University Glossary

Admission can refer to the same thing as ‘letter of admission’. The term often applies to examinations. In the case of (final) examinations, admission is a confirmation that all admission requirements have been met.

There are local and nationwide admission restrictions. ‘Local’ means that a specific university has introduced an admission restriction for a specific degree programme. For degree programmes with nationwide admission restrictions (medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy), the Foundation for University Admissions (SfH) is responsible for allocating study places. The most common admission restriction is the numerus clausus. Furthermore, the waiting period in the form of waiting semesters plays a role. However, locally restricted degree programmes may also be subject to other selection criteria. For example, universities may conduct selection interviews or require pre-study internships.

Requirements that applicants must meet in order to be admitted to a degree programme. The most important requirement is usually a university entrance qualification, such as a technical college entrance qualification, subject-specific university entrance qualification or general university entrance qualification. Depending on the degree programme and university, additional admission requirements may apply. In artistic degree programmes, for example, the submission of portfolios may be an additional admission requirement. Other examples include preliminary examinations, proof of foreign language skills and work samples.

Advanced seminars are mainly attended by Master's students or advanced Bachelor's students.

Graduates of a college or university. At the University of Passau, these graduates have joined together to form the "Alumni Club".

The assistant professorship, created in 2002, enables young academics to research and teach at universities without prior habilitation.

The largest lecture hall at a university is referred to as the Audimax. At the University of Passau, this is Lecture Hall (Hörsaal - HS) 10.

First academic degree of the course of study. The prerequisite is the successful completion of all requirements of a bachelor's degree programme. The duration of study is usually six to eight semesters.

A distinction is made between different bachelor's degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
• Bachelor of Music (B. Mus.)
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)

The bachelor's degree qualifies the holder to pursue a master's degree.

BAföG refers to state financial support for the initial education of school pupils and students. Certain basic requirements must be met in order to receive funding. Students must contact the Studierendenwerk (student services organisation) to apply for BAföG.

If students wish to complete part of their studies abroad, they can apply for Auslands-BAföG (BAföG for studying abroad). Those who already receive normal BAföG are usually also entitled to Auslands-BAföG.

Individual seminars are not offered regularly throughout the semester, but are often condensed into a longer period, such as a weekend.

The campus is the university grounds.

Enrolled students receive a student ID card each semester. In addition to personal data, it also shows the university, the matriculation number and the current semester. With this ID card, students can receive discounts, e.g. in museums, cinemas, on train journeys or for magazine subscriptions. The CampusCard is also a library card, bus ticket and canteen credit card.

Prospective students can apply for a place at the University of Passau and enrol for a degree programme via the Campus Portal, the university's online application portal. After enrolment, the Campus Portal supports students throughout their studies. The portal offers many functions, such as downloading certificates, including the certificate of enrolment or the parking permit for use of the underground car park. In addition, exam registration and grade viewing are also carried out via the Campus Portal.

Central facilities are administrative-independent service facilities at universities. These include, for example, libraries, sports centres, and language centres.

In colloquial language, a certificate is referred to as proof of performance or confirmation of participation.

A chair is the term used to describe the position of a so-called full professorship. The professor who holds the chair not only has the associated material resources, but often also has employees.

In principle, it is possible to change courses during your studies. You can switch to a completely different course, or you can change the combination of subjects and continue working towards your original degree. If you want to switch to a different course, you can either apply for a higher semester (if your credits are transferable) or for a new course starting in the first semester. In either case, the required admission requirements must be met

For various reasons, a student may wish to change universities during their studies. In principle, this is possible. However, you must find the same or a very similar degree programme in your desired city in order to have your previous achievements recognised. Some universities and degree programmes also have admission restrictions in this regard. In general, you should obtain detailed information from the student advisory service and carefully consider whether changing universities is the right step for you.

Many student services organisations offer university-run nurseries. These are usually not as expensive as other nurseries.

Students who live in a household with their own children under the age of 10 can apply for childcare allowance. It can supplement BAföG.

