FAQ Languages

No, German Language courses are mandatory elective, which means you either choose two courses of German or as an alternative two lectures in Humanities.

Students without any prior knowledge of a language can register for A1.1 without taking a placement test. Please note that it is an infraction of the Code of Academic Integrity if students with pre-existing knowledge of a language attend the beginners’ level(s). Students who need/wish to take a language course and have some prior knowledge of a language must take a placement test first.
Placement tests are offered every semester and help instructors place students in the appropriate proficiency level. For more information click here.

Language courses are structured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), defined by the Council of Europe. The learning outcomes represent beginner level (A1, A2), intermediate level (B1, B2) and advanced level (C1, C2).

See also: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Cadre1_en.asp

Language courses usually take place Mondays and Wednesdays in the afternoon in fixed time slots. Each language course consists of two slots per week. Courses are mainly taught on campus, but some levels are also offered as online classes.

Depending on your performance, you will receive a grade between 0 and 100% for the course, 45% is the minimum you need to achieve. Requirements and grading schemes are published on CampusNet for each language course. Generally, attendance is mandatory and students who miss more than 3 classes (class of 75 min) without a valid excuse will not be admitted to the Final Exam.

Failing three attempts to a pass a JTLA Language Module means that you cannot earn credit points for this language level anymore. To be able to continue, you will need to either self-study or take a language course elsewhere outside of Constructor University. Then participate in the next available Placement Test offered by Constructor University’s Language & Community Center. Only language courses with a higher level than the failed one are accessible to you.

You cannot go down or repeat the failed level.

Please be advised that you need an official excuse in case you cannot attend your language course session. Official excuses must be uploaded in campusnet in the respective section.

1. It is the students' responsibility to avoid overlapping of courses. Educational Resource Planning (ERP) assists students to prevent these course clashes (h.bohne@constructor.university).
2. Language course Instructors are only required to accept overlaps and resulting absences if students can prove that these overlaps are unavoidable.
3. Overlaps are unavoidable from the following points of view:
• The language course is mandatory
• The language course cannot be replaced by a language course of the same level at another time
• The language course cannot be taken in a later semester
4. Students apply for the excuse at the Instructor. The excuse must be confirmed by Educational Resource Planning (ERP).
5. Students who present a confirmed excuse will be exempted from attending language classes for the time of the lab courses and must make up the corresponding course content on their own responsibility.
6. students who do not receive confirmation from ERP can either make a "late drop" or a change to audit status at Registrar Services by the end of September/end of February or will not be admitted to the examination due to missing module achievements.

Courses in German will be accepted if workload and curriculum are comparable.

To apply for the recognition of transfer credits, students must submit the Transfer Credit Form, the module syllabi, and an official transcript indicating the modules taken to Registrar Services. Upon recommendation of the Language Instructors, Registrar Services rules on the acceptance of transfer credits.

Language modules completed at other institutions are eligible for transfer credits at Constructor University if the qualification to be recognized does not differ significantly in content, intended learning outcomes, scope, academic level or quality from the modules offered at Constructor University.

Auditing a course means that students do not receive credits but attend the course regularly in order to reach a higher proficiency level. Registration and regular attendance (not more than 5 unexcused sessions) is mandatory. Only very few places are available for auditors, and only once students who need to take language courses for credits have received a spot.

The Registrar Services will enter the respective level for each student in CampusNet. Afterwards, participants will be able to register for the appropriate level via CampusNet themselves.

Requirements for a language course are either the successful participation in the previous language course or a valid placement test result. If students have not attended the placement test and/or have not passed the previous proficiency level, they cannot register for the next level of the course. If students have mastered a level in an intensive course offered by one of the partner institutes, they need to contact the Registrar Services.

Students have two options: take a course one level lower – but only as auditor; or take a course one level higher – but only for credits (see the policies for further information).

According to our policies, students can register for a language course one level higher than the level they were placed in. However, this is only possible for credits, not as an auditor.

Yes. If students have attended regularly as auditors, they can register for the next level without a placement test.

Yes. Registration is necessary and can be carried out by the Registrar Services. Registration is important in case teachers need to contact the participants or share learning material on CampusNet. Furthermore, participation numbers have to be exact in order to provide the basis for future planning of language courses. Only very few places are available for graduate students and/or staff members, and only once students who need to take language courses for credits have received a spot.

Language courses only allow a maximum number of 20 participants. Rejected students can usually register for a parallel-group with fewer participants. Sometimes, the Registrar Services reassigns students to other small groups of the same course, so please check carefully before registering again.

Language courses are open to faculty and staff of Constructor University, who are asked to attend a placement test – just like all other participants in language courses. Based on the placement test result, staff and faculty members need to register with the Registrar Services for a specific language course. Only very few places are available for faculty/staff members, and only once students who need to take language courses for credits have received a spot.

Placement test results are valid for two semesters, i.e., for one academic year. In other words, if students attend the placement test in Fall, they can join the language program either in the same semester or in the Spring semester.

Students have to take another placement test which will reflect the improved language skills and allow students to attend the respective higher level course.

If the certificate clearly states the workload and the proficiency level, Constructor University will acknowledge the language course and students can be placed in the respective higher level without a placement test. Details are specified by the Language and Community Center. The application for credit transfer needs to be submitted to the Registrar Service.