1. Above-average academic interest and ability, both in and out of school.

2. A recommendation from the school management (self-nominations are not permitted).

3. Passing an entrance test at the university comprising questions at A-level standard. (The test will only be held if the number of applications exceeds the number of places available.)

4. A recommendation from a selection panel at the University of Oldenburg following an oral interview.

Specific subject criteria

• English Studies: Proof of English language proficiency – via an internationally recognised language test – is required. See ‘English Studies’ under ‘Admission requirements’ for further details.
• Protestant Theology, Religious Education and History: Applications are only accepted from Year 10 onwards

The university studies for secondary school students can only be started in the winter semester. The application deadline is 15 July of the relevant year. An application for the university studies for secondary school students can only be submitted with the school’s consent.

Please email the documents listed below, preferably as scanned copies (combined into a single document!), to , subject line: University studies for secondary school students

or by post to:
University of Oldenburg
Study and Career Counselling Service – Miriam Savoca
PO Box
26111 Oldenburg

The application must include the following documents:

• Application form and schoolrecommendation [pdf]
• an informal cover letter explaining your motivation for joining the university studies for secondary school students programme
• Detailed CV
• Copy of the most recent school report
• Declaration of consent [pdf] acknowledging the terms and conditions of participation by the pupils and, where applicable, their legal guardians

Selection interviews (and, where applicable, an aptitude test) take place in August/September of the relevant year. The dates will be specified in the written invitation.

1. application for enrolment by pupils by 01.10.2025.

must be submitted:

• Proposal for enrolment [pdf]
• Certificate of exemption from school [pdf]
• Confirmation of enrolment from the School
  

2. notification of enrolment by the Admissions office.

3. start of studies on 13 October 2025.

Mariia (aged 16), early-entry student in Social Sciences (winter semester 2025/2026)

The university studies for secondary school students in the Department of Social Sciences were a brilliant experience for me, even though the scope of the material was considerably broader than at school and we had to work through a lot of it independently.
I particularly enjoyed the depth of the content and the atmosphere at the university. At the same time, it quickly became clear that you have to work very independently. Preparing for the exams was challenging, but that was precisely what made it such a valuable experience.
I learnt to organise my time more effectively and to cope with larger volumes of material. I also gained a clearer picture of what a degree course involves and whether this path is right for me.
Overall, I’d recommend university studies for secondary school students to anyone who’s genuinely interested in a subject and is prepared to work independently.

Johanna (19), early-entry student in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computing Science (winter semester 2021/2022 to summer semester 2025)

“I completed my university studies for secondary school students in the summer of 2025 after four years. For me, it was a brilliant opportunity to gain an insight into various degree programmes and to get a taste of university life early on. I started with Biology, then switched to Chemistry, later to Mathematics and finally to Computing Science.
I can only advise everyone to give the university studies for secondary school students a go – not only did I gain knowledge in some really interesting subject areas, but I also met lots of great people.
Getting to grips with the modules wasn’t as difficult as I’d expected either. Especially in the first semester, a lot of the school curriculum is revisited. Whether you actually sit the written exam in the end is entirely up to you. Personally, I can only recommend it, because even if it doesn’t work out, there are no downsides.
If you’re still not entirely sure about committing to university studies for secondary school students, the orientation semester offers the perfect introduction. It’s a completely hassle-free way for school pupils to see how they get on with university life. I, too, spent a semester studying as an auditor, as the registration process is much simpler than for university studies for secondary school students.
I’m now studying full-time and have chosen a degree in computer science with a strong focus on maths. Thanks to the university studies for secondary school students programme, I’ve found a degree programme that really suits me.”

Finn (15 years old), early-entry student studying History (winter semester 2024/2025)

“I decided to take part in the university studies for secondary school students programme at the University of Oldenburg because I was looking for a new challenge and wanted to pursue further education in history. Nevertheless, I was initially particularly concerned about the time commitments involved in the university studies for secondary school students programme, and at first I also felt overwhelmed by the volume of seminar reading.

It soon became clear to me, however, that the university studies for secondary school students were not only manageable in terms of time and content, but also a very interesting experience. In the modules, I was able to learn a great deal about fascinating topics and also gain a first impression of what it’s like to study history at university.

