UNIcert® is a quality standard for foreign language training at universities that prepares students for the requirements of a degree course as well as for a future professional career in a foreign language.
![[Translate to English:] Logo von UNIcert](/fileadmin/Redaktionsgruppen/Einrichtungen/International/0_Logos/UNIcert-Logo.png "UNIcert"){kind=logo}
The UNIcert® certification system under the umbrella of the Arbeitskreis der Sprachenzentren an Hochschulen e.V. (Working Group of Language Centres at Universities) (AKS) is based on a framework agreement between leading German universities and colleges. Its aim is to promote the same standard of language training across universities and thus enable seamless transitions to foreign language training at another university. The Unicert certification systems is therefore also accepted outside the universities. The Language Centre of the TU Braunschweig has been UNIcert® accredited since 1998. Accreditation is granted for a maximum of five years and is then reviewed again. This ensures a consistently high quality of language training at the participating universities.
UNIcert® forms the Network of University Language Testers in Europe (NULTE) in cooperation with UNIcert®LUCE (Slovakia and Czech Republic and Acert (Poland), CertAcles® (Spain), CLES (France) and UNILANG (United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland). This means that uniform quality standards for university-specific foreign language certificates as well as core elements such as accreditation/peer review are specified internationally.
The UNIcert® system comprises five levels of competence, which are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):
| UNIcert® Basic | Is based on A2 • comprises initial basic language skills for the simple and direct exchange of information in routine situations |
|---|---|
| UNIcert® I | is based on B1 • comprises basic language skills which can be developed to cope with selected general, professional and study-related situations in the target language. |
| UNIcert® II | is based on B2 • comprises fundamental language skills as required to study and work in a country of the target language (lowest mobility level). |
| UNIcert® III | is based on C1 • easily meets the linguistic requirements of a study and work stay in a country of the target language (recommended mobility level) |
| UNIcert® IV | is oriented towards C2 • has general scientific and subject-related language knowledge and skills at a high professional level, possesses comprehensive communicative foreign language competence in order to be able to act and react correctly, fluently and adequately in all general as well as study-related, professional and subject-related situations - in accordance with the requirements and contents of academic professions as well as the correspondingly required style and language register. |
The TU Braunschweig is currently UNIcert® accredited in Chinese, English, French, Italian, Russian, Swedish, Spanish and German as a foreign language. If you want to obtain a UNIcert® certificate in one of these languages, you must successfully complete a certain number of language courses. For levels III and IV, you must take an additional UNicert® examination. You can find an overview of the requirements here. More information can be obtained from the respective language section and the respective language section heads.
| Level | SWS | Courses | Alternative Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1.1 and A1.2 | 4 | Chinese 1+2 | Chinese 1+2 with language tandem (4 SWS) |
| A1.3 and A1.4 | 4 | Chinese 3+4 | Chinese 3 (2 SWS) and Chinese 4 (2 SWS) |
| A2.1 and A2.2 | 4 | Chinese 5+6 | Chinese 5 (2 SWS) and Chinese 6 (2 SWS) |
| A2.3 | 2 | Chinese 7 |
The UNIcert® Basic certificate can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all required language courses and all grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | General courses (4 SWS) | Level General courses (4 SWS Skill-specific courses (2 SWS) Subject-specific courses (2 SWS) | Subject-specific courses (2 SWS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | 2 courses of choice, e.g.: | 1 course, e.g.: | 1 course of choice, e.g.: |
| Business Communication B2 | Reading and Writing B2 | English for Aerospace Engineers B2 | |
| Discussing and Debating B2 | Developing Writing Skills B2 | English for Biologists and Biotechnologists B2 | |
| English for University Studies B2 | Business Writing B2 | English for Industrial Engineers: Business in Context B2 | |
| Listening and Speaking B2 | Writing for Master and PhD Students B2 | English for the Process Industries B2 | |
| Writing Skills for Your Career B2 | English for Social Scientists B2 |
The UNIcert® II certificate can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all required language courses and all grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | General courses (2 SWS) | Skill-specific courses (4 SWS) | Subject-specific courses (2 SWS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 1 course: | 1 course each in writing and speaking, e.g.: | 1 course of your choice, e.g.: |
| Advanced English C1 | Business Communication C1 | English for Aerospace Engineers C1 | |
| Giving Effective Presentations C1 | English for Biologists and Biotechnologists C1 | ||
| Negotiating in English C1 | English for Industrial Engineers: Business in Context C1 | ||
| Introduction to Academic Writing C1 | English for the Process Industries C1 | ||
| Writing for Study and Research C1 | English for Social Scientists C1 |
The examination for obtaining UNIcert® level III consists of a written and an oral part with a total of 4 subtests relating to the four skills:
Written examination:
The written examination comprises three subtests and usually lasts 210 minutes:
These tasks can be linked and tested in any meaningful combinations.
