General Information
Courses offered The Language Center offers fee-paying in-person and online language courses in 18 different foreign languages at various levels.
Placement test A placement test is generally recommended and even mandatory in some cases. It helps determine your current language level objectively (e.g., A1-C2 according to CEF) and find an appropriate language course. The test is available online on our website at any time free of charge.
Registration periodThe registration period lasts for approximately two months for our intensive courses and approximately three months for the semester courses. You can find the current enrollment period as well as all other relevant information in the description of your desired course in heiCO.
Registration During the registration period students enrolled at the Heidelberg University can personally conduct their registration as well as any registration changes or deregistration via heiCO. For anyone else interested, registration is solely possible by email. (see Information about Language Course Registration).
Payment Course fees must be paid by bank transfer during the registration period. It is essential that the correct reference is provided. (see Course Fees and Payment)
Admission / Eligibility Admission will only be granted after successful registration and full payment of the course fees, regardless of place assignment after the registration deadline. N.B. Registrations without payment as well as payments without previous registration do not constitute grounds for participation. Unauthorized participation in the courses will have appropriate consequences.
Place distribution After the registration deadline the course spots will solely be assigned based on the actual payment received. Classrooms will be selected based on the final number of participants and uploaded in heiCO.
Opening Spots Information regarding whether and in which courses there are still opening spots will not be announced until two working days after the registration deadline and can only be obtained by telephone.
Waiting ListOnly if a course is overbooked will there be a waiting list. The opening spots will be given out in the order of payments received or by the proof of payment sent by email, regardless of the date of registration. Should you not obtain a spot due to overbooking, the prepaid course fees will be refunded. (s. Information about Course withdrawal)
Language course change If the course has already started, changing courses is only then possible after prior consultation with the administration office by telephone.
Digital tools Most of our language courses use digital tools. Approved external participants are requested to contact Mr. Mohr at (volker.mohr@zsl.uni-heidelberg.de) to obtain the access data in time.
Course start Classes for our regular semester courses start in the second week of lecture period. (see heiCO-course description)
Course end Classes for our regular semester courses end in the last week of lecture period. (see heiCO-course description)
Collecting course certificates and other documents Our language courses end with a final exam. On completing the course requirements course certificate, language certificates or language diplomas can be collected depending on the language level and achievements completed during the course. (see notices in our stairwell)
Issuing of language certificates (see status und notices in our stairwell)
Course length / ECTS-CPs For all course levels of 2 class hours per week, we recommend 2 credit points. For A and B language levels of 4 class hours per week, we recommend 4 credit points. For C-level of 4 class hours per week, we recommend 5 Credits.
Grade entry in your transcript The achievements completed during the course must be clarified with the study advisor, the interdisciplinary competence module coordinator or the appropriate examination office.
Contacting the coordination team of our language sectors If you need expert consultation regarding any language or have other academic concerns, our coordinators will be happy to assist you during their office hours or by email. (s. cf. ZSL-Team)
Contacting the course instructors The course instructors will welcome you by email in time before the course begins. During the course period you can discuss any questions regarding class materials, the schedule, absences or exam dates directly with the course instructors.
Contacting the secretary’s office The office is happy to assist you with any organizational questions you may have. However, at the beginning of the semester the volume of emails received increases significantly. For capacity reasons, your inquiries will be read and processed but can only answered to a limited extent. Urgent matters should be clarified by phone or in person during this time.