Frequently asked questions

TANDEM Munich was founded in 1988.

Our language school is in the heart of Munich – in Schwabing, surrounded by cozy cafés, shops, and close to Munich's main attractions.

At TANDEM Munich, you can learn German, English, Spanish, and Italian.

Yes, the minimum age for participants is 18 years.

The average age of our course participants is approximately 30 years.

Our school is a recognized telc and TestDaF examination center and is a member of the Spanish-German language school association, TANDEM International.

All of our teachers are native speakers with university degrees and experience in teaching their native language.

Yes, TANDEM Munich offers telc exams ("Deutsch B1", "Deutsch B2", and "Deutsch C1 Hochschule") for German. We also offer the "TestDaF" exam.

One lesson (UE) lasts 45 minutes.

Our courses are intended for self-paying participants, so the course fees cannot be covered by BAMF or Jobcenter, and we cannot accept vouchers.

You can register either online using our form or in person at our office.

Please notify us by email if you are ill. Unfortunately, we cannot offer makeup lessons.

In the intensive German and exam preparation courses, classes on public holidays are canceled without a replacement. In evening courses, mini-group courses, and one-to-one lessons, these hours are not calculated.

Yes, the school is closed for two weeks over Christmas and New Year.

After we receive your registration for a German intensive course, we will send you a confirmation letter and our placement test via email.

Once registered, you will receive our placement test by email, which should be completed without any aids and returned to us as soon as possible.

Upon confirmation, we require a €200 deposit. The remaining amount is due on the first course day and can be paid by bank transfer, in cash, or by card at the office. Note: The deposit is not an additional fee; it is part of the total course fee.

The service fee includes the first course book and a weekly leisure program. In summer, we offer three activities per week (excluding entry and travel costs).

We offer intensive German courses with 16, 18, and 20 lessons per week. Visa participants must attend a course with at least 18 lessons per week.

The standard German intensive course runs from Monday to Thursday with 16 lessons per week. The 18- and 20-hour-per-week courses are held from Monday to Friday.

The course is primarily or exclusively in the morning, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. However, some levels have alternating classes: two to three days in the morning and two days in the afternoon (from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.).

Typically, a full level can be completed in eight weeks, and half a level in four weeks.

No, you can register for as little as one week or up to a maximum of 48 weeks.

Intensive German courses have 4 to 10 participants, with an average of 6 to 8.

To apply for a language course visa, you need an intensive language course with generally at least 18 teaching units (TU) per week. At TANDEM, you can book our German visa course with 18 or 20 TU per week. For a visa application, we recommend booking a course for at least four months. Some German embassies or consulates require a German course with 20 TU per week.

After you have registered through our website, we will ask you to pay a deposit of €200 for each month you have booked. For example, if you register for six months, you will need to pay a deposit of €1,200. As soon as we receive your payment, we will send you the official confirmation letter by email. To issue this letter, we also need your passport number and place of birth.

No. The deposit is part of the total course fee and will be deducted from the remaining amount. We do not charge any additional fees for our visa service.

Unfortunately, as a language school, we have no influence on the processing time for visa applications. Based on our experience, our course participants usually receive a decision on their visa application after approximately three to six months.

Please let us know in good time – at least three weeks before your scheduled course start – if you have not yet received your visa to enter Germany. We will then postpone your course to the next possible start date at no additional cost.

Please send us a scan or photo of the official rejection letter. We will refund the course fees (deposit) you have already paid, minus a €100 processing fee.

We offer summer intensive courses in July and August.

The summer courses follow the same structure as the intensive courses with 16, 18, or 20 lessons per week. However, they feature a more vibrant and engaging leisure and cultural program, with three weekly activities to explore Munich and the surrounding areas.

Yes, in July and August, we apply a summer course supplement of €20 per week due to the additional leisure and cultural activities offered.

Additional modules are held on Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. or from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We offer grammar courses for levels A, B, and C, conversation courses, writing and pronunciation training, German regional studies, and Bavarian culture.

Each 90-minute session is a standalone unit. However, the additional modules can be attended for the full duration of the intensive courses or longer.

Additional modules are required for students who need a visa, but optional for all others. However, we highly recommend them to reinforce and expand on the intensive course content.

Yes, the additional modules can be attended independently of the intensive German courses!

We offer specialized preparation courses for the "telc Deutsch B1", "telc Deutsch B2", "telc C1 Hochschule," and "TestDaF" exams.

