If the number of applicants for a degree programme is expected to be higher than the number of places available, a numerus clausus limits the number of students admitted. There are a number of questions regarding this that we will try and clarify here.
What is a numerus clausus (NC)?
The numerus clausus (NC) is a tool to limit admission to a degree programme, for example, because there are more applications than places available. The NC is not a fixed grade average that is determined beforehand. Rather, it is the grade average that was good enough to be offered the last place on the programme.
Why does the NC keep changing?
We only know how many applications there were for a programme, what the grade averages of the applicant were and how many people actually accepted the offer of a place of study at the end of each application period. That is why former NCs can only give a rough idea for current or future application periods.
But to give you such a rough idea, here are some examples:
NC values from the winter semester 2024/25
Film & Media Arts
- Grade average: 1.8
(after the move-up procedure: 2.1) or
- more than 8 waiting semesters
Wind Energy Engineering
- German applicants: grade average 2.59 or letter of reference
- international applicants: grade average: 1.79
How are study places assigned?
The assigning of study places is the same at all universities in Schleswig-Holstein, including FUAS:
A distinction is made between three quotas:
- grade average (80 % of the study places available) – applicants with the highest grade average
- waiting semesters (20 % of the study places available) – applicants with the highest number of semesters since they left school
- individual procedure – grade average may be improved based on vocational training or professional experience
All lists are sorted after the application deadline and then the NC is defined by the grade average that was the last one to be offered a place on the programme.
If applicants do not accept the place of study offered to them, these places get offered to applicants on the waiting list in a move-up procedure. The grade average in this procedure can be lower than the NC defined based on the regular procedure. So, even if you are informed that you are on a waiting list, you still have a chance to get a place on the degree programme of your choice.
An example
The NC is only relevant if there are more applications than places on a programme. So, if there are 100 places on a programme and 100 applicants, every applicant gets offered a place of study.
However, if there are 150 applications for 100 places, only 100 applicants will receive an offer. 80 places will be assigned based on the grade average, 20 places based on how long the applicants have been waiting.
The NC is the grade average of that person that is number 80 on the list of applicants offered a place of study based on their grade average.
What does this mean for your application?
- Always apply! Even if your grade average is below that of past years.
- Be aware of the move-up procedure - very often applicants do receive an offer to study, even if they were declined at first.
- If you have any questions, contact our Course Guidance.
In a nutshell: The NC is not a fixed value, but the result of a process based on supply and demand. Inform yourself in due time, hand in all the documents necessary and keep an eye open for the move-up procedure. All the best for your application!