Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The specific courses (lectures) for the modules are usually published in the course catalog on the  Stud.IP learning platform. There you can filter the search results in the menu on the left by module, semester and degree program and view the associated courses with dates, lecturers and content. Using the module IDs from your respective module regulations, you can find the courses relevant to you more easily and thus put together your timetable more easily.

To find suitable courses for your modules, the following steps are recommended:

1. Check the study and module handbook: The module handbooks for your degree program describe the modules with the associated courses, content and examination achievements. You can find these below.
2. Use the Stud.IP platform: Osnabrück University uses the Stud.IP learning platform, where all courses are listed with information on content, times and lecturers. You can use the "Module" filter to find the courses you are looking for.
3. Degree program coordination and student advisory service: Contact the degree program coordination or student advisory service at your school. There you will receive individual advice on which courses match your modules.

You can find various checklists and study plans for our Bachelor's degree courses under  Study Organization.

All program-specific regulations can be found on the following pages:

•  B. A. European Studies
•  B. A. Political Science
•  B. A. Social Sciences
•  B. A. Sociology
•  M. A. Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding
•  M. A. European Governance in Transformation
•  M. A. Sociological Diagnosis of the Present Time
•  M. A. International migration and intercultural relations

Various checklists and

The study plans (usually listed in the module descriptions) are merely sample plans. The order in which courses are taken does not necessarily have to be adhered to. However, courses are often only offered in the summer or winter semester, so the availability of courses should be taken into account when planning the semester schedule. As the study plans are written from the perspective of starting the course in the winter semester, "1st/3rd/5th semester" refer to the winter semester and "2nd/4th/6th semester" to the summer semester. In addition, certain prerequisites for attending courses in the form of passing previous courses must be observed. However, double enrollment in courses/modules is not permitted.

At Osnabrück University, there are both English-only degree programs and numerous courses that are offered in English. A corresponding search function will soon be available in Stud.IP.

Please note that you can generally only complete each module once you have acquired proof of examination/performance and proof of study/participation. Further information can be found in the respective module handbook.

In your own interest, please ensure that you distribute your workload (we recommend approx. 30 CP per semester) evenly over the semesters in the course of your studies. Therefore, take enough courses so that you neither overburden nor underburden yourself.

For students in their first semester, we recommend - if not already compulsory - the student advisory services of the individual subjects, degree programs and the Social Sciences Student Council. Please ask the  student advisory service for more information.

Before you register your thesis, you must fulfill a number of requirements. You can find the exact course-specific rules in your respective examination regulations! Below, however, you will find a few tips on the requirements with regard to examinations and a few special rules.

Bachelor

In the Bachelor's degree program, you must fulfill various points at the latest before registering for the Bachelor's thesis. You can find the exact requirements in your examination regulations! With regard to examinations, you must have successfully completed each of the following types of examination at least once:

• a presentation with written elaboration (usually a combination of a presentation in the course and a related, slightly shortened term paper)
• a term paper
• an oral examination
• a written exam

The institute offers a variety of examinations each semester, from which you can choose accordingly. From the second year at the latest, more weight should be given to the three typical social science examination forms - presentation with written elaboration, term paper and oral examination - than to written examinations. Term papers are particularly suitable for preparing the final thesis. Precise regulations and rules for performance must always be discussed and agreed with the respective teacher!

The following rules apply as a guide for course assessments and course-related examinations:

Proof of studies (4 CP)

• Participation including a smaller oral examination (10-15 minutes) or written assignment (6-8 pages) or several partial assignments (which may not exceed the above-mentioned scope)

Proof of performance (6 CP)

• Presentation (approx. 30-45 minutes) with written elaboration (approx. 10-12 pages) or term paper (approx. 12-15 pages) or oral examination (approx. 30 minutes)

Colloquium for the Bachelor thesis

• Exposé: 20-23 pages

Bachelor thesis

• Length: 40-60 pages

Note: A standard page consists of 2,600 characters. Appendices are not counted as part of the page count. Literature lists can be included after consultation with the examination supervisor.

Master

In the Master's degree program, you must have successfully completed each of the following forms of examination (6 ECTS) at least once before registering for the Master's thesis:

• a presentation with written elaboration (usually a combination of a presentation in the course and a related, slightly shortened term paper)
• a term paper
• an oral examination

The information and regulations of the respective lecturer must always be observed and adhered to for course assessments and examinations during the course!

