It is important to realise that a large amount of self-discipline is expected of students in Germany. Students must be willing to work independently and be able to take care of their own needs.
- Academic year
- Structure of degree courses
- Timetable of clases
- Directory of courses
- Teaching
- Credit Hours
- Record of Study/Transcript
- Registration for courses
- Semester dates
- Examination Office
- Re-registration
- Academic Leave of Absence
- De-registration
- Changing subject of study
- Change of adress
- A semester abroad
- Progress check
Academic year
The academic year in Germany is divided into two semesters: a winter semester (WS) and a summer semester (SS). The WS begins on 1st October and ends on 30th March. The SS begins on 1st April and ends on 30th September. The teaching period in the WS begins in the middle of October and ends in the middle of February; the SS begins in the middle of April and ends in the middle or at the end of July.
Structure of degree courses - examination regulations
The structure and content of degree courses in Germany are determined by course and examination regulations. The examination regulations stipulate which classes need to be taken in order to complete a degree course.
Details of examination regulations can be found at:
www.uni-erlangen.de/universitaet/organisation/recht/studiensatzungen 
Timetable of classes
As a student in Germany, you are responsible for organising your own timetable of classes. The examination regulations will help you to do this. The examination regulations determine which classes need to be taken in which semester for most degree courses.
Directory of courses
A directory of courses on offer at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg can be found at: www.univis.uni-erlangen.de.
Teaching
A variety of modes of teaching are offered at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg: lectures, introductory seminars, advanced seminars and many more.
Lectures (“Vorlesungen - VL”) are the most common format for teaching at the University. Further classes are often offered in addition to a lecture to deal with a subject in greater depth, for example, practical classes (“Übungen” - Ü), tutorials (“Tutorien” - TUT) and field trips (“Exkursionen”). These classes provide a deeper analysis of the subject matter and allow students to apply knowledge and have any questions clarified. Seminars are classes in which the emphasis is put on interaction between the professor and the students. There are different types of seminar: general seminars (SEM), Theory Seminar (TS), Practical Seminar (PRS), Project Seminar (PJR), and a series of seminars at increasingly levels of difficulty ranging from “Proseminar” (PS), “Mittelseminar” (MS), “Hauptseminar” (HS) through to “Oberseminar” (OS). In order to qualify to take part in a “Hauptseminar”, you need to have passed a PS or MS. PRS and PJR have a more practical orientation and require the active participation of the students. The purpose of a seminar is to teach subject knowledge related to a particular topic – students will often be required to give a short talk (“Referat”) and write a term paper (“Hausarbeit”) and/or take an exam.
A (“Referat”) is a short talk on a specific topic. The length and subject of this talk will vary depending on the subject and requirements set out by the teacher. The topics of these talks will usually be made known in the first week of semester.
A term paper (“Hausarbeit”) is a written treatment of a topic that has been previously discussed in class. Usually term papers for an introductory seminar should be 10-15 pages in length and 20 - 25 pages for an advanced seminar. Each individual teacher will decide on the exact conditions.
After successful completion of a class or seminar, a student is entitled to a credit (“Schein”). This credit provides written proof that you have passed a particular class or course component.
Colloquia (“Kolloquien” - KO) are talks that are often arranged parallel to a series of lectures and require the active participation of students. These colloquia usually take place shortly before the final exams, in order to ensure that students can better prepare for their final exam.
Credit Hours (“Semesterwochenstunden” - SWS)
Credit hours (SWS) indicate the length of a particular class in weekly hours. One SWS is equal to 45 minutes. A lecture usually lasts for 90 minutes (= 2 SWS).
Record of Study/Transcript (“Studienbuch”)
On registering with the University, each student is given a record of study in which all credits (“Scheine” = graded certificates to confirm successful completion of a class or course component) must be kept. The record of study contains the following details: matriculation number, degree course, date started, leaves of absence, change of subject, deregistration. You must keep all credits and any relevant written confirmation, for example, after deregistering from the University. It is important to keep your record of study in a safe place for future use.
Registration for courses
Most classes offered at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg require students to register. The individual Schools or departments may have their own arrangements for where and when you can register for courses. Details on registration can usually be found as part of the individual course description in the directory of courses (“Vorlesungsverzeichnis”).
Semester dates
There are certain key dates relating to university life, such as the beginning of the teaching period, deadlines for registering, of which you need to take careful note.
The most important University dates can be found at:
www.uni-erlangen.de/studium/zulassung/formulare/semesterplan.shtml
Examinations Office
If you have any questions relating to your exams, please contact the examinations office responsible for your subject area.
Contact details for examinations offices of the individual Schools can be found at:
www.uni-erlangen.de/einrichtungen/pruefungsamt
Re-registration
You must re-register with the University each semester.
Current dates for registration can be found at:
www.uni-erlangen.de/studium/zulassung/formulare/semesterplan.shtml
Academic Leave of Absence (“Beurlaubung”)
An academic leave of absence is a temporary exemption from the standard terms and conditions of study at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg which allows you to defer your studies. It is possible to apply to the Student Records Office for a deferral if you have good reasons for doing so. Leave is limited to two semesters (exceptions: pregnancy and child-rearing). No exams can be taken during this period of absence (exception: exam resits – such exams may be taken).
De-registration (“Exmatrikulation”)
Once you have completed your studies at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, you are required to de-register.
Students can de-register once they have:
- completed their final exams,
- applied for de-registration,
- finished studying at the University.
Further details about registration and application for a leave of absence can be found at:
www.uni-erlangen.de/universitaet/organisation/recht/sonstige_satzungen/Imma-Rueck-Beurl-Exma_Satzung.pdf
Changing your subject of study
If you are a student at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and you have re-registered for the next semester, the process for changing your course of study depends on whether or not your new course has any restrictions on admissions (i.e., a subject with or without a numerus clausus).
The Student Advisory Centre and Careers Service (IBZ) of the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg can provide you with advice on changing subject areas. Contact: Schlossplatz 3, Room 0.021, 91054 Erlangen, Tel: +49 (0) 9131 85-23333, -24444, E-mail: ibz@zuv.uni-erlangen.de
NB!!! Please note that international students can only change course easily within the 2-3 semesters. A change of subject area in the third or fourth semester or later can pose significant legal problems.
Change of address
If you change address during your time at university, you must inform the Student Records Office immediately. This should be done during office hours.
A semester abroad
The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg has contact with numerous universities across the globe. Each year, approximately 500 students spend one or two semesters on exchange at universities around the world.
Further information on spending a semester abroad can be found at: www.uni-erlangen.de/internationales/wege-ins-ausland
Progress Check (Foreign Nationals’ Authority)
When you are approximately halfway through your studies, the Foreign Nationals’ Authority will enquire about your progress at university. The purpose of this check is to evaluate your achievements and to assess how much time you are likely to need in order to finish your degree course. You will receive a letter from the Foreign Nationals’ Authority asking you to provide evidence of your progress to date. Please contact the Student Advisory Centre (IBZ) for help with this progress check.
