About us

The International Study Centre with its Language Centre and its Studienkolleg (which prepares international applicants for their studies in Germany) is a central institution of the University of Kassel.

The Language Centre offers more than 120 courses per year in the field of teaching German, foreign languages and key qualifications for students, doctoral candidates, staff and, to a limited extent, for external guests. There are both, interdisciplinary courses and courses for specific purposes on offer.

Our language training for general and specialized language as well as our communication courses for special academic purposes are based on the criteria of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and is implemented with steep progression and an action-oriented, intercultural approach in the classroom.

As a university language centre, we are committed to the quality criteria of the Arbeitskreis der Sprachenzentren an Hochschulen e.V. (AKS). The UNIcert^® certificate as a seal of quality also certifies university-specific foreign language training for some languages and language levels, which students and employees can use as an additional qualification in their academic and professional context.

What is our aim?

Languages and intercultural competence are the gateway to the world, and its importance can hardly be overestimated, both, for studies and careers as well as for one's own personal development. The aim of the Language Centre is to support participants in building their intercultural competencies through our language training and key skills programmes, so that they can successfully meet the challenges of a globalized world.

The Language Center views itself as a place of intercultural exchange. With our numerous programmes, we are an important part of the University of Kassel’s internationalization efforts. This is realised by integrating international students on the German campus and by preparing German students, university staff, and visiting international scholars for their academic and professional path in global contexts, at the University of Kassel as well as for studies and research abroad. This is a win-win situation for all sides.

As further support for intercultural exchange, we arrange language tandem partnerships, buddies and sponsor families for international students in Kassel and offer on the one hand a certificate training to become an intercultural mentor and on the other hand an excursion program for international students to learn German.

With our languages courses and advisory programme, we support international students by supporting them to apply self-help in their academic and scientific development during their studies.

The Language Center makes a significant contribution to the efforts of the University of Kassel enabling refugees to access higher education in Germany. This is currently being realised through intensive German courses for refugees, which are funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the INTEGRA program.

Together as one team!

Our institution is not only characterized by its aims and framework, but especially by the people who work for it, or participate in its programmes.

As employees of the Language Centre, it is important to us that, in collaboration with the student assistants and freelance lecturers, we act as a team and maintain an open and appreciative relationship with each other and with our course participants. With an open-minded and tolerant atmosphere, we aim to create a motivating, inspiring and challenging learning environment.