All in all, the university studies for secondary school students have so far been a great enrichment for me, from which I have already gained a wealth of new knowledge and experience.”

Feemke (aged 16), early-entry student in Chemistry (winter semester 2024/2025)

“The university studies for secondary school students in the Department of Chemistry have been an enriching experience for me, providing me not only with an understanding of various areas of chemistry but also with a comprehensive insight into university life. During the lectures, a great deal of knowledge (most of which was new to me) was presented in a structured and detailed manner at a brisk pace. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend the two weekly lectures and was unable to take part in the tutorials, as I do not live in Oldenburg and would otherwise have missed three full days of school. The learning atmosphere was very pleasant, as the other students, lecturers and staff were very friendly and helpful, for example when answering questions. I found the contact with our mentor very helpful and enjoyable. In my view, university studies for secondary school students are ideally suited to committed and curious pupils and offer a wealth of new insights beyond the usual school routine.”

Finn (17 years old), early-entry student in physics (winter semester 2024/2025)

“The university studies for secondary school students in physics were a great opportunity for me to simply try out whether a degree in this field is really the right fit for me. I learnt a great deal during the semester. It also helped me make significant progress at school, at least in physics and maths. Admittedly, the university studies for secondary school students really do demand a lot from you if you try to take them seriously, which can be very challenging at times – particularly during exam periods at school – and isn’t always easy to keep up with. At the same time, though, I personally found it incredibly enjoyable to try and keep up with the pace – which is much faster than at school – and to spend hours working on the exercise sheets, which were often really tricky. Finally arriving at a result that makes sense after a long process of calculation and thought is a truly rewarding experience.

Even if you can’t always remember many of the details from the lectures exactly, during your time at university you still develop an understanding of an incredible number of things that were previously completely unclear to you – and ideally, you simply enjoy the process. And if you realise that this isn’t the case, it’s also absolutely straightforward to withdraw from the university studies for secondary school students. I’d seize the opportunity to do the university studies for secondary school students again in a heartbeat!”

Thore (15 years old), early-entry student in Mathematics (winter semester 2024/2025)

“For me, the university studies for secondary school students were an enriching experience – both academically and personally. The structure and organisation of the programme, including the leave of absence from school, went smoothly. The content was very interesting, even though I plan to study physics rather than maths later on. It was a welcome change from my everyday school life, which I didn’t find particularly challenging. I’d like to thank everyone who made this experience possible for me.”

Maximilian (aged 15), early-entry student in Computing Science (winter semester 2024/2025)

“I really enjoyed the university studies for secondary school students and would like to continue with them next semester. The ‘Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms’ module in Computing Science at provided a very good introduction to Computing Science, as it allowed me both to build on my existing knowledge and to learn new things. As the module was recorded, I didn’t have to miss any lessons and the module was easy to fit in with my school timetable. The organisation worked well and I was even able to register for the written exam.
All in all, the university studies for secondary school students were definitely an enriching experience for me and I can recommend them to anyone who is interested in a particular subject and wants to find out whether they’d like to study it later on.”

Lea (16), early-entry student in physics (winter semester 2023/2024)

“The university studies for secondary school students in physics were a brilliant experience. I was looking for a challenge and wanted to study more in-depth, demanding material, and it definitely delivered on both counts. At school, I often struggle with being underchallenged and bored, so it was lovely not to have those problems whilst studying for a change. I was very pleased with the unusually fast pace and the complexity of the material, in contrast to what I’m used to at school. It was lovely to be challenged academically. The semester significantly improved my knowledge of physics, particularly when it comes to deriving equations. Even though I didn’t sit the exam, I feel that I’m much further ahead academically than before and that I’ve learnt a great deal through the university studies for secondary school students.

The university studies for secondary school students required me to teach myself quite a bit, mainly the mathematical methods needed for my module ‘Experimental Physics I: Mechanics’. However, I enjoyed this challenge and, once I’d learnt quite a bit on my own, I realised that I understood a great deal much better.

I’d recommend university studies for secondary school students to anyone who feels underchallenged at school, is looking for a new challenge and is prepared to learn things independently. You also learn more about your own aspirations for your degree. Personally, I found it very beneficial to be challenged by more difficult material, and my semester at university was a truly enriching experience in many ways.”

