Are you thinking of applying for a Bachelor’s degree in Germany? The admission process here is based on the Numerus Clausus; we explain what this means for you.
What is Numerus Clausus?
The Latin term Numerus Clausus (NC) translates to ‘closed numbers,’ it’s a way to restrict the number of students admitted to a university or a particular study program. German universities use the NC principle to regulate the number of students in specific courses with higher demand than the available places and resources. NC is a number that shows the minimum score students need to gain to be accepted on a course.
How does the Numerus Clausus work?
Finland, Switzerland, and France also use the Numerus Clausus principle, but Germany differs in how it applies this concept.
German students graduating from upper-secondary school take the Abiturprüfung exam, the results of which and grades from previous years contribute to a score known as Abitur. This is the equivalent of a Grade Point Average (GPA) and is used to apply to university.
Numerus Clausus is an average Abitur score calculated based on scores of all current applications; it sets the minimum score you need to be accepted into a program.
Note: The value of the minimum score is not set in advance.
Only the number of available spaces is set in advance, not the minimum score’s value. German universities publish the Numerus Clausus for different programs. However, these values are based on the previous year and only serve as a rough guide, not the actual place limit.
The Admission Process at a German University
Programs with a Numerus Clausus tag typically receive more applications than they can accommodate; to make the admissions process fair, universities adopt a system that combines the following factors:
- Abitur Grade: roughly the same as a GPA grade from a US high school or equivalent. Programs tagged with a Numerus Clausus have a minimum Abitur score, known as the ‘NC value,’ which changes each semester based on the Abitur grades obtained by that cohort of applicants.
- Waiting Semesters: this refers to the number of semesters a student has waited since their Abitur; the longer the waiting period, the higher the chances of admission.
- Quotas System: each university in Germany has a certain number of spaces available; these spaces divide into three specific groups:
Students with the highest Abitur grade nationwide account for 20% of places for students with the highest grade in the Abitur exam.
A university’s specific admission requirements, which account for 60% of spaces
Applicants with the highest wait time, which refers to the number of semesters accumulated between the moment they received their Abitur qualification and the time they apply to university. This accounts for 20% of the spaces.
Universities may also add advanced quotas such as:
- A non-EU student quota – for international applicants
- Hardship quota – for students in difficult life situations before their application to the university
- Quota for students who apply for a second undergraduate degree
- Professional qualifications quota – for students without the Abitur
- Quota for underage applicants for students under 18 years of age
What happens if I don’t meet the University’s Admission Requirements?
Students may not get offered a place in their chosen program if they don’t have the NC value or have no spaces left.
You can reapply the following year, and as your wait time will be higher, your chances of getting an offer may also be higher. Sometimes, the university may have an automatic system that might still get you on the program the following year.
Not all applicants accept their offer for a program, which opens up spaces for students who were initially not taken. If there are still spaces after this stage, these spots are awarded by lottery to those who submitted a Lottery Application – which is an application you can make after the deadline.
Options for Students who are not accepted into their chosen Program
Students who don’t meet the NC score for their first-choice program have the following options:
- Apply to universities with lower NC scores.
- Take a preparatory course / Studienkolleg: this is useful for international students as it will teach you, German, give you an insight into the German university environment, and give you extra points on your university application.
The Numerus Clausus is a fair system designed to manage high-demand programs. We hope you feel informed about your application process and know how to increase your chances of studying at a German university.