Child benefit is a state benefit that parents receive for their children. It serves to ease the financial burden on parents and to secure their children's livelihood.

In principle, a colloquium is a scientific discussion between experts or an exchange between doctoral students about their work. In university language, it is often also an oral examination.

Committees are associations of individuals working at the university. They provide advice and make decisions. Examples of committees include the university management, the senate, the university council, and the ASTA/Student Representatives' Council.

The CampusCard serves as a photocopying card and can be used at all public printers on campus.

Individual courses are assigned specific course numbers.

The term “courses” covers all teaching events (seminars, courses, lectures, etc.) at a university.

In bachelor's, master's and modularised teacher training programmes, students must earn ECTS credits (ECTS-LP). ECTS credits represent the approximate amount of time required to complete a course. On average, students must earn 30 ECTS credits per semester, which corresponds to approximately 900 hours of work. In order to receive the credits, students must successfully complete the course, which means that they must also take and pass the required examinations. No ECTS credits are awarded in the law programme. This programme concludes with the first law examination.

Latin for ‘with time’. The note ‘c.t.’ indicates that the lecture will begin a quarter of an hour later than stated in the course catalogue. So instead of 2 p.m., the lecture will begin at 2:15 p.m. This is also referred to as the academic quart.

Latin for ‘with praise’, ‘good’. Third-best grade in a doctorate.

Structure and course of studies (in terms of content and organization).

DAAD scholarships are primarily aimed at students with a bachelor's degree, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers, and are awarded for study and research stays at universities and non-university research institutions in Germany. The DAAD is an external service and is not part of the University of Passau.

Head of a faculty at the university.

A degree programme is a course of study that is regulated by study and examination regulations. There are undergraduate degree programmes (e.g. bachelor's degree programmes) and postgraduate degree programmes (e.g. master's degree programmes). Those who successfully complete a degree programme qualify for a professional career.

A student is removed from the ‘student list’. After successfully completing their studies, many universities automatically deregister students, but it is also possible for students to apply for deregistration themselves. Early de-registration – e.g. due to discontinuation of studies – can also be requested. The university may enforce early de-registration in the form of compulsory de-registration if students have not met certain requirements (e.g. examination results or payment of semester fees). De-registration terminates student status.

Nationwide scholarship programme. Students who achieve outstanding results at a German university can receive this scholarship for financial support. Half of the Deutschlandstipendium is financed by the federal government and half by private sponsors.

With the Deutschlandticket, you can use any means of local public transport in Germany. For students, the ticket can be purchased at a reduced price.

Academic holiday on which the President and others give ceremonial speeches. Awards and honors are then presented to individuals and institutions who have rendered outstanding services to the University. The University of Passau celebrates its anniversary each year in mid-November with the Dies Academicus.

Academic degree that used to be awarded at German universities. This has now largely been replaced by the Bachelor's/Master's system.

University staff member who supervises students while they are writing their doctoral thesis. This is usually a professor.

The dissertation, also known as a doctoral thesis, is the academic work that must be completed in order to obtain a doctoral degree.

To obtain a doctorate, you must complete a doctoral programme. To earn a doctorate, you must demonstrate that you are capable of conducting in-depth scientific work. The doctoral programme comprises a written scientific thesis (dissertation) and an oral examination (defence or viva voce). To earn a doctorate, you generally need a good university degree.

A double degree programme – often referred to as a parallel degree programme – is when someone completes two different degree programmes at the same time. To begin a double degree programme, an application must be submitted.

Highest academic degree. This academic degree is obtained by writing a dissertation and passing an oral examination (Rigorosum).

European system for the transfer and collection of academic achievements. This should be able to guarantee the comparability of students' academic achievements in Europe.

ECTS or ‘credit points’ is also used to refer to the points that are accumulated in courses. There is a fixed number of points that are required to obtain a degree. (see credit points)

Describes virtual, i.e. electronically supported learning using electronic media, online tools, etc.

An elective subject must be chosen from subjects specified in the study and examination regulations. It is a compulsory course without which the degree programme cannot be completed.

