Universität Bielefeld
Enrolment
You will generally enrol (matriculate) for a degree programme covering one or more subjects. You can find out which combinations of subjects are possible by referring to the specific examination regulations or the corresponding study regulations
➥ General information
➥ Guides for applicants
➥ Info on the enrolment documents
➥ Enrol now
➥ Requirements
➥ FAQs
➥ After enrolment
Enrol now
General information
The enrolment procedure at Bielefeld University
A successful application is always required before enrolment. However, in the case of applications that are completely exempt from admission, the request for enrolment can subsequently be submitted directly online.
Bielefeld University uses a written enrolment procedure. It is not necessary to attend in person. If necessary, enrolment can be carried out by a representative (➥ written power of attorney for representative (PDF)).
The enrolment documents must be summitted to the Studierendensekretariat (Student Office) by the closing dates for registration.
For degree programmes with restricted admission, there is one enrolment deadline. You will be informed of this deadline separately in the notice of admission sent to you by email. If you fail to enrol by the deadline stated, then your notice of admission will no longer be valid.
In principle, you can only enrol / matriculate as a full-time ‘regular’ student [Haupthörer*in]; if you wish to enrol as an occasional student (Gasthörer*in) at the University or as a visiting student (Zweithörer*in), special regulations apply.
Furthermore, there are special requirements for applicants with educational certificates from abroad or in a foreign language.
Guide to enrolment at Bielefeld University
What is the procedure for enrolment?
You can find instructions on the enrolment process and information on clearing (where applicants are offered unfilled places) under the following links according to the outcome of your application.
➥ Combined Bachelor's degree/ Combined Bachelor's degree with teaching option
➥ 1-subject Bachelor's degree and 1st law examination
➥ Rejection/ clearing procedure
➥ Information on changing degree programme or the transition to a Master's programme
Enrolment documents
Which documents do you have to submit?
You can find out which documents you have to submit in order to enrol from the respective notice of admission. More detailed information on these documents is available online on the enrolment procedure info page.
Requirements
- Enrolment requirements
- Admission requirements
In addition to the university entrance qualification (usually the Abitur in Germany), some degree programmes require applicants to fulfil prerequisites related to the subject in order to study them. Admission requirements may be on the basis of qualitative selection, for example the applicants needs to have passed an aptitude test in order to study on the degree programme. You can find more information on the aptitude tests/ specific admission requirements page.
- Selection requirements
Selection requirements are those requirements that have to be fulfilled in order to be selected for a place in degree programmes in which only a limited number of places are available, for example programmes with local admission restrictions (Numerus Clausus). Typical admission or selection criteria include the average grade of the school leaving certificate, the waiting period (time accrued between completing the school leaving certificate and application) or results of relevant tests or selection interviews.
You can find out which special requirements might be relevant for you or which documents you have to submit in detail for enrolment in the following drop-down menus.
Please note that for applicants with qualifications obtained outside Germany there are specific instructions and application documents should be sent either to Uni-Assist (Bachelor's degree) or directly to Bielefeld University (Master's degree/doctorate).
- International
Furthermore, there are special requirements for applicants with educational certificates from abroad or in a foreign language.
- Subject-specific evidence
For certain degree courses, proof of proficiency in the subject must be submitted in addition to the general documents required when enrolling. These include, among others, evidence of language skills, musical or artistic aptitude tests, medical attestations or certified assessments. More about (subject-) specific admission requirements / aptitude tests
FAQs on enrolment
- In which cases can I enrol directly without applying?
- What happens if I miss the enrolment deadline?
- Can I authorise another person to enrol on my behalf?
Is it possible to authorise a person that you trust to enrol on your behalf. To do this, you need to give the person an informal, written power of attorney (PDF). The authorised person must present this document when enrolling etc. at the University. It is essential that all the necessary documents are ready at the time of enrolment. It is also important that this person regularly opens your post or downloads notifications in the online portal during the period of your absence so that no deadlines are missed. The deadlines for enrolment will be stated in the respective notifications.
- How do I withdraw my enrolment?
If you have submitted your enrolment application but have not yet paid your semester fees and do not wish to take up your studies, please send a short message via the contact form to the student office. After inputting some personal details you can indicate that you are withdrawing your enrolment in the message box. It is not possible to withdraw your enrolment application by telephone.
Here you can find further information on the theme of exmatriculation.
- If I withdraw my enrolment, can I also get back the fees I have already paid?
If you initially re-enrol, but then exmatriculate by 15 May at the latest in the summer semester or by 15 November at the latest in the winter semester then the social contribution can be reimbursed on a pro-rata basis if the following conditions are met:
- If you can show that the Unicard has not been validated for the semester in question
- You have confirmation from your faculty that you have not completed further coursework or examinations in the semester in question or that you have been accepted by another higher education institution (notice of admission).
The money for the NRW-Ticket will be proportionally reimbursed by the AStA from 1 April and 1 October respectively; therefore, please contact the AStA directly.
You can also find this information on the application form for exmatriculation, which you can download from the forms section of the Student Office.
If you have submitted your enrolment application but have not yet paid your semester fees and do not wish to take up your studies, please send a short message via the contact form to the Student Office. After inputting some personal details you can indicate that you are withdrawing your enrolment in the message box. It is not possible to withdraw your enrolment application by telephone.
- Can I submit the majority of the documents in advance and submit some additional documents later, for example if I am waiting for a certificate?
- For enrolment into the Bachelor’s Degree/ first-time enrolments:
No. All enrolment documents must be submitted on time and in full. Incomplete documents will not be accepted or will be returned unprocessed.
Please allow for the time it takes for the application documents to reach Bielefeld University (by post).
Please note the guidance on the documents to be submitted which will be included on your notice of admission.
- For enrolment into the Master’s programme, the following applies:
Please note the guidance on the documents to be submitted included in your notification of admission.
If the Bachelor's degree certificate is not yet available at the time of enrolment/transfer to the Master's programme, proof of passing the Bachelor's degree from the examination office (4.0 certificate, provisional proof of passing, etc.) is sufficient. In this case, the Bachelor's certificate (certified copy) must be submitted later in the current semester.
- Can I also submit copies of the original or copies of a certified document?
- Can't I just send the documents as an attachment by email?
After you have enrolled
Those who have enrolled online via the application and status portal will – after the application has been received by post and processed in the Student Office – be provided with a new first page in the check sheet for online enrolment as a PDF document which states the semester fee to be paid, the bank details for payment of the semester fees, as well as the (future) matriculation number and an initial password. As soon as the semester fee has been booked, you will no longer have access via the application account. You can then register with your new matriculation number and password (on the portal, however, please use the link “Log in as an enrolled student”).
Students who have enrolled by other means will receive the relevant information by post.
If you have not saved or lost your matriculation number and initial password, you will receive this information again as a newly enrolled student by email to the email address registered in the portal, with the subject First Steps in Campus Management.