You picked a German-taught degree, and now a wall stands between you and the lecture hall: you have to prove, on paper, that your German is good enough to survive it. Two exams can issue that proof, TestDaF and DSH, and the forums are full of students agonising over which one, as if the choice were a trap. It mostly is not. The two exams test much the same German; they just differ in where, when, and how you sit them. Pick based on logistics, not fear.
This guide cuts through it: how the two differ, what level you actually need, and which one fits your situation. The hard part was never choosing the exam. It was learning the German, that part, no shortcut.
What both exams are for
Strip away the acronyms and both exams do one job: prove you have enough German to study a degree taught in German. Universities will not let you start a German-taught programme without this proof, the same way they need your bachelor's transcript. It is a gate, and these are the two keys.
You only need one of them. And, crucially, you only need either if your programme is in German. Go the English-taught route and you skip both entirely, you prove English with IELTS or TOEFL instead. So the first question is not "TestDaF or DSH" but "German-taught or English-taught". Only if you have chosen a German-taught degree does this comparison matter.
Assuming it does, here is how the two keys differ.
TestDaF: the portable one
TestDaF (the Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache) is the standardised, portable option. Picture it like an IELTS for German: a fixed exam, run at test centres worldwide on set dates, marked centrally.
What that buys you:
- You can sit it in your home country, before you arrive in Germany
- One result can be used to apply to several universities, since it is widely recognised
- The format and standard are the same everywhere, so you know exactly what you are preparing for
This portability is TestDaF's whole appeal. If you are applying from abroad, want to lock in your German proof before booking a flight, or are applying to multiple programmes, TestDaF is usually the sensible choice. The result feeds straight into your uni-assist application alongside your other documents.
DSH: the university's own
DSH (the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) is the university-run option. Each German university administers its own DSH, and you sit it at the university, usually shortly before your studies begin.
This changes the logistics:
- It is university-specific, tied to the institution you are joining
- You typically take it once you are in Germany, close to your start date
- It is the natural choice if you are already here, or if your target university prefers or requires it
DSH suits the student who is already in Germany (perhaps after a Studienkolleg or a language course), or whose chosen university leans toward its own exam. The trade-off versus TestDaF is portability: a DSH from one university is tied to that context, whereas a TestDaF travels.
Most universities accept both, so in practice you choose on your circumstances, not on which the university will take.
The level you actually need
Both exams target roughly B2 to C1 German, the level where you can follow lectures, read academic texts, and write coherently. The scoring differs:
| Exam | Scale | Usual requirement |
|---|---|---|
| TestDaF | TDN 3, 4, 5 | TDN 4 across the sections |
| DSH | DSH-1, 2, 3 | DSH-2 for admission |
So for TestDaF, most degree programmes want TDN 4 in each part (reading, listening, writing, speaking); for DSH, DSH-2 is the standard admission bar. Higher results (TDN 5, DSH-3) exceed the requirement; lower ones (TDN 3, DSH-1) usually fall short for full admission.
Exact requirements vary by programme, some demand higher, a few accept lower, so check your specific programme. But plan for solid B2-C1 German as the real target. The exam is just the measurement; reaching that level is the actual work.
Choosing, and the real challenge
Putting it together, the choice is mostly about where you are and what you are applying to:
- TestDaF if you want to sit it at home before arriving and apply to multiple universities with one portable result
- DSH if you are already in Germany or your target university prefers it
- Either way, confirm what your specific programme accepts (most take both) and which level it requires
On cost: TestDaF runs roughly in the low hundreds of euros, varying by country; DSH fees are set by the university and are usually modest, sometimes low or free for admitted applicants. Check the current figure with the test centre or university.
And the honest bottom line: the exam choice is the easy 10% of this. The hard 90% is getting your German to B2-C1, which takes real, sustained study (see ways to learn German faster). Students burn energy agonising over TestDaF-versus-DSH when that energy belongs in the language itself. Pick the exam that fits your logistics, then put your head down and learn the German. Pass that, and either exam opens the door.
What to do this week
- First confirm your programme is German-taught (you need one of these exams) or English-taught (you need IELTS/TOEFL instead, not these).
- If German-taught, check what your specific university accepts and the level it wants (usually TestDaF TDN 4 or DSH-2), then pick the exam on logistics: TestDaF to sit abroad and apply widely, DSH if you are already in Germany.
- Put the real effort into reaching B2-C1 German, since the exam only measures the level, it does not create it.
