Language classes
Our language program is wide-ranging, from beginner courses to courses at a highly advanced level, and includes both general and specialized language courses. The language courses are conducted at a fast learning pace and, with the appropriate commitment, enable participants to acquire language skills intensively and thus in a relatively short period of time. As a rule, language courses are offered from A1 to C1 level. Specialized language courses beyond this level are offered in the respective departments and degree programmes.
Courses should be taken according to the current individual level of proficiency in order to make the best possible progress - for most languages we offer placement tests, please make use of them and choose your course level accordingly!
The language courses offered as part of the regular lecture schedule vary between summer and winter semesters and are free of charge for all members of the Mainz University of Applied Sciences and cooperating institutions. The course times are based on the full-time lecture times of the School of Business.
All full-time and part-time Bachelor's or Master's students at Mainz University of Applied Sciences who have registered and received a seat within the enrolment period can take part (places may be limited). Further information on the enrolment period and the enrolment modalities can be found below.
Some of the language courses are integrated into the curricula of individual degree programmes in the compulsory and compulsory elective areas. The extent to which language courses are integrated into your degree programme can be found in your degree programme structure. Irrespective of this, all language courses listed in the table below can be attended extracurricular (‘voluntary’, without ECTS) to acquire an additional qualification.
Lecturers, assistants and staff are also very welcome!
Students of the Johannes Gutenberg University and the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz can also attend our language courses. Further information: Co-Operation
Course enrolment (registration/enrolment for the courses) takes place
- for students at the School of Business via the enrolment procedure as part of the module choices from summer semester 2025 on CIM (WPF or Studium Integrale, see website Study Management, section Voting)*
[Exceptions: German as a foreign language: OLAT; extracurricular (‘voluntary-additional’) enrolment without ECTS: OLAT, see notes under “Occupancy procedure”] - for students of the School of Engineering and School of Design via the booking procedure on OLAT (please note the booking period! See notes under “Occupancy procedure”)
- for students of cooperation institutions and for employees of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, usually via an enquiry by e-mail.
The range of languages offered is presented during the orientation weeks in the introductory events and as part of the options/module fair at the School of Business and can also be found at any time using the search function in CIM. The overview on this website is published approximately 2 months before the start of lectures and is continuously updated until the start of lectures.
Please note that not all language levels or courses are offered in every semester: Information on this can be found in the ‘Course programme’ table. Further details can be found here on the website under the respective languages.
If you have any further questions, please contact sprachen (at) hs-mainz.de.
Please note that a minimum number of participants may be required for courses to be organised and may therefore depend on demand.
Unless otherwise stated, all courses take place on the Mainz University of Applied Sciences campus (Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 2).
Courses that will still be offered at the Holz- or Rheinstraße campuses in the summer semester 2025 are marked accordingly.
If a written examination is planned for the successful completion of a course (see module descriptions/info from lecturers in the course), this does not usually take place in the last lesson of the course, but as part of the written examination weeks of the School of Business, i.e. usually at the end of January (winter semester) or beginning of July (summer semester).
The courses at Holz-/Rheinstraße may be an exception.
You can find the provisional room and time planning for the examination phase at the School of Business here under Examinations - Examination schedules - Full-time degree programmes (please note that the information, especially regarding the rooms, can still CHANGE until shortly before the respective date).
Courses offered in the 2025 summer semester:
You must register in advance by using the registration procedure (see below), NOT directly with the instructor!
Please do not attend the course without registering in advance.
Unless otherwise indicated, all courses in the 2025 summer semester start in week 12 (week of March 17).