Luca (16), early-entry student in Physics (winter semester 2023/2024)

“For me, the university studies for secondary school students were a very special and important experience. I spent my first semester studying the ‘Experimental Physics I’ module and was initially a little surprised at how much I understood. The topics were taught in surprising depth and presented clearly through experiments. After the first proper lectures, in which the mathematical background was also explained, I felt a sense of satisfaction. It became clear to me that, in the classical sense, our lives can be understood – albeit only in part – as deterministic and predictable.
This line of thought and its philosophical background are what interest and fascinate me about physics. Following this realisation, it became absolutely clear to me why Galileo said, that mathematics is the language in which God wrote the universe.

Another positive aspect of my studies was the collaboration with other students and early-year students. We worked together on the exercise sheets and helped each other to understand the material covered in class.

In conclusion, I would say that my expectations were not only met but actually exceeded. It was an eye-opening experience and I can recommend university studies for secondary school students to anyone who has even the slightest interest in physics.
In my next semester, however, I will most likely specialise in a different subject area and get a taste of Business Administration.”

Niklas (18), early-entry student in Mathematics (winter semester 2023/2024)

“I really enjoyed my first semester. It was lovely to delve deeply into a subject for an extended period and to learn about the structure of mathematics and the connections between various topics that I was already familiar with from school. Although the material covered in the lecture was significantly more challenging than what we’d covered at school , it was very manageable once you’d spent enough time working through it. Personally, I managed well with juggling school and university at the same time, which meant my academic performance at school didn’t suffer.

I can recommend the university studies for secondary school students to anyone who is interested in the subject and is prepared to spend a lot of time learning about it. Another advantage, of course, is that modules you have already passed can be recognised later on. The university studies for secondary school students have fully met my expectations and I will be continuing with them next semester.”

Finn (15 years old), early-entry student in Computing Science (winter semester 2023/2024)

“I look back very positively on my first semester at the University of Oldenburg. The university studies for secondary school students – in my case in Computing Science – has done exactly what it’s meant to do: challenge me. Of course, the content is more difficult and simply more extensive than what we’re used to at school, but it’s still manageable within the framework of lectures and tutorials as practice sessions. The run-up to the ‘ ’ exam (which is voluntary!) is, naturally, very stressful, but that’s precisely the point – to push yourself harder than usual.

In my case, balancing school and university didn’t cause any problems at all, which had initially been one of my concerns. It’s simply wonderful to learn new things within such a structured framework, which is why I’ll definitely be continuing my university studies for secondary school students.

So I can wholeheartedly recommend the university studies for secondary school students to anyone who is keen to learn and wants to challenge themselves. Most of the concerns people have turn out to be unfounded in the end (that it will be too much or too difficult, that you won’t be able to manage everything, etc.). I can definitely recommend Computing Science as a subject, as it requires hardly any prior knowledge. You start from scratch, which is why it’s very well suited to university studies for secondary school students. What’s more, the lecturers and everyone involved are very helpful and have been a great support to us as students in university studies for secondary school students.

To sum up, I’m simply glad to be able to gain this experience and hope that I can carry on doing it for a bit longer.”

Celine (16 years old), early-entry student in Business Administration with a focus on law (winter semester 2022/2023)

“My semester at the University of Oldenburg was a very exciting one, and I was able to gain many positive and educational experiences. The lectures for my module ‘Introduction to Civil Law’ were, just as I’d hoped, very informative and have definitely improved my understanding of German law. I also really enjoyed the tutorials, especially once I’d settled in a bit and was able to participate actively. The university studies for secondary school students gave me a very good impression of what studying Law might be like, for which I am truly grateful. The knowledge I’ve gained will certainly be of great use to me in the future. For me personally, it was a manageable commitment alongside my schoolwork, and it was definitely worth it for the experience.

Looking back, I can say I had a truly wonderful time at the University of Oldenburg and would therefore encourage anyone who enjoys gaining a little more knowledge, is looking for a new challenge, or wants to gain an insight into a potential degree subject and everyday university life to take part in university studies for secondary school students.”

Angelina (17), early-entry student in Physics (winter semester 2021/2022 and summer semester 2022)

“Personally, I really enjoyed the university studies for secondary school students in physics and it definitely confirmed my choice of degree subject.

