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If you want to spend a semester abroad at NBS Northern Business School in Hamburg, there are a few criteria you have to accomplish to ensure that your stay will be satisfying. This primarily includes the level of language skills you will have to meet in order to visit lectures.

For the modules held in English you will need to submit an official certificate of English language proficiency with at least B2 level (CEFR), such as:

  • TOEFL (at least 72 points iBT)
  • IELTS (at least 5.5)
  • Cambridge Certificate (at least 160 points on the Cambridge English Scale)
  • DAAD (B2)

For the modules held in German you will need to submit one of the following certificates of German language proficiency (B2 level):

  • Language Certificate B2
  • "Goethe-Zertifikat" B2
  • BULATS – Deutsch-Test für den Beruf
  • DSH-1 ("Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang", Stufe 1)
  • "Europa Zertifikat" B2
  • TestDaF: TDN 3 – TDN 4

Exception: No German proficiency certificate is required for those who have passed the "Abitur" at a German school.

Please keep in mind: You will have to be able to follow the contents as well as take exams in the language that the course is held in, so your language skills should be in accordance to that!

If you wish to learn (or improve your) German while staying in Hamburg, we recommend one of the language schools you can find in our collection of helpful links.

To complete your registration at NBS Northern Business School, you will have to submit a proof of health insurance as well as a confirmation of Hamburg residence registration. You can find a list of all documents needed for registration in the section about the application process.

Additionally, your home institution might have further selection criteria (e.g. grade point average) you will have to meet in order to spend a semester abroad (and/or get credit for it). Please contact the International Office of your home institution for more information.