As the world of terminology at university can be quite confusing, a small glossary has been compiled:

International Office
A university department responsible for the needs of prospective international students and
current students, as well as Germans wishing to study abroad.

General Higher Education Entrance Qualification
Eligibility to study any subject at any university in the Federal Republic of Germany. General university entrance qualification (A. H.) is obtained, for example, through the Abitur, but also, as a rule, by completing a first degree (e.g. at a university of applied sciences).

ASB
General Study Counselling Service. See ZSB.

Assistant
Colloquial term for a member of academic staff who also delivers lectures.

AStA – General Student Committee
Self-governing body that represents the interests of students at universities; contributions are levied upon enrolment or re-registration to provide financing for its operations. Its members are elected each year by the student parliament.

Auditorium maximum (Audimax)
The largest lecture theatre at a university.

Foreign nationals
Special conditions apply to this group of people regarding admission to study. So-called ‘foreign nationals with German university entrance qualifications’ and nationals of an EU member state are not counted as foreign nationals.

Selection procedure
For degree programmes where demand for places has historically exceeded the number actually available, a selection procedure is often carried out to allocate them. In the selection process, the majority of places are allocated on the basis of academic performance (average mark on the university entrance qualification), whilst a smaller proportion is allocated on the basis of the waiting period.

BA
Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor
First academic, international degree at universities and universities of applied sciences after 6 semesters.

BAföG
Federal Training Assistance Act. Colloquially also the scholarship that can be obtained under this law.

Belegen
Entry of the courses attended in the student's personal academic records. The academic records serve as proof of course attendance and must be submitted to the Examinations Office when registering for examinations.

Leave of absence
Students can be granted leave of absence from their studies for important reasons upon proposal, but not in the first semester. Important reasons are e.g. illness, pregnancy, study abroad. A semester on leave does not count as a subject semester, but as a university semester. You keep your place at university without having to take credits. Under insurance law, however, a student on leave of absence is not a student, which also has a negative impact on the possibility of taking on "student jobs".

Foreign nationals with Germanuniversity entrance qualifications
Foreign nationals and stateless persons who have a German university entrance qualification. They have equal opportunities with Germans when it comes to admission to higher education.

Block course
Course that does not take place regularly over the course of a semester (a certain number of hours each week), but is concentrated over a period of several consecutive days/weeks.

BSc
Bachelor of Science.

Campus
University campus.

Credit
Credit point. Unit of measurement for the amount of time spent studying in modularised degree programmes. In ECTS, for example, one credit corresponds to one sixtieth of the annual workload of a student.

Credit point
Credit point. Describes the individual performance of a student in modularised degree programmes and is calculated by multiplying credits by the grade points achieved.

c.t.
Abbreviation for "cum tempore" (Latin: with time). Courses that are announced with the suffix c.t. start a quarter of an hour later than stated ("academic quarter") (cf. s.t.).

DAAD
German Academic Exchange Service. Offers information and programmes relating to studying abroad and foreign students. DAAD information brochures are available from the International Offices.

Dean
University lecturer who is the elected head of a department/school.

Dean's Office
Department/faculty administration.

Diplom
Previously a standard degree in the fields of technology, natural sciences, sometimes in the social sciences and the performing (e.g. music) and creative (e.g. design) arts. The Diplom is an academic degree awarded by the respective university.

Dissertation
S. Doctorate.

Double degree
Simultaneous study of two degree programmes with different final examinations.

Lecturer
Colloquial: Lecturer at a university.

ECTS
"EuropeanCredit Transfer System". The ECTS enables students to easily recognise credits earned at home and abroad. A certain number of points are allocated to each course of a specific study programme/course, which are then credited upon successful completion of a course. However, the prerequisite is that the participating universities have created the conditions for the introduction of ECTS (e.g. allocation of ECTS credits for the individual courses).

Enrolment
S. Enrolment.

ESG
Protestant Student Community.

