Change of Subject

The term “change of subject” covers various scenarios regarding the degree program components of the bachelor's degree program at the Faculty of Arts. It might, for example, refer to a change of only the major or minor, both the major and the minor, or one or both subjects in the dual-subject option. 

In addition, it can also refer to a change to a different degree program option, e.g., from the major and minor option to the dual-subject option or vice versa. This change requires the selection of new degree program components, even if the study fields remain the same. An example would be changing from the History major with a Philosophy minor to History and Philosophy in the dual-subject model. 

If you are considering a change of subject, you should first talk to students who are already studying the subject you wish to transfer to, e.g., in the student councils or mentoring programs of that subject. 

Moreover, you should consult the university’s official counseling services by first visiting the subject-specific study advisory services of the intended subject. Another option would be contacting the university's Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service (ZSB). Please visit the websites of the subjects you are interested in; there you will often find the option to complete a self-assessment to gain insight into the subject.

Please also use other available web-based study orientation services in order to get as accurate an idea as possible of the requirements and prerequisites of the new subject. For example, take a look at the module plan and the module guide for your intended subject. 

Please contact the recognition officer at the department offering your intended subject to find out whether – and, if so, which – study and examination achievements from your previous studies can be recognized. You might even want to already submit an application for recognition and placement in a higher semester together with the recognition officer at this point. The recognition officer will provide a recognition recommendation on the basis of which the Examination Office will then issue a recognition notification. Please use the form “Application for Recognition of Examination and Study Achievements”. 

If you are not able to find any information on the department’s website on who their recognition officer is, please contact the respective subject-specific study advisor. You must submit an individual application for recognition for each degree program component.

In the event of a change in which you completely drop the study field you have studied in up to that point, it is advisable to ask the recognition officer whether it is possible to transfer at least some examination achievements to the interdisciplinary praxis area of your new degree program combination.

Even if you are aiming to change your subject within the same study field to a new degree program or combination (e.g., from the major Philosophy to Philosophy in the new dual-subject option), you must apply for recognition. The study and examination achievements you already completed will not automatically be transferred to the new subject! The application principle applies. Depending on the scope of the recognizable achievements, students might be placed in a higher semester. For information on placement in a higher semester, please see the website on the recognition of study and examination achievements.

You first need to apply for your intended degree program(s) and enroll via the Student Registry. In case the subject has a local numerus clausus, you can only enroll in the new subject after receiving your letter of admission.

Please keep an eye on the application deadlines and other requirements, which you can find on the Student Registry’s website.

The Examination Office is not automatically informed about your change of subject. Once you have received your recognition notification and are enrolled in your new subject, please contact the Examination Office so that the responsible examination officer knows that the recognized study and examination achievements can now be transferred to your new degree program(s). 

If you have not yet submitted an application for recognition, you should do so as soon as possible. This might require a little patience; please allow at least six weeks for the processing of recognitions from the date of application or enrollment via the Student Registry.

Please note: Until your credits have been recognized and booked into your examination records, you may not be able to register for courses or exams in your new degree program. This might happen if achievements are based on other previously successfully completed achievements due to certain participation or exam requirements.

You may also have to contact the subject-specific study advisor of your new subject in case you registered for courses in the previous semester within the scope of your old degree program that are also part of your new degree program and that you now want to register for within the scope of the latter. The advisor can help you cancel these registrations and re-register instead. The subject-specific study advisor will assist you with this; the Examination Office is not responsible for course registrations in the current semester. Please take these steps immediately after enrolling in your new subject to avoid problems with the recording of study achievements on the part of the lecturers and your exam registration at the end of the lecture period.

Some of the study and examination achievements you have already completed might not be transferrable to your new degree program. In this case, the respective achievements will remain visible in your transcript, but they will not count toward the degree you are now pursuing.  

If you switch to a completely new subject or a completely new degree program combination, you will usually have to re-start your studies in the first semester, as in such cases, it is highly unlikely that any achievements are recognizable. Nevertheless, the recognizability of study and examination achievements should always be checked by the departmental recognition officer. 

It should also be checked whether it is possible to transfer at least some examination achievements to the interdisciplinary praxis area.