Immatrikulation refers to the enrolment of a student in a specific degree programme. For degree programmes with no admission restrictions, a place is guaranteed. For degree programmes with admission restrictions, a letter of admission is required. This is obtained after applying for a degree programme and being accepted. Once admitted, students must enrol or re-register by the deadline.

Proof of suitability or motivation for the chosen course of study: An entrance examination is used to assess the necessary skills. An admission procedure is often required for artistic, sporting and musical degree programmes. Such examinations can take the form of sports tests, written tests, work samples, interviews or letters of motivation, for example. At the University of Passau, there are only entrance examinations or aptitude tests for the subjects of sport and art in the teacher training degree programmes.

ERASMUS+ is an exchange programme. It enables students to study and work in other European countries. It also supports university lecturers who wish to teach abroad and university staff who wish to further their professional qualifications. The programme was launched by the European Union.

A written exam is an assignment that is written under supervision. In principle, it is similar to class tests.

Students who are disadvantaged in an examination due to a disability or chronic illness can submit an application for an exam access arrangement to the relevant examination office. If approved, they may be granted additional time for written examinations and assignments, for example. The compensation is tailored to the disability. To receive compensation for disadvantages, a medical certificate must be submitted. Further information can be found in the Higher Education Framework Act.

The faculties of a university have a committee that deals with issues relating to examinations and academic performance. This is the examination board. The examination board usually consists of professors.

The examination board decides on admissions to intermediate and final examinations, on the recognition of academic achievements, and is responsible for the examination regulations. The examination office is responsible for implementing the decisions.

Each module area and each module contained therein within a degree programme has its own examination number. When students choose a course, they must follow the module assignment. When an examination is taken in the course attended, the examination number may sometimes be requested. This can be viewed in the CampusPortal on the examination registration page.

The Examinations Office is responsible for organising examinations. This includes, for example, registration, setting up the examination, setting deadlines and issuing grades.

In order to take an examination, students must register in advance. Registration usually takes place within a period specified by the examination office. This is done via the campus portal.

The examination regulations specify the type and procedure of the examinations. They contain all the necessary information on requirements, examination subjects, examination sections and performance assessments. The responsible faculty drafts the examination regulations, which are issued by the university and, if necessary, approved by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts.

During exercises, content from lectures is reinforced and, where possible, applied in practice.

At your own choice. Attendance at an event is optional, i.e. not compulsory.

A university is divided into various organisational areas/departments. A faculty includes students, teaching staff and administrative staff. The individual departments/faculties are responsible for their own organisation of teaching, studies and research. The terms faculty and department are increasingly used synonymously. There are five faculties at the University of Passau: the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education, and the Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics.

Elected representatives of the persons belonging to a faculty. Alongside the dean, who acts as the faculty board spokesperson, the faculty board is the faculty's governing body. It is responsible for matters of fundamental importance to the faculty. In addition to the dean, the vice-dean, the dean of studies, representatives of the professors, academic and other staff, and students, as well as the respective women's representative of the faculty, are members of the faculty board. The dean chairs the faculty board.

Other students who study with you.

A field of study refers to the subject that one studies. It could be understood as a synonym for a degree programme.

An event that takes place outside the university and normal lectures. It serves to deepen what has been learned so far and to connect it with practical experience. Funding opportunities are often available from the university for this purpose.

Foundations are institutions that manage money or other assets. A foundation always has a task assigned to it by the donor for which it spends money. For example, there are some foundations that award scholarships to talented students to enable them to receive a good education.

Students who are in their first semester. In Passau, these are also called Quietschies.

There are different AStuPOs for each faculty. In addition, there are subject study and examination regulations (FStuPO) for each individual degree programme.

Qualification for studying at a university. With a general university entrance qualification, students can study any subject in any federal state. With a subject-specific university entrance qualification, students can only study certain related subjects.

The grading scale is an evaluation scale for performance. The grading scale can be represented, for example, in school grades from “very good” to “unsatisfactory”, points or percentages.