Excursion
Supplementary event outside the university to illustrate and deepen the subject matter, e.g. visits to industrial plants, soil formations, archaeological sites, etc., depending on the course.

De-registration
Removal from the list of students at a university.

Department/School
Universities are organised into departments or schools(or both), which coordinate and organise teaching and research for various, thematically related fields of study.

Departmental Council/Faculty Council
A representative body elected by status groups (professors, academic and artistic staff, students, technical and administrative staff) comprising members of the university belonging to the department or School. The council is responsible for all matters concerning the department/School, particularly in the areas of research and teaching.

Subject-related higher education entrance qualification
A qualification entitling the holder to enter higher education for a specific subject or group of subjects, including at research-oriented universities. In Lower Saxony, vocational upper secondary schools lead to a university entrance qualification, just as the ‘Immaturenprüfung’ (or ‘Z-Prüfung’) constitutes such a qualification.

University of Applied Sciences
Universities of AppliedSciences (F.H.) primarily offer practice-oriented degree programmes in fields such as engineering, social sciences, design and business.

University of Applied Sciences Qualification
This is awarded upon successful completion of a vocational upper secondary school (class 12). The progression certificate from class 12 to class 13 of the upper secondary school (Gymnasium), in conjunction with a one-year supervised work placement, the transfer certificate from Year 11 to Year 12 of the upper secondary school (Gymnasium) in conjunction with at least two years’ vocational training, as well as numerous vocational qualifications, all constitute a Fachhochschulreife.

Student body
Organisation of students within a department or School. A student council is elected once a year.

Student council (FSR)
Elected body representing the students of a department or School, which looks after their interests.

Academic semesters
Semesters during which a student was enrolled on the same degree programme. Leave-of-absence semesters are not counted as academic semesters, but are counted as university semesters.

Subject-specific academic advising
Offered by one or more members of the teaching staff (‘subject advisers’) for a particular subject, usually once a week during the lecture term. This service provides assistance with questions regarding the progression of specialised studies.

Change of subject
Changing your degree programme or subject (e.g. in teaching degree programmes). If you are a BAföG recipient, special regulations apply when changing subjects; these should be checked with the advisory services.

School
See ‘Department/School’.

FH
See ‘University of Applied Sciences’.

Women’s Representatives/Equality Officers
They represent the interests of female members of the university community at both central and departmental levels (departments/schools and other university institutions).

Guest students
Participants in individual courses, generally without the intention or opportunity to take an examination. G. students do not require a university entrance qualification. However, attending courses as a G. is often subject to a fee if you are not simultaneously enrolled on another degree programme.

grade point
Grade point. Assessment of an individual examination performance.

Committees
University advisory or decision-making bodies such as the University Senate, Departmental/Faculty Council.

Basic studies
First stage of study in degree programmes with conventional degrees (Diplom, M.A., State Examination), which is usually completed with an intermediate examination (for M.A. and teaching degree programmes) or the Diplom preliminary examination. At universities it usually lasts 4 semesters, at universities of applied sciences 2 to 4.

Advanced stage of study
The second stage of study in degree programmes leading to traditional qualifications (Diplom, M.A., State Examination), which requires the successful completion of the foundation stage and in which students usually study selected subject areas (specialisms, fields of study, etc.) in greater depth. Depending on the degree programme, the main stage of study is usually concluded with a university or state examination.

HiWis
Colloquial abbreviation for academic assistants with a degree and student assistants. Academic assistants must have successfully completed a university degree in a subject. They carry out support tasks in research and teaching for less than half of the standard working hours. Student assistants (S. H.) must generally have completed three semesters of a degree programme and be enrolled at a university. They carry out support tasks in research, teaching, administration and library services.
The abbreviation originates from the terminology used by the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War (particularly during the war against the Soviet Union) and its use is therefore not without controversy. At that time, the term ‘Hiwis’ (‘Hilfswillige’) was used to describe collaborators from the occupied countries who initially performed unarmed auxiliary duties for the German occupying forces, but who, as the war progressed, were increasingly integrated into the armed apparatus of oppression, eventually participating actively in the extermination of Jews and other unwelcome opponents of the Nazi regime.

