In the case of degree programs with admission restrictions, it is difficult to predict in advance whether an application to a higher semester will be successful. Previous experience is also not very helpful, as each semester has different students who must decide whether they want to continue at their current university or give up their places. Unfortunately, we can only fill spaces that become available with students wishing to transfer to our university.
General information on swapping university places
- As well as applying to the university you want to transfer to, you should also make an effort to find other students who are willing to swap places. Transferring to another university always requires that both students are studying the same degree program in the same semester and have made similar progress in their degree programs. After an agreement has been reached, both students looking to transfer must sign a binding written declaration that they are giving up their places and the universities involved must also approve the transfer.
- Students should also check before transferring that their university entrance qualification and their course achievements and examinations are recognized by the university at the new location by contacting the student records office and the examinations office there.
- New students seeking to swap their place at university before commencing their studies can only do so after they have enrolled.
- The information regarding transferring university also applies to students studying medicine at Erlangen/Bayreuth.
Tips for looking for someone to swap places with
- Online platforms
A number of platforms are available online to help you with your search. The “Verein zur Förderung studentischer Belange e.V. (VSB)” in Bonn is one of the most well-known swap forums, available at studienplatztausch.de. - Timing for search
The best time for applications for swapping university places is from the beginning of October until the end of February for the summer semester and from the beginning of April until the end of August for the winter semester. New students entering their first semester are exempt from these periods and can consult VSB directly before the semester starts. - “Ringtausch”
Larger swap forums, such as the VSB, offer what is known as a “ring exchange”, that can be particularly promising. This is when several people swap places in a chain, and considerably increases the chances of successfully swapping places, as it allows for various wants and needs to be combined.
Approval for swapping university places
Approval for swapping university places with another student is subject to the proviso that the data given in the application relating to the people involved in the swap and the documents attached to the application are accurate. If it is determined at a later date that requirements for swapping the university place were not met, the approval will be considered invalid and the swap will not be executed. If the swap has already taken place, the procedure will be reversed at FAU (Section 8 (2) Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg’s agreement on enrollment, re-registration, leave and de-registration (ImmaS) dated January 31, 2023, in the currently valid version).