Oral examniation:
The oral examination usually includes a short presentation on a study-related topic as well as a conversation and lasts 30 minutes.
You can be admitted to the examination as soon as you have successfully completed all the required language courses.
| Level | Skill-specific courses (6 SWS) | Subject-specific courses (2 SWS) |
|---|---|---|
| C2 | 3 courses, at least one in writing and one in speaking, e.g.: | 1 course of your choice, e.g.: |
| Business Communication C2 | Contemporary Issues in Science and Technology C2 | |
| Giving Effective Presentations C2 | English for Social Scientists C2 | |
| Negotiating in English C2 | ||
| Introduction to Academic Writing C2 | ||
| Writing for Study and Research C2 |
The examination for obtaining UNIcert® level IV consists of a written and an oral part with a total of 4 subtests:
Written examination:
The written examination comprises three tasks and usually lasts 260 minutes:
These tasks can be linked and tested in meaningful combinations.
Oral examination:
The oral examination usually includes a short presentation and a conversation on a complex science-oriented oral or written document and lasts 40 minutes.
Admission to the examination is possible once you have successfully completed all required language courses.
| Level | SWS | Courses | Alternative courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 4 | Français I | |
| A2 | 4 | Français II | Français II.1 (A2.1, 2 SWS) und Français II.2 (A2.2, 2 SWS) |
| B1 | 4 | Français III | Français III.1 (B1.1, 2 SWS) und Français III.2 (B1.2, 2 SWS) |
| Level | Compulsory course (4 SWS) | SWS | Elective courses (4 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Français IV | 4 | e.g. Compréhension et expression écrites | 2 |
| e.g. Compréhension et expression orales | 2 |
| Level | Compulsory course (4 SWS) | SWS | Elective courses (4 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Français IV | 4 | e.g. Training interculturel | 2 |
| e.g. Culture et civilisation | 2 |
The UNIcert® I and UNIcert® II certificates can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all the required language courses and all the grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | SWS | Courses | Alternative Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 4 | Corso 1+2 | Corso 1 (A1.1, 2 SWS) and Corso 2 (A1.2, 2 SWS) |
| A2 | 4 | Corso 3+4 | Corso 3 (A2.1, 2 SWS) and Corso 4 (A2.2, 2 SWS) |
| B1 | 4 | Corso 5+6 | Corso 5 (B1.1, 2 SWS) and Corso 6 (B1.2, 2 SWS) |
| Level | Compulsory course (6 SWS) | SWS | Elective course (2 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Comprensione ed espressione scritta | 2 | e.g. Corso di civiltà italiana | 2 |
| Comprensione ed espressione orale | 2 | |||
| Grammatica e lessico | 2 |
| Level | Compulsory course (6 SWS) | SWS | Elective course (2 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Comprensione ed espressione scritta | 2 | e.g. L’italiano dell’arte | 2 |
| Comprensione ed espressione orale | 2 | |||
| Grammatica e lessico | 2 |
The certificates UNIcert® I and UNIcert® II can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all the required language courses and all the grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | SWS | Courses | Alternative Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1.1 and A1.2 | 4 | Russian 1+2 | Russian 1 (A1.1, 2 SWS) and Russisch 2 (A1.2, 2 SWS) |
| A1.3 and A1.4 | 4 | Russian 3+4 | Russian 3 (A1.3, 2 SWS) and Russisch 4 (A1.4, 2 SWS) |
| A2.1 and A2.2 | 4 | Russian 5+6 | Russian 5 (A2.1, 2 SWS) and Russisch 6 (A2.2, 2 SWS) |
