The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees offers nationwide integration courses to ethnic German immigrants. The structure of the courses consists of two parts:
- Basic and advanced language course, each with 300 hours of language instruction
- Orientation course with 100 hours of instruction to impart knowledge of the law, culture and history in Germany
In order to promote the learning of the German language as individually as possible, the language courses consist of six course sections with different levels of proficiency.
Integration courses for special target groups have a different structure (up to 900 hours of language instruction, a total of 430 hours intensive course).
The aim of the language course is to acquire "sufficient language skills". You prove successful participation with an examination for the Zertifikat Deutsch. This corresponds to language level B1.
Late repatriates aged 16 and over can take part in the "Identity and Integration PLUS" courses. The course comprises 200 teaching units, builds on the integration course and covers the following topics:
- Questions of your specific identity, e.g. ideas about German culture and living environment and your experiences with it,
- Challenges and opportunities in coping with everyday life in your new environment, and
- Possibilities and opportunities in the German labour market.
Tip: In addition to the integration courses, there are other integration aids, especially migration-specific counselling services. Information on local counselling can be obtained from the municipalities.