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Applying for higher-semester entry
This information is for students who want to transfer to Saarland University from another university and continue studying the same subject, for students already at Saarland University who want to switch subjects and join the new programme in a higher semester, and those who plan to continue with their degree programme after interrupting their studies. It applies to German nationals, as well as to foreign nationals with a German higher education entrance qualification (HEEQ) and those with an HEEQ from another country. Important note: This information only applies to restricted-entry degree programmes.
If you have any questions about the SIM portals (e.g. how to log in, submit an application, etc.), please visit our help pages. There you will find information, videos and step-by-step instructions.
To access the SIM portals, please make sure that you are using the latest version of one of the following browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge) based on Chromium. Apple Safari and Internet Explorer are not fully supported at the present time.
Deadlines
Students who want to be admitted to a higher subject semester in a restricted-entry degree programme must observe the following submission deadlines:
- winter semester: 15 July
- summer semester: 15 January
Required documentation
You will need to include scans of the following documents when you submit your application for admission in the SIM portals:
- Higher education entrance qualification
- The certificate of enrolment from the university you were last studying at, including the name of the academic programme and the number of semesters studied
- Proof of proficiency in German, if applicable.
- Students transferring from another university in Germany but not changing subject must provide proof of credits earned from previous academic coursework or assessments (certificates of academic attainment, transcript of records). Students at Saarland University who are switching to a different subject and joining the new programme in a higher semester, or foreign nationals currently studying abroad who plan to transfer to Saarland University must provide evidence of any decisions made by the examination offices at Saarland University or by the relevant State Examination Office for the Accreditation of School Teachers (Staatliche Prüfungsamt) regarding academic placement assessments or recognition of transferable academic credits. If you only receive some of the required documents after you have submitted your admission application, you may upload the missing documentation via the SIM portals at a later date. In this case, the following deadlines apply: no later than 30 September if you are seeking admission in the winter semester or no later than 31 March if you are seeking admission in the summer semester. Please note that you, the applicant, are personally responsible for contacting the relevant examinations office and for uploading the necessary documentation (certificates, transcripts).
Which documents international applicants to a higher semester have to submit can be found on the pages for
Admission procedure
Students who want to be admitted into a higher semester in restricted-entry degree programme can join the programme in the winter semester only if they will then be in an odd-numbered study semester; equally, they can join in the summer semester only if they will then be in an even-numbered study semester (exceptions: Pharmaceutical Science and the clinical phase of a medical degree).
Once your application has been processed, the result will be sent to you in writing usually in the week before the start of the main teaching period or in the first week of the main teaching period. If you have not received a letter of admission by then, you should probably assume that your application was rejected. The enrolment deadline and further information about the enrolment process will be included in your letter of admission.
If you previously studied for the same degree programme elsewhere in Germany and if during that time you lost the right of examination, you will not be eligible for admission to Saarland University.
Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Science
Please submit all relevant credit transfer certificates. Note: If you are applying for admission to the clinical phase of a degree in medicine or dentistry, you are not required to submit proof of the academic credits acquired during the pre-clinical phase.
Biology, Law
Students who want to transfer from another university to study biology or law at Saarland University will need to submit a record of recognition of prior learning (Einstufungsbescheinigung).
Contact Biology:
Björn Diehl
Phone: +49 681 302-3926
bjoern.diehl(at)uni-saarland.de
Contact Law:
Silke U. Baumgärtner
Phone: +49 681 302-2003, -3100
s.baumgaertner(at)rewi.uni-saarland.de
Teacher training degrees
If you plan to switch to a teacher training degree, you will need to send us the results of your academic placement assessments for all three subjects (the two school subjects you will be studying and education science).
Contact:
Saarland University’s Central Teacher-Training Examinations Office (ZPL)
Study coordination
Phone: +49 681 302-3817
j.dausend(at)mx.uni-saarland.de
www.uni-saarland.de/zpl
Admissions Office
Saarbrücken Campus
Building A4 2, Ground floor
Phone: +49 681 302-5491
studium(at)uni-saarland.de
Admissions Office
Central Student Advisory Service
Saarbrücken Campus
Building A4 4, Ground floor
Phone: +49 681 302-3513
studienberatung(at)uni-saarland.de
Central Student Advisory Service