Hochschule Karlsruhe – Technik und Wirtschaft

The Institut für Fremdsprachen IFS (Foreign Language Institute) coordinates the foreign language program at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. Courses in a variety of languages are offered both during the semester and as two-week intensive courses during the lecture-free period. Students attend these language courses as part of their degree programs or as electives. Each semester approximately 1600 students attend one of the language courses offered.

The proficiency levels of the language courses correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF). Certificates are awarded in English (CEF level C1), French (CEF levels B1 and B1/B2), and Spanish (CEF levels B1 and B1/B2). The curriculum focuses on preparing students to use the target language in a professional environment. The program in English includes courses in Technical English.

International students are particularly interested in the German courses. Students can attend intensive or extensive courses at the Institute which lead to the CEF level A2. German courses on a higher proficiency level can be attended through our cooperation with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

The so-called SIP-Program (Sprache und interkulturelle Praxis) gives students the opportunity to acquire survival skills in various target languages and cultures, e. g. Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, etc. The curriculum includes cross-cultural information useful in the workplace.

The Institute also offers students additional services, such as assistance in preparing job applications in English, and regularly participates in innovative projects.

The Institute has staff positions for English and Spanish instructors. In addition, approximately 60 adjunct instructors teach part-time within the program. The Institute is headed by a professor with a background in language teaching, currently a professor in the Faculty of Management Science and Engineering who is also a native speaker of English.

For further information, please see the German-language pages or contact our departmental office:
Ms. Berumen or Ms. Wittenberg
ifs[at]hs-karlsruhe.de