Age of students

In the Intensive Courses 16 – 60 years, in the Summer Courses 12 – 18 years

Enrolment

There is no deadline, as long as we have a place available, and we accept ‘last minute’ bookings. Students from non-EU countries with visas for a limited time should sign up at least 3 months before the start of the course.

Arrival and Departure

Students normally arrive on the Sunday afternoon before the start of the course. If you wish to arrive earlier or later, please give us plenty of notice.

Please find here information about the courses before your departure

Banking

Our bank details Dresdner Bank Augsburg – ADK / Bernhard Weichlein
Account number – 103 190 900
Bank code – 720 800 01
Swift Code – DRESDEFF 720
IBAN – DE92 72080001
0103190900

Payment

We request that you make a deposit of €100 [see bank details] to confirm your reservation. The rest of the course fee can either be deposited before you arrive or paid upon your arrival in Augsburg.

Textbooks

The textbooks are not included in the course fee and cost approximately €25 per level [8 weeks]. These books can be loaned to you if you are only staying for a short time. We use ‘Themen aktuell’ at beginner level and ‘em’ at intermediate level [both are published by Hueber].

Placement Test

This test is taken on your first day at 9am, and takes approximately 40 minutes to complete [without a dictionary]. After the test is corrected, we talk with you briefly and place you in an appropriate class.

Free Time

In the Summer Courses, the afternoon activities [2 – 6pm] are included in the price. In the Intensive Courses, we offer regular activities, eg. bowling, visits to the museum or a local business, trips to Munich etc. These activities are not included in the course fee and cost between €3 and €7.

Money

We recommend from €25 to €50 pocket money per week for the students in the Summer Courses. Because all activities, transport and meals are included in the course fee, this pocket money is for souvenirs, etc. Adults in the Intensive Courses who book accommodation with breakfast and dinner have some additional costs [transport, lunch etc.] The cost of living in Augsburg is lower than other European cities [soft drinks in cafes cost about €2, the movies €4].

Homework

There is no homework in the Summer Courses, as the activities run until 6pm. Homework is given in the Intensive Courses, approximately 2 hours of written exercises and additional study per day.

Internet

There are many Internet cafes in the centre of the city, 3 -5 minutes walking distance from the school, from €2 per hour.

Class Size

Maximum 16 students per class, minimum 4.

Teachers

All of our teachers are tertiary qualified and experienced. We guarantee that the teachers alternate as little as possible – this means that you will have the same teacher for at least one whole course level.

Teaching Materials

Our teachers provide their own materials everyday [exercises, vocabulary lists etc.], which are used in addition to the course textbook and tailored to each individual class. This is included in the price.

Quality

We guarantee quality – experienced and well trained teachers, current lesson material, small multicultural classes, contemporary methods, and plenty of variety in the timetable [listening, reading, writing and speaking exercises every day]. Our teachers regularly further their own education for your benefit as well.

Sport

In the Summer Courses, sport is played regularly [for those who are ‘sport-crazy’ we have the Multisport Course, which has a different sport program every afternoon]. For those in the Intensive Courses, we gladly help you look for the club, association or activity group of your choice.

Tertiary Study in Germany

Our Intensive Courses prepare you for the entrance exam. In order to study formally in Germany, you must sit either the DSH-Exam [see our special preparation course] or the TestDaF-Exam [which we also have a preparation course for].

Conditions of Participation

Please see our Internet application form. In the case that a Visa is not granted, we refund the course fees, less a handling fee of €40.

Transfer

We organize a transfer from Munich Airport [€45,00 single], where you are picked up directly from the gate at the airport and taken to your address in Augsburg. We recommend this service especially for under-age students, or students with a limited knowledge of German who are worried about travelling alone. There are also regular trains from Munich Airport  [€15], which depart every 20 minutes. On request we will provide you with the exact times after confirmation of your flight details.

Accommodation

Most of our students live with homestay families with meals provided [‘Halbpension’ means breakfast and dinner with the family, ‘Vollpension’ means 3 meals a day – a packed lunch is provided upon request]. Please inform us immediately of any allergies to any particular food, in order to avoid any unfortunate situations! Students in the Summer Courses are always housed two-to-a-room with 3 meals a day and no two students with the same mother tongue are housed with the same family.

Teaching Methods

We consider small, homogenous classes with a maximum of 16 students to be a prerequisite for a successful language course. We can guarantee fast progress through individual attention and a lot of speaking practice. We are of the opinion that the German language consists of a lot more than just vocabulary and grammar. Our balanced combination of grammar, conversation, listening comprehension, reading and writing, in conjunction with communicative games, German films and newspapers, guarantees a friendlier and more exciting atmosphere in which to work and learn.

Lesson Times

Intensive Course – Monday to Friday, 8:45 to 13.00.  Summer Course – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8.30am – 12.45pm, with a whole-day trip on Wednesday. The one-on-one private lessons as part of the Intensive Plus Course take place in the afternoons from 1.30.

Insurance

We offer, upon request, private health insurance for our students from abroad [from €29 per month]. Information can be found on our website or at www.care-college.de.

Visas

Participants from non-EU countries require a visa. A student visa can be obtained in your home country [for up to 12 months], which requires confirmation from ADK that the enrolment has been submitted and a deposit paid. Please note that this procedure can take a few weeks.

Laundry

If required, the homestay families will gladly do the washing for long-term students. However, please keep in mind that they are not laundromats!

Weekends

Weekends are off, with no classes on Saturday or Sunday.

Certification

Every student receives an ADK-Certificate upon completion of the course, on which achievement is assessed and the number of hours completed is noted.