Foreign students - change of specialisation or university
Would you like to change your specialisation or university? Then you need prior authorisation and a new residence permit that allows you to change.
Description
Period of validity:
The residence permit for studying is usually issued for a period of two years and can be extended.
Employment opportunities:
With a residence permit for study purposes, you can pursue employment that does not exceed a total of 120 days or 240 half days per year. This also applies to part-time student jobs. You can find more information about working during your studies here.
If you have any questions, please use our contact form.
You do not require a special permit to change your degree programme or subject within the same field of study. This does not affect the purpose of your stay. The same applies if it is merely a change of specialisation as part of your studies.
The change must be authorised by the Foreigners Office. Please notify the Foreigners Office of the change immediately, but at the latest within 14 days of the new enrolment. Once the change of study programme has been approved, the supplementary provision or the supplementary sheet to the electronic residence permit will be changed. The issued residence permit remains valid.
Prerequisites
Change in the orientation phase:
It is generally possible to change subject/university once during the orientation phase. The orientation phase ends at the beginning of the 4th semester.
Change from the 4th university semester:
A change of subject/university after the start of the 4th semester is only possible in exceptional cases. You must therefore explain the reasons for your intended change. A change may be permitted in individual cases if the degree programme can be completed within a reasonable period of time (maximum total stay of 10 years). In order to be able to assess this, we need an overview of your previous academic achievements and confirmation of the extent to which these previous achievements have been recognised for the subsequent purpose.
Required documents
During the orientation phase
- current certificate of enrolment or letter of admission for full-time studies
- Proof of previous academic achievements (grade sheet, certificates)
From the 4th university semester
- Certificate of enrolment or letter of admission for admission to full-time studies
- Proof of academic achievements to date (transcript of records, certificates)
- Statement on the reasons for the change of subject / university
- Description of the further planned course of study
- Letter of credit transfer for previous achievements
- Statement from the Examination Office / International Office on the previous and further course of study
If your residence permit expires at the same time as your intended change, you must also bring the following documents with you:
- fully completed application form valid passport or passport replacement
- a biometric passport photo (you can also find photo machines at the Foreigners Office)
- Health insurance (insurance card) from a statutory health insurance company. Those with private health insurance must pay attention to the type and scope of their health insurance. The insurance must be valid for at least six months. Traveller's health insurance is not sufficient. You can find more information here.
- Proof of means of subsistence: a blocked account at a German bank for at least 10,332 euros/ a declaration of commitment or scholarship certificate or a notarised declaration from the parents that they will cover the cost of living for the duration of the course, with proof of the parents' income for the last three months.
Further documents may be required in individual cases.
- For an extension if the standard period of study has been exceeded: certificate from the university confirming that the programme has been properly completed, the prospects of success and the expected duration until graduation
- in the event of a change of purpose and/or change of university: certificate of de-registration from the old degree programme and enrolment in the new degree programme
Questions & Answers
You need an appointment to apply for a change of subject/university. Please use our online appointment system.
Students from a third country may spend a semester abroad at another university in another European country.
For a semester abroad of up to three months, all you need is your passport, your German residence permit and sufficient funding.
For a semester abroad lasting longer than three months, you can benefit from the mobility regulation of the REST directive. In this case, you will need a residence permit for your studies that is valid for longer than the planned duration of your stay abroad.
The mobility scheme is particularly suitable for students who are taking part in a Union or multilateral programme with mobility measures or whose subject is covered by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions.
You can obtain information from your university, from the university in the other EU member state, from the diplomatic mission of the country you wish to travel to or
online at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
If your stay abroad does not fall under the mobility regulations of the REST Directive, you must remember to contact the Foreigners Office in good time to apply for a longer period of temporary departure from Germany (re-entry certificate).
Are you from an EU member state? Then you have the opportunity to complete an exchange semester in Munich.
Here you can also benefit from the advantages of the REST Directive. To do so, you will need a European residence permit to study in accordance with the REST Directive and must participate in a Union or multilateral programme with mobility measures in Munich or in an exchange programme for which an agreement between two or more higher education institutions applies.
For more information, please contact your university, one of the universities in Munich or the German diplomatic mission in the country where you usually stay.
If you already have a European residence permit for studying under the REST Directive, you do not need to go to the Foreigners Office in Munich. It is sufficient to register your place of residence at the Citizens Office. You will receive proof (mobility certificate) that you are authorised to stay in Germany with the European residence permit from your university abroad.
Legal basis
§ Section 16 Residence Act
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten Ausländerangelegenheiten
Phone
Postal address
Landeshauptstadt München
Kreisverwaltungsreferat
Hauptabteilung II Bürgerangelegenheiten Ausländerangelegenheiten
Ruppertstraße 19
80466 München
Fax: +49 89 233-45460
Address
Ruppertstraße 19
80337 München
Lagehinweis: Eingang C
Only with appointment