Further decline in study programs with restricted access
Universities limit access to study programs quantitatively by the Abitur note with the Numerus clausus. On the other hand, there are also qualitative restrictions through procedures for suitability assessment, where aside from grades, test results, selection interviews, or professional experiences are considered.
According to the evaluation, there are significant differences regionally. In Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, not even every fifth study program has a restriction on access. However, Hamburg, Berlin, and Baden-Württemberg are the three federal states where more than half of the study offers are access-restricted. In Hamburg, the quote is the highest at 62.4 percent.
Study leader Cort-Denis Hachmiester stated: "We have observed for years a decline in access-restricted study programs in Germany. This can mainly be attributed to the decline in first-semester enrollments and the simultaneous expansion of study programs."
The prospects for a place in the desired field of study are currently as good as ever, according to the study leader. Even in particularly restricted fields like Medicine, the relationship between study places and applicants has significantly improved in recent years. In the central application procedure, on average, 2.8 applicants apply for one place in medical fields.
There are also significant differences in the city comparison. Among the university towns with more than 50,000 students, Aachen has very good chances, as only 18 percent of the study programs are access-restricted in the coming winter. In cities with more than 20,000 students, Erfurt and Paderborn have the lowest rates with a quote of just four percent each.
The strongest restrictions among all university towns with more than 16,000 students are reportedly in Garching near Munich with 77 percent, followed by Leipzig with 54 percent, and Karlsruhe with 53 percent.
The quote varies according to the subject, university type, and degree type. For example, access to the fields of Law, Economics, Social Sciences, and Politics is relatively strongly restricted with 41.6 percent. In contrast, around 80 percent of the places in Language and Cultural Sciences are open regardless of any criteria.
At universities, there are fewer restrictions with a share of 32.6 percent compared to universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences with 34.1 percent.
- If you're interested in studying in Baden-Württemberg, be aware that more than half of its study programs have access restrictions.
- Despite a decrease in access-restricted study programs across Germany, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, and Berlin continue to have the highest rates.
- The study leader mentioned that there are fewer restrictions at universities compared to universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences in Germany.
- In Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, many study programs do not have restrictions, making them attractive options for students seeking less restricted study places.
- If you're considering studying in Erfurt or Paderborn, which have more than 20,000 students, you'll find that only 4% of their study programs have access restrictions.
- Furthermore, if you're interested in studying Language and Cultural Sciences, you'll find that around 80% of the places in these fields are open, regardless of any criteria, particularly in cities like Gütersloh with less than 16,000 students.
