Language courses and further education for university members of the FH Potsdam

All offers at a glance

Our language courses & offers for FHP students

Dealing with cultural diversity and language skills plays an important role in studies. Our university offers students the opportunity to acquire these skills directly at their own university.

Our language courses & further education for FHP employees

Dealing with cultural diversity and language skills play an important role in teaching as well as in university administration and in advising international students. The International Office offers staff the opportunity to receive further training directly at the university.

Officially recognised language examinations (telc) at the Volkshochschule Potsdam

Official proof of language skills opens doors in some life situations. With such a certificate, you can prove your language level according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

In cooperation with the Brandenburg Adult Education Association (BVV), the Volkshochschule Potsdam offers officially recognised telc language examinations from telc gGmbH.

The language examinations take place as hybrid examinations. This means that the written part is conducted in person at the VHS Potsdam. The oral part takes place digitally, i.e. examiners and candidates meet in an online conference room, whereby the candidates connect to the online examination room from the VHS Potsdam.

VHS Potsdam also offers online preparation courses for the individual exams. Here you will develop strategies that will help you to work through the exam tasks confidently and to be well prepared for the exam. The preparation courses take place as online courses. Of course, the preparation course and exam can also be booked individually.

Certificate of International Competence

As part of its strategic internationalisation, the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam would like to promote the international competencies of its employees and certify them with a certificate that can be obtained by both academic and non-academic employees. The International Office will draw up an individual implementation plan with you on the way to your certificate and will make its own offers within the scope of financial possibilities. The certificate will be awarded by the Human Resources Department upon successful completion of all sections.

If you are interested in acquiring the Certificate of International Competence, please contact international@fh-potsdam.de.

Your path to the Certificate of International Competence

Three steps to the Certificate of International Competence.
1. Command of language skills in a UN language at B2 level
Proof of B2 level in English or another official language of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

Possible proof: a completed language course at B2 level or a language test

Proof not older than 2 years
2. Completion of a professionally relevant stay abroad or the supervision of international guests at the FH Potsdam
In a professional context (no language course, no holiday), e.g. Erasmus Staff Exchange

professionally relevant further training, job shadowing, individual programme at a partner university

Duration: min. 5 days

or

Support for foreign guests (guest lecturers)

Support in dealing with authorities (translation, etc.), tips for everyday life (shopping, public transport, sim card, bank account, etc.), introduction to campus life (campus tour, campus card, Wifi, etc.)

in coordination with the International Office

min. 5 dates
3. Theoretical examination of the topic of intercultural competence within the framework of a workshop or a training course
Participation in a workshop on the topic of intercultural competence (or comparable content).

Duration: 1 day
You do not completely fulfil one of the criteria?

If you do not fully meet the criteria, you can compensate for one of the three areas with an additional training course of at least two days in the area of international/intercultural competence (for example, from the DAAD International Academy)*.

*The minimum requirement for compensation in the area of language skills is a B1 level in a UN language. The minimum requirement for compensation in the area of stay abroad is three days abroad, or three days supervising foreign guests.