German University Admissions: The Numerus Clausus

Just like everywhere in the world, there are certain German universities that just have more people interested in going there than there are places available. While in the US, these spots are usually decided with the dreaded personal essay, in Germany, it is a pure numbers game, based on the “numerus clausus” (Latin for “closed number”).

In many ways, this is the system most American high school seniors dream of: fast turnaround times and (relatively) predictable outcomes. Here’s how it works…

Most German university application deadlines are in mid-July for the fall semester, if not later. At the end of the day, the success or failure of your application is dependent on your high school grades, specifically your GPA (grade point average). The lowest GPA of an accepted student from last semester sets the “numerus clausus” or NC.

The lower NC a German university or a program has, the more selective it is. For example, the economics program at the University of Frankfurt has a NC of 1.9, meaning that the student with the lowest GPA accepted last semester had a GPA of 1.9.

Types of numerus clausus

There are two different types of NCs: local and subject. An example of a local numerus clausus is the NC for economics at Frankfurt; this is specifically limited to one subject at one German university. Other subjects at the same university carry a different NC; for example, law courses at Frankfurt have a different NC than economics.

The second type of NC is linked to a subject, across the whole of Germany. This applies to subjects that are nationally oversubscribed, currently including medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and architecture.

Courses where a nationwide numerus clausus applies are very difficult to get into and if you have a GPA under 1.5, it’s probably not even worth your effort even making the application. If you do apply for one of these subjects, you may need to do so through a centralized applications process (depending on where you come from).

It’s important to note that the numerus clausus is only a guide. It fluctuates every semester a little, but at least it tells you if you have a shot. There are also some universities that have more places available than applicants for a certain subject. These programs are called NC frei (NC free), as they have no set numerus clausus.

So that’s the basics on admission selection at Germany universities: it’s all based on your high school GPA. Depressing? Sure, but at least it’s a logical and predictable system! If you have any specific questions about applying to a German university, please leave a comment below or email me.