| A2.3 and A2.4 | 4 | Russian 7+8 | Russian 7 (A2.3, 2 SWS) and Russisch 8 (A2.4, 2 SWS) |
The UNIcert® Basis certificate can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all the required language courses and all grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | SWS | Courses | Alternative Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 4 | Swedish A1 | Swedish 1 (A1.1, 2 SWS) and Swedish 2 (A1.2, 2 SWS) |
| A2 | 4 | Swedish A2 | Swedish 3 (A2.1, 2 SWS) and Swedish 4 (A2.2, 2 SWS) |
The UNIcert® Basis certificate can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all required language courses and all grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
| Level | SWS | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 4 | Inicial 1 |
| A2 | 4 | Inicial 2 |
| B1.1 | 4 | Intermedio 1 |
| B1.2 | 4 | Intermedio 2 |
| Level | Compulsory course (4 SWS) | SWS | Elective courses (4 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Intermedio B2 | 4 | e.g. Comprensión y expresión escritas | 2 |
| e.g. Comprensión y expresión orales | 2 | |||
| e.g. Cultura y civilización | 2 | |||
| e.g. Literatura | 2 |
| Level | Compulsory courses(4 SWS) | SWS | Elective courses (4 SWS) | SWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | e.g. Intermedio B2 | 4 | e.g. Comprensión y expresión escritas | 2 |
| e.g. Español científico y técnico | 2 | e.g. Comprensión y expresión orales | 2 | |
| e.g. Español para el mundo profesional | 2 |
The UNIcert® I and UNIcert® II certificates can be issued as soon as you have successfully completed all required language courses and all grades are available. The certificate grade is calculated as the average of the individual grades of all courses. You do not have to take an additional language exam.
Please submit the completed registration form together with your course certificates to the head of the respective language section. Once your registration has been approved, please transfer the fee for the Unicert certificate in order for your registration to be processed further.
UNIcert® Basic, I und II:
Registration is possible at any time after the completion of the required courses.
UNIcert® III und IV (derzeit nur in Englisch):
Anmeldeschluss ist jeweils der letzte Samstag der Vorlesungszeit.
UNIcert® foreign language training at the TU Braunschweig is bindingly regulated in the UNIcert® examination and training regulations. Here you will also find detailed information on levels, admission requirements, creditable courses and examination modalities:
UNIcert®-Prüfungsordnung (PDF, 703 KB, German)
UNIcert®-Ausbildungsordnung (PDF, 1.65 MB, German)
UNIcert®-Musterzertifikat (PDF, 307 KB, German)
UNIcert®-Code of Practice (PDF, 95 KB, German)
Additional information can always be found on the UNIcert® website.
You can find information about the costs in the List of Fees.
List of Fees of the Language Centre (PDF, 403 KB, in German only)
Ingrid Laval-Speier
☎ +49 531 391 7290
i.laval-speier(at)tu-braunschweig.de
Room 220, 2nd floor
Bültenweg 74/75
38106 Braunschweig
Online office hours: Tue 10:00 - 11:00 Uhr
Notice:
If you have questions about the certificates, please contact the contact person in the respective language area.
Vacancies of TU Braunschweig
Career Service' Job Exchange
Merchandising
Term Dates
Courses
Degree Programmes
Information for Freshman
TUCard
Glossary (GER-EN)
Change your Personal Data
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Universitätsplatz 2
38106 Braunschweig
P. O. Box: 38092 Braunschweig
GERMANY
Phone: +49 (0) 531 391-0