ENGLISH SKILLS AND TOEIC

English Proficiency

Proof of English skills has to be provided upon application to Leuphana University Lüneburg. A list of all recognized certifications can be found at Admission Requirements for Bachelor and Consecutive Master Courses of Study  as well as Doctoral Candidates .

One of the certificates accepted by the university to verify the language skills of students applying to a German language majors is the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) Listening and Reading Test. 

Please note the special admission requirements for English language majors.

English Skills as an Admission Requirement

English Skills as an Admission Requirement for the Leuphana Bachelor

If you wish to provide proof of your English proficiency for German language majors with the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test, you must achieve at least 650 points on the test.

If you cannot provide proof of these skills at the beginning of your studies, it must be submitted by no later than the end of the second semester.

We strongly advise that you begin preparing for the test early. Prep courses are offered regularly for Leuphana students. Register in myStudy.

Please note the special admission requirements for majors taught only in English.

English Proficiency as an admission requirement for the Leuphana Consecutive Masters Programs

German Language Proficiency

Applicants for these programmes do not need to provide proof of German proficiency

English Language Proficiency

If your native language is English, then you do not need to provide proof of English proficiency. All other applicants must provide proof in one of the following ways:

  • by passing the internet-based TOEFL test (iBT) with a minimum score of 85 points
  • by passing the TOEIC test with a minimum of 785 points in listening and reading
  • by passing the IELTS (academic or general) 5.5 test
  • by passing the Cambridge Advanced Certificate of English (CAE) exam at grade C or better
  • by passing modules at a university (at least 30 credit points according to ECTS) with English as the exclusive language of instruction and exams taken in English
  • a successfully completed degree in the subject "English"
  • School leaving exam of a school with English as the exclusive language of instruction, that qualifies for studying at a university in the respective country

English language proficiency (except for the school certificate) must not be older than 4 years. For programmes in English, proof of English proficiency must be available at the time of application. For programmes in German, the proof can be submitted later until the end of the respective winter semester (31st March).

Please also submit the Proof of English Language Proficiency form for the application together with your certificates.

If you want to prove your English language proficiency via the 30 CP from your university studies and did not complete your Bachelors degree at Leuphana, please fill out this form. Graduates of Leuphana please use this document.

English Skills as an Admission Requirement for the Admission to Doctoral Program

If you wish to provide proof of your English proficiency with the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test, you must achieve at least 785 pointson the test. Applicants to doctoral study programs in the departments of Business and Economics as well as Sustainability have to provide proof of English proficiency.

The fee will not be refunded to doctoral students.

For more information, please look at the Doctorate Regulations  for each faculty listed at Leuphana University Lüneburg.

Overview of TOEIC Listening and Reading Test

The TOEIC was developed in 1979 by the ETS (Educational Testing Service). In contrast to the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), which tests academic English, the TOEIC focuses particularly on applying the English language in a work-related context.

The standardized test is made up of 200 multiple choice questions, 100 of which test listening comprehension and 100 of which test reading comprehension. The questions are based on authentic situations occurring in a normal workday, such as meetings, business trips, and negotiations.

In recent years the internationally recognized TOEIC has continued to gain significance amongst European universities – not only as a certification exam (e.g. when applying for a job upon completion of studies), but also as an entrance exam (to provide proof of English language skills).

The Language Center has been recognized as a TOEIC testing center since 2004.

TOEIC Test Format

Listening Test (approx. 45 minutes)

  • There are 100 questions in this section
  • Six image descriptions and 25 questions and answers
    • Testing to determine whether the spoken information can be associated with the information contained in images
  • Conversations with shorter statements and more exchange amongst participants
  • Testing to determine whether something implied by a person during a conversation or a speech is understood
    • ion for the TOEIC
  • 30 monologs

Reading Format (75 minutes)

  • There are 100 questions in this section
  • 30 incomplete sentences
  • In the16 text completion section, the test taker will be asked to select a new, separate sentence that best suits the general context of the text and to determine where the sentence should be inserted into the text.
  • 29 single passages and 25 multiple passages
    • There are also text messages, instant messages and chats with multiple participants
  • Text problems with up to three associated texts
  • Questions about the meaning of the written word within a context

Preparation for language tests

To prepare for the TOEIC or other tests, we recommend that you take the placement test at the Self-Access Center to determine your language level.

Please keep in mind that achieving a new level takes a lot of work and time (about 200 hours).

Come to the consultation hours of the teachers with the results of your placement test and we will give you individual consultation!

No Test Dates

The Language Center no longer offers TOEIC-Tests.

You can take the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test at any recognized TOEIC Center without a reservation code. Sign up via the website of the TOEIC Test Operator.

Reservation codes for Leuphana students for the TOEIC Home-Version Online (remote proctoring session) are only available during lockdown situations.

Consultation hours