Application

Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide detailed information on your chances. We also do not provide information on rankings in the admission procedure or otherwise. For this reason, we kindly ask you to refrain from making such enquiries. However, you can use the results of the admission procedures (NC tables) of the previous semesters as a guide.

Up until the winter semester 2020/21, places were allocated according to three main quotas. 20 per cent of the study places were allocated according to the average grade of the Abitur (school leaving certificate), 20 percent according to the waiting period and 60 per cent according to the University’s selection procedure (at Bielefeld University this is also done according to the average grade of the Abitur).

From the summer semester 2021 onwards, 20 per cent of places at Bielefeld University will be awarded based on the acquired level of qualification (average Abitur grade) and 80 per cent according to the University's selection procedure (at Bielefeld University, the average Abitur grade will be raised by 0.1 per waiting semester – but up to a maximum of 7 waiting semesters). Attention: For the state examination in medicine, please see the programme information.

The NC table displays the outcome of the admission procedure and is separated out according to quotas. This shows the value of the last applicant admitted in the respective quota. However, this does not mean that all applicants with this value were admitted. The NC values are very much dependent on the number of applicants and the number of free places available. Since the NC values reflect the result of the admission procedure for the respective semester, they can only serve as a guide, and should not be relied upon to evaluate a student’s own chances in future admission procedures. 

Waiting semesters denote the half-yearly intervals that have elapsed since completing the Abitur during which an applicant is not enrolled at a German higher education institution and has thus “waited” for his/her future studies. The periods from 1 April to 30 September and from 1 October to 31 March are counted as half-yearly intervals.

As of the winter semester 2014/15, periods of study in part-time and distance learning programmes cannot be considered when calculating the waiting period. Because of this, persons who are enrolled on these types of courses can no longer accrue waiting time for the corresponding half-year. If a student was enrolled in part-time study or distance learning programmes before the winter semester 2014/15, then the waiting period will not be affected, due to the principle of legitimate expectations.

If you are interested in a highly sought-after and admission-restricted subject with previously high NC outcomes, we advise to apply in your subject to more than one university. Even if you are keen in the first instance to remain in your hometown or study in a specific location, for the sake of the subject, it still may make sense to consider moving to another location. In any case, it is advisable to think ahead and plan for other viable alternatives in case you do not get an offer in the subject you wish to study. This is especially important if you do not have a particularly good average grade in your school leaving certificate, and would like to study one of the more sought-after subjects.

With a bit of luck, you will still be able to obtain a place at a university in a clearing or lottery procedure. Once places have been allocated through the regular allocation procedure, the lottery procedure allocates any remaining places without taking the average grade or waiting period into consideration. Please refer to the information on the lottery procedure at Bielefeld University.

After the initial allocation procedure has ended, you can also expect to find a place through the nationwide Study-Place Exchange platform on the HKH Higher Education Compass website. This opens two times a year, normally in September for the winter semester or in March for the summer semester.

If you don't get the place you wanted and don’t wish to study another subject, it is important to stay calm and not let yourself be swayed too much by the fear of “losing” a year while you look for an alternative. This time can be used to revaluate your academic or career goals, and it’s not uncommon for other study interests or professional paths to emerge that are perhaps much more feasible to achieve than the subject initially chosen.

It is likely that you are familiar with the many alternatives to study: completing vocational training, attending a technical college, participate in a Voluntary Social Year (FDJ or social sector in Germany) or Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ or environmental sector in Germany) at home or abroad. Other alternatives include the Federal Volunteer Service or to find a job, either at home or abroad. Many students rate their time spent volunteering or completing an apprenticeship very positively in retrospect. Further information and addresses for contact points for alternatives to study can be found on the webpages of the Federal Employment Agency. 

If you are planning or are already engaged in voluntary or federal service, please refer to the application guidelines in the section: “voluntary service”