Examination Regulations of the University of Freiburg for the Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree Program

Transcription

1 Dated September 16 th 2002 (Official Bulletins Volume 33, No. 39, pp ) in the version of October 18 th 2013 (Official Bulletins Volume 44, No. 88, pp ) Examination Regulations of the University of Freiburg for the Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree Program Based on 51 (1) Clause 2 of the University Act (Universitätsgesetz), on September 9 th 2002 the Rector passed an urgent resolution to adopt the following Examination Regulations. The Rector approved the resolution on September 9 th Contents 1 Scope of the Examination Regulations and admission requirements 2 Purpose of the master s degree examination 3 Academic degree 4 Structure, standard program length, and required coursework 5 Board of Examiners and Examination Office 6 Examiners and observers 7 Recognition of study periods, coursework, and assessments 8 Scope and contents of the master s degree examination 9 Coursework 10 Course-based assessments 11 Registration and admission for course-based exams 12 Course-based oral exams 13 Course-based written exams 13a Written multiple-choice exams 13b Coursework and assessments using new media 14 Evaluation of course-based exams 15 Determination of module grades 16 Awarding of ECTS credits 17 (rescinded) 18 Admission to and registration for the master s thesis 19 Master s thesis 20 Oral master's degree examination 21 Determination of overall grade for the master's exam 22 Repeating exams, failure to pass the overall examination 23 Certificate, transcript, and diploma supplement 24 Award certificate 25 Written notification of failure of the overall examination 26 Withdrawal, cheating, rule violations, protected status 27 Compensation for disadvantages 28 Access to examination files 29 Special regulations regarding master's degree examinations with other universities 29a Transitional provisions 30 Effective date Appendix A Appendix B

2 1 Scope of the Examination Regulations and admission requirements (1) These Examination Regulations are applicable for all of the degree programs leading to the Master of Arts degree at the University of Freiburg. (2) The admission requirements for the Master of Arts degree program are set out in the Admissions Regulations for the program in each field. 2 Purpose of the master s degree examination (1) The master s degree examination leading to the award of the academic degree Master of Arts (M.A.) is the professional qualification that concludes a properly constituted master s degree program. (2) The examination is intended to determine whether the candidate has acquired an in-depth knowledge of the field, an understanding of the contexts and interconnections of the master's degree subject matter, and the ability to apply research methods and findings independently. 3 Academic degree On the basis of the successfully-completed master's degree examination, the University of Freiburg awards the academic degree Master of Arts (abbreviated "M.A."). 4 Structure, standard program length, and required coursework (1) The master s degree program covers the field of the student's choice as provided in Appendix A. (2) The master s degree program has a modular structure. The master's degree program uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), meaning that all components of the program are allocated ECTS credits, the number of which is based on the amount of work expected to be required of the student. One ECTS credit corresponds to an average of 30 hours of work. (3) Normally, the required coursework is equivalent to 120 ECTS credits. (4) The standard program length required to earn the academic degree is four semesters. (5) Each subject-specific curriculum should define the program courses such that they can be completed within the standard program length. (6) The subject-specific provisions may stipulate that during semester breaks, students must complete a period of practical work relating to the focus of the degree program, at a private or public institution, with the aim of contributing to the students understanding of professional practice within their respective subjects. 5 Board of Examiners and Examination Office (1) The Board of Examiners of the Joint Board of the Philology and Philosophy and the Economics and Behavioral Sciences Faculty (Joint Board) is responsible for organizing examinations, appointing examiners, and decision-making in exam-related matters. It monitors compliance with the provisions of these Examination Regulations and makes the required decisions in accordance with the Examination Regulations. The Examination Office of the Joint Board assists the Board of Examiners in fulfilling its responsibilities. It reports regularly to the Joint Board and the Program Committees on developments concerning the examinations and program periods and offers proposals for amending and updating these Examination Regulations as appropriate. (2) The members of the Board of Examiners are appointed by the Joint Board. The Board of Examiners is made up of four university lecturers and a research assistant, with a student serving in an advisory capacity; they must be a member of the philology, philosophy, or economics and behavioral sciences faculty. The student member serves a one-year term; the other members serve three-year terms. Members may be reappointed. From among the members of the Board of Examiners, the Joint Board appoints a university lecturer as Chair and another university lecturer as his or her Vice-Chair; Sentence 4 applies accordingly. (3) The Board of Examiners shall constitute a quorum when the Chair or Vice-Chair and two other voting members are present. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority; in the event of a tie vote, the Chair or Vice-Chair shall have the deciding vote. Board of Examiners meetings are closed to the public. The Board of Examiners may pass resolutions either during sessions or in writing, by fax, by or by other 2

