A second degree is the completion of a second undergraduate degree program after you have already earned a first degree. First degrees include bachelor’s degrees, Diplom, Magister, and state examinations from universities or universities of applied sciences, as well as bachelor’s degrees from accredited vocational academies and dual higher education institutions.
You are studying for a second degree if you enroll in another degree program on the same degree level after completing your first degree.
A master’s degree program builds on a bachelor’s degree program. So if you choose a master’s degree program after completing your undergraduate studies (e.g., a bachelor’s degree), this does not count as studying for a second degree.
However, if you start another undergraduate degree program after completing your first undergraduate degree program – for instance, if you wish to earn a second bachelor’s degree after having already earned a bachelor’s degree, this is considered studying for a second degree. If you have already completed a master’s degree and would like to complete another master’s degree, this program is also subject to tuition fees, but counts as a graduate degree program that builds on another degree program.
If you start studying for a second degree, you will also have to pay tuition fees in addition to your semester fee. A degree earned abroad may result in mandatory tuition fees.
3% of the spots in selective degree programs are allocated to applicants who want to pursue a second degree.
You are considered a second degree applicant if the degree certificate for your first degree was issued by the application deadline. If your certificate was issued after the application deadline, you are applying to a first degree program.
If you completed your first degree at a university abroad, you are considered a first degree applicant.
If you would like to enroll in a selective degree program to earn a second degree, you must include in your application the reasons why a second degree is necessary for you. This explanation and the grade you earned in your first degree are key to determining whether or not you receive a spot.
We allocate spots to students pursuing a second degree in selective degree programs based on index numbers. The higher the index number, the better your chance of receiving a spot. Half of the index number is comprised of the points you receive for the grade you earned for your degree, and the other half is comprised of the points you receive for the reasons you gave for pursuing a second degree.
You can find binding information in Appendix 1 of the Rhineland-Palatinate state laws governing the allocation of spots (in German).
You must apply to a second degree program on the correct application portal by the deadline and submit any required documents by regular mail.
