The DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugangiger fremdsprachiger Studienbewerber) is both coveted and feared by international applicants.
Information on the DAAD website.
This examination is a prerequisite for admission to a degree programme at a German university. The examination may only be taken three times at the University of Wuppertal; all parts (written and oral) must always be repeated and there should be at least 3 months between attempts.
The DSH costs €100 for German course participants. For external participants it costs 150€.
The SLI (language teaching institute) offers preparatory courses at the university. A number of other institutions can also help.