FAQ

As a first-year student, the following points are particularly relevant for you:

1. Activation of the TU e-mail account

• You will receive your Y-number from the Gauß-IT Centre after successful enrolment. Activate this promptly and check your TU e-mail regularly from this point onwards. You will receive all important information via this e-mail.

2. Orientation Week

• Student representatives of the Department of Social Sciences organise the so-called "Orientation Week" for students in their first semester in the week before the start of the lecture period. Participation is strongly recommended.

Please also note the further information forstudents in their first semester.

The courses offered can be found in the course catalogue. A timetable is published each semester for the core area of the degree programme. Information on which courses you must attend in order to complete a module can be found in the module handbook. The information is updated every semester on the "Students" page.

Registration for courses is usually done via Stud.IP. The registration periods are announced via the e-mail distribution list and on the degree programme homepage ("Students" page).

The seminars are usually designed for a certain number of participants. You should therefore register in good time at the start of the registration period in order to get a place in your preferred seminars.

There is usually no limit for the lectures. Nevertheless, you should register for the courses on Stud.IP in order to gain access to the lecture documents and not miss any important information.

Taking a semester of academic leave is possible. For Master's degree programmes, however, the restriction applies that a semester of academic leave can only be granted for the first semester due to a study-related stay abroad.

Further information can be found here.

You can find the semester contribution here.

The academic year officially begins on 01 October. It is divided into a winter and a summer semester. Each semester consists of a lecture period and a lecture-free period.

The lecture period of the winter semester runs from mid-October to mid-February. The summer semester begins on 1 April and the lecture period lasts from mid-April to mid-July. You can find the exact dates (also for upcoming semesters) here.

In the core area Social Sciences, you will complete modules totalling 36 CP. The compulsory modules Sociology and Political Science must be taken for a total of 18 CP. A further 18 CP are allocated to the chosen specialisation.

The modules each consist of two areas. The compulsory module Political Science (winter semester) is completed with an examination. The compulsory module Sociology (summer semester) is completed with one examination (graded) and one academic achievement (ungraded).

You have the choice between three study specialisations: Sociology, Political Science and Communication Studies. Only one specialisation may be chosen. A total of 18 CP must be earned.

Each module consists of two sections and 9 CP. You can choose from the following specializations:

In inter- and transdisciplinary research practice, you will earn a total of 27 CP.

To do this, you must take the inter- and transdisciplinary bridge module (9 CP) and the project module (18 CP).

It is advisable to take the inter- and transdisciplinary bridging module at the beginning of your studies if possible. The module is completed with a graded final module examination and 9 CP.

You should choose the project module according to your specialisation. Depending on the institute, different requirements and regulations may apply to the project module (see tab "What is the project module and how does the project module work?").

The project module involves the application and practical testing of the knowledge already acquired within the framework of a project. The project can be integrated into ongoing research projects of the lecturers on the degree programme, but students can also choose their own project topics. The six-month Master's thesis can result from the project module.

You should choose the project module according to your specialisation. Depending on the institute, different requirements and regulations may apply to the project module.

In the interdisciplinary specialisation Society, Environment and Technology in Transition, you must complete a total of 27 CP. You can choose from all social science modules that have not yet been taken in the specialisation, as well as from the interdisciplinary modules of the interdisciplinary specialisation.

All modules taken in the interdisciplinary specialisation are completed as coursework (ungraded). You are free to choose the modules in this area, but modules with related content are recommended. The detailed allocation logic and examination modalities can be found in the module handbook (see documents).

The possibility of changing modules is regulated in the General Examination Regulations (§ 13).

• If the first attempt is taken within the standard period of study, it is considered a free attempt.
• If the free attempt was not taken in a compulsory area, a change of examination subject is possible until the end of the semester after next, subject to other regulations in the special sections of the examination regulations.

IMPORTANT: The module change must be applied for in good time. Otherwise you must continue with the original module.

You complete the programme with a Master's thesis. The aim of the Master's thesis is to independently familiarise yourself with a social science topic and to work on it scientifically and methodically.