A grading system often looks like this (deviations are possible depending on the university):

Very good | 1.0 and 1.3
Good | 1.7 and 2.0 and 2.3
Satisfactory | 2.7 and 3.0 and 3.3 and 3.7
Sufficient | 3.7 and 4.0
Deficient |5.0

Awarding of an academic degree to graduates.

After completing their studies, young academics can apply for graduate funding. This is financial support for the start of a university career. At the University of Passau, the Graduate Center can help here.

This refers to the successful completion of a degree programme, meaning that the graduate has obtained an academic degree. In the past, this was usually a diploma or master's degree, but today degree programmes generally conclude with a bachelor's, master's or state examination.

Anyone who is not enrolled at the university but would still like to attend courses can register as a guest attendee. Exams are not taken. Participation in courses is subject to a fee.

This designation stands for honoris causa. The designation Dr. h.c. or Dr. E.h. is an honorary doctorate.

At universities, the chancellor heads the administration. They are also a member of the executive committee. The Head of Administration is responsible for the university's non-academic and non-artistic staff. They are also responsible for the budget, real estate, legal issues and administrative tasks.

In order to enrol, students must prove that they have health insurance. To do so, they must either prove that they have taken out insurance themselves or that they are covered by their parents' family insurance. The certificate for this can be requested from the insurer.

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System.

Alongside the TOEFL and the Cambridge Certificate, this is one of the most frequently requested language examinations to prove English language skills.

ILIAS is an open source (free) learning platform. Many universities use ILIAS as a learning, knowledge and collaboration platform for learning and working.

Universities have faculties. Faculties have institutes. The organisational unit can be used, for example, to group together degree programmes at a university that originate from the same field.

If a book (literature, media) is required that is not available in the university library, it can be ordered from another library via interlibrary loan. The loan is processed via your own university library.

After completing the basic studies, students in some degree programmes must take an intermediate examination. Those who pass it have demonstrated that they have acquired the relevant knowledge from the first part of their studies. In some degree programmes, it is also referred to as a preliminary diploma or preliminary examination.

The International Office is the point of contact for all questions concerning studying abroad and foreign students studying in Passau.

There are two types of internships at university:

1. Internships are completed in companies or other institutions that are active in the field of study. These internships allow students to gain initial professional experience and deepen their theoretical knowledge in practice. They also provide an opportunity to make important contacts for starting a career. Many degree programmes have compulsory internships that must be completed either during a practical semester or during the lecture-free period.

2. There are also internships that take place within the university. These include, for example, laboratory internships. This type of internship is intended for experimental work by students, who can draw on the help of teaching staff.

All degree programmes offer the opportunity to complete a voluntary (or, in some cases, compulsory) internship abroad in order to gain experience abroad and improve foreign language skills. At the University of Passau, the ZKK (Centre for Careers and Competencies) is responsible for this.

A student begins their studies in a higher semester because they can transfer credits and thus skip one or more semesters. The credits to be recognised are often credits from another degree programme.

A learning agreement is concluded between a domestic and a foreign university. It stipulates that a student can attend certain courses during a stay abroad and that these will be recognised upon their return to the domestic university.

Leave of absence for students. Leave of absence may be granted for important reasons, such as internships, stays abroad or illness during the course of study. As student status remains unchanged, the semester fee must still be paid during the period of leave.

A lecture is a course taught by lecturers on a specific topic. Usually it consists of presentations given by the lecturers.

Large room with space for many students to follow a lecture. 

Teaching staff at a university. These include, for example, professors, research assistants and lecturers.

At the university, a lecturer is a native speaker from abroad. They are responsible for teaching students in their native language and the culture of the country.

Lecture series are courses in the form of lectures in which either a different subtopic is always covered or different lecturers always give the lecture.

Literature are writings such as books, essays or other publications.

The Magister is a degree or academic qualification. It offers the opportunity to combine subjects, for example by taking one major and two minor subjects. Since the Bologna Process and the introduction of Bachelor's and Master's programmes, there are only a few Magister programmes left in Germany. With a good Magister degree, you can also do a PhD.