University Council
A university body comprising seven members, none of whom may be affiliated with the university in question. The University Council advises the Presidential Board and the University Senate and is involved, amongst other things, in the selection of the President.

University semesters
Semesters during which a student is enrolled at a university (including leave of absence semesters).

University entrance qualification
A certificate or document entitling the holder to study at a university: e.g. General University Entrance Qualification (usually the Abitur), University of Applied Sciences Entrance Qualification, etc.

Enrolment
Enrolment in the list of students for a specific (partial) degree programme. For degree programmes with restricted admissions, a letter of acceptance is required, which can only be issued after an application has been submitted. The enrolment application must be submitted to the relevant university (Admissions Office, Student Administration Office) by the deadline, sometimes in person.

Admissions office ("I-Amt ")
(locally also "Student Administration Office"). Institution of the university that is responsible, among other things, for the application procedure, allocation of study places and enrolment.

Immaturenprüfung
Colloquial term for the examination for subject-related university admission for prospective students without a formal university entrance qualification in Lower Saxony. Participation in the examination is subject to certain conditions, such as a long period of employment or a comparable occupation (including, for example, bringing up children).

Intensive degree programme
In an I.-S., the average study time is shortened by at least 30 percent due to flexible use of the academic year, including semester breaks and additional support services. I.-S. are available in Lower Saxony as both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

International Office
S. International Office.

International Student Card
Is usually available from the AStA on presentation of the student ID and a photo and enables, among other things, price reductions for students when studying abroad.

International degree programme
An i. S. usually includes at least 1 semester at a foreign university. Good knowledge of the respective national language is required, and courses are often taught in a foreign language. The i. S. usually conclude with a Bachelor's/Master's degree. However, it is sometimes possible to obtain a double degree after successfully completing the programme (e.g. the German Diplom and the French Ingénieur-Maître).

Institute
Smallest academic organisational unit of a university.

Junior professor
A junior researcher with a fixed-term employment contract to qualify for the duties of a professor.

Chancellor
Previously: Head of university administration. Will be replaced by a full-time Vice President (responsible for personnel and financial administration) in accordance with the new Lower Saxony Higher Education Act.

KHG
Catholic University Community.

Colloquium
Course in the form of a round table discussion on specific academic problems, often in preparation for exams and with guest lectures.

Annotated course catalogue
Most subjects or subjects/faculties publish a K. V. at the beginning of a semester, which contains detailed information on the courses offered.

Fellow student
(From Middle Latin) Term for a fellow student.

Health insurance
To enrol, students must present a K. or - if insured with a private insurer - a formal exemption. As a rule, students are covered by their parents' family insurance.

Lecturers
Persons who teach courses that supplement the teaching programme. As a rule, lecturers must have completed an academic or scientific/artistic degree programme and demonstrate pedagogical aptitude.

Courses
All teaching events at a university such as seminars, exercises, lectures and laboratories.

Coursecertificate (Schein)
Marked or unmarked certificate of successful participation in a course. Course certificates can be awarded on the basis of a written or oral examination, presentations, etc. As a rule, in every degree programme with conventional degrees (Diplom, M.A., State Examination), a number of course certificates specified in the examination regulations must be submitted as a prerequisite for admission to intermediate and final examinations.

Leistungspunkt
S. credit point

Lektor
A L. teaches courses independently, particularly in the areas of living foreign languages and regional studies. As a rule, lecturers must have a university degree and speak a native language to be taught.

MA
Master of Arts.

