Frequently Asked Questions – English as a Key Competency

Unless specified in your program regulations (Studienordnung), or, for ERASMUS students, in your learning agreement, taking an English course is not mandatory. However, most BA and BSc program regulations allow for the acquisition of credit points in Key Competencies (Schlüsselqualifikationen) through language courses.

First, verify whether UNIcert is recognized as proof of your English proficiency level. If it is accepted, take a placement test as early as possible – ideally two to three semesters before your application date. This will give you enough time to complete the necessary course(s), pass the UNIcert exam, and obtain the certificate before the application deadline.

No, that is not possible. To be eligible for the exam, you must successfully complete  the corresponding preparation course, such as:
- UNIcert II/2 for a UNIcert II exam (equivalent to B2)
- UNIcert III/2 for a UNIcert III exam (equivalent to C1)
- UNIcert IV/2 for a UNIcert IV exam (equivalent to C2)

Yes, in order to register for a course, students must first take the online placement test for English offered by Zessko on Moodle. The test results will assign students to the course level that best matches their prior knowledge and skills.

It is best to take the online placement test in your first or second semester. Placement tests are usually offered before the PULS admission period begins in April and October, and on at least two days after the first PULS admission day. Current information about the placement test, such as dates, times, and the link to the online test, is available on this website after 15 March and 15 September. Students in higher semesters who missed the placement test in their initial semesters can take it at a later time.

The placement test can be taken on one of these days during the time it is open. It takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. It will be open on several days (as announced on this website) for approximately 8 hours on each day.

Refer to the Zessko website for detailed information about the content of the test.

Contact information for assistance with technical difficulties during the placement test will be provided on the Moodle platform.

You will see your result on Moodle immediately after completing the placement test. The result will then be entered into the PULS platform, and you will be able to view it there (via the "My placement tests" button) by 10:00 a.m. on the next working day at the latest. Only then will you be able to apply for a place in an English course via PULS.

If you improve your English by taking an English course of 60 teaching units (Unterrichtseinheiten) at a language school such as the Adult Education Center (Volkshochschule) or a private language school, or by studying overseas in English, you are eligible to retake the placement test.

For further advice, you can contact one of the English teachers at Zessko. You may also apply for an advisory meeting to determine if it is feasible to participate in “Self-Directed Learning with Counseling – English” in order to qualify for a retake.

Preferably in the 2^nd,3^rd, 4^th or 5^th semester. Taking it in the 1^st semester is recommended if your level is low, for example if you scored between 50 and 69 points on the placement test. Taking it in the 6^th semester or later is also possible. 

If you have already taken a language course at Zessko, select “Fremdsprache II”. If you have not taken a language course at Zessko before, select “Fremdsprache I”.

No, intensive courses, with the exception of the English for Law UNIcert III/1 course, are not offered at all, neither during the lecture period nor during the semester break.

For UNIcert all English courses, you are required to attend at least 80% of classes and pass an end-of-course test.

You will not receive a UNIcert certificate for the II/1, III/1, and IV/1 courses, as these courses do not prepare students for any certificate exams.

A UNIcert certificate is only awarded to those who complete a level II/2, III/2, or IV/2 course and pass the corresponding UNIcert exam, which aligns with the CEFR levels as follows:

UNIcert II exam: B2 (Prerequisite: successful participation in a UNIcert II/2 course)
UNIcert III exam: C1 (Prerequisite: successful participation in a UNIcert III/2 course)
UNIcert IV exam: C2 (Prerequisite: successful participation in a UNIcert IV/2 course)

Yes. Once you have completed a course and your result has been entered into PULS, you can apply for a place in a course at the next level in the following semester or later, as long as you are registered as a student at the University of Potsdam and retain your Student ID number.

Yes, you can register as follows:

• Log in at www.puls.uni-potsdam.de.
• Click on:
  • Overview of English Courses in the Summer Semester of 2025
  • The desired course, depending on your placement test result
  • Enroll/Unenroll now
• Ignore the message: “No associated performance record exists for you.”
• Enter a TAN code.

Please note: Registration does not guarantee admission to the course.
If this does not work, try the same steps again, but log out of PULS beforehand.

Yes, you can take another English course under Foreign Language II.

If you cannot find the information you need on the website or in the course descriptions in the course catalog (PULS), please contact the Office of Student and Academic Affairs at Zessko on the Griebnitzsee Campus or reach out to an English teacher.