For many students, exmatriculation is a significant event. It signifies the official end of membership at a university and can occur voluntarily or compulsorily. While voluntary exmatriculation usually happens after successful completion of studies or a planned change of study program, compulsory exmatriculation can be triggered by failed exams or other reasons.
The consequences of exmatriculation are far-reaching and affect more than just student status. Health insurance, BAföG eligibility, and child benefits are immediately impacted. Health insurance is particularly critical: You only have 14 days to arrange follow-up insurance. Missing this deadline risks high back payments and legal consequences.
However, exmatriculation does not automatically mean the end of your academic career. In many cases, re-entry is possible – the options heavily depend on the reason for exmatriculation. In this article, you will learn everything about the reasons, consequences, and your options after exmatriculation.
Key Takeaways
- Exmatriculation can be voluntary or compulsory (most common reason: failed third attempt)
- Most critical consequence: Health insurance ends within 2 weeks – act immediately!
- BAföG eligibility and child benefits end with exmatriculation
- Re-entry often possible, depending on the reason for exmatriculation
What is exmatriculation? Definition simply explained
Exmatriculation refers to the official termination of your membership at a university. Simply put: from this point on, you are no longer a student at that university. The word comes from Latin and literally means "to strike from the matricula" – the matricula being the official register of all enrolled students.
What does exmatriculation mean for you specifically? With the end of your student status, you lose all associated rights and benefits. At the same time, however, duties such as paying semester fees or re-registering also cease.
Exmatriculation vs. Leave of Absence
With a leave of absence, your student status is maintained – you just temporarily stop actively studying. Exmatriculation, on the other hand, completely ends your studies at that university. The difference is important for health insurance, BAföG, and re-entry.
Reasons for Exmatriculation: Voluntary or Compulsory
Exmatriculation can occur in two fundamentally different ways. While voluntary exmatriculation usually proceeds without problems, compulsory exmatriculation can significantly impact your academic future.
Voluntary Exmatriculation
Most exmatriculations are voluntary and occur in positive situations. The most common reason is, of course, successful completion of studies. However, a change of study program, the desire for vocational training, or an attractive job offer can also lead to voluntary exmatriculation. Financial reasons or personal circumstances such as illness and family obligations also often play a role.
Compulsory Exmatriculation: The Critical Cases
Compulsory exmatriculation occurs against your will and is significantly more problematic. By far the most common reason is definitively failed exams – if you fail a third attempt, this automatically leads to exmatriculation in most study programs.
Common Reasons for Compulsory Exmatriculation
- Failed third attempt: Definitive failure of an examination in a compulsory module
- Lack of academic achievement: Repeatedly exceeding deadlines for compulsory modules
- Unpaid semester fees: Despite multiple reminders
- Missing health insurance: Proof not provided within the deadline
- Serious attempt at deception: Cheating on exams
Observe objection period: You only have 4 weeks to object from the date the decision is received!
The 20-hour rule: part-time job and student status
An often-overlooked reason for problems with student status is the so-called 20-hour rule. If you, as a student, want to work more than 20 hours, this has far-reaching consequences – even if it doesn't directly lead to exmatriculation.
If you work more than 20 hours per week, you lose your status as a student-insured person. The health insurance company will then classify you as an employee, which means: instead of the affordable student insurance of approximately 110 Euros, you suddenly pay employee contributions of 200 Euros or more. Your BAföG is also at risk, as the BAföG office assumes that you are no longer primarily studying.
Exceptions to the 20-hour rule
You can work unlimited hours:
- During semester breaks
- Exclusively on weekends or at night
- For evening/distance learning programs (different regulations)
When in doubt, seek advice from your health insurance provider!
The Critical Consequences: What Happens with Exmatriculation?
Exmatriculation triggers a chain of consequences that you absolutely must be aware of. Two areas, in particular, are time-sensitive and can become costly if not addressed.
Exmatriculation Health Insurance: The 2-Week Deadline
The most critical point after exmatriculation is your health insurance. Your student health insurance automatically ends on the day of exmatriculation.
2-week deadline for new health insurance!
You have exactly 14 days to get new insurance. If you miss this deadline:
- Back payments for the uninsured period (several thousand euros!)
- Legal consequences (mandatory insurance in Germany)
- No insurance coverage in case of accident or illness
Your options after exmatriculation depend on your personal situation:
Exmatriculation BAföG: Immediate Payment Stop
The clock is also ticking for BAföG. Your BAföG entitlement ends on the day of exmatriculation; no more payments will be made from the following month. The obligation to repay BAföG already received naturally remains – exmatriculation does not change that.
