Admission and Enrollment Policy
Version Decision Details Valid as of
Version v1 Academic Board
2016-08-24
Complete Document 2016-09-01
Version v2 Academic Board
2017-08-29
Complete Document 2017-09-01
Version v2.1 Academic Senate
2021-07-28
Revision of
Paragraph 5: Leave
of Absence
2021-09-01
Version v2.2 Academic Senate
2022-07-27
Revision of 1.1.
Bachelor Programs
– Introduction of
Entrance
Examination
Regulation
2022-09-01
1
Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
AdmissionandEnrollmentPolicy
SubjecttocompliancewithTheBremerHigherEducationAct(BremHG)thesepoliciesconstitutethe
versionwhichwillbecomevalidatJacobsUniversitystartingSeptember1
st
,2017.
Contents
1. AdmissionRequirements............................................................................................................2
1.1BachelorPrograms....................................................................................................................2
1.2Pre‐degreePrograms.................................................................................................................2
1.3MasterPrograms.......................................................................................................................2
1.4PhDStudies................................................................................................................................3
1.5Executive/Traineecertificateprograms....................................................................................3
2. Enrollment...................................................................................................................................4
2.1PrerequisitesforEnrollment.....................................................................................................4
2.2ImpedimentsofEnrollment......................................................................................................4
2.3RevocationofEnrollment..........................................................................................................4
3. Re‐enrollment..............................................................................................................................4
3.1BachelorandMasterPrograms.................................................................................................5
3.3PhDStudies................................................................................................................................5
4. ExtensionofStudies....................................................................................................................5
4.1PhDStudies................................................................................................................................5
5. LeaveofAbsence.........................................................................................................................5
6. Disenrollment..............................................................................................................................6
7. Guest‐andVisitingStudents.......................................................................................................6
7.1GuestStudents..........................................................................................................................6
7.2VisitingStudents........................................................................................................................6
7.3ExchangeStudents....................................................................................................................6
8. Pre‐degreeStudents....................................................................................................................6
9. Executive/TraineeCertificateStudents.......................................................................................7
10. LegalProvisions.......................................................................................................................7
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
1. AdmissionRequirements
AdmissiontoJacobsUniversityispossiblefor:
BachelorandMasterprograms,PhDdegrees,pre‐degree‐andexecutive/traineecertificate
programs.
JacobsUniversityreservestherightnottograntadmissionevenifapplicantsformallyfulfillthe
admissionrequirements.AdmissionatJacobsUniversitycannotbeclaimedbylegalaction.
Admissionrequirementsforthedifferentlevelsareasfollows:
1.1BachelorPrograms
TheadmissionrequirementsforstudiesleadingtoaBachelordegreeasdefinedbytheHigher
EducationActoftheCityStateofBremen,namelyby§33applyinanalogy.
Forinternationalstudents(§33(1)5.BremHG)thefollowingspecificrulesapply:
Germanlanguageproficiencyisnotrequired,insteadallapplicantsneedtosubmitproofofEnglish
proficiency.JacobsUniversityacceptscommoninternationaluniversityentrancetestssuchasSATor
ACT.
Foranystudentwhohasacquiredtherighttostudyatauniversityinthecountrywhereshe/hehas
acquiredthehighereducationentrancequalificationJacobsUniversityacceptsthecommon
internationaluniversityentrancetestsasareplacementoftheentranceexamination
(Hochschulzugangprüfung,§33(3b)BremHG).
Asanalternative,undergraduateapplicantsmayalsotaketheJacobsUniversityentrance
examinationtoreceiveasubject‐relatedentrancequalification(fachgebundeneHochschulreife).The
prerequisiteforadmissiontotheentranceexaminationistheproofofaTest‐ASresultofatleast190
points.TobeadmittedtoBachelorstudies,applicantshavetosuccessfullypasstheentrance
examinationwithatleast45%.DetailsarespecifiedintheRegulationontheEntranceExamination
forUniversityAdmissionatJacobsUniversityforApplicantsqualifiedabroad.
Applicantswhohaveasubject‐relatedentrancequalification(fachgebundeneHochschulreife)may
beadmittedonlytorespectivestudiesprograms.
1.2Pre‐degreePrograms
Theadmissionrequirementsforallpre‐degreeprogramsareinanalogytotheadmission
requirementsforBachelorprogramswiththefollowingexception:Therequirementtosubmita
commoninternationaluniversityentrancetestiswaived.
