Coronavirus (COVID-19) – important information

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Commuter certificate for students for the summer semester 2021
• Student Services Association // Updated online FAQ on interim aid
• Since 6 April: University Library has a Virtual Information Desk

Commuter certificate for students for the summer semester 2021

Just like last semester, the University of Passau provides a certificate that allows students who live e.g. in the Austrian border region to enter the country for study purposes (visiting the library, attending exams etc.). This certificate has been available for download from the University website since the beginning of the semester. Please note that the certificate is only valid when presented together with your current enrolment certificate for summer semester 2021.

Student Services Association // Updated online FAQ on interim aid

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) will again help students who are demonstrably experiencing financial hardship due to the covid-19 pandemic with grants of up to 500 euros per month from April to the end of September 2021. Slightly adjusted guidelines apply to applications from 1 April, which are publicly available. The Student Services Association provides a telephone hotline and updated FAQs on its website in German and English.

Since 6 April: University Library has a Virtual Information Desk

The University Library has moved its central library information desk into the virtual domain by opening a Virtual Information Desk on 6 April. University members and external users can join the Zoom meeting to ask questions about library use. During the Orientation Week, this online consultation offer is available Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. As of 12 April, these hours will be extended to Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 14 April.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Reminder: Student survey on the winter semester on behalf of the Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Ethics 

Other news:

• Postgraduate Open Day on 16 April

Reminder: Student survey on the winter semester on behalf of the Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Ethics 

Once again, we would like to invite you to take part in the student survey on the winter semester 2020-21, which will be open until 6 April. With your support, the university will be able to better prepare for the challenges of the summer semester. If you have completed the survey already, thank you!

Student survey 2020-21 (Password: 3657my)

Postgraduate Open Day on 16 April

On Postgraduate Open Day, a diverse digital programme awaits you from 9 am to 6 pm, which you can explore from the comfort of your home:

• Watch the videos and visit virtual information booths to find out more about our master's programmes and about application/enrolment, studies abroad, doctoral degrees, business start-up support and sustainability at the University of Passau without being bound by any time constraints.
• Stop by the live chats to ask experts from the different faculties about degree programmes and any topics related to university studies. Students and alumni from the University of Passau will be there to share their experiences in the study programmes. 

The following programme features will be of particular interest for external prospective students who are not yet familiar with our campus: virtual walks and live guided tours through our campus, walking tour videos through the Centre for Media and Communication, the library and the Sports Centre and a presentation of Passau, the City of Three Rivers, as a place of study.

Registration & information on the virtual Postgraduate Open Day.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 7 April.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Bavarian state parliament adopts 'expedited Corona II act'
• Federal government extends interim financial aid for students for the summer semester

Other news:

• Funding for student projects

Bavarian state parliament adopts 'expedited Corona II act'

The covid-19-related amendments to the Bavarian higher education act will remain in force for the 2020–21 winter semester and the 2021 summer semester. The state parliament in Munich paved the way for this on 24 March. In practical terms this means that, first off, deadlines tied to a specific number of subject semesters (and therefore also to the standard period of study) would be automatically postponed or extended by one semester. Second, the arrangements affecting students' individual standard period of study will be extended to the current winter semester and the upcoming summer semester. The maximum BAföG funding period would be extended accordingly.

A further central aspect of the amendment is the provisions for academic Beamte (civil servants) in so-called qualification positions, i.e. for academic staff working towards an academic qualification as part of their position, such as assistant professors (German job titles: Akademischer (Ober-)Rat/Akademische (Ober-)Rätin, Juniorprofessorin/Juniorprofessor) and those holding a tenure-track professorship. Provided that they held (or commenced) their position in the period from 1 March 2020 to 31 March 2021, their contract may be extended for twelve months beyond the maximum periods stipulated in the Bavarian higher education employees act (HSchPG). Announcement of the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts (in German).

Federal government extends interim financial aid for students for the summer semester

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) have agreed to continue offering interim financial aid for students experiencing pandemic-related hardship throughout the summer semester of 2021. Students can apply online for grants of up to 500 euros per month.

Students who live in Germany, are enrolled at a German state or state-recognised higher education institution and not on a leave semester are eligible to apply. This applies to international and German students alike, without age limit. Grants are allocated on a monthly basis, up to an amount of 500 euros. You can also find further information on the pages of the Student Services Association (German).

Funding for student projects

Individual students and student clubs and societies can apply for funding for their student project until 31 March. You can find further information on the information page of the university (German page).

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 31 March.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Mask-wearing requirement for in-person examinations extended until 9 April

Other news:

• Reduced availability of the Campus Portal on 22 March due to maintenance work
• Online teaching // eScout qualification for student assistants

Mask-wearing requirement for in-person examinations extended until 9 April

In light of the stubbornly high covid-19 incidence rate, the University President has declared that the mask-wearing requirement for University-set in-person exams, initially set to lapse on 18 March, is to be extended until 9 April 2021 inclusive. All those participating in an in-person examination must wear a face mask throughout the entire duration of the exam, including while seated at their respective assigned desks. The University Executive recommends that you wear an FFP2 mask during in-person examinations if this is feasible for you. The only examinations expressly exempted from the mask-wearing requirement is the university law examination ('Juristische Universitätsprüfung'). We are thus complying with a requirement of the Bavarian Ministry of Justice as the competent authority for regulations on the law undergraduate programme.

