Language classes
Our language program is wide-ranging, from beginner courses to courses at a highly advanced level, and includes both general and specialized language courses. The language courses are conducted at a fast learning pace and, with the appropriate commitment, enable participants to acquire language skills intensively and thus in a relatively short period of time. As a rule, language courses are offered from A1 to C1 level. Specialized language courses beyond this level are offered in the respective departments and degree programmes.
Courses should be taken according to the current individual level of proficiency in order to make the best possible progress - for most languages we offer placement tests, please make use of them and choose your course level accordingly!
The language courses offered as part of the regular lecture schedule vary between summer and winter semesters and are free of charge for all members of the Mainz University of Applied Sciences and cooperating institutions. The course times are based on the full-time lecture times of the School of Business.
All full-time and part-time Bachelor's or Master's students at Mainz University of Applied Sciences who have registered and received a seat within the enrolment period can take part (places may be limited). Further information on the enrolment period and the enrolment modalities can be found below.
Some of the language courses are integrated into the curricula of individual degree programmes in the compulsory and compulsory elective areas. The extent to which language courses are integrated into your degree programme can be found in your degree programme structure. Irrespective of this, all language courses listed in the table below can be attended extracurricular (‘voluntary’, without ECTS) to acquire an additional qualification.
Lecturers, assistants and staff are also very welcome!
Students of the Johannes Gutenberg University and the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz can also attend our language courses. Further information: Co-Operation
Course enrolment (registration/enrolment for the courses) takes place
- for students at the School of Business via the enrolment procedure as part of the module choices from summer semester 2025 on CIM (WPF or Studium Integrale, see website Study Management, section Voting)*
[Exceptions: German as a foreign language: OLAT; extracurricular (‘voluntary-additional’) enrolment without ECTS: OLAT, see notes under “Occupancy procedure”] - for students of the School of Engineering and School of Design via the booking procedure on OLAT (please note the booking period! See notes under “Occupancy procedure”)
- for students of cooperation institutions and for employees of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, usually via an enquiry by e-mail.
The range of languages offered is presented during the orientation weeks in the introductory events and as part of the options/module fair at the School of Business and can also be found at any time using the search function in CIM. The overview on this website is published approximately 2 months before the start of lectures and is continuously updated until the start of lectures.
Please note that not all language levels or courses are offered in every semester: Information on this can be found in the ‘Course programme’ table. Further details can be found here on the website under the respective languages.
If you have any further questions, please contact sprachen (at) hs-mainz.de.
Please note that a minimum number of participants may be required for courses to be organised and may therefore depend on demand.
Unless otherwise stated, all courses take place on the Mainz University of Applied Sciences campus (Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 2).
Courses that will still be offered at the Holz- or Rheinstraße campuses in the summer semester 2025 are marked accordingly.
If a written examination is planned for the successful completion of a course (see module descriptions/info from lecturers in the course), this does not usually take place in the last lesson of the course, but as part of the written examination weeks of the School of Business, i.e. usually at the end of January (winter semester) or beginning of July (summer semester).
The courses at Holz-/Rheinstraße may be an exception.
You can find the provisional room and time planning for the examination phase at the School of Business here under Examinations - Examination schedules - Full-time degree programmes (please note that the information, especially regarding the rooms, can still CHANGE until shortly before the respective date).
Courses offered in the summer semester 2026
Registration must be completed in advance via the enrollment procedure (see below), NOT directly with the lecturer! Please do not attend the course without prior registration. Unless otherwise stated, all courses in the Summer Semester 2026 begin in calendar week 13 (week starting March 23, 2026).
An up-to-date overview of the planned course offerings can be found here.
Please note that individual courses are subject to a minimum number of participants and may therefore depend on demand.
Places in the courses are limited. Subject to change.
Unless otherwise stated, courses take place on campus in the rooms of the Faculty of Business – Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 2 (room labels A, B, C, D).
Rooms K3a and K3b are not located in the main campus building, but next door: on the ground floor of the K3 residence buildings – Lucy-Hillebrand-Straße 10 (K3a) and 14 (K3b).
Courses with room labels H or R will take place for the last time in Summer Semester 2026 at Holzstraße (H) and Rheinstraße (R).
Course information and booking procedure
Here you will find detailed information on course content, prerequisites, proof of performance, etc.!
(The module descriptions can also be viewed in the OLAT course, see below)
Course registration for the Winter Semester 2025–26
- directly by students (staff participation is also possible, see below)
- only before the course begins and within the registration period
- for students of the Faculty of Business
a) within the official registration procedure via CIM, if ECTS credits can be earned (see website Academic Management – section “Course Registration”)
b) as "voluntary"/"extracurricular" participation without earning ECTS credits: registration period 19 Feb – 13 Mar via OLAT (remaining places ONLY for first-semester students on 30 Sept). Instructions for registration in OLAT can be found here [this will be updated before the start of the registration period].
c) for German as a Foreign Language: via OLAT until 27 Mar (inclusive). Instructions for registration in OLAT can be found here [this will be updated before the start of the registration period].
- for students of the Faculties of Engineering and Design exclusively via OLAT
(NOT by email, NOT through lecturers, NOT directly in the course!)
Please observe the registration period: 19 Feb – 12 Mar. Remaining places in English and Spanish courses in Holzstraße/Rheinstraße may be allocated up to the day before the respective course begins, subject to availability.
Remaining places may be allocated exclusively to first-semester students on 27 Mar, via OLAT.
- for staff members of all faculties exclusively via OLAT
Please observe the registration period: 19 Feb – 12 Mar. Remaining places in English and Spanish courses in Holzstraße/Rheinstraße may be allocated up to the day before the respective course begins, subject to availability.
for students from partner institutions (e.g. JGU, KH, etc.) within the framework of cooperation agreements via OLAT or by email, see Cooperations.
Instructions for registration in OLAT can be found here [this will be updated before the start of the registration period].
Special courses
In addition to the regular lecture programme, we also offer a range of special courses (times, conditions of participation, target groups and costs vary depending on the course format).
During the lecture periods, our peer-to-peer learning programme Café Lingua also offers the opportunity to get to know the native language and culture of your chosen tutor in small groups or to teach your own language and culture as a tutor. After forming groups at the beginning of the semester, the individual groups go on small excursions independently and choose the learning content themselves.
In the summer months, we offer summer schools in cooperation with various international partners, in which language skills are deepened, expanded and, above all, applied: Components include lessons in small groups, multinational teamwork, research projects, insights into companies, universities/colleges, excursions, joint leisure activities. Many of our courses are also recognised as educational leave (educational leave possible) and/or recognised as coursework within certain degree programmes (eligibility and ECTS credits vary depending on the degree programme and summer school).