• You need at least 72 CP to be able to register for the Master's thesis.
• The processing time is 6 months.
• Please note that you must be enrolled while working on your Master's thesis.

Further important information on the Master's thesis can be found under the heading "The Master's thesis"

As a rule, you study according to the examination regulations that are currently valid at the time you join the degree programme.

However, you can also check the version via the university portal TUconnect. The information on your PO version is stored in various places here, e.g. in the section My studies > Student services > My degree programmes or in the section My studies > Study planner with module plan.

You will also find this information on your transcript of records, which is available for download in the section My degree programme > Achievements.

You can view the relevant examination regulations on the "Documents" page.

A coursework is not graded and is not included in the final grade. It can also be repeated as often as required.

An examination, on the other hand, is graded an counts towards the final grade. Each failed examination can be repeated up to two times. If you also fail the third attempt, your studies are terminated and you will be de-registered from the degree programme. If it is a written examination, there is still the option of a supplementary oral examination after the third failed attempt.

If you pass an examination within the standard period of study, you can repeat it once to improve your grade.

Your examination regulations determine which achievements are coursework and which are examinations.

You can access your current transcript of records online in the TUconnect university portal. You can log in with your GITZ ID (Y number) and your password. You can access the transcript of records as a PDF document under the menu item "Performance".

According to the General Examination Regulations (APO), passed examinations can be repeated once under the following conditions:

1) The examination must have been taken within the standard period of study.
2) The resit must take place in the examination period after next at the latest.
3) The better result applies!

Students who request services from the university (teaching, supervision or examinations) must be enrolled in accordance with §19 NHG and may not be on leave of absence.

The preparation and submission of the thesis is an examination. Diploma, Master's and Bachelor's theses can therefore only be registered, completed and submitted if you are notexmatriculated and not on leave of absence. It is possible to de-register immediately after submitting the thesis (or after taking the last examination) (however, the examination has not yet been assessed and, if you have already de-registered, you would have to re-enrol for the next semester if you fail).

The final thesis is deemed to have been passed if a so-called "4.0 certificate" is available. This means that the first and second examiners confirm after submission of the thesis that the academic work has been assessed as at least "sufficient". The date of completion is the day on which the last examination was completed (date of submission of the thesis/ or the day of the last examination).

In order to avoid having to pay the full tuition fee when taking the last examination (examination or submission of the thesis) shortly after the start of a new semester, the NHG provides for the following regulation: According to §19 para. 6 sentence 4 NHG, students can have themselves de-registered within one month of the start of lectures at the latest and then receive a refund of the tuition fees they have paid.

If all examinations and coursework have been passed, the corresponding certificates and diplomas will be issued automatically.

Certificates and documents are processed on an ongoing basis. As soon as your documents are ready for collection, we will inform you by e-mail.

The process of issuing certificates only starts at the Examinations Office after the assessment of your last examination has been received by the Examinations Office. This is usually the final thesis. The report on the final thesis should be submitted to the Examinations Office 4 weeks after the thesis has been submitted. Please enquire at the Examinations Office whether the assessment is available 4 weeks after you have submitted your thesis. This is the only way to ensure that there are no long delays in issuing your certificates and transcripts. Once the final examination results have been received, your certificate and diploma will be printed and then go through the signature process. It usually takes around 2 months for the certificate and diploma to be ready for collection.

Please note: You can only collect your certificates once you have provided proof of discontinuation.

Would you like to have achievements that you have acquired in another degree programme or degree or at another university in Germany or abroad recognised for the degree programme? We distinguish between 2 cases:

1. Transfer within the TU Braunschweig
2. Transfer from outside to TU Braunschweig

Please note that if you have taken an examination in your current degree programme, this achievement can no longer be recognised. In other words, you must decide whether you want to have an achievement recognised or take the examination again. It is not possible to take the examination first and, if you fail (or if the grade is poor), to have the examination from the previous degree programme recognised afterwards.

1. Transfer within the TU Braunschweig

For all examinations or modules that are also available in the study programme, recognition is granted by means of an informal application for recognition and the corresponding list of courses to be recognised. The form sheet  "Anerkennung von Leistungen" must be used for all other achievements. Recognition is carried out by the examiners or lecturers of the courses. In addition to the submission of grade confirmations, the examiners may also require a description of the content of the course attended to be submitted.