Please also note the updated protection and hygiene concepts for written and oral examinations as well as for practical examinations on the Examinations Office website.

Reduced availability of the Campus Portal on 22 March due to maintenance work

On 22 March, the Campus Portal  will not be reachable from 4 to 8 p.m. (estimated) due to scheduled maintenance work. During this time you will not be able to print out certificates or make changes to your contact details via the Campus Portal. We will make every effort to keep the duration of the necessary maintenance work to a minimum and apologise for the inconvenience. If you have any questions about this, please contact ZIM Support during their office hours. For updates on the status of the maintenance work and when it is completed you can check the ZIM news web page.

Online teaching // eScout training for student assistants

The eScout training scheme is targeted specifically at student assistants. It includes a course offering and provides a forum for exchanging ideas in the community. After completing training, participants will be able to provide competent technical assistance for online-taught courses at the respective organisational units at which they are employed.
The eScout scheme is conducted by the Transfer Forum for Didactical Technology (DiTech). Those completing this training will:

• be familiar with the online teaching infrastructure and able to provide competent technical assistance to the lecturers at their Chair
• be acquainted with the support network and know how to use the consulting and support structures of the eScout community
• know how to digitally accompany courses
• be able to provide feedback from the students' perspective

These training courses take place every semester after the examination period and before the start of lectures. A certificate is issued upon completion of the programme. For details, see 68679 Seminar: eScout-Qualifizierung: Weiterqualifizierung im SoSe2021. Currently, the training programme consists of three parts, in each of which the participants have to complete a small task:

• 68676 B1 ILIAS - Intensivkurs on Thursday 1 April from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• 68677 B2 Online-Prüfungen mit Stud.IP und Vips umsetzen on Tuesday, 6 April from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
• 68678 B3 Online-Prüfungen mit Klaus Online umsetzen on Thursday, 8 April from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The workshops can also be attended individually. To register, log in to your Stud.IP account.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 24 March.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• University president's video address
• Partial opening of the University Library on 15 March
• Expedited bill due to covid-19 // Science Ministry offers outlook
• Extension of the University's Corona regulation has come into force
• Bavarian vaccination registration portal // English screencast
• Invitation to take part in the student survey on the winter semester

Other news:

• Information from Family Services // studying-as-a-parent award
• Student Services Association // newly created internationalisation office
• Student Services Association // refectory delivery service extends ordering times

University president's video address

To mark the end of the semester and to provide an outlook on the coming summer semester, President Ulrich Bartosch today addressed the University community in a video message (German).

Partial opening of the University Library on 15 March

Pursuant to the 12th Bavarian disease control ordinance (German text), the University Library will reopen the reading rooms to the public starting Monday, 15 March 2021. All reading rooms will operate using the above scheme, and open initially from Mondays to Fridays. An FFP2 mask must be worn at all times while on library premises.

Visits of more than one hour/desk reservations: All university members can make their reservations online. The timeslots the reading rooms are from 8 a.m. to 12:00 noon or 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. or 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Short visits without desk: All library visitors, including non-university members, may go to a reading room to borrow, return and copy media. No prior appointment is necessary but the duration is limited to one hour. The open shelf areas are accessible to short-term users, but not the library desk areas. The central library is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for short visits; the other reading rooms are open for short visits from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

As the reading rooms reopen, the University Library will discontinue the delivery service via in-house mail and the scanning service for academics. Academic staff are therefore encouraged to make use of the short visit scheme to borrow and scan media.

Online requests for books from the reading rooms are still accepted until 12 noon on Thursday, 11 March, whereupon this ordering option will be turned off. Requests that reach the University Library by the deadline will be ready for collection in the Central Library from 10 a.m. on Friday at the latest.

The scanning service for students and external users will continue to be offered for those who are not currently in Passau or the surrounding district. Students in Passau are asked to make their own scans under the short visit scheme.

Expedited bill due to covid-19 // Science Ministry offers outlook

The covid-19-related amendments to the Bavarian higher education act are to remain in force for the 2020–21 winter semester and the 2021 summer semester – this was emphasized by Science Minister Bernd Sibler during the first reading of the covid-19 emergency bill in the Bavarian state parliament in Munich.

In practical terms this means that, first off, deadlines tied to a specific number of subject semesters (and therefore also to the standard period of study) would be automatically postponed or extended by one semester. Second, the arrangements affecting students' individual standard period of study would be extended to the winter semester 2020–21 and summer semester 2021. The maximum BAföG funding period would be extended accordingly. This bill would apply to the 2020–21 winter semester and the 2021 summer semester. You can read more in the announcement of the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts (in German). We will inform you here when the law becomes effective.

Extension of the University's Corona regulation has come into force

In our 3 February update we informed you that the Senate has agreed to another change of the statutes in order to mitigate the disadvantages for students arising from the covid-19 situation. This change came into force on 9 March.

To recapitulate: Failed examinations taken in winter semester 2020–21 are not counted (free exam attempt). This also applies to a fail mark awarded because you aborted an exam after it started, or withdrew from the exam, without furnishing a valid reason. This free exam attempt does not apply to the following:

• Assessments (i.e. exams, dissertations and theses) on which you received a pass mark
• Assessments on which you received a fail (or a mark of 'unsatisfactory') due to cheating or plagiarism
• State examinations (for the teacher education programmes) and equivalent university-set final examinations (JUP)

You can also find this information in our covid-19 FAQ under the heading 'Questions regarding examinations'.

