Study and research in Germany

Change of degree programme: Always check first with the foreigners authority

After studying for a few semesters in Germany, you realise that you've chosen the wrong subject. Or you come across a new programme offered by another university that interests you much more. So, you decide to change your programme and, possibly, your university town. You de-register from your previous degree programme (exmatrikulieren) and register for the new subject (immatrikulieren). However, you have to follow a few formalities and legal provisions (for example, the Foreigners Act) when you make a change. The following will tell you what you have to watch out for and what you must observe.

Watch out! Residence permit:

Are you from a so-called third country (non-EU country) and hold a Student Residence Permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu Studienzwecken)? If so, please remember that the purpose of your stay in Germany is limited to the chosen degree programme and the chosen university. If you want to change, you must obtain advance permission from the Foreigners Authority (Ausländerbehörde) responsible for you. Generally, the foreigners authorities approve a change of subject within the first 18 months of your study stay in Germany. If you want to change at a later point in time, get you university to confirm its approval of the change. This confirmation must state that the change will not result in the overall length of your studies being extended by more than 18 months.

So, what do you do if you don't meet these conditions or want to change a second time? You first have to provide credible proof that you will not need more than 10 years in total to complete your studies (your total length of stay). If you can do this, your change may be allowed.

The legal provisions may differ from one federal state to the next, however. So make sure you discuss such questions in advance with your departmental student adviser and the International Office.

Watch out! Higher education entrance qualification:

Whether or not you can change your subject depends, not least, on the kind of Higher Education Entrance Qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung) that you hold. For example, your school leaving certificate may only qualify you for certain subjects. Similarly, a pass in the Assessment Test (Feststellungsprüfung) in a Preparatory Course (Studienkolleg) will only qualify you for certain subjects. For instance, if you took a technically oriented core course in the preparatory course, you will not later be able to study arts or humanities subjects.
This is why before changing your subject you must check thoroughly whether your certificates qualify you for admission to your new choice of subject.

Watch out! Admissions restrictions:

Normally, you can change a degree programme (and university town) in the winter or summer semester, subject to the usual application deadlines (by 15 January or by 15 July). You generally have to apply for admission to the first study semester of the new degree programme. This means that the same admissions and selection conditions apply to you as to new prospective first-year students. So please inquire at the Registrar's Office (Studierendensekretariat) or International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) in good time whether any Admissions Restrictions (Zulassungsbeschränkungen) apply for your new subject.

Watch out! Recognition of academic credits:

To have previous academic and examination credits recognised, please contact the respective Dean's Offices (Dekanate) and Examinations Offices (Prüfungsämter) in the faculties: if you are changing university town, the new university is responsible for this recognition. Please ensure that you submit your documents in full.

This includes, not least, a transcript of records with grades and examinations passed. course credits, internship reports, and lecture notes that provide information on the content of any examinations taken.

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