Counselling for dropouts

When: By appointment (Monday to Thursday), appointment within a few days
Where: By phone or via Zoom, with or without video.
How: Write to us briefly about your request and possible time slots at: studienabbruch@hu-berlin.de

When: By appointment (mainly Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), appointment within a few days to 2 weeks
Where: Main building, Unter den Linden 6.
How: Write to us briefly about your request and possible time slots to: studienabbruch@hu-berlin.de

The "Queraufstieg" platform offers an overview of educational paths, counselling services, events and experience reports on the topic of dropping out of university.

If you are undecided as to which profession, apprenticeship or degree programme might suit you, the pages of the Federal Employment Agency provide assistance:

• Information on school, training and studying
• Berufenet: the careers database for the questions: "What can I do with this later?", "What alternatives are there to study programme xy?" Or: "How do I get to profession xy?"

If you're not sure where your skills lie and which careers might suit them, try the skills assessment tool wissen-was-ich-kann.de.

And: An educational or career path is what you make of it. If you are motivated, take responsibility and consciously utilise your creative freedom, you can shape your very own path according to the principle of "life design" that suits your needs and interests in the respective phase of your life.

• Education and career counselling in Berlin: can advise you on career prospects, reorientation, further training and financing
• Career counselling from the Employment Agency: supports you in finding a career and looking for work
• Career Centre: offers individual, person-centred advice and an application document check as well as events relating to starting a career

Would you like to complete your studies in principle, but are being held back by study problems, exam nerves, motivation difficulties, etc.?

• The Counselling Service and its specialised Counselling for dropouts can advise you online via Zoom, by telephone or in person.
• Psychological counselling is available online via Zoom, by telephone or in person.
• Counselling on studying with disabilities is available online via Zoom, by telephone or in person. The website also provides information on barrier-free study, reasonable adjustments and hardship cases.
• Charité students should contact MediCoach directly.
• In acute crises, you can contact the Berlin Crisis Service – available around the clock and in many languages. In emergencies, please dial 112 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Of course! You can choose between dual and school-based vocational training. In particular, there is increasing demand for university dropouts due to the skills they have acquired.

• "The dual system – your training. Your profession."
• Tips for finding a training place
• Apprenticeships in Berlin
• Apprenticeships in the job portal of the employment agency

The "Passgenaue Besetzung" programme of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Crafts supports you in your search for an apprenticeship in Berlin.

In some cases, the duration of training can be shortened if it can be expected that you will achieve the training objective in the shortened training period (§ 8 of the Vocational Training Act BBiG). Reasons for this may include a higher education entrance qualification, professional experience, work experience or academic achievements. Further information on shortened training periods can be obtained directly from the chambers.

If you are determined to start your career straight away, you have various options. You may want to make a part-time job your main occupation or you can start by looking for a job and making targeted applications. It is advisable not to conceal your decision to drop out of university when applying, but to give clear reasons for doing so. An internship is also a good way to start your career.

Especially if you have not yet obtained a professional or academic qualification, it makes sense to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of a direct career start in detail.

The studierendenWERK's Student Financial Counselling advises you on financial and social law issues in connection with dropping out of your studies, e.g. "Am I entitled to social benefits?", "What happens to my BAföG grant?", "Does it make more sense to apply for a semester of leave first instead of dropping out?"

You can find more information in the "Financing your studies" section.

In some phases, it can be good to gain new impressions in a different environment or to consciously take time for reorientation. You can gain valuable experience, discover new perspectives and make new contacts by volunteering, doing voluntary work such as the FSJ or generally spending time abroad.

Off to a foreign country?

• You can find more detailed information about all the opportunities for stays abroad at rausvonzuhaus.de.
• The International Office at Humboldt-Universität also offers information and counselling.

Various circumstances make you consider dropping out of university, but you would still like to obtain a university degree? Vocational training is not a suitable alternative for you? Perhaps a change of degree programme or location is the right solution. You may feel more comfortable at another university/college or you may prefer a dual study programme.

Please also refer to the "Change university" page.

Further links

• Berufenet (database for professions, degree programmes, training courses; helpful for questions like: “which profession could I start with? what alternatives are there in my desired field of work? what career prospects do I have with my degree?”)
• hochschulkompass.de (all degree programmes on offer in Germany)
• osa-portal.de (database for German-language online self assessment tests)
• bibb.de/ausbildungplus (information on dual study programmes)