Bavarian vaccination registration portal // English screencast

The vaccination registration portal in Bavaria is currently only available in German. To mitigate this, our digital media team have created a screencast in English in which Robert Holbach explains the selections you can make in the portal. You can view the screencast on YouTube or Vimeo. Please feel free to pass this information on to your fellow international students.

Invitation to take part in the student survey on the winter semester

The current winter semester, now almost completed, has presented us all with great challenges in terms of teaching, examinations and everyday (student) life. Although teaching in the coming summer semester will again be digital, it is hoped that there will be relaxations in the rules on public and social life. We would like to be well prepared for the coming semester and therefore ask you to participate in our student survey for the winter semester 2020–21. We would like to know how you fared and get your input on how the University can make the coming semester better. You will receive the access link via Stud.IP in the next few days. The survey is available in German and English. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Information from Family Services // studying-as-a-parent award

The University of Passau presents the studying-as-a-parent award (in German) once every semester at all faculties and thereby honours the special commitment of parents who have succeeded in balancing child-rearing and successful study. The award is presented to student mothers and fathers who have completed their studies with above-average academic performance. The prize money is 500 euros. The deadline for applications is 14 April 2021.

This and other information for parents and families, including the new online registration form for pregnant and breastfeeding students, can be found in the current Family Services newsletter, which is now available in German and English.

Student Services Association // newly created internationalisation office

The Student Services Association for Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate has established a new staff position for internationalisation. Kristin Weiherer (profile) will work together with the international offices of the higher education institutions served by the student services association to improve the coordination of support for international students.

Student Services Association // refectory delivery service extends ordering times

From now on you have one hour longer to order food and drinks via the refectory delivery service. Same-day orders are now accepted until 12:00 noon. For further information visit the Student Services Association website (German).

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 17 March.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Centrally organised in-person exams // information on seating plans
• Student Services Association // free FFP2 masks for students in financial hardship
• German Federal President to deliver an address to the students

Other news:

• International Women's Day on 8 March // events at the University

Centrally organised in-person exams // information on seating plans

Please check www.uni-passau.de/en/examinations-office/semester-related-information to find out the exam venue and your seat number for the exams you are registered on.

Please be sure to do this before going to your exam. If you cannot find your seat on the seating plan, please get in touch with your examinations administrator at the Examinations Office. If you do not have a seat, you will not be allowed to take part in the examination.

On the day of the exam, please ensure that you keep your distance from others at all times, especially on the way to the campus and in the exam rooms. Please observe the rules! By doing so you protect yourself, your fellow students, the supervisors and everyone involved in the exams.

Student Services Association // free FFP2 masks for students in financial hardship

Students at the higher education institutions in Regensburg, Passau, Landshut, Deggendorf, Pfarrkirchen and Straubing who are currently experiencing financial difficulties can obtain six FFP2 face masks free of charge from the Welfare Office of the Student Services Association. To order the free masks, please send an e-mail to sozialbersozialberatung@stwno.de and provide details on the root cause of your financial difficulties (e.g. loss of job due to the Covid-19 crisis, loss of parental support etc.). Please be sure to indicate your postal address in the e-mail and attach your current enrolment certificate (this is absolutely required!).

German Federal President to deliver an address to the students on 12 April

In a video message on 12 April 2021, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will address all students at German universities to thank you for your pragmatic approach to dealing with the at times enormous burdens on university studies brought about by the pandemic and to offer encouragement for the coming time. President Steinmeier's video address will start at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, 12 April 2021. The livestream and recording can be accessed from the Federal President's website.

International Women's Day on 8 March // events at the University

8 March is International Women's Day. Please check our International Women's Day web page for various digital activities put on by the University to mark this international day of observance. Among other things, you will find a video contribution by the writer and feminist, Gemma Lienas, as well as a photo collage of the 'FIM women'. In addition, all those interested are invited to attend the MINT (STEM) Women's Network's digital panel discussion from 4 to 6 p.m. on 8 March.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 10 March.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Free exam attempts // information on HISQIS entries
• In-person exams // proof of identity
• Access details for online examinations
• Student Services Association // interim financial aid for students faced with pandemic-related financial hardship

Other news:

• Student Services Association // additional psychological counselling service for students
• Open question and answer session with the University Executive

Free exam attempts // information on HISQIS entries

In our update on 3 February 2021, we reported on the extension/renewal of the Corona regulation:

• Failed or missed university examinations this winter semester are not counted.
• This free attempt arrangement does not apply to state examinations (teacher education programmes) and equivalent university-set final examinations (JUP exams of the law undergraduate programme), dissertations and theses or any assessments where plagiarism was the reason for the award of a fail grade.

In the HISQIS system, these exam results are tagged 'KNA', which indicates that the examination attempt is not counted due to the Covid-19 situation. You will find these results under Angemeldete Prüfungen und Atteste ohne Modulzuordnung.

For failed exams, the relevant mark (4.3/4.7/5.0) or, in the case of law exams, the points (0/2/3) are initially recorded. The Central Examinations Office will overwrite these marks/points with the 'KNA' tag well before the start of the next exam registration period in summer semester 2021, or, in the case of FIM, before 21 March 2021 (the registration deadline for the second exam period).

