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Planning to Study in Germany? Explore TOEFL iBT Requirements
Your next chapter could begin in Germany. Whether you’re exploring universities or preparing your application, TOEFL iBT can help you demonstrate the English skills needed for your academic journey.
Discover how TOEFL iBT fits into your study plans, understand score requirements, and get ready to take your next step. Go Where Your English Takes You. Visit the Go to Germany destination page.
Start with the program
Germany does not use one national TOEFL® minimum score for university admissions. Each university, faculty, or program can set its own accepted tests, overall score, section scores, exemptions, and document rules.
What TOEFL iBT Scores German Universities Look For
TOEFL requirements in Germany vary by institution and program. English-taught master’s programs commonly publish English-language requirements, while many bachelor’s programs are taught in German and may require German proficiency instead. Doctoral requirements may be set by a graduate school, faculty, or supervisor.
Use the ranges below as planning targets only. They are not admission guarantees or national requirements.
Always check specific program requirements when you apply.
TOEFL iBT Score Ranges for German Universities
| Study level | Planning target on 1–6 scale | Comparable 0-120 range | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparatory/foundation | Program-specific | Program-specific | Language of instruction and whether TOEFL is accepted. |
| Bachelor's | About 4.0–5.0 | About 72–106 | Program language, overall minimum, and any section minimums. |
| Master's | About 4.5–5.5 | About 86–113 | Requirements often vary by faculty and may be higher for competitive programs. |
| Doctoral | Program-specific; often 4.5–5.5 when a score is required | About 86–113 | Graduate-school, faculty, and supervisor rules; some programs do not prescribe a test score. |
Important
A central admissions office may publish a baseline score while a program requires a higher overall score or section score. Requirements can also differ for test-center and Home Edition results or for MyBest scores.
Understanding the TOEFL iBT 1–6 Score Scale
TOEFL iBT reports your English proficiency on a 1–6 score scale, with scores for Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, as well as an overall score.
During the transition period, score reports also include a comparable overall score on the 0–120 scale.
Check your institution’s published requirements and explore the official TOEFL score-scale guide to understand how your scores are reported.
TOEFL Score and CEFR Level Comparison
| TOEFL iBT score | CEFR level |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | C2 |
| 5.5 | C1 |
| 5.0 | C1 |
| 4.5 | B2 |
| 4.0 | B2 |
| 3.5 | B1 |
| 3.0 | B1 |
TOEFL Score Scale Comparison
| TOEFL iBT 1 - 6 scale | Comparable 0-120 range |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | 114-120 |
| 5.5 | 107-113 |
| 5.0 | 95-106 |
| 4.5 | 86-94 |
| 4.0 | 72-85 |
| 3.5 | 58-71 |
| 3.0 | 44-57 |
During the two-year transition from the 0-120 scale to the 1-6 scale after January 2026, score reports also include a comparable overall score on the former 0–120 scale. Comparable scores support interpretation during the transition. Note that the institution’s published rule remains the requirement that should inform target score planning.
If a university still lists a 0–120 requirement
- Use the ETS score-scale guidance to understand the comparable band, but do not replace the university’s stated requirement with your own conversion.
- Check whether the program has published an updated 1–6 requirement elsewhere on its admissions or language page.
- If the program page is unclear, contact the admissions office and ask what score it will use when reviewing your application.
- Keep a copy of the program requirement that applied when you submitted your application.
TOEFL Requirements for German Student Visas and Residence Permits
For an English-taught degree, the university normally determines the English-language evidence needed for admission. German visa authorities focus on the requirements for the residence purpose and the documents specified for your application. A TOEFL score may support proof of the language of instruction, but there is not a single national TOEFL iBT score cutoff for every German student visa.
Your document set may include an admission letter, evidence of language proficiency when required, proof of financing, health-insurance documentation, and other documents listed by the responsible German mission. Requirements depend on your circumstances and can change.
