You do not have to remain stuck with a subject with which you are not satisfied. Request to change your subject and apply for one that suits you better! There are a few aspects to consider when changing subjects. Everything you need to know can be found on this website.
Before changing subjects, there are a few things that should be clarified beforehand. Therefore, make use of the extensive services for help and advising at JGU.
When changing subjects, you will have to re-register as a student before the re-registration deadline if
- you would like to change to a non-selective subject.
- you are requesting to change to a selective subject or a selective subject combination, but would continue with your current subject in the event that you are not admitted.
You willnot have to re-register if
you have applied for a selective subject or a selective subject combination and wish to drop your current subject, regardless of the outcome. If you change subjects or accept a spot at the university, it suffices to pay the semester fee once you have received the notification that you were admitted to the new program of study.
If you are applying for a degree program in which you have not previously been enrolled, then apply for the first academic semester of your desired degree program. The same application process applies to you as for first-year students. If you wish to change to Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Dentistry, please refer to the information below.
Is the degree program to which you would like to change similar to your current program? Then you have different options:
Even if you have credits that can be transferred to the degree program you are applying for, you may still apply for the first academic semester.
Example: Change from B.Sc. Chemistry (three academic semesters completed) at JGU to the B.Sc. Biomedical Chemistry at JGU: You are applying for the first academic semester. If you are admitted and do not submit a certificate of academic semester placement, you will be enrolled in the first academic semester. You may apply for credit transfer after enrollment.
Please note: Transferring to an advanced semester at a later date is not possible.
If you would like to enter an advanced semester based on credits from a related degree program, you will need a certificate of academic semester placement. In terms of placement, we will assess whether credits from the current degree program can be carried over and allow for placement in a more advanced semester. You will receive your academic semester placement from the responsible academic advisory office of your desired subject.
Example: Change from B.Sc. Chemistry (three academic semesters completed at JGU) to the B.Sc. Biomedical Chemistry: You may apply for several advanced semesters. If you are admitted to an advanced semester, you must present your relevant academic records to the appropriate academic advisory office to determine your placement. You must then submit the certificate of academic semester placement to Student Services in order to be enrolled in the corresponding semester of the Biomedical Chemistry program.
Switching to the first semester:
You can apply at hochschulstart.de (in German).
Switching to an advanced semester:
You can apply to JGU directly.
Prerequisite for entrance into an advanced academic semester:
You current semester and your desired subject must be explicitly related.
You will need an academic semester placement for your application. You receive your academic semester placement from the responsible examination office.
Good to know:
Medicine
Recognition of coursework for students born in Rhineland-Palatinate:(in German) State Examination Office for Students of Medicine, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Psychotherapy and Dentistry at the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth, and the Provision of Care (in German)
If you were born in a German state other than Rhineland-Palatinate, you will need to refer to the state examination office of the state in which you were born. You can find the addresses and contacts of the state examination offices here (in German).
If you were not born in Germany, the following examination office is responsible for the recognition of your previous and current coursework: Düsseldorf district government
state examination offices for medicine, psychotherapy, and pharmaceutical sciences (in German)
Pharmaceutical sciences
Recognition of coursework for students who were born in Rhineland-Palatinate or who are enrolled in the pharmaceutical sciences state examination degree program in Rhineland-Palatinate: State examination office for students studying medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, psychotherapy and dentistry at the state office for social affairs, youth and care (in German)
If you are enrolled in a pharmaceutical sciences program in a German state other than Rhineland-Palatinate, you will need to contact the respective state examination office for recognition of your coursework.
If you were not born in Rhineland-Palatinate and are not enrolled in pharmaceutical sciences at a German higher education institution, the recognition of your previous and current coursework will be carried out by the following examination office: Hessian State Administration and Examination Office for the Healthcare Sector (in German)
Dentistry
Recognition of coursework for students whose primary residence is in Rhineland-Palatinate: State examination office for students studying medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, psychotherapy and dentistry at the state office for social affairs, youth and care (in German)
If your primary residence is in a German state other than Rhineland-Palatinate, please refer to your state’s examination office to obtain your recognition of coursework.