Students have the opportunity to complete additional work. Additional work is not taken into account when determining the overall result. No compulsory credit points for this degree program can be acquired through additional achievements. These are voluntary additional achievements that are shown on the transcript of records, but not on the degree certificate.

Sometimes courses (language courses or incorrectly assigned examinations) end up in the additional account by mistake. If a course is to be moved from there to a module - provided that a corresponding assignment was already possible in advance - you must contact the Examinations  Office by email or telephone and request the change.

You can find general information about application, admission and enrollment  here. Find out about course-specific deadlines, requirements and admission conditions in good time!

All dates and deadlines of the university - always up to date - can be found  here. Please pay particular attention to the re-registration deadline and the timely transfer of the semester fee. If you miss these deadlines, this may result in your de-registration. If this happens, please contact the  Admissions Office immediately!

Not all students come from academic families where university vocabulary is standard before starting their studies. But even apart from that, there are many new terms that you will come across regularly. Here is a summary of the most important ones for you:

• SWS - Semesterwochenstunden (weekly semester hours) are the number of hours a course lasts in a semester. A course with 2 semester hours per week means that you have to plan 2 hours (2x 45 minutes) per week for this lecture during the semester.
• ECTS or CP - For each course you attend as part of your studies, you will receive credit pointsaccording to the European Credit Transfer System. 1 CP corresponds to 25-30 hours of work. This includes the time you spend at university (lectures, exams, etc.) as well as the time you spend preparing for and following up on courses at home. Credit points are only awarded if a course or examination has been passed. Attendance alone is not enough.
• c.t. and s.t. - These abbreviations can be found at universities after times: 10 a.m. s.t. means the course starts at 10:00 a.m., 10 a.m. c.t. means the course starts 15 minutes later, i.e. at 10:15 a.m.. In Latin, s .t. means " sine tempore" = "without time", c.t. stands for "cum tempore" = "with time".
• Study regulations - There are two particularly important documents for students:
  • Study regulations (also called module handbook or module descriptions ): These contain descriptions, prerequisites and information on the scope of all modules/teaching units and usually an overview of the study plan. With this information, you can see when which module elements are offered or recommended and what content is hidden behind the modules. The study regulations provide guidance on the course of study. You should find out in the course of the first semesters which achievements are required of you and how you can complete them.
  • Examination regulations. The examination regulations state what you need to do to pass examinations properly during your studies and what requirements you need to meet to be admitted to the final examination (Bachelor's or Master's thesis). It also states which performance components a course includes or must be completed or which lectures you have to attend.
    
    Please read both documents carefully and consult them whenever you have questions about modules or examinations. If you have urgent questions about examinations, please contact the examinations office responsible for your degree program.
• Semester breaks - Semester breaks are the lecture-free period at universities, usually around 2.5 months in summer and 1.5 months in winter, during which no regular courses take place. On the one hand, they are used for recreation, but are also used for preparing for exams, writing assignments, compulsory internships or part-time jobs. It is a study-free period for independent work. You can find all university semester deadlines  here.
• BAföG - Young people should be able to pursue an education that matches their abilities and interests, regardless of their social and economic situation. This is why the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) exists in Germany. The special thing about it: as a rule, half of the benefit is an interest-free loan and the other half is a grant. Many students don't even know that they can receive BAföG, so take the time to get advice! Advice is available from the  Osnabrück Student Services and Student Government.

You can find all the latest information on the semester fee and other cost-relevant points  here. Remember to transfer your semester fee on time with the appropriate reference!

Young people should be able to pursue an education that matches their abilities and interests, regardless of their social and economic situation. This is why Germany has the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The special thing about it: as a rule, half of the benefit is an interest-free loan and the other half is a grant. Many students don't even know that they can receive BAföG, so take the time to get advice! Advice is available from the  Osnabrück Student Services and Student Government. Also find out about important deadlines in the event of an intended change of degree course or university.

A study scholarship is financial support for students, often linked to good performance at school, university, Doctorate and social commitment. In addition to income-independent scholarships such as the  "Deutschland"-Scholarships (€300/month), there is also income-dependent support for gifted students (up to €855 + €300 lump sum) from foundations, political organizations and other sponsors, i.e. in these cases any BAföG rate is also covered.