In-person exams // proof of identity

This week saw the start of the centrally organised examinations (German text).

Please note: You have to bring a photographic ID to your exams. If you have an orange CampusCard with a photograph, this will be sufficient. Please make sure it is validated for this semester (valid until 31 March 2021). If you have an orange CampusCard without a photograph or a different CampusCard version (e.g. a grey CampusCard or a replacement card) you must bring along another official form of photographic ID (passport, European identity card) and a current enrolment certificate. Since mobile phones are not allowed in the examination hall, you cannot identify yourself by showing a picture of your CampusCard stored on your mobile phone.

Access details for online examinations

Many of you will be taking online exams this semester using the new Klaus Online software. Your examiners will send the access links and your individual access codes to your official university e-mail address. Please note:

• The access details will be sent to your university e-mail address.
• This is not the same thing as your Stud.IP mailbox.
• Messages sent to your university e-mail address are not automatically forwarded to Stud.IP.
• If you have not set up a forwarding rule to your personal e-mail address, you will have to access your university e-mail account to take the online exam.
• The easiest way to do this is from this URL: https://email.uni-passau.de.

Please contact ZIM Support if you have any questions about this topic.

Student Services Association // interim financial aid for students faced with pandemic-related financial hardship

The bridging aid, which was first introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in June 2020 and most recently extended up to and including March, is now being extended to cover the entire summer semester of 2021. So, if you are experiencing pandemic-related hardship as of April, you can apply for interim financial aid until the end of the 2021 summer semester (NB: applications are on a per-month basis). For further details visit the Student Services Association website.

Student Services Association // additional psychological counselling service for students

The Student Services Association has announced that a psychological counselling service, set up in mid-January, is being offered to students studying at the higher education institutions in Regensburg, Passau, Deggendorf (including their Pfarrkirchen and Cham campuses), Landshut and Straubing. The counselling team is linked to the Welfare Office of the Student Services Association and currently operates from Regensburg. The first counsellor has already begun her work and will be joined by another psychologist as of April 2021.

'Ask the University Executive': open question time for all students

In a zoom event, President Professor Ulrich Bartosch, Vice President Professor Bettina Noltenius and Head of Administration Dr Achim Dilling will inform all students of the current Corona measures and current events at the University and will answer your questions. All students of the university are cordially invited to attend.

• The event will take place from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on 9 March. The Stud.IP course code is 69999C (the zoom link will be posted there).

In the coming weeks there will also be a question-and-answer session for university staff, including the non-professorial academic staff members.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 3 March.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Letter from the President for the start of the exam period
• Exams // important notice on seating plans

From the university:

• Open question and answer session with the University Executive

Letter from the President for the start of the exam period

On the occasion of the start of the examination period, University President Professor Ulrich Bartosch addresses you, the students, in a letter.

Student Services Association // KfW student loan for students from non-EU countries ends soon

Please check semester-related-information page to find out the exam venue and your seat number for the exams you are registered on. Please be sure to do this before going to your exam. If you cannot find your seat on the seating plan, please get in touch with your examinations administrator at the Examinations Office. If you do not have a seat, you will not be allowed to take part in the examination.

'Ask the University Executive': open question time for all students

In a zoom event, President Professor Ulrich Bartosch, Vice President Professor Bettina Noltenius and Head of Administration Dr Achim Dilling will inform all students of the current Corona measures and current events at the University and will be available to answer questions. All students of the university are cordially invited to attend.

• The event will take place from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on 9 March. The Stud.IP course code is 69999C (the zoom link will be posted there).

In the coming weeks there will also be a question-and-answer session for university staff, including the non-professorial academic staff members.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 24 February.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• In-person examinations // information on infection control and seating plans
• Student Services Association // KfW student loan for students from non-EU countries ends soon

From the university:

• 'Universität heute' // new lectures with discussion round in February

In-person examinations // information on infection control and seating plans

The University Executive has approved the current guidelines for the implementation of the 11th Bavarian disease control ordinance for written and oral in-person examinations. The guidelines (German) can now be viewed online. Furthermore, the Examinations Office has put the seating plans for the upcoming centrally organised in-person exams online and updated the FAQ on in-person exams.

We ask you to:

Please check well before the exam which seat you have been allocated, and once you're in the exam venue, go to your seat quickly. Please also inform yourself in advance about the infection prevention measures for in-person exams (German) – and don’t forget to register your current telephone number in Stud.IP in the Profile tab under Contact tracing.

On the day of the exam, please ensure that you keep your distance from others at all times, especially on the way to the campus and in the exam rooms. These measures will ensure that you can all sit your exams safely.

Please observe the rules! By doing so you protect yourself, your fellow students, the supervisors and everyone involved in the exams.

Student Services Association // KfW student loan for students from non-EU countries ends soon

Until 15 February international students and refugees from non-EU countries can take out the interest-free KfW student loan, with funding starting on 1 March 2021. After that, this Covid-related programme ends and the KfW student loan will become available only to students from Germany and the European Union. If you are interested in applying for this loan, get in touch with the Student Services Association's welfare office.