BAföG Reporting Obligation!
You are obliged to report the exmatriculation to the BAföG office immediately. If you continue to receive payments, you must repay them completely and immediately – not after graduation as with regular BAföG.
Your parents' child benefit is also affected. With exmatriculation, your parents lose their entitlement to child benefit for you (under 25 years), unless you immediately start an apprenticeship or register as unemployed.
There is a Way
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Learn moreRe-enrolling after Exmatriculation: Your Options
The good news: Exmatriculation does not mean the end of your academic career. Whether you can re-enroll in the same degree program after exmatriculation strongly depends on why you were exmatriculated.
For Voluntary Exmatriculation
If you exmatriculated voluntarily, the doors are wide open. You can easily reapply for the same degree program at the same university for the next semester. Your previously completed academic achievements remain valid and will be fully credited. Your subject semesters also continue to count – you resume where you left off.
For Forced Exmatriculation due to Exam Failure
After forced exmatriculation, it becomes more complicated. In most federal states, there are waiting periods of one to three years for the same or related degree programs – nationwide! This ban applies to all German universities. Particularly important: Your failed attempts remain and are also credited at other universities.
Alternative Paths Back to Study
Even after forced exmatriculation, you have options:
- Different degree program at the same university: Unrelated subjects are usually not a problem (e.g., from computer science to history)
- Different university: Application possible, but failed attempts are often credited
- After the waiting period expires: New application possible, unless definitively failed
- Studying abroad: Many countries do not recognize German failed attempts
Avoiding Exmatriculation: Preventive Measures
If forced exmatriculation is imminent, there are often still rescue options – provided you act in time. The most important principle: Don't wait until the third attempt, but become active already after the second failed attempt.
Use your university's student counseling as soon as you notice that you are having difficulties. In personal crises such as serious illness, psychological problems, or deaths in the family, you can submit a hardship application. This can grant you additional exam attempts or extend deadlines.
Acting in time pays off
Important options:
- Change of study program: Preferably before the end of the 2nd semester, then failed attempts are often not credited
- Leave of absence semester: Time to recover and prepare better
- Hardship application: In case of illness, psychological problems, deaths
- Exam withdrawal: With a doctor's note BEFORE the exam – then the attempt does not count
If you are in a difficult exam situation and are looking for professional support, technical aids can be an option. Find out more in our Guide to Online Exams.
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Alternative Paths after Exmatriculation
Exmatriculation is not a failure, but often the starting point for a new beginning. Many people only discover which path truly suits them after exmatriculation.
Apprenticeship: Practice Instead of Theory
An apprenticeship, unlike studying, offers you practical experience and your own income from the start. You learn directly in a company and no longer have to worry about BAföG or student financing. Depending on your completed academic achievements, your apprenticeship period can even be shortened.
Dual Study Program: The Best of Both Worlds
A dual study program combines theory and practice and pays you a salary from day one. You gain valuable professional experience while studying and usually have a job guarantee with your training company after graduation.
Distance Learning: Flexible Alongside Work
Distance learning allows you to work and earn money at the same time. The FernUni Hagen is particularly affordable as a state-funded distance university. Private distance learning institutions like IU, FOM, or AKAD cost more, but often offer better support and more modern online platforms.
Direct Career Entry
In many industries, practical skills matter more than a university degree. Especially in the IT industry, hardly anyone cares about your degree if you can demonstrate a good portfolio. In sales, too, career changers with strong communication skills are in high demand.
Exmatriculation often feels like a disaster at first. However, experience shows that many people only find the path that truly suits them after exmatriculation. The most important thing is that you clarify the administrative and financial aspects immediately.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- 2-week deadline: Clarify health insurance within 14 days (absolute priority!)
- Inform BAföG office: Report immediately, otherwise repayments
- Objection possible: 4 weeks time for forced exmatriculation
- Re-entry often possible: Easily after voluntary exmatriculation, in other degree programs after forced exmatriculation
- Alternative paths: Apprenticeship, dual study program, distance learning, direct career entry
It is also important to understand that exmatriculation is not a disgrace. Many successful people have dropped out of college or were exmatriculated. What matters is that you find a path that suits your strengths and goals. Sometimes, exmatriculation is exactly the course correction you need.
"Exmatriculation is not a failure, but a course correction. Often, it leads you to a path that suits you much better than your original studies. The important thing is that you become active and don't just sit back and do nothing."