In principle, anyone can apply. Find out about  funding opportunities before you start your studies or in your first semester and talk to your lecturers about recommendations or support if necessary. The  ApplicAid organization of former scholarship holders from a wide range of funding organizations is also committed to providing low-threshold advice to interested parties, gives application training and provides information on funding opportunities, especially for students (and trainees) from less privileged households. On the website you will also find an overview and various information material on sponsors, applications, domestic and international funding and more.

You will primarily find information about the internship in your module regulations. All other information and documents relating to registration and crediting can be found on the  Internship Office website. The contact person for internships in the Bachelor's and Master's programs is currently Jens Pösse.

Bachelor: A minimum of 210 hours is required for all Bachelor's degree programs.

Master's: 180 hours are required for the Master's in European Governance and Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding. For the Master Sociological Diagnosis of the Present Time 120 hours are required.

Bachelor: In the Bachelor's program, you receive 7 ECTS for the internship plus 2 ECTS for the internship report. This gives you a total of 9 ECTS credits.

Master: In the Master's degree programs European Governance and Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding, you will receive 6 ECTS credits for the internship including the report. In the Master's degree program Sociological Diagnosis of the Present Time, you will receive 4 ECTS credits for the internship including the report.

It must be a subject-related and professionally relevant activity (i.e. related to your studies or future professional field). If you are unsure whether a position is suitable, talk to our  internship office.

Activities as a student assistant or tutor as well as volunteer work can only be recognized in rare exceptional cases. Under certain conditions, vocational training can also be recognized as an internship. The basis for this is a training certificate or other corresponding proof. In these cases, please contact the  internship office first. Please inform yourself in detail about the examination regulations for your degree program beforehand!

The  Internship Office will guide you through your internship from application to recognition. There you will also find all application forms for various degree programs, a guideline for the internship report and much more. If you have any questions, please contact Jens Pösse at any time!

Examination registration for Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in Social Sciences, Sociology and Political Sciences usually opens 6 weeks before the end of the courses.

• Winter semester: usually mid-December to mid/end of January
• Summer semester: usually end of May/beginning of June to beginning of July

Find out about the specific dates each semester - from the  student council, the examinations  office and via official announcements from the institute and the university!

You can register for examinations in the  HISinOne study organization portal. Under "own exams" you will find all exams for which you can register in your module structure. Some exams (such as language courses) can be registered via "external exams". Talk to fellow students, your  student council, lecturers, course coordinators or your  examinations office in good time if there are any uncertainties regarding registration.

Please note: Registration for a course in Stud.IP is not linked to exam registration in HISinOne ! Stud.IP is the platform for course registration and implementation, HISinOne is the platform for examination matters!

The deadline for deregistering from an exam is always stored in the HISinOne system when you register. In principle, it is possible to deregister until the last day of the semester, but this may vary for exams, for example. Therefore, always check independently what your individual deadlines are! After this deadline, it is no longer possible to deregister, except in cases of hardship.

If you have to withdraw from an examination due to illness, please submit a medical certificate with the appropriate form to the Examinations Office immediately. Forms and forms can be found on the website of the relevant examinations office.

If you need an extension to submit an examination (e.g. a term paper) due to illness, clarify the extension with the relevant teacher in good time and submit your medical certificate to the Examinations Office.

With the exception of cases of hardship, it is no longer possible to register after the deadline. You should therefore register in good time so that you do not have to take the exam and course again at a much later date.

It is possible to change from an examination (written/oral examination/term paper/presentation with written elaboration) to an academic achievement within the withdrawal period. It is not possible to change from an academic achievement to an examination achievement.

If you have registered for examinations or coursework but do not complete them and remain registered in the system, future registrations for these examinations will be blocked. Therefore, always make sure that you clear your account by registering and deregistering in good time and, in exceptional cases, contacting lecturers and  the examinations office responsible for your degree program in good time. No matter how high the hurdle is - not registering only makes things more complicated.

If you register for the wrong examination numbers, the ECTS will only be assigned to your additional account instead of your module. When registering, make sure you select the correct examination number and examination type .

The first point of contact for you is always the person responsible for you or your degree program in the examinations  office.

In unclear cases, the teacher of your course or our  student advisory service can also be a good point of contact for you.

Check your university e-mail address (@uos.de or @uni-osnabrueck.de) regularly, as official notifications regarding examinations are only received there. If you have problems with online registration, please contact the HISinOne team by  phone or  e-mail.

Bachelor

The free elective area of each Bachelor's degree program at FB 01 includes all academic Bachelor's courses that have not already been or will not be taken in the compulsory/compulsory elective area of your respective degree program. This means that you can also choose all university courses from other BA degree programs outside the Institute of Social Sciences.

