In order to guard study progress, universities and universities of applied sciences can impose measures on students with a low study success rate. At the same time, they must offer students adequate study guidance. The Court of Audit's investigation of twelve higher education institutions shows that these institutions use a wide variety of measures, although not always sufficiently empirically substantiated and often only monitored and evaluated to a limited extent. One in four students with a low study success rate continues to study in the same programme. In general, student guidance is sufficiently available, but still leaves room for improvement: it can be tuned more closely to the needs and does not reach all students who need it, partly because it is rarely compulsory and too little aimed at second-year students and reorientators