FC Bocholt, OSC Bremerhaven, Schwarz-Weiß Essen, FC Bayern Hof, VfR 1910 Bürstadt, Kickers Würzburg and FK Pirmasens were relegated to the Oberligas.
FC Bocholt, OSC Bremerhaven and Rot-Weiß Lüdenscheid promoted to the 2.
Bundesliga from the Oberliga and Amateurligas while Tennis Borussia Berlin and Rot-Weiss Essen had been relegated to the 2.
The league's top scorers:[1] For the 1977–78 season saw Freiburger FC, Kickers Würzburg, VfR Oli Bürstadt and Wormatia Worms promoted to the 2.
The league's top scorers:[2] The final place in the Bundesliga was contested between the two runners-up in the Nord and Süd divisions.