3 means if the members of the Board of Examiners state their consent to this type of procedure or if they participate in it. (4) The Chair of the Board of Examiners directs the current business of the Board of Examiners and acts as its representative to outside entities. The Board of Examiners may revocably transfer responsibility for certain tasks to the Chair or Vice-Chair; this does not apply to decisions regarding appeals. In other respects, the Chair has the authority to make decisions alone, in lieu of the Board of Examiners, if the decisions cannot be postponed; he or she must notify the Board of Examiners without undue delay. The Board of Examiners will formulate rules of procedure for itself. (5) The members of the Board of Examiners are required to maintain professional confidentiality. Members are obligated to give a commitment of confidentiality to the Chair of the Board of Examiners unless they are members of the civil service. (6) The members of the Board of Examiners have the right to be present when exams are held. 6 Examiners and observers (1) Only persons authorized to administer examinations can act as examiners. Persons authorized to administer examinations include university lecturers, external lecturers, and research associates who have been assigned authorization to conduct exams. Observers must be knowledgeable and must hold at least a master s degree in the field to which the subject of the exam belongs or an equivalent qualification. (2) The Board of Examiners appoints the examiners responsible for the subject matter and observers at the suggestion of the relevant departments/institutes. It may assign responsibility for appointing examiners to the Chair. The appointment of observers may be delegated to the specific examiner. (3) Course-based exams relating to individual courses will be administered by the respective course instructor, subject to the provisions in Paragraph (1). (4) Examiners and observers are required to maintain confidentiality. Members are obligated to give a commitment of confidentiality to the Chair of the Board of Examiners unless they are members of the civil service. (5) Unless otherwise provided in the respective subject-specific provisions in Appendix B to these Examination Regulations, the candidate may propose examiners for the master's thesis and the oral master's degree examination. This does not constitute a legal right to the appointment of a specific examiner. 7 Recognition of study periods, coursework, and assessments (1) Study periods, coursework, and examinations completed in programs of study at state or stateapproved universities and vocational academies in the Federal Republic of Germany, or in programs of study at foreign state or state-approved universities, or in the context of contact studies, will be recognized unless the qualifications acquired are not equivalent. (2) Study periods, coursework, and exam results will also be documented through successful participation in a state-approved distance learning program, provided that the distance learning program is equivalent in terms of course content to the course offerings in a classroom-based program. (3) Generally, coursework and examinations completed in the program that is a prerequisite for entry into the master's degree program cannot be recognized in the master's degree program. (4) Qualifications acquired will be deemed equivalent if they correspond fundamentally to the qualifications that are demonstrated through the study periods, coursework, and exam results in the respective subjects for which they are substituted in the master's degree program at the University of Freiburg. The determination of equivalency should be based on an overall consideration and evaluation rather than a schematic comparison. Equivalency agreements approved by the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and the German Rectors Conference, as well as arrangements under existing university partnerships, should be taken into account in decisions on the recognition of study periods, coursework, and examinations outside Germany. Where questions arise concerning equivalency, the Central Office for Foreign Education may be consulted. (5) Study periods, coursework, and examinations are recognized for purposes of continuation of studies and completion of examinations. Therefore, such recognition should be denied if, in one subject of the Master of Arts degree program, recognition is sought for a total exceeding two thirds of all coursework and examinations or exceeding two thirds of the required ECTS credits. However, this does not apply if 3

4 the coursework or examinations were completed in another program or in another subject at the University of Freiburg. (6) The Board of Examiners decides on the recognition of study periods, coursework, and exam results in consultation with the responsible faculty representative who is authorized to administer exams. (7) Students must submit any documentation required for recognition to the Board of Examiners no later than the end of the semester following enrollment in their selected master s degree program at the University of Freiburg or the end of the semester following the completion of the coursework and exams. In the case of certificates and other documentation issued in a language other than German, English, or French, a certified German translation may be required. (8) In the event that coursework and exam results are recognized, and provided the grading systems are equivalent, grades should be transferred and integrated into the calculation of module grades and the final overall grade according to these Examination Regulations. If the grading systems are not equivalent, the Chair of the Board of Examiners will determine a grade for the recognized exam result based on the evaluation levels as provided in 14 and will proceed as provided in Sentence 1. If the differences in the grading system make it impossible to determine a grade as provided in Sentence 2, the comment "passed" will be recorded; this coursework or examination will not be taken into account in calculating the module grades or overall grade. Clauses 1 and 2 apply to the awarding of ECTS credits accordingly. Recognized academic credits and exam results from another university will be identified as such on the degree certificate and the academic record. The Board of Examiners will decide on the identification of academic credits and exam results earned at the University of Freiburg. (9) As part of the recognition process, students transferring from another university or program must submit a declaration stating whether they have failed a course-based exam or the master s degree examination, either once or definitively, in the master's degree program in which they seek to register or in an equivalent program; whether they have lost their right to take examinations; and whether they currently in a master s degree examination process. (10) Knowledge and skills acquired outside the university system will be credited if the qualifications acquired are equivalent as defined in Paragraph (4), but they may not exceed half the prescribed university program. In particular, practical experience gained outside the university system may be credited toward an internship that is required under the subject-specific provisions of the subject selected in the master's degree program. Details such as the prerequisites and scope of credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside the university system may be provided in the subject-specific provisions of Appendix B of the Examination Regulations. Paragraphs (6) and (7) apply accordingly. (11) At the student's request, language courses successfully completed at the Language Teaching Centre at the University of Freiburg will be recognized if the qualifications so acquired are equivalent as provided in Paragraph (4). 8 Scope and contents of the master s degree examination (1) The master's degree examination consists of the course-based examinations, the master's thesis, and the oral master's degree examination. (2) The master's degree examination will be deemed passed if all of the course-based examinations, the master's thesis, and the oral master's degree examination have each earned a minimum grade of "adequate" (4.0). In addition, the candidate must have earned all of the ECTS credits awarded for successful completion of the modules to be taken as provided in the respective program-specific provisions in Appendix B of these Examination Regulations. 9 Coursework (1) Coursework is the individual work that students perform in connection with the courses that they take. The nature, amount, and scope of the coursework must be defined in such a way that the time required to perform it corresponds to the ECTS credits allocated to the relevant course. Information about the coursework that must be completed for specific courses will be given to the students no later than the announcement of the specific course. (2) Completed coursework must be assessed by the relevant course instructor but not necessarily graded. (3) The program-specific Appendix B specifies which courses require the completion of coursework and what coursework must be documented as a prerequisite for admission to particular exams. 4