1.3MasterPrograms
TheadmissionrequirementsforstudiesleadingtoaMasterdegreearedefinedbytheHigher
EducationActoftheCityStateofBremen,namelyby§33(6).Studentswithasubject‐related
undergraduatedegreemaybeadmittedtograduatestudiesunrelatedtotheirpreviousdegree
basedonassessmentproceduresdefinedbytherespectiveprogramhandbook.Anyfurther
admissionrequirementsforMasterprogramsarespecifiedintherespectiveprogramhandbooksand
ontheuniversitywebsite.
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
ApplicantswhomeettheadmissionrequirementsareadmittedtoaspecificMasterprogramortoa
specificmastercourse.
Studentswillingtotransfertoanotherprogrammustsubmitanewapplication.Uponapprovalby
theDeanandtheprogramcoordinatoroftheMasterprogramthestudentmaybeadmittedtothe
Masterprogramheorshehasappliedfor.Asarule,atransferisonlypossibleuntilOctober1ofeach
Fallsemester.
1.4PhDStudies
PrerequisitefortheenrollmentasaPhDstudentisacompleted Master degree (or equivalent).
Fulfillmentoftherequirementsisevaluatedformally,aswellasacademicallybytheuniversity.Ifthe
formal requirements are fulfilled, the final decision on acceptancelieswiththeprospectivePhD
Advisor.
StudentsalreadyholdingaPhDdegreecannotapplyforPhDstudiesleadingtoaPhDdegreeofthe
samedenomination.
TheadmissionlettermayincludeinformationonrequirementsthatthePhDstudentneedstofulfill
withinadefinedperiodoftimeaftertheenrollmentasaPhDstudentinordertobeallowedtocontinue
andfinishhis/herPhDdegreeatJacobsUniversity.
In exceptional cases students holding a Bachelor degree may be admitteddirectlytoPhDstudies
(GrundständigePromotion).ApplicationsmustbesubmittedbythepotentialPhDAdvisor.Admission
criteriaareasfollows:
1. Applicantshavetobeamongthebest10%oftheirstudyprogram.
2. Applicantsmustsubmitascientifictransferdocument,e.g.,apublication.Thenatureofthis
transferdocumentisdeterminedbytheDeanbasedonarecommendationoftheprospective
PhDAdvisor.
3. Applicants must pass an oral examination in the respective research field evaluated by a
committeeconsistingoftheDeanoftherespectivefocusareaaswellastwofacultymembers
of the respective research field. The prospective PhD Advisor is not a member of this
committeebutmaydirectrecommendationsforpotentialmemberstotheDean.
4. Thecommitteedecidesonthescopeoftheoralexamination,butasaruleitshouldnotexceed
60minutes.
5. The committee may decide that the candidate has to attend additional courses, research
seminars,orcolloquiatoimprovethecandidate'sknowledgenecessaryforthePhDproject.
1.5Executive/Traineecertificateprograms
Theadmissionrequirementsforexecutivedegreeandcertificateprogramsincludingtrainee
certificateprogramsareasfollows:
a. Executivedegreeprograms:
Applicantsmusthavecompletedauniversitydegreeandhaveanemploymenthistoryina
relatedfield.
b. Executive/Traineecertificateprograms:
Applicantsmusthaveanemploymenthistoryinarelatedfield.
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
2. Enrollment
Enrollmentisachieved,accordingtotheprovisionoftheHigherEducationActoftheCityStateof
Bremen(§34BremHG)byregisteringforBachelorprograms,Masterprograms,pre‐degree,
executive/traineecertificateprogramsorPhDstudies.
Bachelor‐andMaster‐aswellasstudentsinpre‐degreeandexecutive/traineecertificateprograms
enrollfortheFallsemester.Inexceptionaljustifiedcases,enrollmentfortheSpringsemesteris
possible.Ingeneral,studentswhoarrivemorethanthreeweeksafterthebeginningofthesemester
willnotbeallowedtoenrollatJacobsUniversityforthatacademicyear,exceptinexceptionaland
justifiedcases.PhDstudentsaswellasexecutive/traineecertificateprogramparticipantsmayenroll
atanytimeduringtheacademicyear.
Forallstudentcategoriestheprovisionsof§36(4)BremHGarereplacedbythenecessitytosubmita
formalproofofEnglishproficiency.Inexceptionalcasesthisrequirementmaybewaived.