M.A.
Magister Artium. The most common master's degree. The Magister is an academic degree awarded by a university on the basis of its examination regulations. In contrast to the Diplom degree programme, a Magister degree generally requires a combination of at least two so-called main subjects or one main subject and two minor subjects, which do not have to be related to each other. The Magister is the most common degree programme in the humanities in Germany.

Magister
S. M.A.

Master
International degree. The Master's degree is an academic degree with a subject-related suffix: e.g. M. of Science. The prerequisite for admission to a Master's degree programme is usually the completion of a previous relevant degree programme (e.g. Bachelor's degree). In terms of value, it is roughly comparable to the Diplom.

Matriculation number
Register of students at a university.

Student IDnumber
Every student receives a student ID number upon enrolment. It is their university "identification number", so to speak.

Canteen
Canteen run by the Studentenwerk, which offers students and staff of the university inexpensive meals.

Mittelbau
Colloquially the group of academic or artistic staff (e.g. assistant, academic councillor).

Modularised degree programme
In a m. S., the course content is divided into small modules, each with only a few courses, which are examined during the course of study and thus form part of the degree. M. S. programmes make it easier for students to move between universities. Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, for example, are modularised. See also ECTS

MSc
Master of Science.

MWK
Ministry of Science and Culture (Lower Saxony). Responsible for university matters, among other things.

n.c. (numerus clausus)
Strictly speaking, this refers to the restriction on the number of places available on degree programmes that are in high demand. Colloquially, it also refers to the grade point average required in a particular semester to gain entry to a degree programme where places were allocated through a selection procedure.

NHG
Lower Saxony Higher Education Act.

n.n.
This abbreviation (‘nomen nominandum’) is used, for example, in the course catalogue whenever it is certain that a particular course will take place or a task (e.g. academic advising) is to be carried out, but the person responsible has not yet been appointed.

Orientation period
In many degree programmes, introductory courses are offered by lecturers and/or students from higher semesters (tutors) at the start of the programme. All questions relating to the start of the degree programme and beyond can be discussed at these events. This is a particularly good opportunity for first-year students to make initial contacts.

President
Head of a university elected for six or eight years. The President represents the university externally and heads its Presidential Board with authority to issue directives.

Presidential Board
The President heads the university. It consists of at least 2, but usually more members: President and full-time Vice President, possibly further Vice Presidents.

Internship
Mostly subject-related activities to be completed outside the university (e.g. teaching internship, company internship). Within the university, internships are understood to be experimental work carried out by students under supervision (e.g. botanical internships in the subject of biology). (Cf. "pre-study internship")

Internship semester
At universities of applied sciences, at least one P. is integrated into almost all degree programmes, during which no other courses have to be completed in addition to the subject-related activity.

Professor
Official title for a university teacher.

Doctorate
Procedure for proving the ability to carry out independent academic work which, if successful, leads to a doctorate. As a rule, a doctorate requires the completion of a university degree programme with a high grade (grade "good" or better). Part of the doctorate is the preparation of an independent scientific thesis, which should provide new scientific knowledge, as well as an oral examination (thesis defence or viva voce). Generally a prerequisite for an academic career.

Preparatory course
Courses preceding the first semester of a degree programme, also known as preliminary courses. They serve to impart prior knowledge which is not generally part of the school education leading to a university entrance qualification, but which is required for the chosen degree programme from the outset, e.g. Russian or Italian language skills for corresponding philological, mathematics skills for engineering degree programmes.

ExaminationsOffice
The P. is responsible for the formal processing of examinations. Here you can find out, for example, how to register and receive information about deadlines.

Examination regulations
The P. regulates the type and procedure of examinations. It provides information on examination sections, compulsory examination subjects, special requirements for examination registrations, the preparation of the final thesis, etc. In particular, the P. lists the course certificates or credits to be obtained for the intermediate and main examinations.

Lateral entry
Entry to a higher semester in a degree programme not previously studied on the basis of recognised achievements from the previous degree programme for the new degree programme.