For later work pathways such as the Opportunity Card or EU Blue Card, check the current government criteria. Do not assume that a TOEFL cut score accepted by a university will automatically satisfy a work-visa requirement unless the responsible authority explicitly accepts it for that purpose.
Use live government guidance
Check the Federal Foreign Office visa information and the Make it in Germany portal before applying. Do not rely on fee amounts, funding thresholds, or document lists from older webpages.
What Each TOEFL iBT Section Measures
The TOEFL iBT test measures Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The current test takes approximately two hours, including directions, and uses tasks that reflect academic and social-interpersonal English. Because the test adapts, the number of items and testing time may vary.
German programs may consider an overall score, individual section scores, or both. Review the language requirement and admissions regulations for your degree. A strong overall score does not override a published section minimum.
TOEFL iBT Test Section and Timing Overview
| Section | Current task types | Approx. base time | How the skill supports study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete the Words; Read in Daily Life; Read an Academic Passage | 30 minutes | Understand written information, identify key ideas, and work with academic texts. |
| Listening | Listen and Choose a Response; Listen to a Conversation; Listen to an Announcement; Listen to an Academic Talk | 29 minutes | Follow spoken information, conversations, announcements, and academic talks. |
| Writing | Build a Sentence; Write an Email; Write for an Academic Discussion | 23 minutes | Communicate clearly in writing and contribute to academic discussion. |
| Speaking | Listen and Repeat; Take an Interview | 8 minutes | Respond clearly and organize spoken communication in real time. |
Taking the TOEFL iBT in Germany or Before You Arrive
You can take the TOEFL iBT test at an authorized test center or, where available and accepted by your program, the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Register for the test before making travel or application plans.
Before your register
Confirm that your program accepts the testing option you plan to use.
Check the application deadline and allow time for official score reporting and a possible retest.
Review the identification requirements for the country where you will test.
Enter your name in your ETS account exactly as it appears on the identification document you will present.
- For the Home Edition, make sure you meet all of the equipment, room, identity-verification, and second-camera requirements before you register for the test.
If you are applying from outside Germany, you do not need to wait until you arrive. Taking the test in your current country can give you more time to receive scores, meet documentation requirements, and retest if needed.
TOEFL iBT Fees, Rescheduling, and Additional Services
The registration fee depends on the location where you take the test. Go to the TOEFL Test registration fee website and select the country you’ll be testing in to see the current price and applicable taxes. Service fees may apply for express registration, rescheduling, additional score reports, score reviews, returned payments, or express scoring.
Web implementation note
Do not place a fixed EUR amount in this page copy. Use a “View current TOEFL iBT fees” link to the live ETS pricing page so the amount does not become outdated.
Your test fee includes up to four official score reports when you select the recipients by the ETS deadline before your test. Additional score reports can be ordered later for a fee.
How to Send TOEFL Scores to German Institutions
Here’s how to digitally send your TOEFL iBT scores to German institutions of your choice:
- Open the admissions page for your exact degree program and identify how to apply. You may be asked to apply directly, through uni-assist, through Hochschulstart, or through another designated system.
- Confirm whether the program requires an official score report from TOEFL, accepts an uploaded Test Taker Score Report, or asks for both.
- In your TOEFL account, search for the institution or agency and select the correct destination. Use the destination code only when the program instructs you to do so.
- Before the test, select up to four score recipients by the published TOEFL deadline if you want to use the reports included with your test fee and are complimentary.
- After the test, order additional score reports through your TOEFL account when needed.
- Track your application and contact the university if the portal still shows a missing score after the expected delivery window.
If an institution cannot find your score
Check that your name, date of birth, and other identifying details match across your ETS and application records.
Confirm that you selected the correct institution, campus, department, or agency.
Keep your ETS order confirmation and score-report details.
Ask the admissions office which applicant identifier it uses to match electronic score reports.
How Long TOEFL Scores Stay Valid and When to Retake
TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years after the test date. Your score must still be valid when the institution requires it, which may be the application deadline, document deadline, enrollment date, or another date stated by the program.
