Structure of a curriculum

Every degree programme is based on a curriculum (formerly "study plan"), which sets out the legal framework and defines the structure, workload, qualification profile, learning outcomes, skills and content. Each curriculum has its own study code.

The Senate is responsible for issuing the curricula and has set up a Curriculum Commission for this purpose. This in turn receives proposals from curricular working groups consisting of academics and students from the respective degree programmes.

A curriculum must contain at least the following elements

  • Name of the degree programme
  • Qualification profile and study objectives
  • Duration and scope
  • Admission requirements
  • Academic degree
  • Programme structure and modules with ECTS credit allocation
  • Statement on mobility in the degree programme
  • Classification and description of course types
  • Statements on the final thesis
  • If applicable, statements on participation restrictions for courses
  • examination regulations
  • Statements on the date of entry into force
  • Transitional provisions, if applicable

Modules

Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes consist of so-called modules, which combine teaching and learning units into thematically and didactically meaningful units in the degree programme and which must be completed within one to a maximum of two semesters. A module is a self-contained unit in terms of content and time with defined module objectives and a certain number of ECTS credits. There are three types of modules:

  1. Compulsory module: All students in the relevant field of study must complete the modules designated as compulsory modules.
  2. Alternative compulsory module: Students have to choose between two or more mutually exclusive modules.
  3. Elective module: Elective modules offer students the opportunity to set individual specialisations by freely selecting a fixed number of modules from an elective module group.

Courses

Courses support students in achieving the module objectives. They can serve as preparation for module-orientated examinations or be the basis for an examination themselves.

For each course, it must be specified whether it is an examination-immanent or a non-examination-immanent course.

  1. Non-examination-immanent courses: These include lectures in particular: There is only one oral or written examination at the end of the course and attendance is not compulsory. At least four examination dates must be offered (at the end of the course and at the beginning, middle and end of the following semester).
  2. Courses with an examination component: These include in particular exercises, seminars etc.: Assessment is based on at least two written or oral performances that are to be completed as part of the course. The individual partial performances are to be used for the assessment to a factually appropriate, fair and comprehensible extent.

The curriculum may stipulate that the full completion of modules is a prerequisite for the completion of other modules. The curriculum may also stipulate that the completion of courses or examinations within a module is a prerequisite for the completion of further courses and examinations in the module.

StEOP (Studies Induction and Orientation Phase)

A special type of module is the StEOP (Studies Induction and Orientation Period), which is the first module of the curriculum in most Bachelor's and Diploma programmes. The StEOP is intended to give students an insight into the degree programme and enable them to assess whether the course content matches their personal expectations on the one hand and whether they can fulfil the requirements for the degree programme on the other.

The scope of the StEOP is between 15 and 20 ECTS credits, depending on the degree programme. Only when all StEOP examinations have been passed can further courses and examinations be taken.

ECTS (European Credit Transfer System)

ECTS points describe the amount of work that typically has to be completed by students in order to achieve certain study objectives, i.e. to complete a course, a module or the entire degree programme. Students receive ECTS points after completing the coursework and the corresponding assessment.

In accordance with the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), one academic year is measured with a workload of 60 ECTS points for students, which corresponds to a workload of 1,500 real hours (i.e. hours of 60 minutes each). One ECTS point therefore corresponds to an average workload of 25 real hours. This includes not only attendance time when participating in courses, but also examination time, self-study and the preparation and follow-up of courses and possible practical placements.

Information-Video on the Structure of a Curriculum (Video in German)