Do you need a confirmation of a certain level in a foreign language for an exchange semester at a university or higher-education institution abroad, in Romandy, or in Ticino, or perhaps for an internship or for working abroad? The Language Center offers language-proficiency assessments to promote academic mobility.

Target group

Students at the University of Basel in all disciplines who require a confirmation of their current language level, as well as students from other Swiss universities and higher-education institutions upon request and depending on the capacities of the Language Center.

Languages

Language-proficiency assessments are offered for the following languages: German, English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

It may be possible to receive a language-proficiency assessment in other languages taught at the Language Center upon request.

What is a language-proficiency assessment?

A language-proficiency assessment is not an official language certificate like TOEFL or Cambridge (English), DALF (French), or DELE (Spanish) but a confirmation of your current language level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the areas of reading, writing, listening, grammar, vocabulary, and speaking in the tested language.

The language-proficiency assessment consists of two parts: a computer-based part and a writing and speaking test on-site at the Language Center.

Procedure

Important: The Language Center needs about one to two weeks to set up and conduct a language-proficiency assessment. Please contact us enough ahead of your deadline so that you can submit your assessment on time. In this regard, also note the Language Center’s closures between semesters.

To acquire a language-proficiency assessment from the Language Center, please proceed as follows:

1. Check with the faculty or department at the university or other institution abroad or in French- or Italian-speaking Switzerland about (1) what level is required and (2) whether a language-proficiency assessment issued by the Language Center will be recognized. If the target institution uses an official form, please send it to us at info-sprachenzentrum@clutterunibas.ch.
2. Fill out the request form. We will contact you within three working days and arrange an appointment for the language-proficiency assessment.
3. Once you have completed the language-proficiency assessment, you will receive a confirmation of your language level according to the CEFR.

Costs

A language-proficiency assessment costs CHF 165.00 (as of 2024). You will receive the invoice by email after the completion of your language assessment.

Contact

If you have any further questions, contact us at info-sprachenzentrum@clutterunibas.ch or call us during the opening hours of the Language Center at +41 61 207 52 33.