The number of offers for part-time study in Bavaria has recently increased slightly – although the number of part-time students has fallen slightly. This emerges from an evaluation by the Center (CHE) for University Development in Gütersloh.
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The center looked at figures from the Federal Statistical Office. According to this, around 17,600 of the approximately 405,500 students completed their studies part-time in the 2023/24 winter semester. According to CHE, this corresponds to a slightly lower share of 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year (4.7 percent). The Free State is in tenth place in a country comparison and below the national average of 7.6 percent.
More part-time offers
However, the proportion of part-time study offers rose from the winter semester 2022/2023 to the semester 2024/2025 – i.e. within two years – to 426, which corresponds to an increase of 16 offers. This means that 13.9 percent of the courses in the Free State can be done part-time. Nevertheless, Bavaria is still below the national average of 19.9 percent in the current winter semester. The CHE relies on data from the University Compass of the University Rectors’ Conference.
According to the information, the highest proportion of part-time study opportunities can be found in the social and social sciences subject group, where almost one in four courses can also be completed part-time.
Part-time study for working people, parents and carers
When studying part-time, the university takes into account that students have other obligations in addition to their studies. Some work in a permanent job, look after their children or care for relatives. For them, the number of courses, exams and exams per semester is significantly reduced.
The number of part-time students is also declining nationwide. It fell by 6,000 to 217,000 in the 2023/2024 winter semester compared to the same period last year. Overall, the number of people enrolling at universities has been declining for around three years.
The number of offers for part-time study in Bavaria has recently increased slightly – although the number of part-time students has fallen slightly. This emerges from an evaluation by the Center (CHE) for University Development in Gütersloh.
The center looked at figures from the Federal Statistical Office. According to this, around 17,600 of the approximately 405,500 students completed their studies part-time in the 2023/24 winter semester. According to CHE, this corresponds to a slightly lower share of 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year (4.7 percent). The Free State is in tenth place in a country comparison and below the national average of 7.6 percent.