'Universität heute' // new lectures with discussion round in February

What can a university be in general, and what should it be? How is its mission changing due to the current political and social demands – and what specific path does the University of Passau intend to take? At the same time, the University has also initiated a lecture series entitled 'Die Idee der Universität – heute (in Passau)', through which it wishes to engage in a public debate and find answers to these and other questions.

From 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 12 February, environmental scientist and politician Professor Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and sociologist Professor Anna Henkel will deliver the next lectures in the series.

After that, the lecture series will continue with computer scientist Professor Horst Bischof and jurist Professor Jörg Fedtke; this will take place from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 24 February.

The lecture series is open to all those interested.

The event will take place virtually via Zoom. Please register online if you wish to participate. The lectures will be recorded for documentation purposes. In the recording only the speaker can be seen and heard; the audience is not recorded. The recordings will not be published.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 17 February.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Amended Corona regulation: Failed and missed university exams in the winter semester will not be counted
• NEW information on border crossing for Austrian students

From the university:

• In talk with Minister of Science Bernd Sibler - The higher education reform
• Programme of courses for prospective doctoral students at the Graduate Centre

The amended Corona regulation has been adopted: Failed and missed university exams in the winter semester will not be counted

The Senate has deliberated on the proposal put forward by the University Executive to amend the Corona regulation of the University of Passau and thereby mitigate the disadvantages suffered by students on account of the special corona situation. The Senate has approved the amendment. As a result, university exams failed and missed in the winter semester 2020-21 will not be counted. 

Once approved by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Justice, the amendment will be executed and promulgated. Experience has shown that this process will take some time to complete. We will let you know in our updates as soon as it has been issued. The new regulation will enter into force as soon as it has been issued. Please note that state examinations are the responsibility of the relevant ministries, and the Corona regulation of the University of Passau will thus not apply to state examinations.

Entry into force of the amended regulation will have the following consequences for you: if you

• miss an exam (due to illness or for any other reason, for example),
• have to abort an exam or
• fail the exam

the registration for the exam or, as the case may be, your attempt at taking the exam will automatically not be counted. 

Please note: This regulation does not apply to state examinations and dissertations/theses for which a student has registered. Please note: Furthermore, the free-attempt provision will not apply in the case of examinations or, as the case may be, dissertations/theses that you pass and will also not be applicable if you fail due to cheating or plagiary.

NEW information on border crossings by students registered as resident in Austria

Since our last update, we have received new information about border crossings by students registered as resident in Austria: The law allows students to enter the country without a negative test result if they intend to stay in Germany for less than 24 hours for educational purposes (to sit an exam, visit the library). Therefore, only the following documents need to be presented when crossing the border:

• identification document (personal ID or passport, for example) and
• commuter certificate issued by the Examinations Office or an electronic booking confirmation from the library (printed out or shown on your smartphone) as well as
• enrolment certificate for the current winter semester

Please note that the '24-hour rule' only applies if

• you need to enter the country for individual appointments due to the valid educational reasons previously mentioned and not every day – otherwise you will be considered a 'cross-border commuter' and obliged to take a test. 
• you do not have any symptoms of illness, especially fever and respiratory symptoms.
• Austria is not listed as a high risk area (currently not the case).

In talk with Minister of Science Bernd Sibler – the higher education reform

Minister of Science Bernd Sibler is due to start a major information campaign this week on the higher education reform in Bavaria. In a series of livestreams, he will be addressing the entire family of universities and explain the current status of the draft law. He will be focusing on the key changes, provide background information on the reform and outline the vision driving this reform. Participants will be able to ask questions in the chat, a selection of which the minister will answer live.
The following dates are available:

• Friday, 5 February, 4 pm
• Wednesday, 10 February, 6 pm
• Monday, 15 February, 10 am 

Each livestream will be available on the YouTube channel for the Bavarian Science Ministry. For details, please see the Letter from the Science Ministry.

Programme of courses for prospective doctoral students and early career researchers at the Graduate Centre: Openings still available!

Programme of courses for prospective doctoral students and early career researchers at the Graduate Centre: Openings still available!
Ahead of the new semester, the Graduate Centre is holding a series of events, for which openings are still available. You can register for the following courses (in German):

• Short workshop: Your career – a result of coincidence and planning on 4 February (4:00 – 6:00 pm) | Registration via Stud.IP: no. 71055
• Information event: Developing a DFG application – frequently asked questions and stumbling blocks on 10 February (4:00 – 6:00 pm) | Registration via Stud.IP: 71040 (offered by the Research Services Division)
• Writing workshop: The thesis proposal for your doctorate on 12 February (9:00 am – 3:00 pm) and 19 February (9:00 am – 2:00 pm) | Registration via Stud.IP: no. 71052
• Information event: Developing a financial DFG plan – frequently asked questions and stumbling blocks on 24 February (4:00 – 6:00 pm) | Registration via Stud.IP: 71041 (offered by the Research Services Division)
• Workshop: Competencies are resources in career management starting on 26 February. five times, Fridays (9:00 – 11:00 am) | Registration via Stud.IP: 71054B
• Workshop: Developing personal career prospects starting on 25 March (9:00 am – 12:00 noon) | Registration via Stud.IP: 71056
   

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 10 February.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Centrally organised exams // things to bear in mind
• Information on border crossings for students residing in Austria

From the university:

• MentUP+ women's mentoring programme // apply by 31 January

Centrally organised in-person examinations // things to bear in mind

The Examinations Office announced the exam schedules for the centrally organised examinations today. These are now available for download from the Examinations Office website. Please note that the schedules are provisional and may change up to three days before the respective exam date. We therefore recommend that you double-check your exam dates in the schedule as the exams draw closer. We expect to be posting the seating plans online on 8th February.

