- If you do not yet have a German degree (Abitur, Bachelor, ...), then you usually have to apply for non-restricted courses.
For more information, please contact the Admission Office.
Transfer: Changing your Degree Program
You are studying at RUB and want to change your subject or degree program? Here, you can find out exactly how the transfer works.
Changing your subject or degree program is only permitted if you have the right to study a subject with no admission restrictions (in case of subjects with admission restrictions: if you have a letter of admission). The transfer only becomes legally valid when you apply for a change of subject or degree program at the Registrar's Office. You must apply online for a change of degree program or subject during the re-registration deadlines, but at the latest by 31 May for a summer semester / by 30 November for a winter semester.
Please note: To change your subject or degree program, you must be re-registered for the following semester; this means that your social contribution must have been transferred and received - expect the respective banks to take up to six days to process your payment.
A New Start or Advanced Semester?
If you are considering changing your degree program, please contact the academic advisory office for your degree program of choice.
Please include an overview of your academic credits to date. The academic advisory office or the examination office can then advise you whether and in what form your credits will be recognized in the new subject/degree program and will make a note of this in the placement certificate, which the Registrar's Office will use to transfer you.
Placement Certificate Template (PDF)
Please note that the application for advanced semesters differs from the regular application in the first semester.
Make Sure to Check before Transferring:
- Is admission for the new subject/degree program open or restricted?
- Will your current credits be recognized? (see below)
- Can you change to an advanced semester in the new subject/degree program by having your current credits recognized?
- In the case of subjects with restricted admissions: Do the admissions restrictions also apply when changing to an advanced semester?
The Transfer Procedure
In order to transfer, you must submit an application for transfer in the relevant application and enrollment portal in due time and form and then upload your documents.
Enrolment/registration at RUB is done digitally.
As different systems are currently still operating in parallel for technical reasons, there are different ways for different groups of people. Therefore, please read the following information carefully so that you can submit your application correctly in the right portal. In order to be guided correctly, please select what you would like to apply for:
Changing your degree program without a German degree
Transfer to a non-restricted program
- Transfers to the first semester of an open-admission Bachelor's or Magister degree program are made via the RUB application portal. You must register there and will then be conveniently guided through the next steps.
You can find the link to the portal here: RUB application portal - Transfers to the first semester of an open-admission Master's degree program are made via the RUB application portal. You must register there and will then be conveniently guided through the next steps.
You can find the link to the portal here: RUB application portal - Transfers to a higher admission-free semester of a Bachelor's/Staatsexamen/Magister or Master's degree program are also made via the RUB application portal. However, the application will probably only be possible from the beginning of August.
Information on the required documents can be found in the information texts in the upload area of the RUB application portal.
For example, you will need
- for the change to a Master's degree program: written confirmation of the obligatory study subject consultation of the corresponding faculty
Find out more on the pages on the requirements for the Master's degree and application/admission for the Master's degree - if you can be placed in a higher semester in your new subject: the written certificate of placement in the higher semester
Your social contribution must have been credited to your RUB account by the time you re-register at the latest.
More about re-registration and social contribution
Transfer to an admission-restricted program
If you want to change to a subject or degree program with restricted admission, please clarify in advance whether you need to apply. This is because admission restrictions do not necessarily apply to all semesters. If your desired degree program has admission restrictions in the semester in which you wish to enroll, you must first apply. Please note that the application for higher semesters differs from the regular application in the first semester.
- Transfer to an admission-restricted first semester of a Bachelor's, Master's or State Examination degree program: Enrolment takes place via your application account in the RUB application portal
- Transfer to a higher semester of a Bachelor's, Master's or state examination degree program with restricted admission: also via the RUB application portal. However, the application is probably only possible from the beginning of August. Information on this and the deadlines can be found here: Application for a higher semester.
After the application deadline, you may receive an offer of admission. Please note the deadline stated therein, within which you must have entered all the required data and uploaded all the necessary documents for the transfer. The exact documents required for the transfer depend on the subject.
For example, you will need
- for the change to a Master's degree program: written confirmation of the mandatory academic advising of the relevant faculty
Find out more on the pages on the requirements for the Master's degree and application/admission for the Master's degree - if you can be placed in a higher semester in your new subject: the written certificate of placement in the higher semester
Further information on admission to higher semesters
Your social contribution must be credited to your RUB account by the time you transfer.
More about re-registration and social contribution
Transfer to a doctoral program
Transferring to a doctoral program at RUB is possible all year round and is not tied to the transfer deadlines of other degree programs.
Further information and a detailed explanation of the process can be found here.
Important general information
- As soon as you have an application account, you can log in at any time and submit/submit or correct documents if necessary. Subsequent submission of documents is only possible up to the deadline.
- Be careful both when entering your details and when reading the input fields, as we cannot guarantee that your application will be transferred if you enter incorrect or incomplete information.
- Only once you have uploaded your documents in full and submitted/approved the application can we check it and carry out the transfer.
- It may take some time to process your application. Keep a close eye on the processing status in the respective portal: if any documents are missing, you will be informed via the respective portal and by e-mail. You can log into the system at any time using your access data. Please refrain from inquiring about the processing status.
Important for the transfer to the Master of Education program
- Prerequisite: You must have completed and passed all examinations and coursework in the Bachelor's degree program by 30 September (if transferring to the winter semester) or by 31 March (if transferring to the summer semester). If final examinations are delayed beyond the above-mentioned period, e.g. due to illness or postponement of examination dates, permission to reschedule can be applied for informally at the Joint Examination Board (GPA) M.Ed. For further information, please contact the PSE counseling service.
- Deadlines: Transfer to the Master of Education degree program takes place no later than November 30th for the winter semester and no later than May 31st for the summer semester.
Additional information
Changing your degree program and BAföG
Changing your degree program may make you ineligible for BAföG.
Get Advice
For all students who have had doubts about their studies for a long time, we recommend the counseling and support services offered by the Central Student Advisory Service for students who have doubts about their studies and want to drop out.
Registrar’s Office