Legal advice
Information on free counselling for students is provided by the ASten and the Studentenwerke.

Standard period of study
The examination regulations specify the period of time in which the degree programme should be completed. However, the standard period of study hardly ever corresponds to the actual average period of study. In practice, most degree programmes take longer than the number of semesters specified in the R. for various reasons.

Rector
Previously: Head of a university with a rectorate constitution, who had to come from among the university teachers of the respective university. In Lower Saxony only for a transitional period, as according to the new Lower Saxony Higher Education Act, all universities will in future be headed by Presidents and Presidential Boards.

Seriesof lectures
(Often interdisciplinary) series of lectures on an overarching topic by different speakers.

Re-registering students
At the end of the lecture period of a semester, students must formally declare their intention to continue studying in the next semester and pay the prescribed semester fee. Students who fail to re-register can be de-registered, i.e. lose their university membership.

Course certificate
See ‘Course certificate’.

Self-study
Independent study and assimilation of course content. Alongside the modules listed in the study or examination regulations, this is a natural and indispensable part of any degree programme. This is taken into account when determining the scope of courses to be taken, and appropriate allowance is made; however, there are often differences between universities of applied sciences and traditional universities.

Semester
Latin: ‘period of six months’; term for the academic half-year. The academic year is usually divided into a winter semester (WS) and a summer semester (SS). The semester comprises the lecture period and the non-lecture period. At some universities, the academic year is divided differently (see ‘trimester’)

Semester fee
Upon enrolment or re-registration, every student must pay a fee – the amount of which varies from university to university – to cover, for example, student welfare, the services provided by the student services organisations (social contribution) and similar costs. The semester fee often includes a semester public transport pass.

Semester breaks
Periods without lectures between the lecture periods of the semesters. However, these are by no means ‘holidays’, as during this time students often have to sit exams, undertake internships and complete follow-up work and preparation for courses.

Semester public transport pass
An affordable pass introduced at many universities which, when used in conjunction with a student ID card, entitles the holder to use public transport for one semester.

Semester hours per week (SWS)
The number of hours allocated to courses in non-modular degree programmes each week throughout a semester. The scope of the courses and the scope of the degree programme as a whole are specified in SWS. Time spent on preparation for and follow-up work on the courses, as well as time spent on self-study, is not included in this figure.

Seminar
1. A course led by one or more lecturers, to which students must contribute through their own work (e.g. presentations).
2. The name of a university organisational unit (e.g. the Department of History).

University Senate
Central university body responsible for deciding on regulations, development planning and other matters relating to the university. It also adopts a proposal for the appointment of the President.

s.t.
Abbreviation for ‘sine tempore’ (Latin for ‘without time’). Courses announced as starting with this suffix begin punctually at the specified time. Anyone expecting the ‘academic quarter’ will arrive late (cf. c.t).

Social contribution
All students must pay a social contribution to the Studentenwerk each semester. The social contribution is used to cover the costs of the Studentenwerk’s social facilities (canteen, cafeteria, halls of residence, etc.).

Social counselling
Counselling service provided by the Studentenwerk and often also by the ASTA for students facing social difficulties, e.g. with regard to funding their studies.

SS
Summer semester.

State Examination
The final examination for almost all teaching degree programmes, as well as in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, Law, pharmacy and food chemistry. These degree programmes are regulated uniformly at state or federal level on the basis of state examination regulations. In Lower Saxony, teaching degree programmes comprise 1 to 3 different teaching subjects, and for vocational schools, an additional vocational specialisation, which must be combined in accordance with specific regulations.

Scholarships
p. are awarded by various organisations, which are often ideologically, politically or group-specific in nature. The award criteria are usually based on the BAföG regulations, although the benefits are more generous. At universities, there are liaison lecturers from the major scholarship organisations; their names can be obtained from the Student Services Centres (ZSBs) or are often listed in the course catalogues.