As announced on 25th January, the University Executive has introduced a mask-wearing requirement during university exams. This means that you have to wear a face mask covering your mouth and nose for the entire duration of your in-person exams. The mask-wearing requirement will initially apply until 18 March 2021 inclusive. For University examinations taking place after 18 March, the mask-wearing requirement and any time extensions will be reassessed against the infection situation. For both types of examination (state examinations and university exams) there is no express obligation to wear an FFP-2 mask – although the University urges you to do so if you can. If you do not have an FFP-2 mask available on the exam day, you may wear a simple surgical mask or a cloth mask (community mask).

Please also note that you are not permitted to bring mobile phones or bags of any kind into the exam venue; You may, however, take your coats or jackets into the exam venue.

Please check that you have entered your current telephone number in Stud.IP in the Profile tab under Contact tracing. Also update your current phone number and correspondence address in the Campus portal in the user information section of the portal. This information will only be used if the local health authority orders contact tracing after an in-person exam or course.

The University of Passau attaches the utmost importance to ensuring that students and staff feel safe and have the best possible protection during in-person examinations. What aids us in this is our carefully tested hygiene concept, which has already proven its worth in the summer semester and is continually being further refined. To be on the safe side, we partly set the standard even higher than officially prescribed: for example, we remain significantly below the permissible number of seats per room in order to give you as much distance from each other as possible. Please support our efforts by observing the measures in place and being considerate to each other. Thank you!

Please visit the Examinations Office website for more information on the centrally organised in-person exams. For non-centrally organised exams, the examiners will inform you via Stud.IP or the relevant Chair's website.

Information on border crossings for students residing in Austria

Over the coming weeks, students residing in Austria who have to commute across the border to Passau for an in-person exam or a library appointment will have to present the following documents at the border:

• the commuter certificate issued by the Examinations Office or an electronic booking confirmation from the library (printed out or shown on your smartphone)
• enrolment certificate for the current winter semester
• a negative Covid-19 test certificate

Please note that all three must be presented together.

MentUP+ women's mentoring programme // apply by 31 January

MentUP+, the University's women's mentoring programme, is intended for female early career scholars and executives from all faculties. This includes female master's students, state examinations candidates, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, including those working towards their habilitation qualification. The programme supports strategic career planning, imparts career-relevant knowledge and prepares students for future leadership and management tasks. The next round starts in May 2021. The application deadline is 31 January 2021. For the application form and information on the programme as well as the application process visit the mentUP+ web pages.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 3 February.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• University Library // borrowing via Click & Collect as of 28 January

University Library // borrowing via Click & Collect as of 28 January

Passau University Library is offering contactless check-out and return of all media in the central library starting Thursday, 28th January. To use this service, library users have to book an appointment beforehand. Media from the local holdings can be ordered through a web form starting 27 January. If you wish to order items via interlibrary loan, please send an e-mail to ubinfo@uni-passau.de. The order function in the Passau Search Portal is deactivated until further notice.

This appointment-based borrowing service is intended for students, doctoral researchers who do not have an office address on campus and non-university members from the local area. Academic staff based on campus are requested to continue using the delivery service instead. Thanks to a special copyright arrangement reached with VG Wort, the University Library can now e-mail interlibrary loan articles directly to users. This service will be offered at least until 31 March 2021.

Students can also return borrowed media – but only in the central library. Please note that you also have book an appointment before coming in to return borrowed books or media. However, if you already have an appointment for borrowing additional books/media, you can return borrowed books/media during the same appointment.

If you wish to return media but are not in Passau, you can send them in by post. The return deadline for all books/media already out on loan has been moved back to 28 February 2021.

Please note that you must wear an FFP2 face mask when you come to the library to collect or return items.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 27 January.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Exam schedule to be announced on 27 January // wearing of face masks compulsory during examinations (state examination for teacher education and university exams)
• Ministry working on fast-tracked Covid-19 law for the winter semester
• University seeks amendment of Corona regulation to include free-attempt provision

Exam schedule to be announced on 27 January // wearing of face masks compulsory during examinations (state examination for teacher education and university exams)

The Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs has made mask-wearing compulsory during the teacher education (Lehramt) state examinations. Face masks must be worn throughout these examinations; simple face masks covering the mouth and nose will suffice. At the same time, the education ministry grants an extension to the exam time of 5 minutes per hour elapsed. For details visit the website of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (German).
These adjustments mean that the University has to redo all exam schedules. The exam schedule will, therefore, be announced on 27 January rather than 25 January. The schedule will then be made available on the Examinations Office website. Thank you for your patience.
The University Executive has followed suit with the ministry's decision and made the mask-wearing compulsory for all examinations set by the University. This means that you must wear a mouth-and-nose covering in all in-person exams. The exam time for the University examinations will not be extended.
The mask-wearing requirement will initially apply until 18 March 2021 inclusive. For University examinations taking place after 18 March, the mask-wearing requirement and any time extensions will be reassessed against the infection situation.
For both types of examination (state examinations and university exams) there is no express obligation to wear an FFP-2 mask – although the University urges you to do so if you can. If you do not have an FFP-2 mask available on the exam day, you may wear a simple surgical mask or a cloth mask (community mask).