Master

The free elective area of each Master's degree program at FB 01 includes all academic Master's courses that have not already been or will not be taken in the compulsory/compulsory elective area of your respective degree program. This means that you can also choose all university courses from other MA programs outside the Institute. In the latter case (MA courses outside the Institute of Social Sciences), the lecturer will decide whether or not you can take part in the course and what work must be completed.

If courses do not appear in HISinOne for the registration of study/examination achievements, the booking is made via form/form (see the website of the examinations  office for cultural and social science degree programs. As a rule, however, registration via HISinOne is possible.

Notes on registering for and booking BA courses in the Master's degree program:

No exclusive BA courses can be taken in the free elective area of the Master's program.

Stud.IP reveals whether a BA course is also open to MA students for the free elective area in the Master's program. The corresponding Stud.IP opening under the category"Modules" is decisive for the possibility of booking credit points in the Master curriculum.

Exclusive BA courses can be taken with the consent of the teacher, but they cannot be booked in the Master's curriculum, neither in the compulsory, compulsory elective nor free elective areas. Alternatively, the exclusive BA courses can be booked in the so-called"additional account" in HISinOne and thus documented in the certificate. In principle, this documentation is only possible for BA courses at Osnabrück University and not for other BA courses taken at other universities.

If a requirement for final admission to the Master's degree program stipulates successful attendance of exclusive BA courses, these BA courses cannot be recorded in the MA curriculum either. They are exclusively the subject of the condition.

Language courses offered by the Language Center or as part of Erasmus programs are recognized:

• Bachelor: In the professional skills development area of the Dual-Subject Bachelor, language courses as an interdisciplinary key competence ("+") amounting to a maximum of 4 ECTS are possible. Due to the international profile, language courses amounting to a maximum of 8 ECTS can be credited for the BA European Studies (incl. A1 level if this is not English). English courses can be credited from level B2. Unless otherwise specified, language courses may also count toward the elective course requirements.
• Master: In the Key Qualification module (practical orientation), language courses in the Master are generally possible up to a maximum of 4 ECTS credits. Due to their international profile, the Master's degree programs in European Governance in Transformation and Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding can be credited with a maximum of 8 ECTS credits for language courses. In addition to the module Professional and Research Practice, language courses can also be taken in the Electives.

With the exception of English, courses can be taken in all foreign languages at all levels, i.e. from level A1.

English language skills can usually be taken from language level B2. In the Master Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding, however, English can only be taken and recognized from language level C1, as B2 is already an admission requirement.

Before your stay abroad, check with the  Study Abroad Office whether language courses can be recognized.

As a rule, this is not possible. The examination board decides on exceptions. In this case, please direct your request to the  examinations office responsible for you.

The Bachelor's thesis should demonstrate that you are able to work on a scientific problem independently and under supervision within a set period of time and present the results.

In the examination regulations of each degree program, you will find more detailed information on admission and the completion of the thesis.

Admission to the final thesis will be granted upon application if you can prove that you have completed120 credit points in the Bachelor's degree program and 70 credit points in the Master's degree program in accordance with the examination regulations and within the scope of the current course offerings. You must also be enrolled in the relevant degree program at Osnabrück University. Some examination regulations also require that you have successfully completed all course-related examinations before admission to the thesis.

The application must be submitted in writing to the Examination Board. You can find the relevant forms and forms  here.

Processing time: Three months in the Bachelor and six months in the Master from topic assignment to submission. The topic can only be returned once and only in the first third of the processing time.

Upon submission, a written declaration must be submitted stating that you (or in the case of group work, the part marked by you) have written the thesis independently and have only used the sources and aids specified.

The completed work must be submitted to the chair of the examination board by the deadline. The time of submission is recorded in the examination record.

At least one person who is affiliated with the institute. If possible, this should be a full-time teacher. Depending on the chosen topic, this person can act as first/second supervisor.

Note dual-subject Bachelor: The thesis must be supervised in the core subject in which it is written. If it is written in the core subject at the institute, the Bachelor's colloquium must also be attended.

Depending on the chosen topic, the thesis can also be supervised by a maximum of one person who is not a member of the institute. This person should be professionally qualified for the topic. Supervision by a teacher from outside the school should be agreed with the internal supervisor.

Note Bachelor's degree program in European Studies: The thesis cannot be written exclusively in the minor subject, but must have a relevant connection to the major subject in terms of both topic and supervision.

