Finding a study place means knowing the deadlines, portals and waiting-list procedures (Nachrückverfahren). This hub explains the basics of free places and links every guide on study choice, applications and admission for 2027. To see how the ranking and waiting times fit together, read NC and University Waiting Time: How to Apply.
In short: Free study places are allocated in the waiting-list procedure (Nachrückverfahren) according to the ranking, where the admission process provides for it. If you want to move up, you usually have to register your interest in the applicant portal, and the response deadlines are often very short. Binding application deadlines are published by the universities and allocation bodies. Last updated: November 2026.
What Matters Most
- Free places arise when applicants do not take up a place or when the procedure leaves places unfilled. In the waiting-list procedure they go to applicants according to the ranking.
- If you want to take part in the waiting-list procedure, you usually have to declare this in the applicant portal. Without that declaration you are not considered.
- In the medical admissions procedure in North Rhine-Westphalia, the response deadlines are only a few days long according to the information sheet of the LfGA NRW.
- Swapping a study place, waiting semesters and lawsuits for a study place are separate routes with their own rules.
- Check application deadlines directly with the university or the responsible allocation body before every application.
What are free study places and how are they allocated?
Free study places are places that remain unfilled after the first allocation round or become free again. Whether and how they are allocated depends on the degree programme, the procedure and the responsible body. For admission-restricted subjects, allocation often runs through application portals. In medicine in North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, it runs through the portal of the state office.
| Procedure | What happens | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Places are allocated according to the selection criteria | Submit documents and registration on time |
| Waiting-list procedure (Nachrückverfahren) | Free places go to applicants on the ranking list | Declaration in the portal and short response deadlines |
| Study place swap (Studienplatztausch) | A place is exchanged with another person | Observe the rules of the universities involved |
| Late registration (Nachfrist) | Enrolment or admission outside the regular deadlines | Check the university’s special rules |
The guides below go deeper into swaps, late registration and the ranking (in German):
- Studienplatz tauschen: So funktioniert der Tausch zwischen Hochschulen (in German)
- Immatrikulation nach Fristende: Was Nachzügler tun können (in German)
- Hochschulzulassung und Quoten: Vorabquote, Wartequote und Auswahlquote (in German)
How does the waiting-list procedure work?
For the medical procedure in North Rhine-Westphalia, the information sheet of the LfGA NRW describes the sequence. The steps can be transferred to other procedures, but you should always check the deadlines on the relevant portal.
- Check in the applicant portal whether you were allocated a place in the first round. In many procedures you learn this in advance.
- Declare in the portal whether you want to take part in the waiting-list procedure. Without this declaration you do not participate.
- Respond to the deadlines in good time. If you want a place, you must reply, otherwise it goes to other applicants.
- Check your emails and spam folder regularly. The information sheet explicitly recommends this.
- In the medical procedure in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (foundation for university admission) issues the admission notice. Complete your enrolment on time afterwards.
Medicine and health-related subjects
Medical studies have special selection routes that differ by federal state and quota. The rural doctor quota (Landarztquote) is a separate route with a binding service obligation, and studying medicine without a top Abitur grade follows different requirements.
- Landarztquote: So bewirbt man sich und welche Fristen gelten (in German)
- TMSnat 2027: Was sich beim Medizinertest ändert und was du wissen musst (in German)
- Medizinstudium ohne Einser-Abitur: Auswahlwege im Überblick (in German)
- Landarztquote in den Bundesländern: Wo es sie gibt und wie sie laufen (in German)
- Landarztquote: Vertragsbindung und was bei einem Ausstieg gilt (in German)
- Pharmazie studieren: Zulassung, NC und Bewerbung (in German)
Subjects with their own admission rules
Some subjects assess more than grades, for example through aptitude tests, selection interviews or a portfolio. The guides on individual subjects and procedures explain what matters.
- Jura studieren: Zulassung, NC und Bewerbung an der Uni (in German)
- Psychologie studieren: Zulassung, NC und Bewerbung (in German)
- Lehramt studieren: Fächer, Zulassung und Bewerbung (in German)
- Mappe fürs Kunststudium: Aufbau und Eignungsprüfung (in German)
- Probestudium: Was es ist und wer daran teilnehmen kann (in German)
- Eignungstest fürs Studium: Was er prüft und wie du dich vorbereitest (in German)
- Auswahlgespräch fürs Studium: Fragen und Vorbereitung (in German)
Applications, documents and deadlines
The application differs by university and semester. The guides show documents, process and deadlines, and help you choose between the summer and winter semester.