If your primary residence is not in Germany, the recognition of your previous and current coursework will be carried out by the following examination office: Thuringian State Administration Office (in German)
For students with a residence permit for the purpose of studying, the purpose of the stay is generally defined by the field of study (degree program and, if applicable, subjects), pursuant to section 16b Residence Act (AufenthG).
Changing your subject always results in a change of the purpose of your stay. You can change your degree program or subject within the first 18 months after starting your studies, even though it constitutes a change in the purpose of your stay.
A change of degree program or subject at a later time needs to be approved by the Foreigners’ Registration Office. You will need a certificate from the President’s Advisor for International Students and from the academic advisory service for your desired subject.
For more information and advising, please visit:
The academic semesters from the subject you are continuing will be retained.
Example: B.A. Sociology (major), History (minor), third academic semester: You would like to change your major from Sociology to Political Science. When applying for a change of program, you apply for the first academic semester Political Science (major). If you are admitted, you will study Political Science (major) in the first academic semester without academic semester placement, your minor in History continues in the fourth academic semester.
Apply correctly within the provided time period in order to change subjects.
You can start your application to change subjects on our application platform
Multiple applications for non-selective subjects:
We only process the application that we have most recently received from you.
Exception:
You inform us early on that you would like to study both degree programs at the same time.
Add a comment to you application or inform us via email at studsek@uni-mainz.de.
Multiple applications for non-selective and selective degree programs:
We will only process your application for the non-selective subject if you did not received a spot for the selective subject.
- Begin your application with the desired major
- In your application, select your current minor for the following academic semester.
- If you were able to change subjects, please contact the student advising office responsible for your minor in order transfer over credits and course registrations, where possible.
- Begin your application with your current major for the following semester. In this case, you keep your spot at the university.
- In your application, select your desired minor.
- Begin your application with the desired first teaching subject.
- In your application, select your current second teaching subject for the following academic semester.
- If you were able to change subjects, please contact the student advising office for educational sciences as well the student advising office for your second teaching subject in order to transfer over credits and course registrations, where possible.
- Begin your application with your current first teaching subject for the following semester. In this case, you keep your spot at the university.
- In your application, select your desired second teaching subject.
- Apply twice:
Once for the subject that you would like to study as a primary teaching subject.
Once for the subject that you would like to study as the third teaching subject. - Once you have sent off your application, please inform us via email (include both of the application numbers) that the subjects should be swapped.
- Submit the official notification of academic semester placement for both subjects.
If you would like to pursue a degree in the subject in which you are taking a third examination, follow the standard procedure for applying to study for two degrees.
If your application is approved
If you were able to change your subjects, you will find the relevant information on JOGU-StINe under Service > My documents.
Subjects with restricted admission
In JOGU-StINe, you will receive your official letter of admission and must now accept the spot. You will find all information in your official letter of admission. Only after you have accepted the spot will your change of subject be carried out.
Subjects without restricted admission
You will not receive an official letter of admission – we will directly upload your enrollment certificate to JOGU-StINe after your change of subject has been carried out.
You can now enroll in your courses on JOGU-StINe before the registration deadline and get started with your new subject.
If you received a letter of rejection
If you were not able to change subjects, you will remain enrolled in your current degree program with your current subject combination, provided you have re-registered for the following semester before the deadline.
If you have applied for a subject with restricted admission, but were not admitted, the following options are available to you:
• Be placed on the waitlist for the subject with restricted admission: You will receive information in your letter of rejection
• Apply for a subject without restricted admission
• take part in the admission lottery
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact:
Not sure what subject suits you? Don’t know what your chance of securing a place at the university is? Or just can’t decide what comes next?
Call the hotline below to make an appointment with the Student Advisory Center. They can advise you in all study-related matters.
The advisors will be happy to help you in person, by phone, or online with the following:
- Choice of degree & subject combination
- Change of subject
- Overcoming doubts & decision-making guidance
- Application strategies
- Career orientation during your studies
- And much more …
Call the hotline to make an appointment!
International students can seek advice from:
