The league operated in five regional divisions, Berlin, North, South, Southwest and West.
The five league champions and the runners-up from the west, south, southwest and north then entered a promotion play-off to determine the two clubs to move up to the Bundesliga for the next season.
Southwest champions Borussia Neunkirchen and northern runners-up Hannover 96 were promoted.
Oberliga West and one club from the Verbandsliga Westfalen, the Lüner SV.
The runners-up of the Regionalliga West and Regionalliga Südwest played a two-leg decider to determined which team qualified for the group stage, which FK Pirmasens won on aggregate.