Learn German (Deutsch)
Your gateway to free public university education in Germany — Europe's largest economy
German is the most strategically valuable European foreign language for African students targeting affordable, high-quality university education. Germany's public universities charge zero tuition for international students (€0-1,500/year administrative fees only) — and Germany hosts world-leading universities in engineering, sciences and medicine (TU Munich, Heidelberg, RWTH Aachen, LMU Munich, KIT Karlsruhe). For German-taught programmes, you need DSH-2 or TestDaF 4. For English-taught programmes (Germany has 1,800+), basic German is helpful but not required.
- Speakers: 100M+ native speakers
- Language family: Germanic language
- Difficulty: Moderate for English speakers (Category II, ~750 hours to fluency)
Why learn German
Free German public university tuition
German public universities charge €0 tuition for international students (some Länder charge €1,500/semester). Combined with affordable living costs (€10,000-12,000/year), Germany is the most affordable high-quality university destination globally.
World-class engineering & STEM universities
TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, KIT Karlsruhe, TU Berlin lead Europe in engineering. Heidelberg, LMU Munich lead in sciences. Particularly strong for African students targeting STEM careers.
EU Blue Card pathway to permanent residence
German degree + qualifying employment leads to EU Blue Card residence permit. Permanent residence achievable after 21-33 months. German citizenship after 5 years of permanent residence.
Strong German job market for skilled workers
Germany faces skilled worker shortages, particularly in engineering, IT, healthcare. Average graduate starting salaries €45,000-60,000+ in technical fields. Strong German makes employment substantially easier.
IGCSE, A-Level and IB curricula
German offered as IGCSE Second Language, A-Level (Cambridge & Edexcel), and IB Language B Standard/Higher. Strong subject for students with German background or German-language ambitions.
Who it is for
- University-bound students targeting Germany (engineering, sciences, medicine)
- IGCSE, A-Level or IB students taking German as a language subject
- Professionals targeting EU Blue Card pathway through Germany
- Students preparing Goethe-Zertifikat or TestDaF certifications
- Adult learners with German heritage, business interests or cultural connection
Levels
- A1 Beginner: Basic German for everyday situations. ~80-100 hours.
- A2 Elementary: Communication in routine matters. ~160-200 hours total.
- B1 Intermediate: Independent user. Required for some German integration programmes. ~380-450 hours total.
- B2 Upper Intermediate: Complex texts. Required for German Studienkolleg admission. ~600-700 hours total.
- C1 Advanced: Required for German-taught university programmes. ~800-900 hours total.
- C2 Mastery: Near-native. Required for translation, advanced academic work. ~1100+ hours.
Exam preparation
- Goethe-Zertifikat A1-C2: University entry, immigration, professional certification
- TestDaF: University entry to German-taught programmes
- DSH: Direct German university entry
Fees
- Beginner (A1-A2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Intermediate (B1-B2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Advanced (C1-C2): USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940), sessions of 1.5 hours
- Foundation Bundle (A1-A2)
- Intermediate Bundle (B1-B2)
- Advanced Bundle (C1-C2)
- TestDaF / DSH Prep
- Goethe-Zertifikat B2 Prep
Frequently asked questions
Why learn German for Kenyan students?
Two main reasons: (1) Germany offers FREE public university tuition for international students — the most affordable high-quality university pathway globally. (2) Germany has the largest EU economy with significant skilled worker shortages, offering clear immigration pathways through the EU Blue Card.
How difficult is German for English speakers?
German is rated Category II by the US Foreign Service Institute — moderate difficulty (between Romance languages and Slavic/Asian languages). English and German share Germanic roots, so vocabulary has substantial overlap. The challenges are grammar (4 cases, gendered nouns, word order) and complex verb structures. Most learners take 700-900 hours to reach professional fluency.
Do I need German to study in Germany?
It depends on the programme. For German-taught programmes (most undergraduate): yes, you need TestDaF 4 or DSH-2 (advanced German). For English-taught programmes (1,800+ available, particularly at postgraduate level): basic German is helpful but not required academically. Even for English programmes, German skills significantly improve daily life and post-study employment.
Can I take German exams in Kenya?
Yes — Goethe-Institut Nairobi administers Goethe-Zertifikat examinations regularly. TestDaF is administered less frequently in Kenya (typically 1-2 sittings per year). DSH is administered at the destination university in Germany. We help with examination preparation and registration logistics.
What's the difference between Goethe, TestDaF and DSH?
Goethe-Zertifikat: Most widely recognised globally, available at all levels A1-C2, used for general certification and many university applications. TestDaF: Specifically academic German for university entry; standardised test. DSH: University-specific entrance exam, only useful for the specific university administering it (but often free/low-cost when taken there).
How long until I can study at a German university?
Starting from zero German: realistically 18-24 months of consistent study to reach B2/C1 level required for German-taught programmes. For English-taught programmes, you can start university immediately with no German and learn alongside studies.
Can I learn German for IGCSE or IB?
Yes — we offer IGCSE German (typically Second Language), A-Level German, and IB German (Standard, Higher, ab initio). Following Cambridge, Edexcel or IBO syllabus requirements.
Why are German grammar and word order so different?
German is a more inflected language than English — it shows grammatical relationships through word endings (4 cases: nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) rather than word order alone. This means word order is more flexible but the endings matter critically. Once learners internalise the case system, German grammar becomes systematic and predictable.
What about Swiss German or Austrian German?
We teach standard High German (Hochdeutsch), which is the formal/written standard used across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Spoken dialects (Swiss German, Austrian) differ significantly but everyone learns and understands Hochdeutsch.
Other languages
- Learn French
- Learn Spanish
- Learn Mandarin Chinese
- Learn Arabic
- Learn Kiswahili
- Learn Italian
- Learn Portuguese
What parents say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews
“I have peace of mind as a Smartious Homeschool parent. No more traffic and early morning rush to school. Smartious are the most organized homeschool providers.” — Google reviewer, Google review