Plan a retake when
Your score does not meet the overall or section requirement.
Your score will expire before the program’s required date.
Your target program does not accept the score-reporting option you planned to use, such as MyBest scores.
- Your practice results show that focused preparation could help you reach the required level.
Use your section scores and performance feedback to choose a focused study plan. Retaking the test can be a planned part of your application strategy, not a setback. Check the current ETS testing policy for the required spacing between appointments before booking another test.
Choosing an English Test for a German Application
Choose the test that your exact program accepts and that best fits your timeline, test-day needs, score-reporting requirements, and preparation preferences.
TOEFL iBT provides section and overall scores, test-center and at-home options, official preparation resources, and tasks designed to measure English used in academic and social-interpersonal settings.
What to Consider
| Decision factor | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Acceptance | Does the program accept TOEFL iBT? Does it accept the Home Edition and MyBest scores? |
| Score requirement | Is there an overall minimum, a minimum for each section, or both? |
| Timing | When must the score arrive, and how much buffer do you need? |
| Testing option | Would a test center or at-home test better fit your needs? |
| Preparation | Which official practice tools help you understand the current test tasks? |
| Reporting | Does the institution need an official ETS report, an uploaded score report, or both? |
Best advice
Confirm the accepted tests and minimum scores on the specific program page before registering for any English-language test.
Your TOEFL Timeline for a German Intake
German universities commonly organize study around winter and summer semesters, but application periods differ by institution, program, applicant type, and application route. Build your plan from the program’s published deadline rather than assuming one national date.
TOEFL Planning Timeline
| When | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| 4–6 months before the application deadline | Shortlist programs; record the language requirement, application route, and score deadline; take a diagnostic test. |
| 3–4 months before | Register for TOEFL iBT test and begin focused preparation for your lowest sections. |
| 2–3 months before | Take the test early enough to receive scores and decide whether to retake. |
| 4–8 weeks before | Send required reports; complete uni-assist, VPD, or direct-application steps as instructed. |
| Before submission | Confirm that your score is valid, all names and identifiers match, and the program has the required proof. |
| After submission | Monitor the application portal and respond promptly to missing-document requests. |
This is a planning framework, not a substitute for the program deadline. Allow additional buffer if uni-assist processing, credential review, visa appointments, or postal delivery applies to you.
How to Prepare for the TOEFL iBT for Study in Germany
Start with the score your program requires and the official format you will take. Then use practice results to focus on the sections that need the most improvement.
Two-Week Starter Study Plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Review the current test structure; take an official sample or diagnostic; record your target overall and section scores; identify two priority skills. |
| Week 2 | Build a repeatable schedule; practice current task types; review errors; complete timed speaking and writing practice; adjust your study plan using performance feedback. |
Official preparation pathways
You want to achieve your goals on your time, and we want to help with official prep offerings that are accessible, insights-driven and personalized to your needs.
Use the free TOEFL iBT sample test to become familiar with all four skills.
OFFICIAL PRACTISE TESTS AND COURSES
Use official practice tests and courses for timed preparation.
FAQs:
TOEFL for Germany
Some do, and acceptance is program-specific. Check the current admissions page or ask the program before registering.
Not automatically. TOEFL demonstrates English proficiency. A German-taught or bilingual program may still require German at the level it specifies.
Contact representatives from that program or university to confirm their updated 1- 6 requirement.
Some programs allow a later document deadline or conditional submission, while others require complete proof by the application deadline. Follow the program’s rules.
Usually, the main language requirement is German, but a program may still require English for specific modules or admissions criteria. Check the degree regulations.
Institutions receive the reports you decide to share with them. The TOEFL score reports you order include a total score, section scores, and MyBest scores. Some German institutions or programs do not accept MyBest scores and require minimum scores from one test date.
Do not assume that a university TOEFL iBT score requirement also fulfills a work-visa language requirement. Check the current criteria from the responsible authority for the specific employment pathway.