Student Parliament (“Stupa”)
The Student Parliament is the elected representative body of the entire student body at a university. It is usually elected once a year and appoints the ASTA.

Student ID card
Every student receives a student ID card upon successful enrolment. The student ID card is valid for one semester.

Student Administration Office
Admissions office.

Studentenwerk
Organisation providing social support and assistance to students at a university or within a university region. The Studentenwerk manages, amongst other things, the following facilities: canteens, halls of residence, the BAföG office, accommodation services, and in some cases also psychotherapeutic counselling centres and social counselling services.

Study counselling
See ZSB, ASB and subject-specific academic advisory services.

Academic records book
This refers to a folder in which the courses attended are recorded and all academic records (e.g. certificates) are collected. The academic records serve as proof of attendance at courses and must be presented to the Examinations Office when registering for examinations (see ‘proving attendance’).

Dean of Studies
TheDean of Studies is a member of the management team of the department/School (Dean's Office). Among other things, they are responsible for ensuring the provision of courses and academic advising within a department/School.

Degree programme
A course of study in one or more subjects, governed by study and examination regulations, leading to a specific, professionally qualifying degree, e.g. Bachelor’s, Diplom or Magister. Degree programmes are ‘undergraduate’, if they do not – unlike supplementary and postgraduate programmes – already require a higher education qualification

Tuition fee
If a student has no remaining study credit, they must pay a tuition fee of EUR 500 at state universities in Lower Saxony. In certain cases, a partial or full waiver of the fee is possible.

Study credit
Every student at state universities in Lower Saxony is allocated a one-off study credit equivalent to the standard period of study for the respective degree programme, plus four grace semesters for undergraduate programmes. For degree programmes, the credit allowance is equal to the standard period of study. During this period, students may study free of charge. In certain cases (e.g. periods spent raising children), the credit allowance may be increased.

Academic year, ‘Academic Year’
At universities, this is the period from 1 October to 30 September of the following year (‘academic year’); at universities of applied sciences, it is generally the period from 1 September to 31 August of the following year.

Study Regulations
The study regulations specify the examination regulations. They set out the exact subject distribution and the allocation of teaching hours.

Exchange of University Places
Anyone who, due to restricted admission, has been offered a study place at a university other than their preferred one may participate in an exchange of university places. To do so, you will need your letter of admission, a swap partner and the consent of both universities. Application forms are available from the university’s student office. Swap partners can be found in advertisements in local and national newspapers and on the internet (e.g. search term ‘exchange of university places’).

Field of study / specialisation
These terms refer to specialisation options within individual degree programmes, as defined in the examination regulations. These usually begin in the second stage of the degree programme and are listed on the degree certificates. (Roughly synonymous with: ‘field of specialisation’, ‘area of specialisation’)

Studying without the ‘Abitur’
In Lower Saxony, it is possible to enrol on a degree programme even without a formal university entrance qualification, provided certain vocational qualifications (e.g. a master craftsman’s certificate) are held. Further information is available from the universities’ advisory services. See also Immaturenprüfung.

SWS
See ‘Semester-week hours’.

Trimester
Latin: "period of 3 months". Colloquially, however, the division of the academic year into 3 sections (of 4 months each), (cf. semester).

Tutor
Generally a student in a higher semester who supervises student working groups of a technical or social nature (e.g. in the orientation period or in introductory courses).

Tutorials
Small practice courses that accompany courses and are led by student tutors. The term is also used for introductory courses supervised by students.

Exercise
Course that usually serves to consolidate the material covered in a lecture.

Semester of leave
S. Leave of absence.

Distribution procedure
A special form of restricted admission. In the V., every applicant is guaranteed a study place, but is allocated to the individual participating universities according to social criteria, so that applicants do not always get into the desired university.

Specialisation
S. Field of study.

Administrative fee
As a rule, every student at state universities in Lower Saxony has to pay an administrative fee of EUR 50 per semester or EUR 33 per trimester.

