Can I change universities during my Master's thesis process?

Technically possible but practically difficult — changing Universität during your Master's thesis is a rare step.

#Possible Scenarios

#Scenario 1: Switching from the Same Program to the Same Program

• Master's 1st or 2nd semester
• Admission to an equivalent program at the target Universität
• Existing courses are recognized (Anrechnung)
• Generally, you might lose 1 semester

#Scenario 2: Switching During the Thesis Phase

• 3rd-4th semester, thesis has started
• Very difficult — the new Universität needs to "recognize" your thesis
• In practice: agree with a new professor and restructure the thesis
• 6-12 months additional time

#Scenario 3: Joint Degree Program

• Erasmus+ or Joint Master program
• Thesis conducted in parallel at 2 Universitäten
• Official arrangement — not changing Universität, but a dual Universität setup

#When is a Universität Change Necessary?

• Current professor retired/left

• Change of city (family/job)

• Better program opportunities (e.g., LMU → MIT)

• Conditional admission → C1 insufficient, new Universität accepts B2

• Just "I don't like the city" → generally not accepted

• Financial reasons → changing BAföG/scholarship is easier

#Process

1. Consult with the Studienberatung of the target Universität — is admission likely?
2. Petition the dean's office of your current Universität — for a certificate of withdrawal (Exmatrikulationsbescheinigung)
3. Apply for Anrechnung — have your past courses recognized by the new Universität
4. Apply to the new Universität — Uni-Assist + mid-semester application
5. Visa status — notify the Ausländerbehörde of the change

#Visa Impact

Your visa/residence permit does not get cancelled when changing Universität, but:

• Notify the Ausländerbehörde within 3 months
• New Immatrikulation certificate → will be noted on the card
• Cancellation of old Universität registration → new Universität registration confirmation is required

#Practical Advice

Be patient when choosing a Universität. Before starting your Master's, apply to 2-3 Universitäten in parallel, compare the accepted offers. Changing mid-Master's is very difficult; it's easier to correct at the beginning.

Related: Is a Master's admission letter sufficient for a visa?