Numerus clausus

numerus clausus; admission grade threshold

noun NOO-may-roos KLOW-zoos Rare

Origin: from Latin: closed number

Usage Note

Numerus clausus (NC) is the minimum Abitur grade required for admission to oversubscribed university programmes such as medicine or law. The term is widely used in everyday German: Das Fach hat einen NC means admission is grade-restricted.

Examples

"Für Medizin gibt es einen strengen Numerus clausus."

Natural Translation

For medicine there is a strict numerus clausus.

Literal Translation

For medicine exists a strict numerus clausus.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Greetings by Region: Grüß Gott to Grüezi

German greetings change by region: say Moin in Hamburg, Grüß Gott in Bavaria, Grüezi in Switzerland. A map of every hello and goodbye, plus du vs. Sie.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

Order Food in German: Restaurant Phrases

Order food in German with confidence: use ich hätte gern, read the Speisekarte, ask die Rechnung bitte, and handle zusammen oder getrennt like a local.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

How to Tell Time in German Without Mistakes

Halb sieben means 6:30, not 7:30. Master telling time in German — Viertel nach, halb, vor, the 24-hour clock, and the prepositions that trip up beginners.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read