- Hochschulstart: Was bei zulassungsbeschränkten Fächern zählt (in German)
- Bewerbung Wintersemester 2027/28: Fristen, Unterlagen und Ablauf (in German)
- Bewerbung Sommersemester 2027: Zulassungsbeschränkte Fächer im Blick (in German)
- Uni online bewerben: Schritt für Schritt durch das Bewerbungsportal (in German)
- Bewerbung Studium Checkliste: Unterlagen, Fristen und Termine (in German)
- Motivationsschreiben fürs Studium: Aufbau, Länge und Beispiel (in German)
- Masterbewerbung: Zulassungsvoraussetzungen, Fristen und Unterlagen (in German)
- Mehrfachbewerbung an Hochschulen: Lohnt sich das? (in German)
- Studienfachberatung der Hochschule: Termin finden und gut vorbereiten (in German)
- Sommersemester oder Wintersemester: Welcher Studienstart zu dir passt (in German)
Study choice and preparation
Before you apply, a sound decision about subject, study format and preparation pays off. The guides here cover orientation and bridging courses.
- Studium oder Ausbildung: Entscheidungshilfe nach dem Abi (in German)
- Studienwahltest: Welche Tests bei der Studienorientierung helfen (in German)
- Studienberatung der Arbeitsagentur: Hilfe bei der Studienwahl (in German)
- Brückenkurs Mathe vor dem Studium: Vorkurs und Auffrischung (in German)
- Orientierungssemester: Was es bringt und wann es sich lohnt (in German)
School-leaving qualification and eligibility
Grades and certificates often decide which degree programmes are open to you. The guides below explain routes to eligibility and grade improvement.
- Abitur 2027: Prüfungstermine und Anmeldung im Überblick (in German)
- Abiturnote umrechnen: So berechnest du deinen Schnitt für die Bewerbung (in German)
- Abitur verbessern: Notenverbesserung und ihr Nutzen für die Bewerbung (in German)
- Fachhochschulreife nachholen: Wege zur Studienberechtigung (in German)
Admission, waiting times and legal steps
If admission fails, there are routes such as hardship applications, counting waiting semesters or legal steps. They are tied to conditions.
- Studienplatzklage: Wann eine Klage um einen Studienplatz Sinn ergibt (in German)
- Wartesemester im Studium: Wie sie gezählt und angerechnet werden (in German)
- Härtefallantrag für einen Studienplatz: Wann er möglich ist (in German)
- Hochschulwechsel: Anerkennung von Leistungen und Bewerbung (in German)
Other routes
Beyond the classic degree there are routes such as scholarships, dual models or a second degree.
- DiscoverEU: So läuft die Bewerbung für 18-Jährige ab (in German)
- DAAD-Stipendium: Bewerbung, Fristen und Voraussetzungen für Studierende (in German)
- Duales Studium bewerben: Fristen, Auswahlverfahren und Unterlagen (in German)
- Zweitstudium beginnen: Zulassung, Bewerbung und Voraussetzungen (in German)
Frequently asked questions
What does waiting-list admission (Nachrücken) mean?
Waiting-list admission means that a place not filled in the first round goes to applicants on the ranking list. You usually have to register your interest actively in the portal.
Can I swap a study place?
A swap is possible under certain conditions. The universities set the rules. The guide on swapping study places (in German) shows the steps between universities.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
Anyone who misses a deadline in the waiting-list procedure is generally excluded from that procedure. Enrolment after the deadline follows separate rules, which the guide explains (in German).
When is a lawsuit for a study place worthwhile?
Whether a lawsuit makes sense depends on the individual case. The guide on lawsuits for a study place (in German) shows what matters. Only legal advice can give a binding assessment.
Do these procedures also apply to the 2027/28 winter semester?
Procedures differ by subject and university. The universities set the deadlines for the 2027/28 winter semester. The guide on applying for that semester (in German) helps with orientation.
What to do now
- First check whether your subject is admission-restricted and which portal handles the allocation.
- Note the deadlines of the universities and set reminders before the windows close.
- Check the applicant portal, your emails and your spam folder regularly.
- In a waiting-list procedure, respond to the response deadlines immediately and keep your documents ready.
Related reading
- NC and University Waiting Time: How to Apply
- Studying Without Abitur: Routes, Rules and Funding (in German)
Sources: Landesamt für Gesundheit und Arbeit Nordrhein-Westfalen (LfGA NRW), information sheet on the waiting-list procedure (no date in the document, in German), lzg.nrw.de.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
