What features lead a student to choose sport science, chemistry, physics, computer science or musicology as their subject of study and the Saarland University Saarbrücken as their place of study? Empirical analysis shows that study conditions for students of chemistry, physics and music do not play an important role in selecting the place of study, but closeness to family and friends do. Only for students of sports or computer science are ranking results important/very important in making a decision. All students gave acquiring necessary theoretical knowledge for later life, differentiating themselves from competitors without degrees, and the expectation of better earnings as their reasons for choosing a subject. Where students' choice of studies was based on factors specific to the university, they reported higher satisfaction with their choices. Problems arising during the course of studies are generally attributed to the strenuous requirements of the studies.