In the respective main subject/main area of your degree program.

Note dual-subject Bachelor: The main supervision of the thesis must take place in the core subject in which the thesis is written. If it is written in the core subject at the school, the Bachelor's colloquium must also be taken. For further information, please refer to your respective examination regulations.

Whether Bachelor or Master, at the beginning or shortly before graduation:

For all questions relating to academic writing, the Institute of Social Sciences now has a detailed  guide to writing academic papers (PDF, 503 kB), which is intended to serve as an orientation for seminar papers and theses (currently only available in German). In it, you will find basic instructions on academic writing, important explanations and tips on dealing with AI, information on formal design and other helpful tips.

The Writing Center has compiled more detailed  information on the use of AI for university writing assignments. You can also find important subject-specific information on using AI in the  guidelines for writing academic papers (PDF, 503 kB) from the Institute of Social Sciences.

When using AI, always remember the quote from OpenAI founder Sam Altman: "We see a future where intelligence is a utility, like electricity or water, and people buy it from us on a meter." Scientific work requires your own intelligence. AI can help you, but should not replace your independent thinking. For data protection reasons, you should also use the university's own AI platform  kiwi . You can find more applications and learning modules  here.

On the pages of the Writing Center you will find numerous  support offers, literature, downloads and more about academic writing. The Writing Center also offers  writing advice and various  writing events such as the long night of postponed papers - find out about current offers!

Plagiarism occurs when you incorporate other people's ideas into your own academic work without labeling them as your own.

You can find more information  here.

As a rule, these parts do not count towards the page count. Some lecturers count bibliographies (unless they are exceptionally comprehensive) towards the page count by agreement. However, appendices are always excluded from the page count. It is also binding to consult with your supervisors and the examinations office. It is best to clarify this question at the beginning of your thesis.

If you are unable to take an examination due to illness, you must inform the Examinations Office and submit this in writing. You can find the relevant forms and contact persons on the website of the  examinations office responsible for you.

You can contact the  representative for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses with all questions (compensation for disadvantages, hardship application, study organizations and accessibility) relating to studying with disabilities. There you will receive advice on compensation for disadvantages, study organization and funding options.

Submitting a thesis (Bachelor's or Master's thesis) when you cannot be on site is no problem, but requires precise planning and consultation with the  relevant examinations office.

Here are the most common ways:

• Postal delivery: The thesis can be submitted by post. The postmark on the day of submission is decisive. It is recommended to send the thesis by registered mail in order to have proof of the date of dispatch. The address of the responsible examinations office must be stated when sending the paper.
• Representation: A person can be authorized to hand in the paper personally in the mailbox in front of building 19, stating the name of the examinations office.
• Early submission: It is also possible to hand in the paper before the official deadline to avoid stress if you are not on site at the time of the deadline, for example.

In any case, consult with the examinations office to determine the best way for you or to reassure yourself in case of doubt.

Periods of study and completed coursework and examinations are recognized if their equivalence with the corresponding achievements of the respective target degree program can be determined.

Equivalence is deemed to exist as soon as the qualification objectives of the achievements to be examined essentially correspond to the qualification objectives of the degree program for which recognition is requested. This is not a purely formal, schematic comparison, but rather a holistic assessment that takes into account the significance of the respective achievements for the desired degree.

If there is no corresponding agreement or if further recognition is desired, the responsible examination board decides on equivalence.

Responsibility: Unless otherwise stipulated in the examination regulations, the relevant examination board is responsible for crediting. The respective subject representatives must be consulted before a final determination of equivalence is made.

Assessment: If coursework and examinations are recognized, the corresponding grades - provided the grading systems are comparable - are adopted and included in the overall grade. In the case of non-comparable grading systems, only the note "passed" will be added; it is permissible to mark the recognition in the certificate.

Required documents: Applicants must submit the evidence required for recognition to the examination board and the relevant examinations office, in particular

• detailed course content,

• examination conditions,

• Number of examination attempts,

• examination results,

• scope of achievements (e.g. ECTS points).

Note on failed attempts: Failed attempts in equivalent module examinations of another degree program must be stated by the applicant without being expressly requested to do so and will be taken into account for credit transfer.

If you are applying for a degree program and can have credits from your previous studies (e.g. if you are transferring), you can be placed in a higher semester after examination.

