You must submit a proposal to undertake a second degree if you meet all three of the following criteria:

• You have already completed a degree at a German university.
• You wish to study a further undergraduate degree programme with restricted admission.
• You would be starting this further degree programme in the first semester.

You do not need to submit an application for a second degree programme in the case of

• degree programmes with no admission restrictions.

3 per cent of the places subject to admission restrictions are reserved for second-degree applicants who have already completed a degree at a German higher education institution.

Applicants who have not yet completed their first degree at the time of application but will do so by the application deadline may choose whether they wish to be considered as first-time or second-degree applicants in the allocation process. Certificates issued after 15 July (winter semester) or 15 January (summer semester) cannot be taken into account. A degree is considered completed once the relevant state or academic final examination has been successfully passed

Examples of higher education institutions include:

• Universities
• former comprehensive universities
• Conservatoires
• Sports universities
• Art colleges
• Bundeswehr universities
• Church-affiliated universities
• Colleges of Education,
• Universities of Applied Sciences, including the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration

The following are not included:

• vocational academies and predecessor institutions of universities of applied sciences, for example higher technical colleges and engineering schools

Applications must be submitted via the online application system.
To do so, you will need the following in PDF format:

• a copy of your degree certificate from your first degree (the grade must be shown on the degree certificate or in a separate certificate)
• a detailed, written statement explaining your reasons for wishing to undertake a second degree, including the following information:
  • previous education
  • professional experience
  • desired career goal
  • the relevant category claimed

1. Examination results from the first degree programme
2. Reasons for undertaking a second degree (categories 1–5)

Points are awarded for both selection criteria.

The following marks are awarded for the examination result:

• Grades ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’: 4 points
• Grades ‘good’ and ‘fully satisfactory’: 3 points
• Grade ‘satisfactory’: 2 points
• Grade ‘adequate’: 1 point
• Grades not recorded: 1 point

Case group 1: Compelling professional reasons

• The intended profession requires two completed degree programmes.
• Examples:
  • Oral and maxillofacial surgeon (medicine and dentistry)
  • Staff pharmacist in the German Armed Forces (Pharmacy and Food Chemistry)
  • Members of religious orders who, after studying theology, wish to complete a teacher training degree to work in religious schools

Individuals in case group 1 are awarded 9 points.

Case group 2: academic reasons

• The applicant is seeking to obtain a further academic qualification in a different degree programme, based on their previous academic and practical experience

Applicants in Category 2 are awarded

• 7 points if the academic grounds are substantial and substantiated by the applicant’s academic track record;
• 9 points if the academic grounds are of particular significance and are substantiated by previous achievements;
• 11 points if the reasons are of outstanding academic significance, are substantiated by exceptional achievements and are of particular general interest.

Criteria for this:

• Previous career
• Previous academic and practical activities are taken into account.
• Seriousness of the interdisciplinary career/study aspirations
• Scientific activities, such as participation in research projects during the course of study, are taken into account.
• Scientific significance of the intended interdisciplinary work
• The intended activity is objectively of academic significance.

Case group 3: special professional reasons

• The applicant’s career situation will be significantly improved as a result
• Completion of the second degree usefully complements the first degree (This depends on the professional role being sought and the extent to which the two degrees are beneficial for the practice of the profession. The specific and individual career plans are decisive.)
• There is a substantive link between the content of the completed first degree and the intended second degree (in the case of a teaching degree programme covering two subjects, it is sufficient if this link applies to just one subject).

It is not possible to be admitted to a second degree programme if the sole aim is to change careers. However, it is irrelevant in which field of study the focus of the future career lies and in what order the first and second degree programmes are undertaken.

Applicants in category 3 are awarded 7 points.

Case group 4: other professional reasons

• The second degree significantly improves the applicant’s professional situation for other reasons (evidence: a detailed and personalised written explanation)

Applicants in Case Group 4 are awarded 4 points.

Case group 5: other reasons

Applicants in category 5 are awarded 1 point.

Up to 2 points may be awarded for returning to or entering the workforce for the first time following a period spent on family commitments. This increase may be considered if, for family reasons (e.g. marriage, bringing up children), the applicant had to give up their previous employment or, out of consideration for family circumstances, was unable to take up suitable employment after completing their first degree. The amount of the bonus points depends on the extent to which the applicant was affected. The scale of the burdens (e.g. number of children, duration of the family-related break) must be taken into account appropriately. Multiple reasons are not cumulated; the most favourable category is applied in each case.

The bonus points awarded to applicants who have previously postponed their plans to undertake a second degree for family reasons are independent of this; they are awarded in addition.

The points awarded for the first degree and for the supporting statement submitted are added together to form a score. This score determines your position on the ranking list for selection for a second degree. Applicants with a higher score take precedence over those with a lower score. Study places are allocated in this order until all places available to applicants for a second degree programme have been filled. You will be notified in your letter of admission or letter of rejection as to whether your proposal has been successful and a study place can be allocated to you or not.