.de, on 7 September the Russian authorities required all three of its locations — Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk — to stop work by 13 September 2026. It has not been designated undesirable, and certificates already issued remain valid.
- Free courses in Germany are mostly integration courses for people already resident on another basis; you cannot come for them on a language-course visa.
- Money. No Russian bank offers a qualifying blocked account, and Russian bank statements are not accepted. Pay the course and fund the blocked account only through lawful channels agreed in advance with the school and the provider — see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia) and our [blocked account guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-blocked-account-germany).
- Passport. A biometric passport has been required since 1 January 2026. Other Russia-specific points are in [studying in Germany as a Russian citizen](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-in-germany-for-russian-citizens).

## How long to go for {#section-8}

| Goal | Realistic time in Germany | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Move up half a level | 4 weeks of intensive study | A Schengen visa is enough |
| Complete a full level (e.g. B1 to B2) | About 8 weeks | TANDEM, for example, plans a full level over 8 weeks |
| From B1 to C1 before university | 6–9 months | National visa; plan for TestDaF or DSH at the end |
| Preparing for Ausbildung from A2 | 3–6 months | Secure a training contract first; a preparatory course is sometimes built in — see [Ausbildung in Germany](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-ausbildung-in-germany) |

## Common mistakes {#section-9}

- Booking an evening course or a 16-lesson course for a national visa.
- Paying for six months of tuition and housing before you have a visa appointment, without checking the postponement terms.
- Treating a school certificate as a substitute for TestDaF or DSH.
- Confusing the language-course visa with the student visa: if a university has admitted you on condition of language preparation, you need the student visa.
- Leaving out registration, materials, seasonal supplements and city tax on accommodation.
- Travelling on a 90-day Schengen visa and hoping to extend for a longer course.

## FAQ {#faq}

### How much do German courses in Germany cost?

At private schools in 2026, between $141 (€125) and $282 (€250) a week depending on the number of lessons — for example $904 (€800) for four weeks of a standard course at did deutsch-institut. Registration, materials and housing from $243 (€215) a week come on top. The school decides on enrolment, so check its price list for your year.

### Which visa do I need for a language course in Germany?

For up to 90 days, a Schengen C visa. For an intensive course longer than 90 days, the national language-course visa: daily classes of at least 18 hours a week, the course paid in full and $1,233 (€1,091) a month in a blocked account. The German embassy issues the visa with the immigration office's approval.

### Are there free German courses at the German Embassy in Moscow?

No. The embassy does not run courses, and the Goethe-Institut, which used to offer courses and exams, has closed in Russia. Free integration courses in Germany are for people already living there on another basis, and no visa is issued for them.

### Can I work while on a language course?

The Residence Act allows holders of a language-course permit to work up to 20 hours a week. The Moscow embassy checklist (February 2025 edition), however, states that work is not permitted. Go by the wording in your own permit and ask the immigration office, which makes the decision.

### Can I start university after the course without leaving Germany?

According to the Moscow embassy checklist, you can change the purpose of stay inside Germany after successfully completing the course if you intend to study or work, and you should say so when you apply for the visa. The immigration office decides on the new permit, and the university decides on admission.

### How much money do I need for six months?

For the visa, $7,396 (€6,546) in a blocked account. On top, 24 weeks of tuition — about $3,672–3,988 (€3,250–3,530) in our examples — and at least $5,830 (€5,160) if you book housing through the school. Add insurance, flights and the visa fee.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [Goethe-Institut Russia: notice that the Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk locations stop work by 13 Sep 2026](https://www.goethe.de/ins/ru/de/index.html) — checked 2 Oct 2026
- German Embassy in Moscow: [language-course visa checklist (February 2025)](https://germania.diplo.de/resource/blob/1611624/b7ed5bf94eb124d394ee804bb2d9c666/sprachkurs-ueber-3-monate-data.pdf), [study and preparatory-course checklist](https://germania.diplo.de/resource/blob/1611632/41c7219b0e955033b4b9132f6d53927b/studium-data.pdf), [national visa and appointments](https://germania.diplo.de/ru-ru/service/05-visaeinreise/langfristigeraufenthalt/1224364-1224364), [visa fees](https://germania.diplo.de/ru-ru/service/05-visaeinreise/1624136-1624136), [closure of the St Petersburg consulate and Goethe-Institut](https://germania.diplo.de/ru-ru/2803138-2803138), [biometric passports](https://germania.diplo.de/ru-ru)
- Residence Act: [section 16f (language courses)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__16f.html), [section 16b (study-preparatory courses)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__16b.html)
- School price lists: [did deutsch-institut, 2026 prices (PDF)](https://www.did.de/fileadmin/downloads/pdf/brochures/2026/2026_did_deutsch-institut_EN.pdf), [TANDEM Munich intensive courses 2026–2027](https://www.tandem-muenchen.de/en/german-intensive-courses.html)
- [German Foreign Office: blocked accounts](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/sperrkonto/375488)

All sources checked on 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the school decides on enrolment, and the embassy decides on the visa.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Cost of Studying in Germany: A Full First-Year Student Budget for 2026–2027](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-germany)
- [Studying in Germany as a Russian Citizen: Routes, the Moscow Visa, Money and Degree Recognition](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-in-germany-for-russian-citizens)
- [Ausbildung in Germany for International Applicants: What It Is, Pay, Occupations and the Visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-ausbildung-in-germany)
- [Studying in Germany for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-germany)
- [Student Housing in Germany: Halls of Residence, Shared Flats or an Apartment, Prices by City and Registration](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-housing-germany)
- [German Student Visa 2026: Documents, Timing and Where to Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-student-visa-germany)

Updated: October 2026