Admission process

This year there is no selection procedure with admission test and selection interviews.

Places in the university's own admission procedure (main quota) are awarded in two stages:

Within the framework of the best quota, the grade of the university entrance qualification is converted into a point value (1.0 = 30 points; 1.1 = 29 points, ...). The 25% of applicants with the best score in each degree programme are sent a letter of admission directly. In the event of a tie, the decision is made by drawing lots. With the acceptance letter, the applicants are set a deadline within which they must confirm their acceptance of the place in writing. If this declaration is not submitted in due time and form, the acceptance letter becomes invalid. A so-called shift-up procedure does not take place in this quota.

When allocating the remaining places of each major, a person’s study-relevant, extracurricular achievements are also taken into account in addition to the grade of the university entrance qualification. This means that applicants can achieve a maximum of five additional points (see download on extracurricular achievements), whereby points are only awarded once in each category. These points are added to the number of points of the university entrance qualification, and a new ranking list is formed.

PLEASE NOTE: Based on this ranking list, admission letters will be sent out in this 2021 stage. Admission test and selection interviews will NOT take place in 2021 due to the Corona pandemic.

Usually, invitations to the university's own selection procedure are sent out on the basis of the ranking list. As part of the selection procedure, a study aptitude test is written in all study programmes. In some study programmes, a selection interview is also conducted.
Within the framework of this quota, a move-up procedure takes place. As long as the applicants have not received a rejection letter by post, they will remain on the ranking list and still have the chance of being offered a place.

10% of available places are allocated to the highest-ranking applicants on the basis of a waiting period. Among those applicants with the same waiting period, the following auxiliary criteria are decisive in the given order: Average grade, service completed, if applicable, lot drawn. The total waiting period to be taken into account is limited to seven semesters (half-years).

The number of waiting semesters is calculated automatically when applying. The waiting period denotes the time after acquiring the higher education entrance qualification (usually in Germany, the “Abitur”), calculated in full semesters, during which you were not enrolled at a German higher education institution. A half-year is defined as the period from 1 April to 30 September and from 1 October to 31 March of the following year. If your “Abitur” certificate is issued in May, for example, the waiting period begins on 1 October. Study periods abroad have no effect on the calculation of the waiting period; any semesters studied in Germany in the meantime are then subtracted.

Within the framework of the legally prescribed preliminary and special quotas, places in each major are allocated to specific groups of applicants. Applicants in these groups will only compete with each other within the respective group and not with the other applicants. The following quotas are reserved:

- Up to 5% for foreign applicants from non-EU countries, who have a foreign higher education entrance qualification. Applicants should submit their documents directly to uni-assist e.V..

- up to 2% for so-called “hardship cases” (an application for hardship cases must also be completed)

- up to 3% for applicants for a second degree in Germany. The application must be accompanied by an informal letter stating the reasons for pursuing the intended second degree and, if applicable, proof thereof, as well as proof of obtaining the first degree.

- a proportional share to be determined for those with professional qualifications (maximum 10%). Further information on recognised professional qualifications for those with special professional qualifications can be found in Leuphana’s Information Office.