Magna cum laude is a grade awarded, for example, for a doctoral thesis, and means ‘with great praise’. It is the second-highest grade and stands for a particularly good/very good performance.

A master's degree is a university degree. After successfully completing a bachelor's degree, students can enrol in a master's programme. The classic distinctions are:

• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master of Engineering
• Master of Laws
• Master of Fine Arts
• Master of Music
• Master of Education

However, other forms are also possible. In the case of non-consecutive master's programmes, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) is particularly common.

Each student is assigned a matriculation number, which enables the university administration to identify each student precisely. The matriculation number must also be given for examinations and tests, for example.

The register is the list of students at a university. Today, the term is hardly used anymore.

A module is a coherent teaching unit that deals with a specific topic and is limited in time. Modules can consist of one or more courses. To complete a module, students must pass at least one examination. The individual modules are described in detail in module handbooks or module catalogues.

NAN is the designation for an examination that has not been taken. This designation can be found on the proof of examination performance, which can be downloaded via the CampusPortal.

Not passed/failed refers to examinations that have not been successfully completed. Students can find this designation in their examination results, which are displayed via the CampusPortal.

An NC only applies to degree programmes with restricted admission. The term Numerus Clausus, or NC for short, comes from Latin and means ‘closed number’ or ‘limited number’. The NC is based on the requirements of the individual applicants and is used when the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the available study places. It expresses the average grade in the Abitur or the number of waiting semesters of the last applicant who was admitted. The NC changes every semester and is therefore difficult to predict. At the University of Passau, all degree programmes are open to all applicants. The Abitur grade therefore plays no role in enrolment.

In the course catalog, the note “N.N.” after a course means that it is not yet certain who will lead the course.

Non-professorial academic staff is a colloquial term for academic and artistic staff at universities who are not professors. The non-professorial academic staff are also represented in academic self-administration bodies.

Obligatory comes from Latin and means ‘mandatory’ or ‘binding’. In university language, the term “obligatory” or rather ‘compulsory elective’ is often used in connection with courses. Compulsory elective means that there are various options to choose from within a course (which must be taken).

Many university libraries use OPAC as their electronic library catalogue. Students can search for books online via OPAC and also reserve them.

A subject that can be freely chosen from an extensive catalogue of subjects during one's studies.

Shows the structure and organisation of the University of Passau in the form of an organisational chart. It clearly illustrates the areas of responsibility and competences of the university management, departments, divisions, administrative offices, chairs, institutions, etc.

At many universities, individual student councils organise orientation weeks for first-year students to help them get off to a better start in student life. Usually, the aim is to get to know fellow students, the university, the city and the course of study in general.

For some prospective students, full-time study is not feasible. Some have to work or look after children or relatives in need of care. For this target group, some universities offer the option of part-time study. Part-time students have less time commitments, which means that their studies take longer than full-time studies.

This is the name given to rooms where computer workstations are provided free of charge for students on campus. Many PC-Pools have programmes installed on the computers that students need.

The postdoctoral qualification is a qualification to teach at a university in an academic subject. This is the highest-ranking university examination in Germany and the prerequisite for a professorship. It can only take place after a doctorate.

A postgraduate degree requires a successfully completed university degree. Some postgraduate programmes also require professional experience. Master's programmes and doctoral programmes are the most common types of postgraduate programmes.

Practical semesters are often part of degree programmes at universities of applied sciences, but they can also be included in the curriculum at other universities. During the practical semester, students carry out subject-related activities and are not required to attend any courses. In most cases, practical semesters take the form of internships at companies or institutions that are related to the subject area.

Students can attend preparatory courses before the first semester. These courses teach students content that is designed to make it easier for them to follow the degree programme/course. For example, there is a preparatory course in mathematics for technical degree programmes.

Students often have to give presentations in classes. These often count as part of the exam itself or serve as the basis for written assignments. Depending on the course, presentations can be given alone or in groups. Giving presentations encourages students to engage with the content, but also to practise speaking in front of an audience.

