Preferential admission based on federal/military service (e.g. German Federal Voluntary Service)
Applicants who were previously admitted to the KU for the program they are applying for but were unable to enroll due to military/federal volunteer service will be given priority admission over all other applicants. However, this right to priority admission applies only until the second application deadline following the end of their service. In the case of newly introduced admission restrictions, this rule applies mutatis mutandis to all applicants who were prevented from enrolling in the now restricted program prior to the introduction of the admission restriction due to military/federal volunteer service.
Therefore, if you are offered a place in a degree program but cannot accept it due to military/federal volunteer service, you do not need to take any action for the time being. After your service ends, you are entitled to be admitted to that degree program again within the next two application semesters.
To do so, you must submit a complete application again and include a copy of the letter of acceptance you have already received, as well as proof of your service.
Applicants who receive preferential admission in this context upon reapplying are all those who
- have fulfilled a service obligation under Article 12a of the German Basic Law or have undertaken such a service obligation or corresponding temporary service for a period of up to three years,
- have performed voluntary military service under the Conscription Act (WPflG) in the version published on August 15, 2011 (BGBl I p. 1730),
- have performed federal volunteer service under the Federal Volunteer Service Act (Bundesfreiwilligendienstgesetz - BFDG) of April 28, 2011 (BGBl I p. 687), have performed at least two years of development service under the Development Aid Workers Act of June 18, 1969 (BGBl I p. 549), last amended by Art. 35 of the Act of December 24, 2003 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 2954), have performed
- youth volunteer service within the meaning of the Youth Volunteer Service Act (JFDG) of May 16, 2008 (Federal Law Gazette I, p. 842) or as part of a model project funded by the Federal Government; Section 15(2) JFDG applies mutatis mutandis, or
- have cared for or provided nursing care to a child under the age of 18 or a person in need of care from among other relatives for a period of up to three years.
The following activities are recognized as service:
- voluntary military service or military service for up to three years,
- civilian service as well as service abroad pursuant to §14b of the Civilian Service Act (ZDG),
- a voluntary social year,
- a voluntary ecological year,
- European Voluntary Service,
- International Youth Voluntary Service,
- Federal Voluntary Service,
- a Weltwärts or Kulturweit support program of at least six months’ duration each,
- at least two years of work as a development aid worker,
- the care or support of a child or other relative for up to three years, provided this activity was performed on a full-time basis and is comparable in scope and intensity to the other forms of service.
All information regarding the above-mentioned services must be substantiated by supporting documentation. If you have already completed your service at the time of application, please include official proof of the start and end dates of the service. If the service has not yet been completed, you must submit a certificate from your employer stating the start and expected end dates of the service (provisional certificate of service).
Anyone who is performing or has performed a voluntary social year requires a corresponding certificate from the organization administering the voluntary social year. A certificate from the placement institution is not sufficient.
Caring for a child or other family members can only be recognized as service if its scope and intensity are comparable to those of the other types of service.