For the smoothest possible process, you can send your transcript with a form from the  Admissions Office and a self-assessment to the responsible examination board. You should submit a self-assessment of how you would like to be classified.

If you are enrolled after a successful application, you can submit an informal application for the recognition of credits. The best way to do this is to apply directly to the  examinations office; the decision is made by the chair of the examination board. The better your documentation is, the easier the recognition process will be.

If you would like to change your degree program or field of study, you must submit an application to change your degree program to the  Admissions Office . Please note possible admission restrictions. A change of degree program must be applied for within the re-registration period. Admission is only possible if places are available.

• Yes, if you want to start a completely new subject.

• No, if the coursework and examinations you have already completed can be credited for the new subject and lead to a placement in a higher semester. To do this, you must have completed the coursework and examinations specified in the study and examination regulations.

The review and semester placement are carried out as part of the application/admission or enrollment process. For your own orientation and preparation, it is advisable to take a look at the study and examination regulations of the new degree program beforehand and compare them with your previous studies. If you have any doubts as to whether it is realistic for you to be placed in a higher semester, you can ask the person responsible for placing you in a higher semester as a precaution. In principle, you can only change to a semester for which there is a course offer.

For the recognition and crediting of your achievements as well as a possible placement in a higher semester, please note the following steps:

• The review and semester placement are carried out as part of the application/admission or enrollment process. For your own orientation and preparation, it is advisable to take a look at the study and examination regulations of the new degree program beforehand and compare them with your previous studies. If you have any doubts as to whether it is realistic for you to be placed in a higher semester, you can ask the person responsible for placing you in a higher semester as a precaution.
• In principle, you can only change to a semester for which there is a course offer.
• For the smoothest possible process, you can send your transcript with a form from the  Admissions Office and a self-assessment to the responsible examination board. You should provide a self-assessment of how you would like to be classified.
• If you are enrolled after a successful application, you can informally apply for recognition of the previously discussed achievements. The best way to do this is to apply directly to the  examinations office; the decision will be made by the chair of the examination board. The better your documentation is, the easier the recognition process will be.

There are fixed dates for switching: If you want to start in the first semester, you can only change to the winter semester, with a few exceptions (see  course offerings). If you want to start in a higher semester, it may also be possible to switch in the summer semester (please check the  course offerings ).

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on your personal wishes, goals and general conditions.

Basically, you should think about whether you want to remain enrolled or exmatriculate. The latter would possibly have the advantage that you would gain semesters on hold, which could be helpful for a future application for the first semester.

If you only want to change one subject in the combined Bachelor's degree, you may have another question: What can I do to avoid losing time by changing? In principle, it is not necessary for you to take both your core and second subject at the same time. You could therefore consider studying more intensively in the subject that you want to keep and defer the other. Or you could prefer courses from the interdisciplinary compulsory elective area. However, bear in mind that switching to another subject is not guaranteed! In this case, you should ask yourself: Would you continue studying in the old combination?

If you are studying two subjects with a core subject and a minor subject, you cannot simply "swap" the subjects. You have to go through the placement procedure for both subjects separately, i.e. apply for the rearranged subjects and, if necessary, apply for a higher semester. Also bear in mind that there are subjects that are only offered as second subjects. In addition, the combination must be permissible, e.g. for the career goal of Teacher Education. You can find tables on this in the information sheets  on Bachelor's and Master's degree programs and teacher training courses.

It is a change of university if a course of study has already been started at a German university and the same or a similar course of study is to be continued at Osnabrück University. If the same degree program was studied and the studies were interrupted, this is also a change of university.

It is a comparable degree program if the characteristics of the degree program

• remains the same and the previous degree objective is retained,
• the Bachelor of Arts or Master of Arts degree remains the same as the degree objective,
• the previous subject or subjects are retained.

If you would like to change to a non-subject-related degree course, you must apply for the first semester if you have not yet obtained a degree. You can find information on this at our  Admissions Office.

If you would like to continue your studies in the same or a similar subject at our university, you must have the examination board of the school of your desired degree program place you in a higher semester and apply via the  HISinOne online portal.

The procedure for the recognition and transfer of credits when changing university can be found above under "Transfer of credits".

Students have various opportunities to spend a few weeks, months or one or two semesters abroad as part of their studies. These include study visits in other European countries via the Erasmus+ program as well as international semester stays in non-European countries. Internships or summer/winter schools abroad are also possible at any time.

