FAQ Sec­tion

The solution is always simple, you just have to find it.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

The Lan­guage Centre's FAQ Sec­tion

We have compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Language Centre for you. Most questions revolve around topics such as our offerings, registrations and elective courses, stays abroad, and questions about language levels.


The Lan­guage Centre

Where can I find the Language Centre?

Our offices are located at Wileystraße 1, 89231 Neu-Ulm, 2nd floor, Building B.

What does ECTS mean?

ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is a designation for a system for the mutual recognition of academic achievements at European universities. ECTS credits are indicated on the transcript.

One ECTS credit represents between 25 and 30 hours of work (workload), which includes not only lecture time but also preparation and follow-up, study time, group work, etc.

What is a semester hour (SWS)?

A common unit of measurement for academic courses at universities. The term describes one session hour (45 minutes) per week over the course of a semester. Typically, a language course comprises 4 semester hours (180 minutes). Generally, a semester consists of 13 to 14 weeks of lectures.

Do the lectures cost anything?

The language courses are free of charge for students and staff of HNU. Participation by external individuals is not intended.

What do the letters like A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 in the courses mean?

The Council of Europe has established the so-called Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for language learners and teachers, which is intended to make cross-national comparability of language qualifications transparent and to facilitate the mutual recognition of these qualifications. The CEFR defines six proficiency levels: Basic User: A1 and A2, Independent User: B1 and B2, Proficient User: C1 and C2. A detailed description of the skills encompassed by each level can be found in the following document:

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Our Of­fer­ings

Where can I find the offerings of the Language Centre?

You can find our offerings on the language page (opens in a new window) of the Language Centre. For more detailed information, please refer to the relevant sections at HNU intern (opens in a new window)  under course descriptions.

Are all language courses offered every semester?

Yes, we offer all language courses every semester. However, a minimum number of participants must be reached. If you would like to enroll in a course that is not currently offered in the Language Centre's programme, please contact a member of our team (opens in a new window).

Where can I get advice for languages or levels not offered by HNU?

For advice, please contact our team. Additionally, you can find more language offerings on the website of the VHB (Virtual University of Bavaria) (opens in a new window).

Will I also receive advice about opportunities for a semester abroad at the Language Centre?

For optimal advice on a semester abroad, please contact the International Office (opens in a new window) (opens new window) of HNU.

Are there opportunities to access additional offerings for learning a language?

Additional learning content can be found on the Language Centre's page in the Intranet: HNU intern > Language Centre > Useful Links.         

Ques­tions about the lan­guage courses

All information about the language courses can be found on HNU intern (opens in a new window).