Universities - Every fourth degree program in Saxony-Anhalt has restrictions
Approximately every fourth study program in Saxony-Anhalt has a restriction on enrollment. With a share of around 24 percent, the federal state is significantly below the national average of approximately 35 percent, according to an analysis by the Center for Higher Education (CHE). The evaluation refers to the winter semester 2024/2025. In cities with more than 16,000 students, there are significant differences: In Halle, almost every third program (30 percent) has an enrollment restriction, while in Magdeburg it is only one in ten (10 percent).
When speaking of enrollment restrictions, it means that subjects have a Numerus Clausus (NC) or applicants have to go through a selection procedure or an aptitude test. At Saxony-Anhalt's universities, 24 percent of the programs have restrictions, while it is approximately 27 percent at universities of applied sciences or universities of applied sciences.
In a nationwide comparison, Saxony-Anhalt ranks tenth. At the top is Hamburg with an approximately 62 percent share of restricted study offerings, followed by Berlin with approximately 55 percent.
Quota decreased compared to previous years
Compared to the previous year (around 25 percent), the quota in Saxony-Anhalt has decreased minimally according to the analysis. According to CHE, this decline is part of a nationwide trend. Since the winter semester 2018/2019, the share of restricted study offerings in Germany has continuously decreased from around 41 percent to around 35 percent in this year. "This can largely be attributed to the decline in first-semester enrollments and the simultaneous expansion of study offerings," explained Hachmeister.
Hurdles for Master's programs higher
In the upcoming winter semester, the hurdles for Master's programs in Saxony-Anhalt are higher than for Bachelor's programs (around 25 percent versus around 19 percent for restricted study offerings). Regardless of the degree, for law, economics, social sciences and humanities (around 32 percent), a specific NC or other requirements are most frequently required. In second place are mathematics and natural sciences (around 24 percent), followed by engineering sciences (around 18 percent) and language and cultural sciences (around 9 percent).
The CHE analysis is based on the entries in the national database Hochschulkompass as of the end of May 2024. In the database, around 22,000 study programs are recorded for the upcoming winter semester nationwide.
- Despite having approximately 24% of its study programs with admission restrictions, Saxony-Anhalt falls short of Germany's national average of around 35%.
- Contrasting Magdeburg and Halle, cities with over 16,000 students, the former has only 10% of its programs with an enrollment restriction, while the latter sees almost every third program (30%) subject to such restrictions.
- Citing the Center for Higher Education (CHE) analysis, the share of restricted study offerings in Saxony-Anhalt has decreased minimally from around 25% to about 24% compared to the previous year.
- In the upcoming winter semester, master's programs in Saxony-Anhalt will have higher hurdles than bachelor's programs, with around 25% and 19% of the offerings having admission restrictions, respectively.
