Integration language courses

BWHW offers integration courses that are funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

Integration courses

If you want to live in Germany, you should learn German. This is important if you want to look for work, fill out applications, support your children at school, or meet new people. You should also know some things about Germany, such as its history, culture, and legal system.

Each integration course consists of a language course and an orientation course.

The language course lasts a total of 600 teaching units (TU) in the general integration course, up to 900 TU in the special courses, and 400 TU in the intensive course.
The language course covers important topics from everyday life, for example:

• Work and Career
• Initial and continuing education
• Care and education of children
• Shopping/Trade/Consumption
• Leisure and social contacts
• the and hygiene/human body
• Media and media use
• Reside.

You will also learn to write letters and emails in German, fill out forms, make phone calls, and apply for jobs. The language course concludes with the "German Test for Immigrants" (DTZ) exam.

The orientation course

Following the language course, you will attend the orientation course. It comprises 100 teaching units (TU). In the intensive course, it comprises 30 TU.

In the orientation course, you will talk about topics such as:

• German legal system, history and culture
• Rights and obligations in Germany
• Forms of coexistence in society
• Values that are important in Germany include, for example, freedom of religion, tolerance and equality between women and men.
• You will complete the orientation course with the final test "Living in Germany".

Literacy courses

Not only among the German population, but also among immigrants, there are people who cannot read and write sufficiently. Many of them face an additional hurdle: they are expected not only to speak German, but also to learn to read and write in the Latin alphabet. Literacy courses help these people with this.

In the literacy course...

• Participants experience, over 1,000 hours of instruction – and potentially an additional 300 hours if they meet certain requirements – that they too can successfully learn to read and write.
• Learning takes place in small groups. Therefore, the teacher has more time for each participant.
• Participants learn what makes learning easier and how they can help themselves and each other to progress.
• Participants learn what they are capable of and that they too can actively participate in social life.
• Participants learn to use a textbook in such a way that they can later attend other German courses or continue learning on their own.

Financial support

A valid authorization from the issuing authority is required, e.g., immigration office, job center, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.

Further information about the eligibility requirements for funding can be found at:

BAMF - Federal Office for Migration and Refugees