Allstudentsremainenrolledfortheentireregularstudyperiod(Regelstudienzeit)unlesstheymeet
orfailtheirgraduationrequirementsprematurely.AsaruletheregularstudyperiodforPhDstudies
isthreeyears.PhDstudentsmustregisterandmustremainenrolledatJacobsUniversitythroughout
theirPhDstudies.
Enrollmentasapart‐timestudentispossibleforexecutive/traineecertificateprogramsandPhD
studentsundercertainconditions.Studentswillingtoenrollpart‐timemustdirectanapplicationto
theDean.
Doubleenrollmentisonlypossibleforstudentswho,inadditiontotheirenrollmentatJacobs
University,areenrolledatanothernon‐Germanuniversity.Thismaybethecaseforexchange
studentsfromnon‐Germanuniversities.
IncaseofcooperationcontractsbetweenJacobsUniversityandanotherGermanuniversityforthe
conductofjointdegreeprograms,anenrollmentasgueststudent(Neben‐oderGasthörer)atthe
partneruniversityispossible.
2.1PrerequisitesforEnrollment
Prerequisitesforenrollmentasastudentare:
1. Fulfillmentoftheadmissionrequirementsaslistedin(1)
2. SubmissionofproofofEnglishproficiency(see2)
3. PaymentofallfeesaccordingtotheFeesRegulationofJacobsUniversity
4. Proofofhealthinsurance
5. Proofofprimaryresidence
2.2ImpedimentsofEnrollment
Applicantswillnotbeenrolledifthey:
1. Failtofulfilltheadmissionrequirementsaslistedin(1)
2. AreenrolledatanotherGermanuniversity
3. Failtosubmitthenecessarydocumentationforenrollment
4. Failtoenrollintimeforthefallsemester
2.3RevocationofEnrollment
Enrollmentofstudentswillberevokedincasethestudentpretendedtofulfilltheenrollment
prerequisitesbuthasinfactnotfulfilledtheenrollmentprer
equisites.
3. Re‐enrollment
Studentswhohavebeendisenrolledbuthavenotfinishedtheirstudiesmayapplyforre‐enrollment.
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
3.1BachelorandMasterPrograms
Re‐enrollmentisgrantedonthebasisofthepoliciesvalidatthetimeofthestudent´sre‐enrollment.
Re‐enrollmentinthesameprograminwhichastudentwaspreviouslyenrolledcannotbe
guaranteed.Studentswhohavenotcompletedtheregularstudyperiodofsix(forBachelor
programs)orfour(forMasterprograms)subjectsemesterswillingeneralbegrantedre‐enrollment.
Conditionsunderwhichare‐enrollmentisnolongerpossiblearedefinedin“Disenrollment”(6).
Theapplicationforre‐enrollmentwillbeprocessedbytheDean,thestudent'sformerAcademic
Advisor,theStudyProgramCoordinatoroftheprogramthestudentisapplyingto,andamemberof
theStudentRecordsOffice.Theuniversityreservestherighttorequiredocumentationbeyondthe
standardapplicationforre‐enrollment(e.g.medicalconfirmations,financialplan).Thecommittee
mayinvitefurtheruniversitymembers(e.g.CollegeCoordinators,Counselors)ifdeemed
appropriate.
AnapplicationforFinancialAidfromJacobsUniversityforstudentswillbeprocessedindependently
fromtheapplicationforre‐enrollment.Studentsre‐enrolledtotheuniversityhavetopaythecosts
forthefirstsemesterafterre‐enrollment,aswellasanyoutstandingbalanceontheiraccount,
beforetheycancontinuetheirstudies.Financialaidisavailablefortheexpectedstudyperiod
(Regelstudienzeit)includingthesemestersthestudentwasenrolledatJacobsUniversitybefore
his/herre‐enrollment.
3.3PhDStudies
PhDstudentswhohavebeendisenrolledfromJacobsUniversitybuthavenotyetfinishedthedegree
towhichtheyhaveoriginallybeenadmittedtomayapplyforre‐enrollment.Thefinaldecisionrests
withtheDeanafterconsultationwiththePhDadvisor.