Although the first semester took place largely online, it was still possible to make contacts with other students during the tutorials, which were held in person. In my opinion, this contact with other students is one of the things that makes university studies for secondary school students so special, as you get to meet ‘like-minded’ people who share the same interests in the subject.

In the second semester, the lectures took place in person in the large lecture theatre (Wechloy Campus), so I had the chance to experience ‘real’ campus life. In terms of content, both semesters were extremely interesting.

The university studies for secondary school students require a great deal of self-organisation and independence, as you are responsible for the new course content and any schoolwork you may have missed and need to catch up on.

Based on my own experience, I can highly recommend taking up university studies for secondary school students.”

Anna-Katharina (17 years old), early-entry student in Biology (winter semester 2021/2022)

“Personally, I am very happy and grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in the university studies for secondary school students programme. I was able to fully achieve my goal of gaining some initial experience and getting a ‘taste’ of everyday university life. Furthermore, thanks to the high level of personal responsibility involved, I was able to develop my independence and self-confidence in particular – something that will stand me in good stead in future job interviews and when applying to institutions.

Due to the current situation, I was rarely able to attend face-to-face classes and had to follow most of the lectures online via my own Stud.ip account. The absences from school caused by attending these face-to-face university classes turned out to be less time-consuming than I’d expected. I was able to catch up on any missed content quickly and without any problems.
On the day of the exam, the rigour of university examinations became very clear to me. Regardless of what the final result turns out to be, I’m glad I sat the exam. On the one hand, as I was taking part in the course ‘free of charge’, I had nothing to lose compared to other ‘regular’ students; on the other hand, having prepared for this exam, I now have a rough idea of how I can prepare for future exams ‘properly’ – or at least more effectively.

In conclusion, I can say that I recommend university studies for secondary school students to anyone who fancies challenging themselves even further and wants to experience something ‘new’ and future-oriented alongside their school studies. Furthermore, university studies for secondary school students can be really helpful with career guidance if you’re unsure about a particular degree programme. It can also (as it did for me) promote personal development by helping you build independence and self-confidence through the application process, and prepare you for your future working life.”

Lenya (16), early-entry student in Biology (winter semester 2021/2022)

“I started my university studies for secondary school students at the age of 15, studying Biology at the University of Oldenburg. What motivated me to take up university studies for secondary school students was the unique chance to gain an insight into the day-to-day life of a university student even before starting my regular degree. It also gave me the opportunity to familiarise myself with biology as a potential subject for my future studies. From putting together my application documents, through the selection interview with the subject professor at the university, right through to enrolment and choosing a module via the university’s own system – all these tasks, which I had to complete independently, allowed me to gain valuable experience.

Contact with other students and attending lectures and tutorials was also exciting and informative. These experiences and the knowledge I’ve gained will certainly be helpful in my actual degree course after Abitur. At the same time, by getting to know the module content in more detail, I was able to decide for myself that biology as a single degree subject is not an option for me. Conversely, however, I feel more confident in my current main study goal of medicine.
Initial fears – such as the programme being too time-consuming – did not materialise. Instead, by attending school and university at the same time, I’ve learnt to organise my time even better.

Based on the experiences I’ve had and the knowledge I’ve gained, I can wholeheartedly recommend university studies to anyone. Where else do you get the chance to get a glimpse of everyday university life before you actually start your degree?”

Johanna (15 years old), early-entry student in Biology (winter semester 2021/2022)

“University studies for secondary school students have been a complete success for me so far. From December to February, I prepared for my biology written exam and ultimately passed it with a grade of 1.7. The study period was demanding, but it was definitely worth it.

During the lecture term, I regularly attended the tutorials and face-to-face seminars. The lectures made available online were really handy, as they didn’t clash with my school timetable. I found some lectures much more interesting than others – I suppose that’s the case for everyone. For each lecture (two per week), I first took notes and then wrote a summary that was as concise as possible to use as revision material for the written exam.

My school results haven’t changed as a result of my degree, although I have noticed that it has a significant impact on my day-to-day life. I’m not only benefiting intellectually from my degree, but I’ve also made contact with some fellow students despite the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly whilst preparing for the written exam.”

Lentje (aged 13), early-entry student in Mathematics (winter semester 2020/2021)

“I was very happy with the way the course was run and learnt a great deal. I really enjoyed working with the other students and, above all, with my fellow early-entry student, C.