Head of a university. The President of the University of Passau is elected for a term of six years.

Teachers at a university. Professors who hold a chair are obliged to teach a certain number of courses. As a rule, a postdoctoral qualification is a prerequisite for becoming a professor at a university, but there are exceptions.

Programme advisers are typically lecturers or other academic members of staff of the respective chairs. Students can ask questions or ask for help that are relevant or necessary for their studies.

In addition to providing academic advice, the programme coordinator is also responsible for advising students on issues relating to the recognition of examination results, compulsory stays abroad and internships.

Those who successfully complete a course receive a certificate. These certificates can be graded or ungraded. In most courses, students must take a written or oral examination or prepare a presentation and a term paper in order to receive their certificate. In many degree programmes, you must have a specified number of certificates of achievement in order to be admitted to intermediate or final examinations. The number is specified in the examination regulations.

The propaedeutic course refers to introductory courses. They serve as an introduction to specific subject areas and teach basic content or methods related to the subject.

Many universities offer a proseminar at the beginning of the degree programme. In the proseminar, students are taught how to conduct independent academic work.

Psychological-psychotherapeutic counselling centres at universities help students cope with psychological problems. These can include exam anxiety, but also personal problems. The aim is to give students as much support as possible so that they can successfully complete their studies and are not prevented from doing so by problems.

University rankings are an attempt to compare and evaluate universities or individual degree programmes. The results are then published in a ranking list.

The refectory serves inexpensive food for students and members of the university. It is the university canteen, so to speak.

In order for students to remain enrolled after each semester, they must re-register by a deadline set by the university. To do so, they must pay the semester fee within a specified period.

Persons working in scientific positions in the mid-level academic staff of a university. Often abbreviated as WissMit.

Leave of absence of a professor to pursue research tasks. During this time, no courses are taught by this professor.

These take place in the run-up to an upcoming exam or written examination. Here, students can revise the relevant material in groups. These are not available for every exam, but only for selected ones, e.g. state examinations for teaching and law.

Assessment of a dissertation. ‘Sufficient’ or ‘satisfactory’.

A scholarship is financial support for students to help them with their studies. However, unlike BAföG or a loan, none of it has to be paid back. There are various foundations and associations that award scholarships. Each of them has different selection criteria. As a rule, however, academic performance and social commitment play a major role.

A person who receives a scholarship is referred to as a ‘scholarship holder’.

Scientific exercises are courses in which a subject is studied in depth. Often, prior completion of a basic course in the same subject area is required in order to participate in scientific exercises. In the WÜ, students can take exams for which they can earn ECTS credits.

A degree programme that is commenced after another degree programme has already been completed is referred to as a second degree programme.

For some degree programmes, demand for places exceeds supply. If this is the case, a selection procedure will be carried out. The type of selection procedure depends on the university and degree programme and can take various forms. Information on this can be found on the website of your faculty and degree programme.

Self-study refers to the independent development and acquisition of study content.

A six-month academic year is one semester. The year is divided into a winter and a summer semester. The semester includes both the lecture period and the lecture-free period.

The term is colloquially used to refer to the lecture-free period, i.e. the time when no courses are held. During this period, students take their exams, write papers or go to work, for example.

The semester fee must be paid by every student each semester. If a student fails to pay the semester fee, they will receive a warning and may be de-registered. The semester fee covers the costs of the student services organisation. In addition, the fee includes a semester ticke

Semester hours indicate how many hours per week a course takes up during the semester.

Students can apply for a semester of leave if, for example, they are doing a long internship during the lecture period or are ill. Students do not normally take any examinations during a semester of leave.

At many universities, part of the semester fee is earmarked for enabling students to use the surrounding public transport system. In return, they can receive a semester ticket, for example. Those interested can ask the student services organisation which routes and modes of transport can be used with the ticket. Students at the University of Passau can travel throughout the entire Passau transport network. For an additional charge, they can upgrade to the Deutschlandticket.

