"Numerus clausus", or NC in short, indicates that admissions restrictions apply to certain academic subjects, i.e. that there are more applicants than study places. The term indicates that places are awarded on a basis of the grade point average in the school leaving certificate. However, some other options are also possible, such as the length of time an applicant has waited for a place. Some of the study places in NC subjects are awarded by the Central University Admissions Service (ZVS), while other places are awarded by the universities themselves.