Leaving university

At first there may be only slight doubts, then serious reasons why students decide to drop out or withdraw. But dropping out is not a failure - it opens up new paths. Whether it's a change of subject, a change of university or a completely new career path: there are attractive alternatives for students who drop out.

Wrong choice of subject, too much pressure to perform or unclear ideas about the future? Questioning your chosen path requires courage. The decision to drop out of university may even feel like a defeat. Sometimes, however, it is the right choice. After leaving school, young people often have no idea whether the course they have chosen really matches their abilities and inclinations. It is then important to honestly question your own motives and explore new perspectives. University advisory services and the employment agency offer valuable support in finding alternatives. Family and friends can also be important companions during this phase. Dropping out of university is not the end - it is an opportunity to choose the right path.

In order to be able to look ahead, it is first important to analyze the reasons for the planned withdrawal. Is it the content of the subject? Is the performance not right? Or are there personal reasons? There can be many reasons for dropping out. If the reasons are clear, it is much easier to find out which direction to take afterwards. There are many options for students who drop out:

What can you do next? Students who are considering dropping out of their studies and want to reorient themselves can turn to various contact points:

Withdrawing from university is also a bureaucratic act. To avoid financial hassle and keep all channels open, you should inform the university, health insurance provider and Bafög office as quickly as possible.

These are the most important things to do after dropping out:

• Exmatriculation: If you want to leave the university early, you must apply for exmatriculation to prevent forced exmatriculation. The application forms can usually be downloaded from the university's website or you can ask at the Student Administration Office.
• Inform your health insurance provider: Students under the age of 25 are usually covered by their parents' family insurance. You must inform your health insurance provider directly when you withdraw from your studies and exmatriculate and take out "voluntary statutory" insurance. If you choose a new course of study, start an apprenticeship or a voluntary social year, it is usually possible to return to family insurance up to the age of 25. It is best to contact your health insurance provider with this question.
• Child benefit: Parents are entitled to child benefit until their student child's 25th birthday. If you drop out of university, child benefit will generally continue to be paid for a transitional period of three to four months in order to reorient yourself. Further information on child benefit after graduation and on continued payment of child benefit can be found on the information portal of the Federal Employment Agency and on the Family Portal of the Federal Government.
• Inform your student lender: The Bafög or KFW loan entitlement expires when you discontinue your studies. For this reason, the student loan provider must be informed immediately of the withdrawal from studies in order to avoid high payments later on. The repayment terms remain as agreed and are usually due five years after the end of the planned standard period of study. If you change your field of study, you can discuss with the Bafög office that the funding will be continued. Seek advice from the lender's contact persons. You can find online information on this topic on the portal of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk and on the BaFög website.