How much of the local language do you actually need before you arrive?

Arrived with almost none. Survived fine on English initially, but felt genuinely limited socially for the first stretch — that was the real cost, not the practical stuff.

Learned enough to be polite and order food before arriving, the rest came on the ground over time.

Great thread. One thing worth flagging: some countries tie residency or later citizenship to a language certificate at a specific level, and both the level and the accepted test vary by country and change over time. Rather than trust a number from a forum (mine included), check the Citizenship and Visa sections of your country guide — they flag when a language cert is actually part of the path.

As an older learner, I wish I’d started properly before arriving specifically — motivation dropped sharply once daily life got busy and the free time evaporated.

Specifically for study programs like OP’s — does the programme itself usually require a certain level, separate from daily-life needs?

Update from me, since I started this thread and I leave in a few weeks. My programme is taught in English, so officially I don't need German for the degree, which answers Grace's question for my case at least. But after reading everyone's replies I spent the summer on an evening course anyway, and I can now order food, ask for directions and understand about a third of what people say back to me. Sofia's point about feeling limited socially is what convinced me. I don't want my only friends to be the other international students, as nice as they are.

Mei, a third of what people say back is a very good start. In Germany the bureaucracy is where you'll feel it most, because the offices often work in German only, even in university cities. Bring someone with you to the first appointments if you can, and keep practising the evening course. It will pay back quickly.