Each type of stay abroad involves different forms of application, funding/support and time periods. If you are interested, you can contact our  office for stays abroad at the school at any time to get an overview. There you will find information on current offers, deadlines and opportunities and receive individual advice on questions relating to your time abroad.

An internship abroad is an excellent opportunity to apply knowledge relevant to your studies and gain subject-related experience. Due to increasing globalization, graduates will be expected to gain more and more experience abroad in the future. The acquisition of intercultural skills by getting to know a foreign country, the further development of foreign language skills and - certainly even more important - dealing with people from other cultures is an important factor in recruitment, especially in internationally oriented institutions, organizations and companies.

Although the preparation time for an internship abroad can be shorter than for a degree course, you should bear in mind that a great deal of initiative is required if you want to apply for an internship abroad.

You can find helpful tips and contact persons under  Internship abroad and in the  office Study and internship abroad/Outgoings

You can consult our  exchange database to find the most suitable university(ies) for your stay abroad. However, you should first make the following considerations or do the following research:

• What language skills do I have or can I acquire at an adequate level (B1/B2) before I start, or does the host university offer a sufficient range of English-language courses?
• What requirements may there be for my degree program (e.g. when studying a modern foreign language)?
• Since a semester abroad as part of an exchange program is the simpler and usually most cost-effective option in terms of organization, you should first check whether there are any suitable universities for you.
• If not, a self-organized stay as a free mover would be possible.
• What coursework do I have to complete during my semester abroad at Osnabrück University and are equivalent courses offered at my host university? (Research course offerings at the host university in question and discuss eligibility for credit transfer with the person responsible for examinations at the school).
• Draw up a list of priorities and discuss it with the International Office (in the case of university partnerships) or the Erasmus+ departmental coordinators (in the case of Erasmus+ partner universities).

 De-registration means removal from the student register (matriculation) when leaving the university. It takes place automatically at the end of the semester in which the last examination was successfully taken and the degree course is therefore deemed to have been completed.

Students who wish to terminate their studies prematurely must submit an application for de-registration to the  Admissions Office within the respective re-registration deadlines.

Forced de-registration can also take place without an application, for example if

• you are not properly re-registered,

• you have not paid the required fees (e.g. tuition fees),

• you have definitively failed the last attempts at examinations and therefore the degree course.

You can find more information about de-registration  here.

Reimbursement of fees paid (including the Deutschlandticket for students) is only possible if the application for exmatriculation is submitted within one month of the start of lectures. Please note that you can only take examinations (written examinations, oral examinations, submission of theses) if you are enrolled. You do not have to be enrolled for the correction phases.

Exmatriculation is the final termination of your studies. A leave of absence is a temporary break during which your study credit is not used up. A leave of absence can be useful for the following reasons:

• Completion of compulsory service, voluntary military service and recognized federal or youth voluntary service
• own illness or care of a close relative,
• a period of study abroad which is necessary or beneficial to your studies, lasts at least three months and at least affects the lecture period at Osnabrück University,
• Activities as an elected representative in the academic or student self-administration,
• pregnancy, maternity leave or caring for a child during periods in which an employee would be entitled to parental leave,
• the completion of an internship that is necessary or beneficial for the course of study and takes up at least half of the semester

Further information on how to apply and important tips can be found  here.

Which option can I choose?

The Bachelor's degree program in Social Sciences combines the fields of Political Science and Sociology with different weightings and can be chosen either as a Major in Political Science with a Minor in Sociology or, conversely, as a Major in Sociology with a Minor in Political Science.

By when do I have to decide on a variant?

The final decision for a variant can be made during the course of the degree program. A formal decision is only made when you register for your Bachelor's thesis. As long as you have not yet decided, you should take the modules (in both major variants) in such a way that you do not necessarily have to extend your studies. You have a certain amount of flexibility in the first few semesters. If you change your major, the other introductory courses will be recognized according to your previous practice.

What do I have to bear in mind if I take "Special Sociologies" in the B.A. Social Sciences major in Sociology?

If you would like to take courses in special sociologies to cover modules in the compulsory elective area, please note the following: It is possible to take up to two modules in Special Sociologies in the compulsory elective area. In addition, corresponding courses can also be booked in the subject specialization (2-subject BA Sociology) or in the free elective area (BA Sowi). This makes it possible to get to know a wide range of sociological subject areas, but also to set individual priorities. It is possible to combine any of the courses assigned to Special Soc iology into one module (e.g. Sociology of Religion and Sociology of Youth), but it is also possible to combine two courses on one subject area in one module (e.g. 2x Family Sociology). The special sociology courses are offered regularly - although not always every semester - with different focuses. The distinction between Special Sociologies I and Special Sociologies II has no content-related, but only technical reasons.

