Research groups in Germany often publish and present in English. University administration, third-party funding, teaching, lab safety instructions and the daily life around the institute are frequently German, and many research positions combine research with teaching.
This page shows the German level that current job ads for postdocs and research associates ask for, phrases from institute life, vocabulary for administration, funding and teaching, learning time per CEFR level according to the Goethe-Institut, and recognised certificates, including the exams German universities use for admission.
Which German level do researchers and postdocs need in Germany?
The analysis covers 57 current job ads with a description from the job exchange of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), search terms „Postdoc“ / „Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter“, retrieved on 24 September 2026; identical ad texts were counted once. 25 of them state a requirement for German skills. The most frequent wording is „sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse“ (very good German) (16 ads). 5 ads name a CEFR level for German; highest level named per ad: B2 (2), C1 (2) and C2 (1). 13 of the ads are written in English.
For academic careers there is an established reference: according to the TestDaF-Institut, the TestDaF certificate is recognised by all German universities, and its three levels TDN 3, 4 and 5 are assigned to CEFR B2 and C1.
How to read the wording: the German Residence Act uses similar terms and defines them in § 2 as CEFR levels, for example good German skills („gute deutsche Sprachkenntnisse“) as B2 and mastering German („beherrscht die deutsche Sprache“) as C1. These definitions do not bind job ads, but they help translate an ad into a learning goal.
What the levels mean, summarised from the Council of Europe global scale:
- B1: understands the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters from work, school or leisure, and can produce simple connected text.
- B2: understands the main ideas of complex text, including technical discussions in the own field, and can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers possible without strain for either party.
- C1: understands demanding, longer texts and implicit meaning, and uses the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
German phrases from the working week of researchers and postdocs
Six sentences that come up in this role, with an English translation. They are written without first-person forms so they can be reused as neutral templates.
- Der Drittmittelantrag muss bis zum 15. eingereicht werden.
The third-party funding application has to be submitted by the 15th. - Die Sicherheitsunterweisung für das Labor ist verpflichtend.
The safety briefing for the lab is mandatory. - Könnten Sie die Dienstreise im Vorfeld beantragen?
Could you apply for the business trip in advance? - Die Übung findet dienstags im Seminarraum statt.
The tutorial takes place on Tuesdays in the seminar room. - Der Vertrag ist nach dem Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz befristet.
The contract is fixed-term under the Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act. - Die Ergebnisse werden im Kolloquium vorgestellt.
The results will be presented in the colloquium.
Core vocabulary for researchers and postdocs
Administration and funding
| Deutsch | English |
|---|---|
| der Drittmittelantrag | third-party funding application |
| die Projektlaufzeit | project duration |
| die Dienstreise | business trip |
| die Befristung | fixed-term contract |
| die Stellenausschreibung | job posting |
| die Personalabteilung | HR department |
| die Beschaffung | procurement |
| der Verwendungsnachweis | proof of use of funds |
Teaching and institute life
| Deutsch | English |
|---|---|
| die Lehrveranstaltung | course / class |
| die Übung | tutorial |
| die Prüfungsordnung | examination regulations |
| die Abschlussarbeit | thesis |
| das Kolloquium | colloquium |
| die Sicherheitsunterweisung | safety briefing |
| die Lehrverpflichtung | teaching load |
| das Gutachten | review / expert report |
How long does it take? Learning time per CEFR level
The Council of Europe global scale describes levels by what learners can do; it contains no hour figures. Guide values for learning time are published by the Goethe-Institut, explicitly as values based on experience: according to the Goethe-Institut, individual factors such as language learning experience and first language play an important role. Two published course models side by side, in teaching units of 45 minutes:
| Level | Goethe-Institut São Paulo, per level | Goethe-Institut Germany, evening courses per level | São Paulo, cumulative from zero | Germany, cumulative from zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 128 | 72 | 128 | 72 |
| A2 | 128 | 144 | 256 | 216 |
| B1 | 192 | 144 | 448 | 360 |
| B2 | 256 | 216 | 704 | 576 |
| C1 | 192 | 144 | 896 | 720 |
| C2 | 256 | 144 | 1,152 | 864 |
The cumulative columns add up the published values per level. The model of the Goethe-Institut in Germany uses evening courses of 72 teaching units: one for A1, three for B2 and two for each of the other levels. Moving from B1 to C1 takes 360 to 448 teaching units according to these models.
A learning path for researchers and postdocs
- Start with everyday institute German: administration, safety briefings and emails to departments.
- Add teaching German if the position includes tutorials, exams or thesis supervision.
- Practise reading funding guidelines and contracts, which are often only available in German.
- For an academic career in Germany, work towards C1 and an exam such as TestDaF or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.
Which certificates are recognised?
- TestDaF: according to the TestDaF-Institut recognised by all German universities; the levels TDN 3, 4 and 5 are assigned to CEFR B2 and C1.
- telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule: an exam for university admission that tests skills needed at university and in academic professions, including a presentation and a discussion.
- Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2 and Goethe-Test PRO: the Goethe-Institut offers German exams on all six CEFR levels and describes them as internationally recognised; the Goethe-Test PRO covers A1 to C2 for professional contexts.
Planning German for researchers and postdocs in your team?
A discovery call with Rahel Modrach clarifies the target level per role, the starting point and a realistic plan.
Frequently asked questions
Which German exams do German universities recognise?
According to the TestDaF-Institut, the TestDaF certificate is recognised by all German universities; its three levels TDN 3, 4 and 5 are assigned to CEFR B2 and C1. telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule is designed as an exam for university admission.
Can a research career in Germany work without German?
In some English-speaking groups, for a while. The job ad analysis on this page shows how often postdoc and research associate positions state a German requirement, often linked to teaching duties.
How long does it take to reach B2 or C1?
The Goethe-Institut publishes guide values based on experience: from zero to B2 its published course models add up to 576 (Goethe-Institut Germany, evening courses) to 704 teaching units (Goethe-Institut São Paulo) of 45 minutes, and to 720 to 896 units for C1. Prior knowledge, first language and learning experience change the duration considerably.
Which certificates fit this role?
Relevant for this role: TestDaF; telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule; Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2 and Goethe-Test PRO. Which proof is required in a given case is set by the employer or the responsible authority.
Related pages
- Business German for Doctors
- Business German for Data Engineers
- Business German for Project Managers
- CEFR levels by business role
- The ROI of business German
- 90-day plan for foreign hires
Sources
Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Jobbörse: Auswertung von 57 Stellenanzeigen, Suchbegriffe „Postdoc“ / „Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter“, abgerufen am 24.09.2026
Europarat (Council of Europe): Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen, Globalskala der Referenzniveaus (Table 1, CEFR 3.3)
Goethe-Institut Deutschland: Deutsch Sprachniveaus, Kursstufenmodell Abendkurse (Stand Mai 2026)
Goethe-Institut São Paulo: Häufig gestellte Fragen zu Unterrichtseinheiten je Niveau (Stand März 2026)
§ 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (Gesetze im Internet, Bundesamt für Justiz)
TestDaF-Institut / g.a.s.t.: Vorteile des TestDaF, FAQ Ergebnisse und Zertifikat
telc gGmbH: Prüfungsseite telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
Goethe-Institut: Deutschprüfungen und Prüfungstrainings (Übersichtsseite)