Vordiplom, Vorprüfung
Colloquial term for the intermediate examination or Diplom preliminary examination after the basic study programme.

Preliminary course
S. Preparatory course.

Lecture
Course in the form of a lecture.

Course catalogue
Contains the entire range of courses offered by the university in the upcoming semester and is usually available in local bookshops. The V. also lists the lecturers and other useful information. However, the V. only contains a list of the individual courses. More detailed descriptions and further information, such as bibliographical references, can be found in the annotated V. of the individual subjects or departments/schools.

Pre-study work placement
A work placement that must be completed before starting the degree programme. Depending on the Federal State, university or degree programme, it may be 6 weeks or, for example, 26 weeks. In the case of relevant previous education, e.g. a specialised secondary school certificate in the same subject area or relevant vocational training, it may be waived in whole or in part.

V V
General assembly of students at a university or department/school.

Elective subject
A subject that can be freely chosen from an often very extensive catalogue – sometimes even from another department.

Compulsory elective subject
A subject that, in accordance with the examination or study regulations, must be selected from a prescribed catalogue of subjects.

Waiting period
The period in semesters between obtaining a university entrance qualification and the intended start of studies, excluding any time already spent studying at a German higher education institution. The waiting period is a factor in the allocation of study places during the selection procedure.

Advanced degree programmes
Advanced degree programmes generally require, as admission requirements, relevant academic and/or vocational prior learning specific to the degree programme in question. A university entrance qualification, as required for undergraduate degree programmes, is not always necessary. Advanced degree programmes are aimed at prospective students who wish to enhance the higher education and/or vocational qualifications they have already attained. Some are undertaken alongside work and may lead to a formal higher education qualification (e.g. a Diplom or Master’s degree).
The terminology used for these programmes is not standardised: terms include, amongst others, ‘postgraduate programmes’, ‘continuing education programmes’, ‘supplementary programmes’, and so on.

WS
winter semester.

Central service centres
This term covers a university’s service centres that are independent of the administration, such as the ZSB (in part), the library and the university sports centre.

Z-exam
See ‘Immaturität examination’.

ZSB
Central study counselling service. An advisory service at universities or for university regions, aimed at prospective students, current students and anyone else interested in studying. These advisory centres provide information on degree programmes and offer guidance, for example, on choosing a course of study and dealing with study-related difficulties.

Admissions procedure
See selection procedure, allocation procedure.

ZVS
Central Office for the Allocation of University Places (Dortmund). Responsible, amongst other things, for the selection and allocation of applicants for certain degree programmes subject to nationwide restricted admission, such as Medicine, Psychology and Business Administration.

Secondary educational pathway
Term used to describe the educational pathway of people who, after leaving school without a university entrance qualification, completed vocational training and/or were employed in a professional or comparable role, and who have subsequently commenced a university degree programme via various routes (e.g. university entrance qualification via evening school or the Immatur examination).

Second degree
A further undergraduate degree programme following the successful completion of a first degree programme.

Intermediate examination
An examination taken upon completion of the foundation phase (also referred to – depending on the degree programme – as a ‘Vordiplom’ or ‘Vorprüfung’).

ZVS
Central Office for the Allocation of University Places (Dortmund). Responsible, amongst other things, for the selection and allocation of applicants for certain degree programmes subject to nationwide restricted admission, such as Medicine, Psychology and Business Administration.

Second-chance education
Term used to describe the educational pathway of people who, after leaving school without a university entrance qualification, undertook vocational training and/or worked in a professional or comparable role, and who have subsequently commenced a university degree through various routes (e.g. university entrance qualification obtained through evening school or the Immatur examination).

Second degree
A further undergraduate degree programme following the successful completion of a first degree programme.

Intermediate examination
An examination taken upon completion of the foundation phase (also referred to – depending on the degree programme – as a ‘Vordiplom’ or ‘Vorprüfung’).