A distinction is made between the following types of degree:
Subject Bachelor (B.Sc./B.A./LL.B.)
Two-subject Bachelor (B.Sc./B.A.)
Subject Master (M.Sc./M.A./M.Eng./LL.M.)
Master of Education (M.Ed., various school types)
Diplom (Dipl.)
Magister (M.A.)
Lehramt (LA., various school types)
Promotion

Students who have passed a final examination are counted as graduates.

International students are students with international citizenship. A further distinction is made between students with a higher education entrance qualification obtained in Germany (nationals with a German university entrance qualification) and those with a higher education entrance qualification obtained abroad (foreign nationals with a German university entrance qualification).

Based on the number of students within the standard period of study, the total teaching required by the respective teaching unit - both assigned and non-assigned degree programmes - is determined (in semester hours per week (SWS)) using the corresponding curricular standard value proportions and compared with the available teaching offer. This is done for all teaching units. The capacity utilisation calculation for an academic year is based on the teaching supply calculated in the annual capacity calculation with a cut-off date of 1 February and the teaching demand determined on the basis of the student data from the previous winter semester (cut-off date 1 December).

Studying two degree programmes at the same time. Enrolment takes place in the first and second degree programme.

Students who are enrolled at a German university for the first time. (Due to studies abroad or recognition of academic achievements, in exceptional cases also in higher semesters).

The semesters that students have completed in a particular degree programme. Semesters on leave do not count as subject-related semesters.

The duration of study is the number of semesters in each individual subject (case statistics) up to the final examination. The duration of study ends with the determination of the overall grade. The arithmetic mean is given.

A School is an organisational unit of the university that combines teaching units and subjects with similar content.

Case statistics (students and first-year students):

Total number of students or first-year students in each degree programme and subject.

Case statistics (graduates):

For degree programmes with several subjects, the graduates are shown for each subject.

Early students are pupils with above-average talent who are enrolled on special study programmes. Examinations taken can be credited towards a later degree programme. They are not counted as regular students.

Anyone interested can enrol as a guest student without the requirement of a university entrance qualification. They can only take part in courses that are open to them. It is not possible for guest students to undertake specialised studies with a final examination. They are not counted as regular students.

The total number of semesters that students were enrolled at German universities. In contrast to subject-related semesters, university semesters also include semesters on leave and semesters in previously studied degree programmes.

The capacity (admission capacity) is calculated for each degree programme per academic year on the basis of the range of courses offered, the amount of training required and other capacity-determining criteria in accordance with the Capacity Ordinance. The calculated admission capacity forms the basis for determining admission numbers for degree programmes that are in high demand.

Co-operative students study one subject at the University of Oldenburg and another at the University of Bremen. In addition, there are other cooperative subjects that are jointly supported by both universities.

Headcount statistics (students and first-year students):

Total number of students or first-year students in the 1st degree programme and 1st subject. Students or first-year students who are enrolled in several degree programmes at the same time (double degree) are only counted once. Guest students and early students are not counted as students.

Head statistics (graduates):

For degree programmes with several subjects, the head statistics are assigned to the first subject. While only students in the first degree programme are counted in the head statistics for students, all final examinations (first and further degree programmes) are listed here. In contrast, official statistics usually only include final examinations in the first degree programme.

A teaching unit is a specialised unit that provides a range of courses and is defined for the purpose of determining capacity. If possible, a degree programme should be assigned to the teaching unit that has the largest share of the courses offered.

Students who are enrolled for the first time at the University of Oldenburg (first or higher semester), but not for the first time at a German university.

An examination group is the grouping of students according to the degree they are aiming for.

An examination year (graduates) comprises the winter semester and the following summer semester, e.g. the 2019 academic year consists of the 2018/19 winter semester and the 2019 summer semester.

The period of study specified in the examination regulations during which the degree can be obtained in the case of full-time study.

The calculated capacity (corresponding to capacity before attrition) assumes that all first-year students study until graduation. However, as the retention behaviour of students varies between degree programmes, the calculated capacity is increased by an attrition factor. This results in the actual admission capacity after attrition. The attrition factor is determined empirically from the student numbers of the individual semesters.

A semester refers to a half-year of study. A distinction is made between winter semesters (01.10. to 31.03.) and summer semesters (01.04. to 30.09.). Enrolment in a degree programme usually takes place in the winter semester. A winter semester and the following summer semester together make up an academic or examination year. For example, the academic or examination year 2009 comprises the winter semester 2008/2009 (also 20082) and the summer semester 2009 (also 20091). With regard to individual study programmes, a distinction is also made between subject-related semesters and university semesters.

First-year students in the 1st semester:

First-time enrolled and newly enrolled students in their first semester as well as students on leave of absence immediately after enrolment. Doctoral students and students "without a degree" (language courses etc.) are also included. Students from co-operations and joint degree programmes are only included if they are enrolled at the University of Oldenburg. Guest students and early students are not counted as students.

First-year students in the 1st university semester:

All students who are enrolled at a German university for the first time are counted as first-year students. Doctoral students and students "without a degree" (language courses etc.) are also counted. Students from co-operations and joint degree programmes are only included if they are enrolled at the University of Oldenburg. Guest students and early students are not counted as students.

A degree programme is the combination of one or more subjects and the desired degree.

In contrast to the official statistics, an academic year at UOL comprises the winter semester and the following summer semester, e.g. the 2019 academic year consists of the 2018/19 winter semester and the 2019 summer semester.

Total number of students incl. doctoral students and students "without a degree" (language courses etc.). Students from co-operations and joint degree programmes are only included if they are enrolled at the University of Oldenburg. Guest students and early students are not counted as students. In contrast to the official statistics, all internal representations include students on leave of absence.

The transfer rate describes the proportion of graduates of an undergraduate degree programme (subject Bachelor's or dual-subject Bachelor's) who transfer to a consecutive degree programme (subject Master's or Master of Education) within the university. In the case of the subject Bachelor's programme, the transition to the subject Master's programme is indicated, stating the previous and subsequent subject. For the two-subject Bachelor's programme, the transition to the subject Master's and the Master of Education is indicated. In order to ensure clarity, no differentiation is made here between the Master's subjects. As the students in question do not have to enrol directly after their Bachelor's degree, the data from more recent semesters in particular should be regarded as provisional.

Notional number that results if each student is weighted according to the full-time proportion in each subject. The weighting coefficients for major/minor subjects of different degree programmes/degrees can be found in the table Equivalence calculation. For example, a student on a two-subject Bachelor's degree programme is calculated with 0.5 equivalents in each of the subjects.

Academic university staff includes professors and other academic employees. It does not include technical and administrative staff (MTV).