How Canadian Students Can Find and Verify English-Taught Degree Programs in Germany
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Canadians Studying Abroad
Search Germany's DAAD International Programmes database and filter by "English only" to shortlist genuine English-taught bachelor's and master's degrees. Confirm the real teaching language with the university's own module handbook before you apply, because some listings mix English core courses with German-taught electives and seminars.
🎓 Filter the DAAD database by course type, subject, language and city
Read the program's own Modulhandbuch, not just the DAAD summary
A German language test requirement on the admissions page signals German-language coursework
Bachelor's programs marked English-taught need closer checking than master's
Email the program coordinator when the language split is unclear
Start with the DAAD database, not a general search engine
The DAAD International Programmes database is the German Academic Exchange Service's own directory of degree programs built for international applicants. Searching it directly skips over program pages written only in German and third-party directories that list outdated information. Run a free-text search for your subject, or use the filter panel to narrow the full list down to programs that fit you.
Filter the database the right way
Set the filters before you scroll through results.
| Filter | What it narrows down |
|---|---|
| Course type | Bachelor's, master's, PhD/doctorate, graduate school, preparatory course, language course, short course |
| Subject area | Nine broad fields, from engineering to teaching degrees |
| Language | German only, English only, German and English, or other |
| Location | The German city where the program runs |
| Tuition fees | Whether the program charges fees |
Set course type to bachelor's or master's, then set language to "English only" to drop programs that only teach a handful of modules in English while running the rest in German. Save promising results to the database's watchlist, then export your shortlist as a PDF so you have one reference while you work through separate university application portals.
Why "English-taught" on the database is not the full picture
A listing under "English only" can still expect German for parts of daily academic life. Some master's programs teach core modules in English but leave electives, thesis defenses, or seminar discussion in German. Group project work at some universities runs in German even inside an English-taught track, because most classmates speak German as a first language.
Bachelor's programs need closer checking than master's programs. Germany runs far fewer English-taught bachelor's degrees than master's degrees, and a bachelor's listing marked English-taught is more likely to have German-taught first-year requirements or a mandatory German-language orientation year attached.
Verify the real language of instruction before you apply
Open the program's own page on the university website instead of stopping at the DAAD summary.
Find the Modulhandbuch (module handbook). It lists every course in the program alongside its teaching language, and it is the single most reliable document for this check.
Read the admission requirements page for a German language test requirement. If the program asks for a TestDaF or DSH score alongside English proficiency, expect German-language coursework somewhere in the degree.
Look for published syllabi or course descriptions from a recent intake if the department posts them.
Email the program coordinator and ask directly what share of contact hours run in English versus German. Coordinators field this question from international applicants often.
Cross-check with the university's international office
Once you have a shortlist, contact each university's international office, not just the department. International offices track exactly which programs run fully in English and which mix languages, because they field the same question from every non-German applicant. Ask them to confirm the module handbook matches what is currently taught, since program structures change between intakes.
Keep a simple record as you go: program name, university, DAAD listing language, module handbook language split, and any German requirement stated on the admissions page. Comparing this record across your shortlist makes the difference between a program that fits your German level and one that leaves you struggling through courses you did not expect.