ÖSD stands for “Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch,” which means Austrian German Language Diploma. It is a non-profit organization that offers globally recognized tests for people learning German as a foreign or second language. The exams are designed to check your ability to use German in real-life scenarios and cover all skill levels from beginner (A1) to advanced (C2), based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The exams also consider different forms of German spoken in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.

Yes, the ÖSD certificate is accepted by the German, Austrian and Swiss Embassies.

You can sit the exam at our centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Eldoret. Check the schedule at germaninstitute.co.ke/osd for the dates and levels available at each location.

Check the schedule for upcoming exams at germaninstitute.co.ke/osd to find the next available date for your level.

Registration is only open during specific periods announced on our website. Early or late registrations will not be accepted. Please make sure the details on your registration form are complete and accurate — the name and ID details you provide must exactly match the identification you bring on exam day. If you have any questions, feel free to visit our office at Ambank House, Nairobi.

You will be prompted to pay by M-PESA or Debit/Credit Card when you submit the application form. If you choose to pay later, your spot will be reserved for 5 days. Exam fees must be paid by the stated deadline — if payment is not received in time, the booking is cancelled and the slot released. Exam fees are not refunded on the candidate’s own initiative; the only exception is if the examination centre cancels the exam, in which case you receive a full refund (see “Can I cancel the exam?” below).

Exam fees are not refunded when you cancel. Depending on timing, you may instead be offered a free rescheduling or a credit held on your own ÖSD account (see “Can I reschedule or postpone the exam?”). Any such credit is non-transferable and cannot be moved to another candidate. The only situation in which a full refund applies is when the examination centre cancels the exam for reasons on its side.

Free rescheduling is available only if you make the request at least 14 days before your exam date. Within 14 days of the exam, rescheduling is no longer available and no refund applies. Where a change is granted, any amount paid is retained as a credit on your own account; this credit is non-transferable.

Arrive at the examination centre at least 30 minutes before your scheduled start time. You must bring a valid, original passport or national ID — softcopies are not accepted, and a police abstract is not accepted as a substitute for a lost ID or passport. Candidates who arrive after the start time or cannot present valid ID will not be admitted, will forfeit the exam, and are not entitled to a refund. The same valid ID is required when collecting your results or certificate.

All exam modules must be completed on the same day. Splitting your exam across multiple days within the same examination round is not permitted. (You may, however, take different modules in different examination rounds.)

No. A booking is personal and cannot be transferred to another person under any circumstances. Any attempt to have another person sit the exam under your identity will result in prosecution.

Results are available approximately six (6) weeks after the exam day and are disclosed only to the examinee. Exam content and materials remain the property of ÖSD and are not released.

If you wish to review your evaluation, submit a written request within eight (8) weeks of the date your results or certificate was issued. Reviews are conducted at the examination centre in the presence of the exam coordinator. You are entitled to inspect the evaluation sheet (Bewertungsbogen) only; the scope and speed of the review are determined by ÖSD.

Visit www.osd.at/en/exams/oesd-exams/ for study materials and practice exams for each level.

No, the exams are open to everyone, regardless of whether you’re a student at the institute.

ÖSD certificates generally have no expiry date. However, the German Embassy requires certificates that are not older than one year.

Where a candidate has an outstanding balance with AG German Institute, the certificate remains the property of the school and is released only once all dues are settled.

If you lose your certificate, the institute can issue a duplicate, but please note there is a fee for this service.

To become an examiner, you need to have a C1 level German certificate not older than two years and at least 1500 hours of teaching experience. You can apply by sending your documents to [email protected].