A unique place for German language courses, summer and winter academies, and study abroad programs

If you want to learn German and experience Germany beyond the classroom, Lutherstadt Wittenberg offers a unique setting.

Located in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany, Wittenberg combines a rich cultural and historical heritage with the experience of everyday life in a smaller German city. It is the home of the Institute for German Language and Culture (IDSK) and the starting point for international German language courses, cultural programs and customized study abroad programs.

For more than 30 years, IDSK has welcomed international students to Wittenberg. Today, participants from universities and colleges around the world come here to learn German, explore German culture and society, and discover Germany through excursions, academic activities and intercultural experiences.

Wittenberg – where German history comes alive

Wittenberg is internationally known as the city of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.

Martin Luther lived and worked in Wittenberg, and in 1517 his famous 95 Theses became a starting point for the Reformation. The city therefore played a major role in European religious, cultural and intellectual history.

Today, Wittenberg’s historic sites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg.” The UNESCO World Heritage property includes several important places in Wittenberg connected with Martin Luther and his fellow reformer Philipp Melanchthon, including Luther House, Melanchthon House, the Town Church and the Castle Church.

Walking through Wittenberg means encountering this history throughout the city – while at the same time experiencing a living German town with cafés, shops, cultural events, students and everyday life.

This combination makes Wittenberg a particularly inspiring place to learn and use German.

Learn German while experiencing Germany

The IDSK’s International Summer and Winter Courses are designed for German learners who want to improve their communication skills while getting to know Germany.

The focus is not on preparing for a specific language examination. Instead, participants use German in different contexts and explore German culture, society, history and everyday life.

The three-and-a-half-week programs combine communicative German language classes with cultural studies, excursions and intercultural activities. Participants can also stay with a host family and experience everyday life in Germany first-hand. The Summer and Winter Academies are offered at language levels from A1 to C1.

Whether you join the International Summer Academy, International Winter Academy or one of the Campus Deutsch courses Wittenberg becomes part of your learning experience.

You do not simply learn about Germany in the classroom – you experience it around you.

Learn more: International Summer and Winter Academies

From Luther and the Reformation to contemporary Germany

Wittenberg offers an unusual opportunity to connect different aspects of German culture and history.

Participants can explore the city’s Reformation heritage and UNESCO World Heritage sites, while also discussing contemporary topics and discovering how people live in Germany today.

The IDSK’s language courses therefore connect language, culture, history and communication.

The result is a learning experience that goes beyond traditional classroom teaching: German becomes a way to communicate, discover, ask questions and participate in everyday life.

Study abroad in Germany – based in Wittenberg

Wittenberg is also the home base for the IDSK’s customized Study Abroad Programs in Germany.

IDSK works with international universities and colleges to design individual programs for their student groups. Programs are developed together with professors, faculty members and international offices and can combine German language courses, academic seminars, lectures, expert talks, cultural activities, company and institutional visits, and field trips throughout Germany.

The programs usually begin in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, giving international students a home base from which they can explore both the city and other parts of Germany.

Depending on the academic focus of the group, programs can address subjects such as German history and culture, education, sustainability, Europe and the European Union, medicine or other fields of study.

This makes Wittenberg more than a course location. It becomes a place from which students can connect their academic interests with German language, culture and real-life experiences.

Learn more: Study Abroad Programs in Germany

Discover Germany from the heart of central Germany

Wittenberg’s location in central Germany also makes it an excellent starting point for excursions.

IDSK organizes field trips and cultural activities as part of its language courses and customized Study Abroad Programs. Depending on the program, students can visit important cultural and historical sites, meet local and regional experts, visit institutions or companies, and discover different parts of Germany.

The experience is therefore not limited to Wittenberg itself. Participants can use their time in Germany to discover different places, perspectives and aspects of German society.

A place to learn, explore and connect

What makes Wittenberg special is the combination of history and everyday life.

Here, one of the most important chapters of European history is present in the streets, churches, museums and historic buildings. At the same time, Wittenberg is a living German town where international students can practise German, meet people, experience local life and discover contemporary Germany.

For international learners, this creates a different kind of language-learning experience:

Learn German. Explore German culture. Discover history. Experience everyday life.

And all of this starts in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

Discover Wittenberg with IDSK

Whether you join an International Summer Academy, an International Winter Academy, or a customized Study Abroad Program, Wittenberg is your starting point for discovering Germany.

Come to Wittenberg and experience Germany where history, culture, language and everyday life meet.