16 October 2023
Third-party agencies make fraudulent promises about access to language examinations of the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

We strongly condemn agencies using the name of Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan to take advantage of students and aspirants.

New Delhi: It has been brought to our attention through recent media reports that students and job aspirants in an Indian city have been allegedly scammed by an agency promising them examination slots and help to clear German language proficiency tests.

We categorically state that Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan has absolutely no connection to those agencies, who acted completely without any association, cooperation, or cognizance by us. Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan unequivocally condemns all such agencies’ fraudulent activities and will take all possible legal steps to protect students, examination candidates, and the reputation of our institution from them.

Therefore, we assure students, their families, and the broader community that we are taking swift and resolute action in response. Our responses include:

1. Highlighting on our channels that exam schedules for all Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavans and Goethe-Centres, and booking of exams takes place via our website: German Exams - Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan | India
2. Following up on all leads and collaborating with relevant authorities and legal experts to take all available steps against the agencies making fraudulent claims.
3. Communicating openly and transparently with all those affected and exploring possibilities of providing support to them.
4. Improving the capacity of our online registration system and implementing enhanced security measures to prevent future instances of fraud.

Language courses at the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavans and Goethe-Centres in India are supplemented by an extensive examination program, offering learners the opportunity to sit for an internationally recognized exam which is accepted as proof of qualification by many employers and educational establishments in Germany.

To obtain a Goethe-Certificate, students need to take one of the examinations conducted by us. While course participants who study with us, after completion of the course, can opt to pay a fee to take the exam and obtain a Goethe Certificate upon achieving the minimum passing score, external students who do not study with us are also similarly eligible to enroll for examinations by way of external registration.

Every year more than half a million people sit for a German examination at a Goethe-Institut or one of our cooperation partners around the world. However, following the recent agreement between India and Germany to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for qualified workers and a surge in the popularity of Germany as a destination among Indian students seeking higher education abroad, the Goethe-Institut language courses and exams are running at full capacity.

While we are proactively looking for long-term, sustainable solutions to address this rise in demand, there are, however, certain third-party actors are using the name of the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavans and Goethe-Centers to cheat students and confuse the public about access to our language examinations. It is important to reiterate that authentic information about courses and Goethe-Certificate exams can be obtained only via the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavans and Goethe-Centers.

We understand that this incident has disrupted the plans for many students and aspirants. Our Institut has a long history of excellence, and we remain fully dedicated to our mission of providing high-quality language education. We will continue to work closely with our students and the wider community to rebuild trust and take all necessary steps to address concerns of students and their families, as well as take strong legal action to protect our reputation.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Dr. Alexandra Mittler
Director Language Programs South Asia
Deputy Executive Director Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi
3, Kasturba Gandhi Marg New Delhi – 110001
+91 11 2347 1100 | Alexandra.Mittler@goethe.de

Abhyudai Dhawan
Coordinator Public Relations and Communication Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
3 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi – 110001
+91 76692 56661 | Abhyudai.Dhawan@goethe.de