2. Transfer from outside to TU Braunschweig

To enable a decision on recognition, the application for recognition must
the application for recognition must contain the following elements in German or English
contain:

• A detailed description of each examination submitted for recognition at the external university submitted for recognition
• Examination grade or certificate (original or certified copy)
• If applicable, a conversion key from the grading system of the external TU Braunschweig system (official document of the university)
• Scope of the associated course (SWS, ETCS)
• Exact description of the content on which the corresponding examination (official document from the university or a description of the content certified by the course, notarised description of the content, no printouts of Internet pages of Internet pages and no indication of "links").

These documents are submitted together with the completed form"Anerkennung von Leistungen" to the institute which is to recognise the achievement and later submitted to the Examination Office with the recognition note.

As a general rule, all examinations and coursework must be registered for during the registration period.

An overview of the registration period, the registration procedures and the examination dates can be found on the Examinations Office website.

The deadlines for withdrawing from examinations or coursework vary depending on the type of examination. For details of how to withdraw from an examination in good time, please see the Examination Office website.

You may only register for the term paper if you have previously received a topic for the term paper. The examination registration for the term paper serves as confirmation that you have been given a topic for a term paper.

In deviation from Section 11 (1) APO, registration for examinations may be withdrawn without stating reasons by 15 February in the respective winter semester and by 15 August in the respective summer semester for term papers, written presentations and portfolio examinations.

Term papers, written presentations and portfolio examinations must be submitted in electronic form to the Examination Board or its authorised representative by the deadline. A declaration of independence in accordance with Section 9 (4) APO must be attached to the work by the student. In addition to the electronic version, a printed version must be submitted at the request of the examiner. In these cases, the printed version must be accompanied by a declaration signed by the candidate confirming that the electronic version and the printed version are identical.

In addition to Section 9 (6) APO, the submission deadline for term papers, written presentations and portfolio examinations in the winter semester is 15 March of the respective winter semester and in the summer semester 15 September of the respective summer semester.

The following applies to graded examinations:

Failed examinations can be repeated twice in accordance with Section 13 APO. Repeat examinations do not necessarily have to be taken in the semester following the examination attempt. In the last written attempt, the failure of which would result in the final failure and thus the termination of the degree programme, the grade "nicht ausreichend" may only be awarded after a supplementary oral examination (only applies to written examinations).

Passed examinations can be repeated once in accordance with Section 13 (2) APO. The better result shall then apply. However, it is only possible to retake passed examinations if the examination was taken within the standard period of study and the retake takes place in the examination period after next at the latest. The attempt to improve must be reported to the Examination Office so that you can register for the improvement attempt during the examination registration period.

Please note: If you are at the end of your degree programme, i.e. you have completed the work required to pass the degree programme, you can only attempt to improve your grade if you notify the relevant examination office within two weeks of passing the last examination (publication of the grade in the online portal / notice board / information from the examination office).

The following applies to ungraded coursework:

Failed coursework can be repeated as often as desired.

According to § 18 (1) of the General Part of the Examination Regulations for the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at TU Braunschweig, you are permitted to take additional examinations as long as you have not yet completed the examinations and coursework required for graduation. Students from Bachelor's degree programmes can acquire a maximum of 36 credit points from Master's degree programmes in this context.

Please note that if you wish to take additional examinations, you must apply for and register them with the Examination Board during the registration period (see form on the homepage of the Examination Office)! Certificates of achievement submitted at a later date will not be recognised as additional examinations!

In accordance with §18 (2), the result and the number of credit points achieved will be included in your certificate upon request, but will not be included in the overall result. Please do not fail to apply for this at the latest four weeks before taking the last examination required to successfully complete your degree programme!

Please note: Unfortunately, it is not possible to withdraw from additional examinations via the online system!

Please note the information on submitting sick notes for written/oral examinations (PDF)

Notes on submitting sick notes for final theses, project work and term papers (PDF)