NC restrictions continue to fall in Germany, but Berlin still blocks over half of study programs

National trend

The share of study programs with a Numerus Clausus (NC), selection procedure or aptitude test fell to 31.6% for the coming winter semester, according to the annual analysis by the CHE Centre for Higher Education. Six years ago, in 2018/19, the figure stood at 41%, and it has declined almost every year since. Compared with the previous winter, the rate dropped by 0.9 percentage points.

The so-called Numerus Clausus is losing importance for prospective students in Germany. The chances of studying the desired course at the desired university have probably never been as good as they are now.

Regional divide

The national average masks wide gaps between federal states. Berlin tops the list with 53.5% of offerings restricted, followed by Baden-Württemberg (46.2%) and Saarland (44.1%). At the other end, Thüringen (16.8%), Brandenburg (17.2%) and Rheinland-Pfalz (17.3%) have the fewest hurdles. In Thüringen, only 9% of programs in Jena and 4% in Erfurt are restricted.

Subject differences

Admission barriers also vary sharply by field. Law, economics, social sciences and related disciplines are the most restricted at 36.2% nationwide. Mathematics and natural sciences follow at 28.1%, while engineering programs are restricted in only 24.3% of cases. Language and cultural studies remain the most open, with fewer than one in five offerings requiring an NC or test.

State snapshots

Bayern is a notable exception to the downward trend: its restriction rate rose from 30.3% to 34.2%. CHE researchers link the increase to the return of the nine-year Gymnasium (G9), which temporarily reduced the number of Abitur graduates in 2025 and led universities to suspend restrictions that are now being reinstated. In Sachsen, the rate held steady at 34.4%, though Leipzig (58%) is far more restrictive than Dresden (34%). Niedersachsen saw a marked decline, especially for bachelor’s programs and at universities of applied sciences. Saarland’s rate, while still high at 44.1%, has fallen sharply from 64.1% three years ago.

Methodology

The CHE analysis draws on the HRK Hochschulkompass database, covering roughly 22,700 study programs for winter semester 2026/27 as of late May 2026. A program is counted as restricted if it requires an NC, a selection procedure or an aptitude test. The data show that universities of applied sciences (HAW) generally have lower restriction rates than traditional universities, and master’s programs are slightly less restricted than bachelor’s.