That said, I would have preferred face-to-face teaching, as I like to engage with others directly, rather than just online. That’s why I could imagine joining the programme again once the pandemic is over. Combined with home schooling, it did get a bit stressful at times, as the plan was actually for me to go either to school or university, but in the end I ended up doing both at the same time.”

Konstantin (17), early-entry student in Mathematics (since the 2019/2020 winter semester)

“I’ve really enjoyed the university studies for secondary school students so far and I’ll definitely be continuing with the same subject next semester.

University studies for secondary school students offer an ideal opportunity to go (far) beyond the scope of what’s taught at school and gain a (significant) head start over other peers. Depending on how much you want to achieve through the university studies for secondary school students, the workload naturally increases, and if you strike the right balance, you’ll certainly reach your academic limits. But that’s precisely where the ‘thrill’ lies.”

Tim (17), early-entry student in physics (winter semester 2019/2020)

“The semester was quite relaxed for me, as I had no trouble catching up on the school material I’d missed, and the module ‘Experimental Physics I: Mechanics’ was very well suited as an introduction for early-entry physics students. In this module, I was able to recognise things I’d already learnt at school and even learnt some things in parallel with my A-level classes. I don’t plan to continue studying next semester, as I’ll now be sitting more and more important written exams at school.

I can definitely recommend the university studies for secondary school students in the Department of Physics.”

Anna-Marie (aged 15), early-entry student in Mathematics (winter semester 2018/2019 to winter semester 2019/2020)

“I’ve now been studying mathematics at university for three semesters and have had many positive experiences. It’s fun and, above all, it’s interesting to take part in the lectures and tutorials. The way knowledge is imparted here is a stark contrast to normal school. Here, I’ve found exactly what I was looking for: fast-paced, intensive learning. As I started university studies for secondary school students quite early on, it was clear that almost everything was new to me. And, of course, I didn’t understand everything straight away. The tutorials are a particularly good opportunity to consolidate the material from the lectures and get to know other students. There’s a strong emphasis on teamwork here, which further encourages contact. It was also interesting that quite a few students asked me about my age. At first, I found it a bit awkward, but that feeling soon passed.

During the first semester (which ran alongside my first half-year of Year 9), I attended the lectures regularly – something you really should do to avoid falling behind. I eventually managed to pass the corresponding exam as well. It’s worth noting that the marks achieved in the tutorials can improve your final mark if you’ve passed the exam. However, you should attend the tutorials not just for the extra marks, but to understand the lecture content.

In the second semester, I would have liked to take Calculus I, but it wasn’t on offer. So I ended up taking Linear Algebra instead. Here, I did eventually reach my limits and decided against sitting the exam at the end of the semester. Incidentally, this freedom in university studies for secondary school students is reassuring and takes the pressure off.

In the third semester, I moved on to Analysis I. The workload (tutorials, large-group tutorials and double lecture sessions) is significantly heavier compared to Mathematical Problem Solving and Proofs in the first semester. Alongside my regular schoolwork and university studies for secondary school students, I’m also very active in sport, with four training sessions a week. All of this together ended up being too much for me, and my school grades suffered as a result.

For this reason, I won’t be re-enrolling for the 2020 summer semester (my fourth term). My priority now is to pass Year 10 with good results.

Overall, I have nothing negative to say. On the contrary. I was able to discover my limits and gain a very deep insight into the world of university study. You are given a great deal of freedom to satisfy your thirst for knowledge without any pressure. My greatest achievement was not only obtaining the school’s permission and approval for university studies for secondary school students, but also passing a module straight away in my first semester. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my tutor (from my school, HGO), who has supported me throughout this time.

University studies for secondary school students are definitely the right choice for those who want to learn not only more, but also in a different way. However, you mustn’t neglect your regular schoolwork.

How I got into university studies for secondary school students:
– I skipped a year at my school, HGO
- Attended academies (during the holidays)
– but it was still too boring; skipping another year wasn’t an option
– on the school’s recommendation, I began the application process for university studies for secondary school students at university
– started university studies for secondary school students in Year 9 (aged 13)

After three semesters, I will be finishing the university studies for secondary school students and am very glad to have had this experience.”

As of 04/2025