Applicants to restricted degree programmes in Germany quickly encounter terms such as pre-allocation, Abitur grade quota or selection quota. University admission quotas (in German: Zulassungsquoten) govern how the available places are distributed across different groups of applicants. This guide explains the terms, shows the shares according to the information of one university and helps you see which quota could apply to you.
Short answer: In applications through Hochschulstart, special quotas are deducted first. The rest is then distributed between the Abitur grade quota, with 30 percent per study location, the additional aptitude quota, with 10 percent of nationwide places, and the selection by universities, with 60 percent. The University of Hamburg gives 8 October 2026 as the date of its page. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Before the main allocation, special quotas are deducted, for example for hardship cases or second-degree applicants.
- According to the University of Hamburg, the Abitur grade quota makes up 30 percent per study location.
- The additional aptitude quota of 10 percent follows criteria that do not depend on school grades and are set by the universities.
- In the selection by universities, which covers 60 percent of places, university-specific criteria apply.
- According to the University of Hamburg, waiting time has not played a role since the summer semester 2022.
Which quotas apply to allocations through Hochschulstart?
The University of Hamburg describes the selection procedure of hochschulstart.de and distinguishes between special quotas, which are deducted in advance, and main quotas, which are allocated from the remaining places. The table reproduces the page’s structure.
| Quota | Share according to the University of Hamburg | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigners without equal status to Germans | 5 percent (in advance) | Special quota, deducted per study location |
| Second-degree applicants | 3 percent (in advance) | Special quota, deducted per study location |
| Hardship cases | 2 percent (in advance) | Special quota, deducted per study location |
| Persons nominated by the Bundeswehr | Medicine 2.2 percent, dentistry 1.4 percent, veterinary medicine 0.1 percent, pharmacy 0.5 percent (in advance) | Special quota by subject |
| Vocationally qualified applicants without other entitlement | 0.2 percent (in advance, state quota in Hamburg) | The page lists this quota for Hamburg |
| Abitur grade quota | 30 percent per study location | Overall Abitur grade, ranked nationwide |
| Additional aptitude quota | 10 percent of nationwide places | Criteria independent of school grades |
| Selection by universities | 60 percent | University-specific criteria |
The table shows two levels. At the top are the special quotas, deducted in advance, and below are the main quotas for the rest. For your application, it is usually decisive which quota you fall into. Someone who meets the requirements of a special quota applies under a different procedure than someone applying on the basis of an Abitur grade.
What is the pre-allocation?
The pre-allocation combines the special quotas that are deducted before the actual distribution. According to the University of Hamburg, these shares are deducted per study location before the main quotas are formed. They include quotas for applicants without German equal status, for second-degree applicants, for hardship cases, for persons nominated by the Bundeswehr and, in Hamburg, for vocationally qualified applicants.
Whether you belong to one of these groups must be clarified in your individual case. The university you apply to describes the requirements. Pay particular attention to evidence, because without it the classification cannot be made.
What is the Abitur grade quota?
The Abitur grade quota allocates 30 percent of places per study location according to the overall Abitur grade, and applicants are compared nationwide. According to the University of Hamburg, those admitted through this quota no longer take part in the selection by universities. For this quota, the grade is therefore the central factor. Our article on converting your Abitur grade (in German) explains how to determine it.
What lies behind the selection quota?
The selection by universities covers 60 percent of places and follows criteria set by each university. Depending on the university and the degree programme, these can include interviews, tests, motivation letters or work experience. Which criteria apply is stated in the information of the respective university, so check the programme carefully before you apply, because criteria can differ by university and subject.
The additional aptitude quota sits between the two procedures. According to the University of Hamburg, it follows criteria that are not tied to school grades and are set by the universities.
Why waiting time no longer counts for many applicants
Many older guides describe waiting time as an important criterion for admission. The University of Hamburg states that waiting time has not played a role since the summer semester 2022, and it does not list a waiting-time quota. If you read older guides saying that waiting semesters decide access, compare them with current information. More on the mechanics of admission and waiting times is in our article NC and waiting time at university (in German).
What the shares mean for your subject
The percentages look at first sight like a calculation with fixed places. In practice, the effect depends on the number of places per study location. If only a few places are allocated at a university, a handful of applications in one quota can change the picture considerably. It is therefore worth looking at the university’s figures on the places actually allocated, rather than only at the percentages.
For applicants with a very good Abitur grade, the Abitur grade quota can be particularly relevant. For everyone else, the selection by universities and the additional aptitude quota play a larger role. If you meet the requirements of a special quota, collect the evidence early so that the classification happens without delay. The distribution therefore follows fixed rules that you can read up on.
However, looking at the percentages does not replace checking your own degree programme. Some subjects are open for admission and do not fall under this distribution at all. Others are restricted only in part and use only some quotas. Clarify this for each subject you apply for.
Frequently asked questions
Does this distribution apply to every university?
No. The figures come from the University of Hamburg and describe the procedure via hochschulstart.de. Universities with their own procedures, degree programmes without selection and individual subjects can differ. Check the rules of the university you apply to.
Are the percentages the same every year?
The page does not show this. The University of Hamburg gives its status as 8 October 2026, so the figures apply to that date. Look up current values yourself before you apply.
Can I apply in several quotas at the same time?
That depends on the procedure. Allocation through the Abitur grade quota means you are no longer considered in the selection by universities. Plan your applications so that you know the effect of each quota.
What is a state quota?
A state quota is a quota that a federal state sets for its own universities. The University of Hamburg names such a quota for vocationally qualified applicants and notes that Hamburg’s state law does not provide for a rural doctor quota. Other states may regulate this differently.
What to do now
- Check whether your degree programme is restricted and which procedure allocates its places.
- Read the quota assignment in the university’s documents and clarify whether you meet a special quota.
- Convert your overall Abitur grade according to the university’s rules if it counts for the Abitur grade quota.
- Note the deadlines and evidence that apply to your quota and keep the documents ready.
Related articles
- Finding a study place: free places and waiting procedures overview (in German)
- NC and waiting time: how to apply successfully (in German)
- Hochschulstart: what counts for restricted subjects (in German)
- Medical studies without a top Abitur grade: selection routes (in German)
Sources: Selection procedure of hochschulstart.de, University of Hamburg (dated 8 October 2026) (in German). The shares follow this page and can change.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
