German as a Foreign Language
International Relations
E: daf@fh-joanneum.at
T: +43 316 5453 – 8822 oder 8852
Do you want to test your German skills? And set this down for posterity in your curriculum vitae or résumé? Or perhaps include an internationally recognised language diploma in your application? Then the German Language Diploma (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom – ÖSD) is just the right thing for you! Since 2005, more than 500 students and external candidates have used the opportunity to take an internationally recognised German language exam at FH JOANNEUM.
The ÖSD is a state-approved examination and assessment system for German as a Foreign or Second Language. ÖSD exams meet international requirements and are internationally recognised as proof of German proficiency. As a successful and trend-setting language project, the ÖSD has been awarded the “European Label for Innovative Projects in Language Teaching and Learning”.
All ÖSD exams are communicatively oriented. First and foremost, they assess the candidates’ linguistic and communicative competence of German in everyday, real-life situations. ÖSD exams are not linked with any specific language courses and are conducted and assessed along the same lines all over the world. The ÖSD supports a pluricentric view of languages: all standard varieties of German as spoken in Austria, Germany and Switzerland are taken into account.
FH JOANNEUM offers following exams:
ÖSD preparation workshops (on two afternoons à 90 minutes) take place at FH JOANNEUM. More info in the course programme. The learning materials published by the ÖSD central office include exercise sentences and a CD and provide an ideal preparation for the ÖSD (Austrian German Diploma) examination. At FH JOANNEUM, preparation for the ÖSD exam is included in the examination fee.
Prices for internal / external candidats for the exam date on 11 June and 26 November 2025:
Workshop (two preparation workshops à 90 minutes): € 30,-
You will learn: The types of questions that will come up in the examination and you will prepare yourself for the examination using sample tests. It will be held at FH JOANNEUM in Graz.
We are of course happy to assist candidates with specific needs (e.g. reading and/or writing difficulties, impaired vision or hearing, etc.). Candidates must inform us about the nature and degree of their specific needs when registering for the examination and provide a relevant certificate (e-mail to daf@fh-joanneum.at). The information provided is treated as confidential according to the GDPR guidelines.
° The written exam takes place in the morning of 11 June / 26 November 2025 for all levels and candidates. Depending on the number of candidates, the oral exam can also take place on 11 and 12 June 2025 / 26 and 27 November 2025. Candidates will be informed as soon as possible about their exam time slot after the registration deadline.
More information about the tests and levels can be found directly on the Homepage of the ÖSD!
Have you lost your original ÖSD certificate? Within a period of five years, you can get a duplicate of your examination certificate. Duplicates must be applied at the examination centre where the examination was taken, upon presentation of the original certificate or a notice of loss. The creation of a duplicate is generally subject to a fee (processing and shipping costs).