Notice of Rejection – Leibniz University Hannover

1. The succession procedure

There may be applicants who received admission before you, but who decide not to accept the place offered to them. Places that remain vacant are then offered to other applicants on the list. This process is called the succession procedure.

2. For the spontaneous: the lottery

If applicants who have been admitted to a degree programme withdraw just before the course starts, these places are awarded to other applicants in a lottery. It could therefore be the case that you were not offered a place, but that places become available at short notice nonetheless! It is important to know that anyone interested can take part in the lottery, regardless of whether they have applied previously. You can “apply” for several degree programmes in the lottery.

3. New choice of degree programme: programmes with open admissions

Undergraduate degree programmes with unrestricted admissions often have a longer enrolment period. At Leibniz Universität Hannover, the enrolment period ends on 30 September each year. If, therefore, you receive a rejection for a programme subject to admissions restrictions, you may still register for a degree programme with open admissions. It is also possible that your degree programm of choice has unrestricted admissionat another university. This can be checked at www.hochschulkompass.de.

It may seem a good idea in the short run to enrol “anywhere”, in the belief that the time of starting university is more important than the degree programme pursued. However, you should ask yourself whether your alternative choice of degree programme will satisfy you in the long run, or whether you ought to wait for a later admission to your original degree programme after all.

4. Changing programmes, changing universities and lateral entry

Some applicants consider it important to start university as soon as possible. They register on a degree programme with open admissions and hope to change courses or universities at a later date. Several possibilities exist for changing courses and universities, but there is no guarantee of success:

Lateral entry
Application for a place on a higher semester in a similar programme (e.g. Chemistry – Biochemistry)
This is only possible when credits are transferred and the applicant is accepted to a higher semester
This is only possible if places are available in a higher semester
Please note: you will have to reapply!
The same deadlines apply!
The fact that you are already enrolled does not give you any advantage: you will take part in the selection procedure together with all other applicants.
Caution: there may be restrictions for BAföG receipients wishing to change programmes! (German language only)
Changing degree programmes
Completely new degree programme
Application for admission to the first semester
Previously earned credit cannot be transferred
Please note: you will have to reapply!
The same deadlines apply!
The fact that you are already enrolled does not give you any advantage: you will take part in the selection procedure together with all other applicants.
Caution: there may be restrictions for BAföG receipients wishing to change programmes! (German language only)
Changing universities
The same degree programme at a different university
Application as a transfer student for admission to a higher semester
Watch out for any similarities or differences between the degree programmes and maybe modules, as well as combinations of subjects! (e.g. Teacher Training)
only possible if there are free places available in the higher semester

There is a risk that you will not be offered a place once again, because your grades have not improved, nor has the number of semesters spent waiting for a place increased.

5. The safest alternative: accumulate waiting time

Concerning waiting times: those who have waited the longest will be offered a place! As long as you are not enrolled at a German university or university of applied sciences, you will automatically accumulate semesters of waiting time – regardless of the activities you undertake in the meantime.

There is no such thing as an automatic waiting list that you remain on until the university contacts you after several months or years. The waiting list is only ever applicable for the current application procedure. You must reapply for every semester for which you want to start the programme. The semesters of waiting time required is not set beforehand, nor is the NC. These figures are always calculated within the application process, and cannot be predicted in advance. The results of past years only provide an indication of what is needed. For more information, go to admission limits.

Don't know what to do? Contact the Student Advisory Services to find help.

To the Student Advisory Services

BRIDGING OPPORTUNITIES WHILE WAITING FOR A PLACE

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship in an area related to the subject you wish to study will not only ensure you acquire practical basic knowledge – it may also enable you to practice this occupation part-time while studying at university. Working part-time in a skilled occupation is more lucrative than taking on unskilled work, making it much easier for you to finance your studies.

Apprenticeships: www.arbeitsagentur.de/en
and www.BERUFEnet.de (German language only)
Periods abroad
The period between leaving school and starting university is the ideal time to go abroad, regardless of the nature of your stay. Whether you opt for Work and Travel, au pair work or an internship abroad – you will always gain valuable insight into the foreign culture. It will also give you the ideal opportunity to learn a new foreign language or to expand on foreign language skills acquired at school.
Internships abroad offered by ZAV (International and Specialised Services): www.ba-auslandsvermittlung.de (German language only)
Work and travel: www.rausvonzuhaus.de (German language only
Volunteering
Established options for demonstrating civic commitment are completion of a voluntary social year or a voluntary ecological typo3/year. The Federal Voluntarytypo3/ Service (BFD) is another option for volunteering in various areas, such as sport or culture.
Germany:
www.bmfsfj.de (policy areas / voluntary engagement) (German language only),
www.foej.de (German language only)
and www.pro-fsj.de (German language only)
Europe: www.go4europe.de (Jugend für Europa – European voluntary service) (German language only)
Worldwide:
www.entwicklungsdienst.de (German language only)
and www.weltwaerts.de/en/
Volunteering:
www.ehrenamt.de (German language only)
and www.freiwilligenzentrum-hannover.de (German language only)
Temporary work

Finally, you can bridge the time before starting your chosen degree programme by doing temporary work and save some money for your studys.

Notice of rejection? Now what?