All semesters of a degree program after the first semester are considered "higher semesters". This means that if you have already completed coursework at KIT or at another university, you are able to habe them credited and applied for a higher semester. Some of the degree programs at KIT have admission restrictions not only in the first semester, but also in the second or higher semester. Please refer to the information pages of the desired degree program to find out whether your degree program is also subject to admission restrictions in the second or higher semester.

Consultation necessary from the third academic semester onwards

According to the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (§60 Para. 2, No. 4 LHG), a change of degree program in the third or higher semester is subject to a mandatory consultation. If you are in your third or higher semester and wish to change your degree program, you must enclose a Beratungsnachweis (attestation about talking part in a mandatory consultation session) with your application for admission. You can obtain the Beratungsnachweis from the Student Advisory Services (ZSB) or from the academic advisors responsible for the degree program you wish to change to.

Why the need for a mandatory consultation?

There are many questions to consider when changing your degree program:

  • is your desired change even possible (e.g. if you lose your entitlement to an examination)?
  • is it possible or sensible to start in a higher semester?
  • will I lose my BAföG funding? How will I finance myself then?
  • is the planned change really the best solution or am I "jumping from the frying pan into the fire"? Are there different options that are possibly more sensible?

In order for the new choice to be successful, this step must be carefully considered and well planned. You certainly wouldn't want to have to consider another change of your degree program on top. For this reason, taking part in a consultation session is mandatory after your 3rd academic semester. Your primary contact at KIT is the Student Advisory Services (ZSB). If you were only enrolled in the degree program for one or two semesters, you can take advantage of sucha consultation session on a voluntary basis.