German · C1 · Family moment
Rumours about university admissions in German
Use reportative sollen to discuss unofficial claims about university admissions without presenting them as confirmed facts. It attributes information to others without automatically expressing disbelief. For parents and teenagers, this helps separate useful leads from facts that still need checking.
What you'll learn
- Report externally sourced admissions claims using sollen plus infinitive.
- Use sollen plus perfect infinitive for claims about earlier events.
- Distinguish hearsay from obligation through context.
- Discuss uncertainty calmly and encourage direct verification.
German phrases for rumours about university admissions
Bei diesem Studiengang soll einschlägige Erfahrung stärker zählen als Noten.
That course is said to prioritise relevant experience over grades.
Soll … zählen reports an unverified selection priority rather than recommending what should count.
Der Fachbereich soll einen zusätzlichen Zulassungstest einführen.
The department is reportedly introducing an additional admissions test.
Soll … einführen attributes the planned change to outside information. Context distinguishes this from an instruction to introduce a test.
Das Auswahlgespräch soll weniger formell sein, als die Bewerberinnen und Bewerber erwarten.
The interview is supposedly less formal than applicants expect.
Soll … sein leaves the description unverified without necessarily casting doubt on it.
Die Universität soll ihre Auswahlkriterien geändert haben.
The university is said to have changed its selection criteria.
Geändert haben is a perfect infinitive: the reported change happened earlier.
Mehrere Bewerberinnen und Bewerber sollen widersprüchliche Auskünfte zu ihren Bewerbungsmappen erhalten haben.
Several applicants reportedly received conflicting advice about their portfolios.
Sollen agrees with the plural subject; erhalten haben places the reported experience in the past.
Die Bewerbungsfrist für das Stipendium soll vorverlegt worden sein.
The scholarship deadline is said to have been brought forward.
Vorverlegt worden sein reports an earlier passive event: someone moved the deadline to an earlier date.
Dieser Abschluss soll anerkannt werden, aber ich würde direkt nachfragen.
That qualification is supposedly accepted, but I'd check directly.
Soll … anerkannt werden reports acceptance as an unofficial claim; the second part recommends checking it.
Die Studienplätze sollen begrenzt sein; das macht eine Bewerbung aber nicht sinnlos.
The places are reportedly limited; that doesn't make applying pointless.
Sollen … sein marks the limited availability as reported information, not a reason to give up.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Studiengang, die Studiengänge
degree programme; course of study
A complete university programme, rather than an individual class.
einschlägig
relevant to the field
Einschlägige Erfahrung means experience directly relevant to the subject or application.
der Fachbereich, die Fachbereiche
academic department
An organisational division of a university.
der Zulassungstest, die Zulassungstests
admissions test
A test used to determine admission.
das Auswahlgespräch, die Auswahlgespräche
selection interview
In this context, an interview for admission to a programme.
das Auswahlkriterium, die Auswahlkriterien
selection criterion
A standard used to assess applicants.
die Auskunft, die Auskünfte
information; advice
Widersprüchliche Auskünfte are pieces of information or advice that conflict.
die Bewerbungsmappe, die Bewerbungsmappen
application portfolio
Can include samples of creative work submitted for admission.
die Bewerbungsfrist, die Bewerbungsfristen
application deadline
Eine Frist vorverlegen means to move a deadline to an earlier date.
das Stipendium, die Stipendien
scholarship
Financial support for study.
der Abschluss, die Abschlüsse
qualification; degree
An educational qualification whose recognition may need checking.
der Studienplatz, die Studienplätze
university place
A place available to a student on a degree programme.
Reportative sollen: information attributed to others
Use a present-tense form of sollen plus an infinitive without zu to convey 'is said to' or 'reportedly'. The speaker passes on an external claim without confirming it. In a main clause, the finite form of sollen is in second position and the infinitive comes at the end. This construction does not itself mean that the claim is false.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject | subject + soll + … + infinitive | Der Fachbereich soll einen zusätzlichen Zulassungstest einführen. |
| Plural subject | subject + sollen + … + infinitive | Die Studienplätze sollen begrenzt sein. |
| Reported acceptance | soll + … + participle + werden | Dieser Abschluss soll anerkannt werden. |
Earlier events: sollen plus perfect infinitive
Keep sollen in the present tense and use a perfect infinitive to show that the reported event happened earlier. Use the past participle plus haben or sein, according to the verb. For an earlier passive event, use the past participle plus worden sein—not geworden sein.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Earlier active event with haben | soll/sollen + … + past participle + haben | Die Universität soll ihre Auswahlkriterien geändert haben. |
| Earlier active event with sein | soll/sollen + … + past participle + sein | Die Bewerbungsfrist soll bereits abgelaufen sein. |
| Earlier passive event | soll/sollen + … + past participle + worden sein | Die Bewerbungsfrist soll vorverlegt worden sein. |
Hearsay or obligation?
The same sollen forms can report information or express an instruction or expectation. Context decides: is someone passing on a claim, or telling someone what to do? A source cue such as 'people in the forum say' supports the reportative reading. English 'supposedly' may sound sceptical; German reportative sollen need not. Where ambiguity matters, name the source or ask for clarification.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hearsay about an earlier action | soll + perfect infinitive | Laut Beiträgen im Forum soll die Universität die Kriterien geändert haben. |
| Instruction | sollst + infinitive | Du sollst deine Bewerbungsmappe bis Freitag einreichen. |
| Potentially ambiguous | soll + infinitive; interpretation depends on context | Der Fachbereich soll einen Test einführen. |
More examples
Der Test soll anspruchsvoll sein. Wir prüfen erst einmal, was die Universität selbst dazu schreibt.
The test is said to be demanding. Let's first check what the university itself says about it.
Reportative soll acknowledges the claim without treating it as established fact.
Einige Bewerberinnen und Bewerber sollen bereits eine Einladung erhalten haben. Das heißt nicht, dass du keine mehr bekommst.
Some applicants reportedly already received an invitation. That doesn't mean you won't still get one.
Erhalten haben reports an earlier event while leaving room for a reassuring response.
Die Frist soll vorverlegt worden sein. Lass uns direkt bei der Universität nachfragen.
The deadline is said to have been brought forward. Let's ask the university directly.
The perfect passive infinitive marks a reported earlier change that deserves prompt verification.
Das Auswahlgespräch soll weniger formell sein. Wir bereiten uns trotzdem in Ruhe darauf vor.
The selection interview is said to be less formal. We'll still prepare for it calmly.
Passing on hearsay does not require either disbelief or unquestioning acceptance.