A clear study organisation is important for a successfull semester. Learn more about semester planning, exams and learning strategies.
single subject or a combination of several subjects?
For your degree programme, you can choose either a single subject or a combination of several individual subjects.
Foto: Martin Rehm
You can find out which individual subjects are offered at a university as independent subjects or degree programmes on the website of the respective university.
The structure and content of the degree programmes, possible specialisations or fields of study as well as the type of courses and examinations are regulated in the examination regulations, study regulations, curricula or module handbooks.
The descriptions of the fields of study provide an initial overview of possible content.
Modularisation and credit points (ECTS)
Several courses are combined to form a ‘module’.
Modules refer to subject areas and courses that are coordinated in terms of content and time and form a self-contained study unit that is awarded credit points.
A module is usually completed with an examination, the result of which is included in your degree certificate.
These credit points are a measure of the student's workload. They include direct teaching as well as the time required to prepare and follow up the course material, the examination workload and examination preparations, including final papers and coursework.
As a rule, 30 ECTS credits are awarded per semester, whereby a workload of 25 to max. 30 hours is assumed for each credit point. This corresponds to a workload of 750 to 900 hours per semester.
The academic achievements are measured in credit points using a European credit transfer system (European Credit Transfer System, ECTS for short).
Programme structure
At the beginning of the (Bachelor's) degree programme, modules from various courses provide you with general subject-specific foundations and methodological knowledge. In the modules of the advanced study phase, the knowledge is then deepened and expanded and interdisciplinary qualifications are acquired.
It is often possible to set an individual specialisation with compulsory elective modules/subjects (a certain number of which must be selected) and optional elective modules/subjects.
Project work, work placements or business games provide an initial practical application.
If practical semesters or semesters abroad are planned, these are usually completed in the fourth or fifth Bachelor's semester.
At the end of the degree programme, you must complete a major written and/or experimental piece of work, for example a Bachelor's thesis or Bachelor's dissertation.
Duration of study
A standard period of study is specified in the examination regulations for each degree programme. It specifies the time in which you can generally complete a degree programme with the desired examination.
In Bachelor's degree programmes, the standard period of study can be six to eight semesters, in Master's degree programmes two to four semesters.
The total standard period of study for a Bachelor's and Master's degree programme is usually ten to twelve semesters (full-time study).
In the core artistic subjects at universities of art and music, there are consecutive Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes with a total standard duration of up to twelve semesters (full-time study).