The senate of a university is the central and executive body. It decides on all matters concerning the university, i.e. research, teaching and studies.

Social counselling helps students with problems such as financing their studies. The facilities are run by the student services organisations.

In most degree programmes, students can choose a specialisation during their studies and thus set a focus within the programme. The field of study is specified on the certificate. The term ‘specialisation’ is often used as a synonym for the field of study.

The standard period of study indicates how many semesters a student normally needs to complete a degree programme. It is also stated on the certificate of enrolment.

Some degree programmes, such as law, medicine and teaching, conclude with a state examination. This means that the state reviews the degree programmes and conducts the final examinations. Although the state examination is not an academic degree, graduates can usually go on to do a PhD.

Opposite of c.t. – cum tempore, the event begins exactly at the specified time, without regard to the academic quarter hour.

The abbreviation STEM stands for the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Areas of study or entire degree courses that focus on these subjects are referred to as STEM subjects.

A student assistant is a student who is employed by the university. They are usually employed by a professor who holds a chair. Student assistants help with tasks such as research or lesson preparation.

A kind of student association. There are student clubs and societies for many topics and courses of study.

The student committees represent the interests of the students in its faculty. It consists of elected and non-elected students from that faculty.

If you want to study, you must also be able to finance your studies. Not only tuition fees and semester contributions, but also accommodation, living expenses and teaching materials must be paid for. In addition to support from your family, there are other financing options available: BAföG, scholarships, education loans and part-time jobs.

Enrolled students receive a student ID card each semester. In addition to personal data, it also shows the university, the semester and the matriculation number. With this ID card, students can receive discounts, e.g. at the zoo, museum, cinema, on train journeys or for magazine subscriptions. The CampusCard is also a library card, bus ticket and canteen credit card.

Enrolled students receive a student ID card for the duration of their studies. In addition to personal data, it also shows the university, the semester and the matriculation number. With this ID card, students can receive discounts, e.g. in museums, cinemas, on train journeys or for magazine subscriptions. The CampusCard is also a library card, bus ticket and canteen credit card.

Student loans are used to finance living expenses during studies and, if necessary, to pay tuition fees. Unlike BAföG, your own income and that of your parents is not taken into account.

The Student Registration Office is a department of the central student administration at universities. The Student Registration Office has various tasks, such as handling enrolment, de-registration of students, or changes of address and name.

The Student Representatives' Council represents the interests of students both internally and externally – whether in dealings with the university management, the city of Passau or the State Ministry.

Student residences offer affordable accommodation for students. The rooms are usually quite small. However, some student residences also offer larger flats for couples (with children) or shared flats. Living in student residences often means you get to know other students very quickly, however, some prefer living in private shared flats (WGs), alone or with family.

This organisation is responsible for the facilities that provide social support and assistance to students. These include the canteen, student halls of residence, the BAföG office and advice centres. The Studierendenwerk is financed, among other things, by the social contribution paid by students. The Studierendenwerk Niederbayern-Oberpfalz, or STWNO for short, is responsible for Passau.

Stud.IP stands for ‘study-related internet support for classroom teaching’ and is a learning management system. It is a web tool for organising and planning your studies and for sharing information. Here you can find out about courses and register for them. You can also obtain all important information and documents, such as university announcements, the canteen menu, reading room occupancy, and exchange ideas with others via the notice board and Blubber.

The term ‘Studium Generale’ generally refers to all public courses at universities that can be attended voluntarily by students from all departments. The aim here is to promote general education.

Students can complete part of their studies abroad. The best-known programme for this is ERASMUS+. Alternatively, interested students have the option of organising their stay abroad themselves (known as free movers). It is very important to start planning early, as there may be some obstacles. It is important to note that not all credits earned abroad are automatically recognised by German universities. Those interested can obtain support from the International Office.

There are different AStuPOs for each faculty. In addition, there are subject-specific study and examination regulations (FStuPO) for each individual degree programme.