In these courses, we cover each component of the respective exam in detail, familiarizing you with the exam format. Our trainers provide tips and strategies to ensure you are fully prepared for the exam. Prerequisite: Completion of the required language level!

The exam preparation courses are held four weeks before the exam, Monday through Thursday, from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.

New German evening courses start several times a year on the dates listed on this page. If you're a beginner with no previous knowledge of German, you can join at the beginning of a new course. If you already have some knowledge of German, you can often join an ongoing German evening course after completing our free placement test, provided places are available.

Yes. If you already have some knowledge of German, we'll assess your current language level with our free placement test. Subject to availability, you can then join a suitable ongoing German evening course.

We offer German evening courses for all language levels from A1 to C2. If you're a complete beginner, you'll start at A1. If you already have some knowledge of German, our free placement test will help us find the course that best matches your current level.

Our German evening courses take place twice a week and include 4 teaching units (TUs) per week (1 TU = 45 minutes). You can choose between Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday. Classes are held either from 6:20–7:50 p.m. or 8:00–9:30 p.m. The days between classes give you time to review what you've learned and put your new German skills into practice in everyday life.

One course module lasts 12 weeks. Completing one full language level - such as A1 or B1 - usually takes two modules, or approximately 24 weeks.

Only if you already have some knowledge of German. Our free placement test helps us determine your current language level and recommend the German evening course that best matches your skills. If you're a complete beginner, you can enrol directly in an A1 course.

Yes. Subject to availability, you're welcome to attend a free trial lesson before making your decision. If you decide to enrol afterwards, you'll only pay for the remaining teaching units (TUs).

Our German evening courses are taught in small groups of 4 to 9 students. This gives everyone plenty of opportunities to speak, while allowing our teachers to provide individual support and respond to each student's questions and learning goals.

Yes. Our German evening courses take place twice a week in the evening, making them easy to combine with work, university, or family life. They're the ideal choice if you want to improve your general German skills step by step. If you need German specifically for your job - for example, to communicate more confidently in the workplace - we recommend our German for work courses.

Yes. Many of our German evening courses are also available as hybrid classes on request. This allows you to attend either in person or online, giving you greater flexibility. We're happy to let you know which courses are currently available in this format.

No. The course book is not included in the course fee. You'll receive the appropriate course book from us at the beginning of your course. In most cases, the cost of the course book will be added to your course invoice.

These courses are designed for only two participants who register together.

No, the available time frame for mini-group courses and private lessons is from 1:30 to 6:15 p.m., and later in the evening if required and available.

Upon request and subject to availability, these courses can be scheduled on weekends. Typically, however, they are offered Monday through Friday.

Yes, the minimum booking is 10 teaching hours.

Mini-group or individual lessons can be canceled free of charge if done at least 24 hours in advance. For cancellations made on shorter notice, the lesson will be charged.

We offer telc exams for "Deutsch B1," "Deutsch B2," "Deutsch C1 Hochschule," and the "TestDaF" exam.

No, exam fees must be paid separately, regardless of course enrollment.

Yes, we provide a four-week preparatory course before each exam to help you get ready.

A TANDEM language partnership is an excellent way to improve your language skills in a real-world context, making it the ideal complement to your language classes.

The initial meeting takes place at our language school. We’ll provide a brief introduction, and then you can start practicing together.

This service is free for our course participants. For others, there’s a one-time fee of €25, covering up to three language partners over 12 months.

Yes, we offer a vibrant leisure and cultural program with various activities for participants in our intensive German courses. During July and August, we offer three activities per week, and one activity per week during the other months.

Our guide is included in the course price, but there may be additional costs for admissions and tickets.

Health insurance is mandatory for all course participants arriving from non-European countries. For European participants, we recommend additional coverage, as treatment costs may not always be fully reimbursed. Liability insurance is also strongly advised in case of accidental damage to someone else’s property. On our website, you’ll find information about two recommended insurance brokers.

Yes, we offer accommodation with local German hosts for participants in an intensive German course. Rooms are furnished, and you’ll share kitchen and bathroom facilities with your host.

No, public transport travel time is a maximum of 45 minutes, and many hosts live even closer.

Absolutely, booking a course without accommodation is possible.

Unfortunately, this isn’t possible. Accommodation is reserved only for the duration of the course. For long-term participants (over three months), the room is initially reserved for the first three months, giving participants time to secure their own place if needed.

We’ll send you the accommodation details via email approximately two weeks before your course begins.

Yes, bed linen and towels are provided at your accommodation.