telc licence and DTZ licence are not the same thing
inlingua Köln runs telc exams from A1 to C2 but states plainly that it does not conduct the DTZ. For the DTZ, go to a BAMF-approved institute such as IMB or to Euro-Schulen, which runs both.
Nordrhein-Westfalen · 1.1 million
German exam centres in Köln
Cologne has no Goethe-Institut, so the exam landscape here is telc and DTZ, spread across seven verified centres - private language schools and BAMF-approved institutes. There is plenty of capacity, with two centres examining several times a week, but the licences differ: not every telc centre runs the DTZ, and turning up at the wrong one costs you weeks.
telcDTZChecked July 2026
Where to sit the exam
7 verified centres in Köln
Each entry was checked on the centre's own website. Dates and fees change, so confirm directly with the centre before you pay.
| Centre | Exams | Levels | Frequency | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inlingua KölnExplicitly does not conduct telc DTZ exams. Registration must be made 17 days before the exam, and places are subject to availability. | telc | telc A1, A2, A2 mündlich, A2/B1, B1, B2, C1, C1 Hochschule, C2 | Monthly | €170-270 by level |
| IMB GmbHKöln-KalkApproved as an examination institute by the BAMF. External candidates are accepted, but places for them are limited. | DTZ | DTZ A2-B1, Leben in Deutschland | Saturdays, 12:45 to 18:00 | €150 without integration course entitlement |
| FOKUS Sprachen & SeminareLicensed telc examination centre. The most frequent sittings in the city, which helps if your deadline is close. | telc | telc A1 to C1, including B1 and B2 digital and telc B1-B2 Pflege | Several times a week | See centre |
| Euro-Schulen KölnLicence partner of telc. Runs the DTZ and the citizenship test alongside telc exams. | telcDTZ | telc A1, B1, B2, B1-B2 Pflege; DTZ; Deutsch-Test für den Beruf B2; Einbürgerungstest | See centre | See centre |
| TANDEM KölnOfficial examination centre for telc and TestDaF. Dates are tied to the end of its intensive courses, so the calendar is fixed well ahead. | telc | telc Start Deutsch A1 to telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule; also TestDaF | Six exam dates a year | See centre |
| German Studios CologneAccredited examination centre. Every registration includes a free preparation course. | telc | telc Deutsch A1 to C1 Hochschule | Several times a week | See centre |
| SprachHaus (SPHS gGmbH)Licensed telc examination centre; dates and registration run through its own booking portal. | telc | telc Deutsch A1 to C1, including C1 Hochschule | See centre | See centre |
We do not publish individual sitting dates: they change too often to be safe. Follow the centre link for the current calendar.
Booking in this city
What is different about Köln
If your deadline is close, look at frequency first
FOKUS and German Studios both examine several times a week, inlingua monthly, while TANDEM runs six fixed dates a year tied to its course cycle. When a permit deadline is weeks away, frequency matters more than the fee.
A free preparation course with the exam
German Studios includes a free preparation course with every exam registration. If you were going to pay for one anyway, that changes the real cost comparison between centres.
Seventeen days, not seven
The registration deadline at inlingua is 17 days before the exam, and places depend on space. Count backwards from the date you need and add a fortnight of margin.
DTZ sittings run on Saturdays
IMB holds the DTZ on Saturdays from about 12:45 until 18:00 - a full afternoon, written and oral. Plan the day around it rather than fitting it between other commitments.
Self-payers pay a published price
IMB states €150 for candidates without an integration course entitlement, which is unusually transparent for a DTZ centre. If you do have an entitlement, the exam is handled through the course instead.
Have the date? Now get the score.
Booking is the easy half. Sit a full model test in the format you booked - Goethe, telc or DTZ - and let the analytics tell you which module needs the weeks between now and your date.
FAQ
Taking a German exam in Köln
Where can I take the DTZ in Cologne?
At a BAMF-approved examination institute. IMB GmbH in Köln-Kalk conducts the DTZ on Saturdays and accepts external candidates, with a published fee of €150 for those without an integration course entitlement. Places for external candidates are limited.
Which telc levels can I take in Cologne?
inlingua Köln offers telc exams from A1 through C2, including A2/B1, C1 and C1 Hochschule, with monthly dates and fees between €170 and €270 depending on level.
Is there a Goethe-Institut in Cologne?
No. The nearest Goethe-Institut exam locations are elsewhere in the region, so candidates in Cologne who specifically need a Goethe-Zertifikat usually travel. If any recognised B1 certificate is acceptable for your purpose, a telc exam in the city is simpler.
Official directories
The exam boards maintain their own centre finders. They are the authoritative list.
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