Numerus Clausus: What the NC Means and How University Places Are Allocated
Why the NC is not a fixed grade but the selection threshold of the last round, how the quotas for medicine and pharmacy work, and what else counts.
Education & Career2 linked calculatorsReading time: 5 min.
“You need an NC of 1.3 for this subject” is the kind of thing people often say. In fact nobody sets a grade in advance. The NC is an outcome: the grade with which the last applicant was admitted in the previous round.
Key takeaways
- Numerus clausus means a course has more applicants than places and admission is restricted.
- For human medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, after the advance quotas 30% of places go by Abitur grade, 10% without regard to grades and 60% by the universities' own criteria.
- The Abitur grade alone decides only in the best-Abitur quota; elsewhere tests, vocational training or interviews often count too.
- Past selection thresholds show what was enough last time, not a guarantee for the next semester.
What “NC” really means
Numerus clausus is Latin for “closed number”. It means a course has only a limited number of places. If applications exceed places, there is a selection. The result of that selection is colloquially called the NC: the grade or score of the last person who still got a place.
That is why the NC varies. It depends on how many people apply with which grades and how many places there are. If it was 1.5 one semester, for example, it may be higher or lower the next.
It is always worth applying
Because the NC is only known after the selection, an application can succeed even with a grade slightly above the last threshold. And where other criteria count alongside the grade, a good test result or vocational training can make up for a weaker grade.
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy: the quota model
Four subjects have nationwide restricted admission: human medicine, veterinary medicine (winter semester only), dentistry and pharmacy. Places are allocated by the Foundation for University Admissions using a fixed model. When you apply, you automatically take part in all three main quotas.
| Quota | Share of places | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Advance quotas | up to 20% | hardship cases, applicants from abroad, second degrees and those who commit to working in areas of special public need (for example as a rural doctor) |
| Best-Abitur quota | 30% | Abitur score, ranked separately for each federal state |
| Additional aptitude quota | 10% | only criteria independent of school grades, such as aptitude tests, vocational training or work experience |
| University selection procedure | 60% | depending on the university: Abitur points, aptitude test, interview, vocational training, work experience or other qualifications |
In the best-Abitur quota, a separate ranking is drawn up for each federal state so that differences in Abitur grades between states do not tip the balance. The 16 lists are then merged into one national list. The percentages refer to the places left after the advance quotas.
All other subjects: selection by the university
For all other restricted-admission courses, each university decides according to its own rules and those of its state. Many universities coordinate applications through the Dialogue-Oriented Service Procedure (DoSV) of the Foundation for University Admissions, so that places are not blocked by multiple offers. Which criteria count and whether waiting time plays a role is set out in each university's selection statutes.
Putting your own grade in context
To put your grade in context, compare it with the selection threshold of the last round at your preferred university. Example: with an Abitur grade of 2.3 you are 0.2 above a last threshold of 2.1; in a purely grade-based selection that would not have been enough last time. Whether it will be enough next time, and whether other criteria help, only the selection itself will show.
Compare your grade with the last NC
Enter your Abitur grade and the last selection threshold: the calculator shows whether the grade would have been enough.
How many points you need for a better Abitur grade is shown by the Abitur calculator.
Frequently asked questions about the NC
Where can I find the NC for a course?
Does waiting time improve my chances?
Do I need a 1.0 to study medicine?
Are there courses without an NC?
Sources
Every figure in this article comes from these primary sources or from the linked calculators, which are based on the same sources.
- Foundation for University Admissions: procedure details (quota model, selection criteria, DoSV) (accessed September 30, 2026)
- Foundation for University Admissions: legal basis (state treaty, state allocation ordinances) (accessed September 30, 2026)
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