The 2002 season last played with eight teams per group. As of the next season, the 1st Bundesliga was single-track and reduced from eight twice to a total of twelve teams. In order to keep the number of Bundesliga clubs the same, the groups in the second division were enlarged to ten teams.
The group winners of the 2nd division did not rise directly this season, but played with the sixth of the groups in the 1st Bundesliga to stay or be promoted to the 1st division. The game was played with a return leg. In both cases, the first division won.