14 - Germany - Progression of students

Progression of students at universities

University students are not classified in terms of year groups, but only according to the courses they are required to attend for the basic or advanced studies sections. If a student fails in a course, he must repeat that course only, without falling a semester behind his fellow students. In modularised study courses, the respective module must be repeated. In practice, however, failing courses usually prolongs a student's stay at university. Studienordnungen (study regulations) and Prüfungsordnungen (examination regulations) lay down the requirements for entry to a certain stage of studies. Ordinarily, intermediate and final examinations may be retaken once. In order to shorten study times in practice, this provision has been partly amended, so that failed attempts at the final examination within the Regelstudienzeit (standard period of study) are disregarded (so-called free attempts – Freiversuch).

It is generally possible to change one's course of studies, though in later semesters only under special circumstances. The proviso is that the student in question obtains a study place for the subject of his choice, via the general selection procedure if it is a course of studies with nationwide restrictions on admission. Years already spent in higher education and the courses and examinations that have been passed will be credited towards a different course of studies, provided they are deemed equivalent.

Progression of students at colleges of art and music

If a student does not gain a particular certificate which is compulsory for a given course of studies the first time around, he must repeat that course only, but not the whole semester. Intermediate and final examinations may usually be retaken once. In order to shorten study times in practice, this provision has been partly amended, so that failed attempts at the final examination within the Regelstudienzeit (standard period of study) are disregarded (so-called free attempts – Freiversuch).

Progression of students at Fachhochschulen

If a student does not complete a given course of studies the first time around, in order to obtain the relevant certificate, he must repeat that course/certificate only, but not the whole semester. In modularised study courses, the respective module must be repeated. Studienordnungen (study regulations) and Prüfungsordnungen (examination regulations) lay down the requirements for entry to a certain stage of studies. Intermediate and final examinations may usually be retaken once. In order to shorten study times in practice, this provision has been partly amended, so that failed attempts at the final examination within the Regelstudienzeit (standard period of study) are disregarded (so-called free attempts – Freiversuch).

Progression of students at establishments outside the higher education system – Berufsakademien, Fachschulen

For admission to the Diplom or final examination at Berufsakademien it is required, as a rule, that students submit the certificates they have obtained throughout their studies, that they have passed the intermediate examination ( Diplom-Vorprüfung) or have acquired the relevant qualification after completion of the basic studies section, and that they have undergone practical training in the training establishment in accordance with the training plan. The final examination may be retaken once or twice, failed attempts at the dissertation may be repeated only once. The regulations of the Länder apply for the retake of the examination and the dissertation.

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