What is the professional skills development area?

In the Dual-Subject Bachelor's degree program, two subjects are studied on an equal footing. As a rule, all subjects can be combined with each other. The subject-specific core programme is supplemented by the  professional skills development  area (28 CP) for the acquisition of key qualifications. The professional skills development area gives the degree course an individual orientation by combining subject-related, interdisciplinary and professionally relevant courses. It is divided into two areas: the "4-Steps+" and the subject-specific specialization, each comprising 14 credits. The "4 Steps +" model ensures that students acquire 10 CP in the area of key competencies. Each subject offers options for acquiring credits in the 4 steps. Which modules can be used for which of the steps is determined by the respective subjects. It is up to the students to decide in which subject they take the individual steps of the model. In addition, all students must acquire at least a further 4 CP in the area of key competencies. To this end, they can choose additional interdisciplinary courses, which are compiled in the course catalog of the  Professional Skills Development Office (KoPro), or complete individual steps of the model in both subjects.

How is the professional skills development area integrated into my studies?

The interdisciplinary professional skills development area

• combines subject-related, interdisciplinary and professionally relevant teaching and learning opportunities.

• is worth a total of 28 credit points

• is divided into an interdisciplinary part for the acquisition of various skills (14 credit points) and a subject-related part (14 credit points).

Part 1: In the interdisciplinary part, you can take various courses offered by your two core subjects and/or the  Professional Skills Development Office. The courses offered by the schools of social sciences for this are

• Step 1 + 2: Techniques of scientific work of your core subject sociology or political science

• Step 3: Internship report; this is obligatory if you are doing an internship in the core subject of sociology or political science

• Step 4: Bachelor's colloquium. If you are taking your thesis in the core subject of sociology or politics, the BA colloquium is obligatory

• The "+" step offers you the opportunity to choose a course from the course catalog of the Coordination Office for Professional Skills Development Areas or a course of your choice from your core subject. In the latter case, the cross-core subject examinations office PATMOS will decide on recognition.

• If you do not make use of the school's offers listed here, the alternative offers of your other core subject or the Professional Skills Development Office apply. The best way to find out the necessary information is to contact the relevant offices yourself.

Part 2: Offers of the school in the subject-related part/specialization in the scope of 14 LP:

If you choose the subject-related specialization in the core subject of sociology/ or poilitics (and not in the second core subject!), then you can choose from all the courses in your core subject that you are not taking or have not taken in the compulsory elective area of the core subject. You would have to provide proof of at least 6 CP in the subject specialization.

Where can I find cross-core subject offers and further information on the "4-step+" model of the professional skills development area?

On the website of the  Professional Skills Development Office.

If I choose the specialization in the core subject sociology/core subject politics (and not in my second core subject), which courses may I choose within this area?

You may take all courses from the core subject curriculum of your subject that you have not already taken as compulsory electives in this area or would like to take there ("double booking ban"). In addition, you can choose courses that are explicitly assigned to the free elective area (module ID: SOZ-B-FWB) AND your subject in Stud.IP. For example, Sociology of Religion or Sociology of the Family can NOT be taken in the specialization area of the core subject of Politics, but a course not yet selected in the specialization, e.g. in Political Theory (SOZ-BP-PT2, module component 3, see study plan/module description and Stud.IP). Exceptions must be agreed with the examinations office before enrolment.

What can I focus on in the minor subject?

The Bachelor's degree program consists of a core area of social sciences and a minor subject, which can be chosen depending on the student's own specialization in sociology, economics, law, history, geography or cultural studies: You can choose between Angelic Studies, Geography, German Studies, History, Education Science, Law, Romance Studies, Sociology and Economics.

How does the choice of minor work? Do I have to apply separately for the minor subject?

No, the choice is "emergent", i.e. a minor subject is filled by attending the courses and becomes visible for the examination regulations. This means that a change of minor subject is also possible without any problems, as this does not involve any re-registration.

What is the course of study for the minor subjects?

There are fixed  progression plans (PDF, 371 kB) for your studies in the minor subjects of the Bachelor's degree program in European Studies. If you have any questions or uncertainties, you will find all the necessary information and contact persons for the individual minor subjects there.