Learning German as a newcomer
Five separate systems can teach you German in Germany, and they cost wildly different amounts for the same result. Nobody explains which one applies to you. That’s what this page is for.
The short answer: check whether the state will fund an Integrationskursfor you before you pay anyone. If you’re enrolled at a university, check its language centre next. Failing both, your city’s Volkshochschule is the standard low-cost route. Use free public-service platforms alongside whichever you pick — classroom hours alone rarely get anyone to a level.
What level the law actually requires
Cited to the statute text, because this is where most online advice is wrong or out of date.
What level of German do you need for German citizenship?
B1. § 10 of the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz requires applicants for naturalisation to pass a language examination at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference, on a baseline of five years' lawful residence in Germany. Reduced standards apply to children under 16, to pre-1974/1990 guest and contract workers, and in hardship cases where reaching B1 is genuinely not possible despite serious effort.
“die Anforderungen einer Sprachprüfung der Stufe B 1 des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Referenzrahmens für Sprachen erfüllt”§ 10 Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz — Einbürgerung
How many hours is the German Integrationskurs?
The language course is 600 teaching hours. § 11 of the Integrationskursverordnung sets the Sprachkurs at 600 Unterrichtsstunden, divided into a basic phase and an advanced phase of three sections each. The separate Orientierungskurs on German law, culture and history is additional to those 600 hours and is set elsewhere in the ordinance.
“Der Sprachkurs umfasst 600 Unterrichtsstunden.”
§ 11 IntV sets no CEFR level for the course and does not cover the Orientierungskurs hours — do not infer either from this section.
§ 11 Integrationskursverordnung — SprachkursHow much does the Integrationskurs cost?
The law does not set a fixed euro amount. § 9 of the Integrationskursverordnung sets a participant contribution of 50% of the Kostenerstattungssatz in force on the day you register — a rate that changes over time, which is why any fixed €/hour figure you find online goes out of date. You are exempt from the contribution if you receive SGB II, SGB XII or Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz benefits, receive unemployment benefit under SGB III, earn no more than 33% of the statutory pension contribution ceiling, or would face undue hardship. Complete the course successfully within two years and you can reclaim half of what you paid.
“einen Kostenbeitrag zu leisten, der 50 Prozent des zum Zeitpunkt der Anmeldung zum Integrationskurs nach § 7 Absatz 1 geltenden Kostenerstattungssatzes nach § 20 Absatz 6 beträgt”
Deliberately no €/hour figure here. The statute defines a percentage of a moving rate, so quoting a euro amount would be a number we could not keep true. Ask your course provider for the current rate.
§ 9 Integrationskursverordnung — KostenbeitragWhat to do, in order
Cheapest and most structured first. Commercial schools last, not because they’re bad but because most people find them first and never check the four options above them.
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Work out what level you actually need
The target is not 'fluent' — it is a specific CEFR level tied to whatever you are trying to do, and aiming higher than required costs months. Naturalisation requires B1 by law. University programmes and employers set their own bar, usually stated in the admission or job requirements.
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Check whether the state will fund your course
Before paying anyone, find out if you are entitled to an Integrationskurs. It is the most structured and heavily subsidised route, and the contribution is waived entirely for several groups. Entitlement depends on your residence status, so the BAMF has to answer this one.
See: Integrationskurs
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If you are enrolled at a university, check its language centre
Almost always cheaper than a private school, and already paid for in part by your semester fee. This is the single most overlooked option.
See: Your university's language centre (Sprachenzentrum)
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Otherwise, start with your city's Volkshochschule
The municipal adult-education centre is the standard low-cost classroom route, and every city has one. Compare it against private schools before assuming a commercial course is better.
See: Your local Volkshochschule (VHS)
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Fill the gaps with free self-study
Classroom hours alone rarely get anyone to a level. Free public-service platforms cover the same ground as paid apps for the early levels.
See: vhs-Lernportal, DW Learn German
The resources
Each one is labelled with how far we actually verified it. We list no prices or course levels we could not confirm — those change, and a wrong number here would cost you money.
Integrationskurs
Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF)
The federal integration course: a 600-hour language course plus a separate orientation course on German law, culture and history. Coordinated and run by the BAMF. This is the main state-funded route into German, and the one most newcomers should check their eligibility for first.
What we don’t know: Whether you personally are entitled to or obliged to attend depends on your residence status — the BAMF decides, we cannot tell you.
Open bamf.devhs-Lernportal
Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband
An online learning platform offering courses in basic education and German as a second language (Deutsch als Zweitsprache).
What we don’t know: We confirmed what it offers from the site itself, but have not verified its funding, its cost, or which CEFR levels it covers. Check the site before assuming it is free.
Open vhs-lernportal.deYour local Volkshochschule (VHS)
Municipal adult education centres
Nearly every German town runs a Volkshochschule — a municipal adult-education centre — and German courses are one of its core offerings. Typically the cheapest classroom option once you are not eligible for a state-funded course. Search 'Volkshochschule' plus your city name to find yours.
What we don’t know: Prices, levels and timetables are set locally by each VHS and vary city to city, so no figure here would hold for all of them.
Open volkshochschule.deYour university's language centre (Sprachenzentrum)
Individual universities
If you are enrolled at a German university, its Sprachenzentrum usually offers German courses to its own students at heavily reduced cost or none — and it is the most commonly missed option, because newcomers look for commercial schools first. Check your university's website for 'Sprachenzentrum' or 'German as a Foreign Language'.
What we don’t know: Availability and cost are set per university. Some restrict places to certain faculties or semesters.
DW Learn German
Deutsche Welle
Self-study German courses from Germany's international public broadcaster, widely recommended among newcomers.
What we don’t know: Our automated check of this site was blocked, so nobody here has confirmed its levels, its cost, or the current course line-up. Treat it as a lead, not a vetted recommendation.
Open learngerman.dw.comFirstWeek.de does not teach German and takes no commission from any provider listed here. See sources & data policy for how these entries are verified and what we do when information goes stale.