Waiting time

What is it?

Any time after earning the university entrance qualification (Abitur) measured in half-year units, during which you have not studied in Germany, counts as waiting time. The periods from April 1 to October 30 and from October 1 to March 31 of the following year each count as a half-year. If your school leaving certificate (Abitur) was issued in May, the waiting period will begin on October 1.
If you have already started studying at a German university, this time does not count as waiting time. The only exception to this rule are part-time studies at the long-distance teaching University of Hagen.

To accumulate waiting semesters, you do not need to apply to a university. Universities calculate the waiting time based on the period from the date of your university entrance qualification (Abitur) to the date of your application for admission to university and subtract the number of semesters you have already studied elsewhere in Germany. The maximum allowed waiting time is sixteen semesters. Periods of study outside Germany will not be taken into account in the calculation.  

Increasing your total waiting time

Anyone who gained a university entrance qualification before January 16, 2002 and, before that, completed a professional training program, will have their waiting time increased by an additional half year for each six-month period of the overall training up to a maximum of four additional half years. If they received their university entrance qualification after January 15, 2002, they will be credited only two half years for completing a training before starting their studies. Anyone who received their university entrance qualification after July 15, 2007, will receive no additional time credit for completing a professional training.

Waiting time quota

Ten percent of all university places available will be offered to the highest ranked applicants on the wait list. Applicants with longer waiting periods are given priority over applicants with shorter waiting periods. In the case of applicants with the same waiting periods, their overall ranking will be determined by the following criteria: grade point average, completion of military or alternative civilian service, lottery.

The waiting time quota applies to all German and EU applicants. Non-EU applicants will be admitted exclusively on the basis of their qualifications.

In general you should be very careful in calculating your chances of being admitted to a particular program of study based on your waiting time. The ten percent waiting time quota is relatively small and the number of waiting semesters needed to get a place at university can be quite high in some cases. It is recommended to seek advice from the Central Admissions Office in order to not arouse false expectations about your chances of admission and to inquire about different application strategies or alternative programs of study. 

You can contact the Central Admissions Office through the InfoPortal.