Almost 300 prospective medical and dental students who were initially offered a place at the Goethe University in Frankfurt for the coming winter semester but then received a rejection can hope for a solution.
A possible way is outlined in an e-mail from the Hessian Ministry of Science to the ministries of the other federal states, which the German Press Agency has received.
Those affected could therefore possibly start their studies as successors in the upcoming winter semester.
But nothing has been decided yet.
First of all, it is a suggestion.
The email asks countries to support it.
The idea is to initially suspend the usual, automated move-up procedure at the universities.
The universities should report their replacement places in the field of human medicine to the Foundation for University Admissions, which is responsible for allocating places nationwide.
As soon as there is an overview of the exact number of available places, free replacement places could be allocated to those affected.
It is not clear at which university they would get a place.
For the field of dentistry, the Goethe University has promised "to solve the problem independently and to make an initial contribution to the solution," the letter says.
Bitter disappointment
Due to a transmission error, the university reported too many places to the foundation.
The result: 251 applicants for medicine and 31 applicants for dentistry were initially happy about a study place offer and were bitterly disappointed when this was withdrawn.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 10,000 people took up medical studies and around 1,500 dentistry studies last winter semester.
Both courses are very popular.
There are high entry requirements.