| Levels | German (DaF) | English | Spanish | French | Russian | Chinese | Italian | Portuguese | ||
C1 | Deutsch C1.2 (only summer!) Wed, 17:00-20:15, D0.05 | Professional English for Creatives** Fri, 13:00-16:15, tbd (H/R) Negotiation Skills Fri, 08:15-11:30, C3.08 Intercultural Business Communication Thu, 08:15-11:30, K3b Working in Multicultural Teams Thu, 08:15-11:30, K3a | Spanish C1 (only winter!) | French C1 (only winter!) | ||||||
| German C1.1 (only winter!) | ||||||||||
| C = proficient language use | ||||||||||
| B2.2 | German B2.2 (only summer!) Mon, 08:15-11:30. D0.07 | English Communication Skills B2** Tue, 14:00-17:15, tbd Social Competence: Business Etiquette and Business Ethics Mon, 08:15-11:30, D1.12 | Spanish B2.2 (only winter!) | French B2 Thu, 08:15-11:30, D0.05 | ||||||
B2.1 | German B2.1 (only winter!) | Spanish B2.1 Thu, 08:15-11:30, D1.12 | ||||||||
B1.2 | German B1.2 Tue, 11:45-15:00, K3b | English Communication Skills B1+** Tue, 10:00-13:15, tbd | Spanish B1.2 (only winter!) | French B1 Fri, 08:15-11:30, D0.07 | ||||||
B1.1 | German B1.1 Tue, 08:15-11:30, D0.05 | Spanish B1.1 Fri, 08:15-11:30, D1.06 | ||||||||
| B = independent language use | ||||||||||
A2.2 | German A2.2 Wed, 08:15-11:30, D0.05 | English Crash Course A2 - > B1 Block course before lectures begin! (2 weeks in March/September) | Spanish A2 Spanish A2 ** | French A2 Mon, 08:15-11:30, K3b | ||||||
A2.1 | German A2.1 Mon, 08:15-11:30, ONLINE | |||||||||
A1.2 | German A1.2 Wed, 11:45-15:00, K3a | Spanish A1 Spanish A1 Spanish A1 Spanish A1** | French A1.2 Mon, 17:00-20:15, K3a | Russian A1.2 (only summer!) Mon, 08:15-11:30, D0.08 | Chinese A1.2 (only summer!) Mon, 08:15-11:30, D0.12 | Italian A1.2 (only summer!) Thu, 08:15-11:30, D0.03 | Portugiesisch A1.2 expected from summer semester 2026 | |||
A1.1 | German A1.1 [Course A] Thu, 08:15-11:30, D1.06 [Course B] Mon, 08:15-11:30, D0.05 | Russian A1.1 (only winter!) | Chinee A1.1 (only winter!) | Italian A1.1 (only winter!) | Portuguese A1.1 expected from winter semester 2025 | |||||
| A = basic language use | ||||||||||
Please note that there may be a minimum number of participants necessary for individual courses to take place, so they may be subject to demand.
The number of spaces in courses is limited.
Subject to change.
Unless otherwise stated, classes take place on campus in the rooms of the School of Business.
**This course will still take place in Holzstraße/Rheinstraße in summer semester 2025.
Course information and booking procedure
Here you will find detailed information on course content, prerequisites, proof of performance, etc.!
(The module descriptions can also be viewed in the OLAT course, see below)
Registration for the courses takes place for the summer semester 2025
- directly by the students (participation of employees is also possible)
- only before the start of the course and within the booking period
- for students of the School of Business
a) as part of the enrolment procedure for the first time via CIM, provided that ECTS can be acquired (see the study management website - Categorie Elections)
b) as ‘voluntary’/‘extracurricular’ participation without acquiring ECTS: booking period 19 February - 6 March via OLAT (ONLY for first semester students also on 10 March) - you will find instructions on how to register in OLAT here )
c) for German as a foreign language: via OLAT up to and including 21 March - instructions for registering in OLAT can be found here
- for students in the School of Engineering and School of Design exclusively via OLAT
(NOT by e-mail, NOT with the teachers, NOT in the course on site!)
Please note booking period: 19 February - 6 March (Remaining seats in the English and Spanish courses at Holz-/Rheinstraße can be taken up to the day before the respective course starts, depending on availability)
Remaining places may be allocated to first semester students only on 10 March, via OLAT
- for employees of all departments exclusively via OLAT
Please note the booking period: 19 February - 6 March; remaining seats in the English and Spanish courses at Holz-/Rheinstraße can be taken up to the day before the respective course starts, depending on availability.
Instructions for registering via OLAT can be found here.
Special courses
In addition to the regular lecture programme, we also offer a range of special courses (times, conditions of participation, target groups and costs vary depending on the course format).
During the lecture periods, our peer-to-peer learning programme Café Lingua [currently suspended due to lack of student demand!] also offers the opportunity to get to know the native language and culture of your chosen tutor in small groups or to teach your own language and culture as a tutor. After forming groups at the beginning of the semester, the individual groups go on small excursions independently and choose the learning content themselves.
In the summer months, we offer summer schools in cooperation with various international partners, in which language skills are deepened, expanded and, above all, applied: Components include lessons in small groups, multinational teamwork, research projects, insights into companies, universities/colleges, excursions, joint leisure activities. Many of our courses are also recognised as educational leave (educational leave possible) and/or recognised as coursework within certain degree programmes (eligibility and ECTS credits vary depending on the degree programme and summer school).
