Numerus Clausus (NC) in Germany: Complete Guide for International Students
By Nguyen Duc Minh
Numerus Clausus (NC) in Germany: The Complete Guide for International Students
If you're applying to a German university, you'll quickly encounter the term NC — Numerus Clausus (Latin for "closed number"). Think of it as Germany's cut-off grade: the minimum average score in your Abitur (or equivalent qualification) required to gain admission to a program with restricted places.
This guide explains how the NC system works, which subjects are most competitive, how it applies to international applicants, and what you can do if your grade doesn't quite make the cut.
📌 How Does NC Work?
Not all programs have an NC. The key distinction:
| Admission Type | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Zulassungsfrei | No NC — meet the formal requirements and you're in | Mechanical Engineering, Math, Physics, CS (mostly) |
| Zulassungsbeschränkt | NC applies — ranking by grade, top-down admission | Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Law, Business (at some unis) |
For restricted programs, the process works like this: 1. The university sets the number of available study places 2. All applicants are ranked by Abitur grade (or equivalent) 3. Admission from the top down until all places are filled 4. The grade of the last admitted applicant becomes that year's NC
> 📌 The NC changes every year based on applicant numbers and grades. Last year's figure is a reference, not a fixed threshold.
One thing that often trips up international students: in Germany, lower grades are better — 1.0 is perfect, 4.0 is the minimum passing grade.
📊 Reference NC Values by Subject
| Subject | Reference NC (Abitur) | Competition Level |
|---|---|---|
| Human Medicine | 1.0 – 1.2 | Extremely high |
| Dentistry | 1.0 – 1.3 | Extremely high |
| Psychology | 1.1 – 1.5 | Very high |
| Pharmacy | 1.2 – 1.6 | Very high |
| Law | 1.3 – 1.9 | High (varies by university) |
| Business (BWL) | 1.5 – 2.5 | Medium to high |
| Media Studies | 2.0 – 2.8 | Medium |
| Mechanical Engineering | No NC | Open admission |
> ⚠️ These are indicative values only. The actual NC fluctuates year to year and differs significantly between universities.
Applications for the nationally restricted subjects Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy continue to be coordinated through Hochschulstart. Places are distributed through the current quotas, including the university selection procedure and the additional aptitude quota; universities define criteria within that framework.
🌍 NC for International Students: Key Differences
### Grade Conversion Your foreign grade — from Vietnam, China, or elsewhere — will be converted to the German Abitur scale (1.0–4.0) using a standardized formula. The most widely used is:
The grade from your Studienkolleg Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) is treated directly as an Abitur equivalent.
### Foreign Student Quota (Ausländerquote) Many universities reserve 5–10% of places for non-EU applicants. This means you compete in a separate pool — the NC for international students may differ (sometimes lower, sometimes higher) from the domestic NC.
### Required Parallel Documents The NC is just one piece of the puzzle. You'll also need: - TestDaF TDN 4 or DSH-2 (German language proficiency) - APS certificate (for applicants from Vietnam, China, and other countries where academic credentials require verification)
🔑 What To Do If Your Grade Falls Short
### 1️⃣ Accumulate Waiting Time (Wartezeit) Do not rely on the former Wartezeit quota for centrally restricted medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy: that quota was abolished. Selection now follows the current Hochschulstart quotas and university criteria, which can include aptitude tests such as TMS.
### 2️⃣ Take the TMS (for Medicine) The Test für Medizinische Studiengänge assesses aptitude relevant to medical studies. A strong TMS result can offset a slightly lower Abitur grade.
### 3️⃣ Apply to Less Competitive Universities NC values vary considerably by location and prestige. A university in a smaller or less sought-after city often has a "higher" (easier to meet) NC for the same subject.
### 4️⃣ Complete a Studienkolleg If your qualification isn't directly recognized, attend a Studienkolleg and pass the FSP with a high score — this counts as your Abitur equivalent for NC purposes.
### 5️⃣ Choose a Related Subject Without NC Example: Psychology may have NC 1.2, but Educational Science (Erziehungswissenschaft) or Social Work may be open admission. A subject change later is possible.
🔎 How to Find the NC for a Specific Program
- University website: Look under Zulassungsordnung or Bewerbung & Zulassung
- Hochschulkompass (hochschulkompass.de): Official HRK database of all German programs
- NC-Werte.de, StudyCheck: Multi-year NC comparison tools
- Uni-Assist (uni-assist.de): The central application portal most international students use
💡 Practical Tips
- Apply to 3–5 universities at different NC levels (one safety, two target, one or two reach)
- Key deadlines: July 15 for winter semester (WS), January 15 for summer semester (SS)
- A strong Motivationsschreiben (motivation letter) can make a real difference at universities running their own selection process beyond pure grade ranking
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does NC apply to Master's programs too? Master's programs typically have their own admission requirements — often a minimum Bachelor's grade plus other criteria. The NC as described here primarily applies to undergraduate (Bachelor) admission.
What does NC 1.0 mean in practice? Only applicants with a perfect 1.0 Abitur grade are admitted. This is extremely rare and usually only occurs in Human Medicine at specific universities in high-competition years.
Do I compete against German students for the same places? Usually not — most universities separate international quotas from domestic ones. You compete within the international pool (Ausländerquote).
Is there an NC for programs taught in English? English-taught Master's programs often use their own selection criteria (grades, motivation letter, sometimes GMAT/GRE) rather than a traditional NC.
If there's no NC, can any international student get in? Zulassungsfrei means no grade cut-off, but you still need to meet all formal requirements: recognized qualification, German (or English, if applicable) language proof, APS, and enrollment fees.
Explore TestDaF and TestAS preparation resources on StudienA — your dedicated platform for clearing every language and academic hurdle on the path to a German university.
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> APS update: The procedure depends on the applicant category. Published fees are US$150 for the standard undergraduate procedure and US$250 for the standard postgraduate procedure; May/November interviews concern the postgraduate procedure, while the undergraduate procedure may include TestAS.