Ministry working on fast-tracked Covid-19 law for the winter semester

In November 2019, Science Minister Bernd Sibler hinted at an extension of the Covid-19 emergency provisions of the Bavarian Higher Education Act introduced for the 2020 virtual corona summer semester. Now the ministry has promised to pass the bill for the current winter semester.
The main change for summer semester 2020 was that certain deadlines were postponed and the standard period of study extended by one semester, which also brought about an extension of the maximum BAföG funding term.
As things stand today, it can be assumed that this regulation will also apply to this winter semester. We will inform you here when the law comes into effect.

University seeks amendment of Corona regulation to include free-attempt provision

The University Senate will consider the addition of a free-attempt exam provision to the Corona regulation at the next opportunity. On this matter, too, we will keep you up to date here.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 27 January.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• In-person examinations should be mostly changed to online-based exams
• Summer semester 2021 starts with online teaching
• In-person examinations: please update your contact details in Stud.IP
• University Library // contactless lending soon to be offered again
• Student Services Association // refectory and cafeteria remain open
• Leisure trips to the rural district (Landkreis Passau) are permitted again

Other news from the University:

• Lecture series 'Universität heute' ('University Today') starts on 27 January

In-person examinations should be mostly changed to online-based exams

In light of the still worryingly high infection rates and the nationwide extension of the strict covid-19 lockdown, the University Executive once again sends an urgent appeal to all examiners to substitute scheduled in-person examinations with digital alternatives wherever possible: the aim must be to reduce the number of in-person exams to a bare minimum. Registered exam candidates will be notified directly by their examiners if their in-person exam is switched to an online format.
President Bartosch will talk about this in a new video address.

Summer semester 2021 starts with online teaching

The Extended University Executive decided on Wednesday that courses at the University of Passau will initially be offered exclusively online in the coming summer semester. Should the infection rate drop to sufficiently low level during the summer semester, online teaching can be supplemented by classroom-based teaching where possible. The University Executive wishes to create the necessary conditions, in terms of content and technology used, for new interactive hybrid formats that will enable students to choose flexibly between online and in-person attendance, depending on their individual situation.
For more on this, watch the video address from President Ulrich Bartosch.
This summer semester 2021 the lecture period is scheduled to start on 12 April. We will inform you here if this date is changed by the responsible ministries as a result of the pandemic.

In-person examinations: please update your contact details in Stud.IP

Examinations for the winter semester will start at the end of January. If you are taking in-person exams:

• Please enter your current telephone number in Stud.IP in the Profile tab under Contact tracing. The data stored there is not visible to lecturers or other students and will only be used if the local health authority orders contact tracing after an in-person exam or course.
• Please also update your current phone number and correspondence address in the Campus portal under user information.

It is of the utmost importance to us all that students and staff receive the best possible protection during in-person examinations. This is why the University is keen to ensure consistent implementation of the hygiene concept, which has proven effective in summer semester 2020. If it is discovered after an in-person examination that an exam candidate was infected, the risk of infection is very low for the other candidates if the hygiene concept was consistently observed. Depending on the specific situation, the local health authority can still require that contact persons be notified in order to interrupt chains of infection. Therefore, it is important that you enter your current phone number in Stud.IP to enable the authorities to contact you directly and without delay if necessary. Thank you for your help!

University Library // contactless lending soon to be offered again

The Bavarian state cabinet decided on Wednesday that 'Click and Collect' will be permitted in public and academic libraries (German text). Following the cabinet's decision, the state parliament is expected to approve this measure in the middle of next week. Once the new 'Hygienemaßnahmenschutzverordnung' (hygiene measure protection ordinance) is in effect, the University Library will once again be able to offer contactless lending in compliance with the existing protective and hygiene measures. Preparations for this are already underway. We will inform you here when the lending service is started up again.

Student Services Association // refectory and cafeteria remain open

You can continue to pick up food from the refectory and the cafeteria located in the same building (Innstrasse 29) during the extended lockdown. Likewise, the refectory's delivery service will continue to operate. For details and the current opening hours visit the Student Services Association website (German) .

Leisure trips to the rural district (Landkreis Passau) are permitted again

The City of Passau and the rural district of Passau have reached an agreement permitting leisure trips to the Landkreis, which starts just outside of the city limits. Nevertheless, the 15-kilometre rule remains in force, prohibiting leisure trips to places farther away than 15 kilometres.

Universität heute lecture series starting January 27 // public debate on the future of the University of Passau

What can a university be in general, and what should it be? How is its mission changing due to the current political and social demands – and what specific path does the University of Passau intend to take? 'In view of the current changes – the covid-19 pandemic, digitalisation of society, academisation of education, the growing and increasingly controversial role of science and not least because of the debate about the reform of higher education law in Bavaria, this is the right time to have this discussion', President Ulrich Bartosch said.
To tackle this issue, the University Executive has entered into an internal consultation process with all of the university's stakeholders, supported by an external, three-member team of advisers: molecular biologist and former president of the University of Göttingen Professor Ulrike Beisiegel, computer scientist and vice rector of the Technical University of Graz Professor Horst Bischof, and political scientist Professor Herfried Münkler, emeritus professor at Humboldt University in Berlin. At the same time, the University has also initiated a lecture series entitled 'Die Idee der Universität – heute (in Passau) , through which it wishes to engage in a public debate and find answers to these and other questions.

