International students planning to study in Germany in 2026 may need to take different entrance and language tests depending on their course, level of study and language of instruction. Apart from English and German language proficiency exams, some applicants may also be required to take aptitude tests or obtain an Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) certificate before applying for a German student visa.
Students applying to English-taught programmes are generally required to submit scores from IELTS or TOEFL, while those enrolling in German-taught courses must demonstrate German language proficiency through exams such as TestDaF or DSH.
