Learning German in South Africa

A group of multi-ethnic students study outdoors on campus in the summer.
© DAAD
The German Language is in the top 10 of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is the language of business and science. About 100 million people speak German as their mother tongue or home language, mostly in Europe, but also in North America, South America, Africa and Asia. An additional 55 million people are actively learning German.

Needed in business as well as culture and education. With more than 600 German companies in the country, the industry has an ever-growing need of German language speakers and people that are familiar with the German culture. Bayer, Lufthansa, Siemens and Volkswagen are only a few of them.

Find out more about the German industry in South Africa at the German Chamber of Commerce.

The Goethe Institut South Africa offers German-Language-Courses at all levels as well as Language-Examinations to prove your proficiency.  The Goethe-Institut also offers various other exciting cultural programmes.

You can take German as the language of instruction at the three German Schools in South Africa:

Furthermore, you can take German as a subject in 9 of the 25 South African universities, for example at the University of Cape Town, North West University, Rhodes University, University of Pretoria, University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of the Witwaterstand, University of Zululand and Stellenbosch University.

Many of these universities offer exciting exchange programmes with German universities. Universities in South Africa regularly sends students to Germany for summer/winter courses and semesters abroad.

Stellenbosch University offers a joint degree programme in German as a Foreign Language, German and other subjects with Leipzig University. Read more about the partnership here.

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Contact

  • DAAD Information Centre Johannesburg

    Jorissen Street SM3151, Third Floor, Solomon Mahlangu House, University of the Witwatersrand. | PO Box 269, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa, Johannesburg Telephone: +27 (0) 11 717 9334
    E-mail: daadwits.ac.za
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