A study plan explains to students how best to plan their studies. More specifically, it explains which courses should be taken when and which exams should be taken at what point in time. The study plan is essentially a guide for organising your timetable.

The student parliament is elected by the students at a university. It represents the interests of the students at a university and also elects the AStA. Elections to the student parliament are usually held once a year.

Entitles the holder to study at a university of applied sciences.

Summa cum laude is a grade awarded, for example, for a doctoral thesis and means ‘with highest praise’ or ‘with distinction’. It is the highest grade and stands for outstanding achievement.

The summer semester runs from 1 April to 30 September.

Those who study teaching usually aim to become teachers. Unlike most other degrees, the examination regulations are regulated by the state and are not subject to the universities themselves. However, there are differences from state to state. In some states, teaching is studied in the Bachelor's-Master's system, while in others, the traditional state examination is used. After completing their studies, prospective teachers must complete a teaching internship.

Technical universities focus on natural sciences and engineering. Most degrees from technical universities are relevant for industry jobs.

Examination (usually equivalent to a written examination). A term paper is a written assignment for a course.

A bachelor's thesis/master's thesis is another term for a bachelor's dissertation/master's dissertation. It therefore refers to the final thesis of a bachelor's or master's degree programme.

The TOEFL is an internationally recognised test for demonstrating and assessing proficiency in the English language. It is a prerequisite for some degree programmes.

The transcript is a record of all courses attended, as well as the grades achieved and the grade point average. The transcript is required in order to have academic achievements recognised abroad. It can be generated via the campus portal.

A tutor is a student, usually from a higher semester, who supervises and helps other students. Tutors often lead study groups in which material from courses is discussed.

A tutorial is a working group in which the material covered in a course is reviewed, occasionally also prepared in advance or explored in greater depth. A tutor leads the group.

The university library is the interdisciplinary library of a university. Faculties or institutes often have separate libraries as well.

Universities of applied sciences (FH) are often more practice-oriented than universities. Most courses at universities of applied sciences are in the fields of technology, economics and social sciences. However, some courses in media and design can also be taken. Medicine, German studies or teacher training are not available at universities of applied sciences.

University semesters are the semesters during which students were or are enrolled at a university or college. Subject related semesters only cover the semesters of the degree programme in which students are currently enrolled. Sabbatical semesters do not count as subject related semesters, but as university semesters. University semesters are independent of subjects, i.e. if students change subjects during their studies, the subject related semesters are counted again, starting with ‘1’, while the university semesters continue to be counted. So you can be in the second subject related semester of your Master's programme and at the same time in the eighth university semester (if you completed your Bachelor's degree at the university in six semesters).

A very diverse and varied range of sports and sporting activities is available to students at the university. There is often a special programme with courses and dates that you can participate in. A gym is also included in the offer. For students at the University of Passau, university sports cost €15 per semester in basic fees.

The Vice-Dean is the representative of the Dean.

Several people live together in a shared flat. They share an apartment to save money or simply to be part of a community. Some shared flats place great importance on living together, while others are more like functional shared flats.

The winter semester runs from 1 October to 31 March.

The Women's Representative supports the University in fulfilling its duty to promote genuine equality between women and men and to eliminate existing disadvantages. In particular, she advocates for the interests of female scientists, female teaching staff and female students.

Workload refers to the amount of work that students have to put into courses. Workload includes not only class time, but also self-study, i.e. preparation and follow-up work for the subject. ECTS credits serve as a unit of measurement for workload, with one credit corresponding to approximately 30 hours of work. Normally, students should earn an average of 30 credits per academic year, i.e. per semester

The ZIM is the digital centre of the University of Passau. As such, it is responsible for the management, development and provision of all IT services on campus. With the operation of the technical facilities in the associated Centre for Media and Communication (ZMK), it also forms the basis for all media technology courses and the development of hybrid teaching formats.

Future: Careers and Competencies (ZKK) supports students in developing their own personalities and in all phases of their career planning: skills seminars and IT courses, advice on finding internships and jobs, and the annual Campus meets Company career fair for meeting potential employers.