Numerus Clausus (NC)

Many think that the NC is a predetermined grade that must be achieved in order to get a place at college. However, the procedure is a little more complex.

The NC is not determined in advance, but results from supply and demand every semester. Everyone local Admission-restricted degree programme (degree programme with NC) has a certain number of study places. After subtracting one advance quota 20 percent of the university places are allocated via the waiting period and 80 percent about that Grade of the university entrance qualification forgive.

In a first step, those people who have accumulated the most waiting semesters get a place on the course. For example, first the person with 12 waiting semesters, then the person with 11 waiting semesters and so on until all places have been distributed over the waiting period.

The remaining 80 percent of the study places are then awarded based on the average grade of the university entrance qualification. Here, too, the person with the best average grade gets a place first, then the person with the second best and so on, until all places have been taken. The grade of the person who got the last place on the course results in the NC value.

Because the procedure restarts every semester, it is not possible to say in advance how high the NC will actually be in the semester in which you apply for a specific course. But you can orientate yourself on the NC of previous years. The limit values ​​of the last semester can be found in the table below.

Selection limits NC winter semester 2023/2024


Process according to average grade (80% of the study places)

coursefirst criterion
average grade
second criterion
waiting semester
architecture 2,5 00


Process after waiting time (20% of the study places)

coursefirst criterion
waiting semester
second criterion
average grade
architecture 06 2,8

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Central students advisory service.