4. ExtensionofStudies
Studentswhoarenotabletofinishtheirstudieswithintheregularstudyperiod(Regelstudienzeit)of
therespectiveprogrammustformallyapplyforanextensionofstudiestoremainenrolled.The
applicationwillbediscussedanddecideduponbytheDean,thestudent’sAcademicAdvisor,the
ProgramCoordinatorandtheStudentRecordsOffice.JacobsUniversityreservestherighttonot
approvetheapplicationforanextension.Inthiscasethestudentwillhavetoleavetheuniversity
withoutadegree.Financialconsequencesofanextensionofstudiesareregulatedintherulesand
regulationsofStudentFinancialServices.
4.1PhDStudies
PhDstudentswhoarenotabletofinishtheirstudieswithintheregularstudyperiod
(Regelstudienzeit)mustformallyapplyforanextensionofstudiestoremainenrolled.Theapplication
willbediscussedanddecideduponbytheDeanandthestudent’ssupervisor.JacobsUniversity
reservestherighttonotapprovetheapplicationforanextension.Inthiscasethestudentwillhave
toleavetheuniversitywithoutadegree.
5. LeaveofAbsence
Asarule,aleaveofabsencemaybegrantedbytheStudentRecordsOfficeforamaximumperiodof
twosemestersandafterthecompletionofatleastonesemesterofstudies.Maternity‐and/or
parentalleaveperiodsdonotcounttowardsthismaximumperiodandmayalsobegrantedinthe
firstsemester.Inexceptionalcases,e.g.,iftherearespecialrequirementsbystudyprograms,
studentsmaybegrantedaleaveofabsencealreadyinthefirstsemester.Theseexceptionsare
regulatedbytheprogramhandbooks.
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
Ingeneral,duringaleaveofabsence,nostudyachievementscanbeobtainedandnocreditsmaybe
transferredtowardsthedegreeatJacobsUniversity.Exceptionstothisrulearepossibleforexample
duringmaternity‐and/orparentalleave.Semestersinwhichstudentsareonaleaveofabsencedo
notcounttowardstheirsubjectsemesters.
6. Disenrollment
Ingeneraldisenrollmenttakeseffectattheendoftherespectivesemester.Studentsmaybe
disenrolledatanytimeuponrequest.
Studentsarealsodisenrolledincase:
1. Theysuccessfullycompletetheirstudies
2. Theydefinitivelyfailtheirstudies
3. Theydon’tfulfilltheenrollmentrequirements
4. TheyseverelybreachtheCodeofAcademicIntegrity
5. TheyseverelybreachtheCodeofConduct
6. Theyfailtoapplyforan“extensionofstudies”afterhavingcompletedtheregularstudy
period(Regelstudienzeit).
Incasesofdisenrollmentduetoreasonsoutlinedunderpoints(2),(4)and(5),re‐enrollmentisnot
possible.
7. Guest‐andVisitingStudents
7.1GuestStudents
StudentswhoareenrolledatanyotherGermanuniversitymayberegisteredasgueststudents.Asa
rulethisregistrationshouldnotexceedonesemesterexceptinjustifiedcases.Registrationasaguest
studentisnotanenrollmentasdescribedin(1,2,3).
7.2VisitingStudents
Studentswhoareenrolledatanynon‐Germanuniversitymayberegisteredasvisitingstudentsfora
definedperiodoftime,usuallyforuptotwosemesters.Studentswhoregisterasvisitingstudents
receivefullstudentstatusasdescribedin(1,2,3).Allcreditsandstudyachievementsare
transferrable.
7.3ExchangeStudents
Studentswhoareenrolledatanynon‐Germanpartneruniversity(exchangepartners)maybe
registeredasexchangestudentsforadefinedperiodoftime,usuallyforuptotwosemesters.
Studentswhoregisterasexchangestudentsreceivefullstudentstatusasdescribedin(1,2,3).All
creditsandstudyachievementsaretransferrable.
8. Pre‐degreeStudents
Participantsinpre‐degreeprogramsareadmittedandenrolledasdefinedin(1.4,2)andreceivefull
studentstatus.
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Admission & Enrollment Policy v2.2 09 2022
9. Executive/TraineeCertificateStudents
Participantsinexecutive/traineecertificateprogramsareenrolledasdefinedin(1.5)andreceivefull
studentstatus.Studentsinexecutiveandtraineecertificateprogramswillbeenrolledaccordingto
theprovisionsof§58HigherEducationActoftheCityStateofBremen.
10. LegalProvisions
Studentswhowishtofileacomplaintagainsttherulesandregulationssetforthinparagraphs3(re‐
enrollment),4(extensionofstudies)and6(disenrollment)maycontacttheCommitteeon
ExaminationandStanding.