The first lecture will be held by Professor Herfried Münkler from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 27 January. All students and other members the University of Passau are cordially invited to participate in the debate. The event will take place virtually via Zoom. Please register online if you wish to participate.

'When you have big and difficult things ahead of you, it is wise to ask at the right time for the help you will need. Over the next five and a half years, the University of Passau will work towards establishing itself more distinctly as a research-strong university. To do this, we must take certain indispensable steps, such as reorganising our internal structure and working on our external networks. We have successfully enlisted the help of experienced and proven experts, who will give us tailored advice on how best to implement these steps', said President Bartosch.
'It was important to us that the multifariousness of the University be reflected in the advisory team and that we benefit from its top-notch experience in the field of science funding and development. The University Executive is taking an interactive approach when involving relevant stakeholders and committees within the university in the deliberative process. The first two-day round saw a variety of encounters and intensive exchanges. The external consulting team therefore complements and supports all existing organisational forms of internal expertise at the University and, not least, the University Council. This process is initially planned to take two years. The advisors will receive reasonable emoluments.'

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 27 January.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

New coronavirus-related developments:

• Impact of library closure on submission deadlines (as reported on 16 December 2020)
• Student Services Association closes cultural rehearsal rooms
• 15-kilometre rule // what does it mean?

Impact of library closure on submission deadlines (as reported on 16 December 2020)

[Due to the large number of enquiries received, we are repeating the information posted on 16 December 2020, the date on which the libraries and reading rooms closed.] The Board of Examiners of the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Information Systems have decided that the submission deadlines for written assignments, seminar papers, project papers, dissertations and theses (or any other comparable type of coursework) will remain in force without modification. There is no general suspension or extension on these deadlines. The closure of the University's services and facilities over the Christmas holiday period (28 December to 5 January) was already taken into account when the submission deadlines were set. In justified individual cases, an extension or suspension of the submission deadline may be approved upon application to the relevant Board of Examiners in consultation with your supervisor. For this to go through, you must indicate in what ways the library closure presents a significant obstacle for submitting your paper, dissertation or thesis on time.
At the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the submission deadlines for bachelor's dissertations and master's theses remain suspended.
There are special regulations for students at the Faculty of Law. For details, read the website of the Dean of Studies (German).

Student Services Association closes cultural rehearsal rooms until at least 31 January 2021

Unfortunately, due to the 11 January amendment of the Bavarian disease control ordinance and the curfew currently in force, the Student Services Association (Studentenwerk) has had to close the cultural rehearsal rooms, initially until 31 January 2021.
Exemption: Residents of halls of residence may—individually but not in groups—use the rehearsal rooms in their housing complex during booked timeslots.
The website of the student services association (German) provides answers to key questions regarding cultural promotions during the Covid-19 crisis.

15-kilometre rule // what does it mean?

Leisure trips outside of a 15-kilometre radius are prohibited for inhabitants of a rural (Landkreis) or urban districts (Kreisfreie Städte) with a seven-day incidence of over 200 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 population. The official seven-day incidence figures published by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) are pertinent. The 15-kilometre radius starts at the district limits of the municipality of residence. In addition, district administrative authorities with a seven-day incidence of more than 200 cases per 100,000 inhabitants may prohibit leisure trips to their district. At the time of writing, this is the case for the Passau rural district (Landkreis Passau), which begins just outside the city limits of Passau.

A reliable daily overview of where in Bavaria the 15-kilometre rule currently applies and/or excursionists are currently not allowed to enter is provided on the website of the Bavarian disaster relief organisation (German), which is updated by 11 a.m. every day.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 20 January.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').

Information from the University:

• University Library // outlook concerning services for academics
• Sports Centre // outlook concerning practical sports courses
• Student Services Association // refectories and cafeterias

University Library // outlook concerning services for academics

Due to the lockdown extension, the University Library reading rooms will remain closed. Borrowing deadlines have been extended until 31 January, and reminders will be suspended until then. As of Monday, 11 January, the UB will again offer the scanning and delivery service for researchers in the usual manner. As soon as the regulations of the Bavarian State Government once again allow for further services such as the on-site book check-outs or the scanning service for students, the University Library will inform you about this on its website. We will also inform you about further developments when and as they happen.

Sports Centre // outlook concerning practical sports courses

Against the background of the dynamic infection situation, all sports science institutions throughout Bavaria have agreed to suspend practical sports teaching until the end of January. The Sports Centre of the University of Passau is currently preparing to offer the suspended practical courses in the period from 1 to 19 February. Practical exams in physical education will be moved back in time. Students affected by this will be notified directly of the details. Here, too, we will keep you informed of further developments.

Student Services Association // refectories and cafeterias

Beginning Monday, 11 January, the refectory open again from 11a.m. to 2p.m. The cafeteria in the refectory building will open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. At both facilities, there will be takeaway service only; it will not be possible to consume food and beverages on site until further notice.

The next regular update will be posted at 6 p.m. on 13 January.

Do you have any further questions? Send us an e-mail! (subject: 'Coronavirus').