Information on the NC and the allocation of study places

What is an NC (Numerus Clausus)?

Literally translated, "NC" means "limited number" and refers to the fact that admission to certain degree programmes is usually limited by capacity. The NC is sometimes mistakenly equated with the admission criterion "average", according to which admission is granted.

The question is therefore not: How high is the numerus clausus?

In fact, the NC represents the actual selection or admission limit/rank of the last applicant for whom an offer of admission or admission was issued.

The selection limits vary from semester to semester, as they are always the result of supply (study places) and demand (number of applicants with which grade and waiting time*).

* only applies to applicants from Germany and EU/EEA countries

What is waiting time and how is it calculated?

To calculate the waiting time, we need the date of the higher education entrance qualification and the number of semesters previously enrolled at another university. The waiting time is calculated automatically using this information.

Attention: If your subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification consists of a school-based and a practical part, the calculation of the waiting time depends on the date on which you obtained the practical part.

Does a semester of leave count as a waiting period?

A semester of leave does not count as a waiting period, as you are enrolled during a semester of leave and therefore still have student status.

How are the study places for the 1st semester allocated?

1. How are places allocated for the first programme semester in admission-restricted bachelor's degree programmes? Study places are allocated before all other applicants:

• Applicants with a previous entitlement to admission who were unable to take up a study place due to service

• Applicants who are members of an Olympic squad (OK), perspective squad (PK), supplementary squad (EK), junior squad 1 (NK 1), junior squad 2 (NK") or state squad (LK) formed at federal level.

2. The remaining study places will be allocated in the following preliminary quotas:

• 5 per cent for those applicants for whom the rejection of their application for admission would mean exceptional hardship,

• 7 per cent for foreign nationals and stateless persons who are not on an equal footing with German nationals,

• 3 per cent for second degree applicants,

• 2 per cent for applicants who are still minors at the start of the lecture period and whose main residence is with their parents in the districts or towns not assigned to the place of study.

3. The remaining study places are allocated in the main quotas at

• 20 per cent exclusively according to the result of the higher education entrance qualification (HZB),

• 80 per cent according to the result of the university's own selection procedure with the following sub-quotas:
  • 96.9 per cent according to a procedural grade based on the result of the HZB and a grade improvement of 0.1 per waiting semester, with a maximum limit of 7 semesters,
  • 3.1 per cent are allocated to vocationally qualified applicants who do not have a general or subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification,

What criteria are used to allocate study places for second degree applicants?

If you have already successfully completed a degree programme in Germany, you are considered a second degree applicant. In general, 3 per cent of study places are reserved for this group of people. Admission is based on a ranking list, for which the final grade of the first degree programme and the respective reasons for taking up the second degree programme are decisive. The following points are awarded for the result of the final examination of the first degree programme:

• Grades "excellent" and "very good"   (4 points)
• Grades "good" and "fully satisfactory"   (3 points)
• Grade "satisfactory"   (2 points)
• Grade "sufficient"   (1 point)

The following points are awarded according to the degree of importance of the second degree programme:

1. "compelling professional reasons"        (9 points)

Compelling professional reasons exist if a profession is sought that can only be pursued on the basis of two completed degree programmes.

2. "Scientific reasons"         (7-11 points)

Scientific reasons exist if, with regard to a later activity in science and research, a further scientific qualification in another degree programme is sought on the basis of the previous scientific and practical activity.

3. "Special professional reasons"        (7 points)

Special professional reasons exist if the professional situation is significantly improved by the fact that the completion of the second degree programme meaningfully complements the first degree programme. This is the case if the activity sought through the second degree programme in conjunction with the first degree programme is to be regarded as a combination of two fields of activity specific to the degree programme, which cannot normally already be performed by graduates of one of the two degree programmes, and the person concerned demonstrably aspires to this activity. (Confirmation from the employer required!)

4. "Other professional reasons"        (4 points)

Other professional reasons exist if the second degree programme is necessary due to the individual professional situation for other reasons, in particular to compensate for an unreasonable professional disadvantage or to expand the employment opportunities of the activity carried out with the help of the first degree programme.

5. "none of the aforementioned reasons"        (1 point)

If there are academic reasons, the number of points within the range of 7 to 11 points depends on the weight of the reasons, the achievements to date and the extent to which the reasons are of general interest. If the second degree programme is sought after a family phase for the purpose of reintegration or re-entry into professional life, this circumstance can be taken into account regardless of the assessment of the project and its allocation to one of the aforementioned case groups by granting a supplement of up to 2 points in the calculation of the score.

How are study places for professionally qualified students allocated?

If the number of applications exceeds the number of study places to be allocated within this quota, the selection is based on the following selection criteria:

To determine the ranking, the commission awards points as follows:

a) up to 3 points if the professionally qualifying degree was obtained with a level of qualification above the minimum requirements,

b) up to 3 points for professional experience corresponding to the professionally qualifying degree,

c) up to 2 points for professional experience that is particularly significant with regard to the intended degree programme,

d) up to 2 points if there are other special reasons for taking up the degree programme.

How are study places for Third-country nationals (non-EU/non-EEA nationals with a university entrance qualification from a non-EU/non-EEA country) allocated?

Applicants are selected primarily on the basis of their level of qualification, taking into account the diversity of the various nations. The level of qualification is determined by the grade point average of the grade reports for university admission in accordance with the assessment proposals of the Secretariat of the responsible Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB)).