5 10 Course-based assessments (1) Course-based assessments will take the form of module examinations. Module examinations are either final module examinations, which each examine all of the components in a module, or module component examinations, which concern one or more components of a module. Students will be notified in good time no later than the announcement of the respective course of the type and scope of the course-based examinations. Students will be notified of examinations dates not later than the start of classes. (2) Once the exams required for a particular module have been completed, no additional exams may be undertaken in that module. 11 Registration and admission for course-based exams (1) Registration is required for all course-based exams. The Board of Examiners will define the form and deadline for the registration and will communicate the form and deadline for the respective registration to the students in good time and in an appropriate manner. (2) Only students who meet the following criteria are eligible for admission to the course-based examinations: 1. He or she must be enrolled in the respective field in the Master of Arts program at the University of Freiburg. 2. He or she must have not received a final failure or lost their right to take examinations in the master's degree program in the respective field or in an equivalent field. 3. He or she must are not currently in a master's degree examination process in the respective field or an equivalent field at another university. 4. He or she must fulfill the requirements set out in the respective program-specific provisions in Appendix B of these Examination Regulations. 5. He or she must have registered for the respective examination in good time and in the prescribed form. (3) Decisions on admission will be made by the Board of Examiners. A candidate may be denied admission only if he or she does not fulfill the requirements set out in Paragraph (2). The student will be notified of the decision on admission to a course-based examination. If his or her application is rejected, the written notice must state the grounds for the decision and provide information on any appeal process. (4) Admission will be revoked if at the time when the exam is to be taken, the candidate is no longer enrolled in the respective field in the Master of Arts degree program at the University of Freiburg or is on leave for good cause. (5) Admission may be revoked if it was obtained by providing false information or if circumstances that would have resulted in the candidate being denied admission subsequently occur or become known. 12 Course-based oral exams (1) Course-based oral examinations take the form of interview-style exams, presentations of papers, or other forms of oral presentations. They are to be completed either in German on in the language in which the associated courses are conducted, as stipulated in advance by the examiner. (2) Interview exams will be conducted as group exams or individual exams. The duration of the examination will be at least ten minutes and no more than thirty minutes per candidate. (3) Interview exams and other forms of oral presentations that do not take place during a course will be conducted either by one examiner in the presence of an observer knowledgeable in the subject, or by two examiners. If the examination is conducted by two examiners, the grade will be determined by both examiners. (4) The main subjects and results of the examination are to be recorded in a transcript, which must be signed by the examiner and the observer or by both examiners. The candidate will be informed of the exam result at the end of the interview-style exam. 13 Course-based written exams 5

6 (1) As a general rule, supervised written exams will be no less than 60 minutes in duration and will not exceed 240 minutes. (2) Written exams or other written work that is not conducted as part of a specific course is normally graded by two examiners according to 6 (1) Sentence 1; at least one of them must be a professor. This does not affect 19 (11). The exam grade is the average (arithmetical mean) of the two individual grades, to the first place after the decimal mark (comma); any further decimal places are deleted without rounding. (3) The process of grading written exams should not exceed a period of four weeks; this does not affect 19 (11). 13a Written multiple-choice exams (1) Written assessments in the form of supervised exams may consist entirely or partly of test questions that have several possible answers from which exam candidates select the one they believe to be correct (multiple-choice questions). The test questions must relate to the material taught in the relevant module and must allow reliable exam results. All candidates must be given identical test questions. The test questions are devised by at least two examiners according to 6 (1) Sentence 1, who must also specify which answers are defined as correct; particular care must be taken to ensure that test questions do not contain errors. Before the result of the examination is determined, the examiner must review the exam questions again to verify that they do not contain obvious errors based on the standards set out in Sentence 2. If this review finds obvious errors in individual exam questions, those questions cannot be taken into account in evaluating the examination. The number of test questions will be reduced accordingly. The written exam will then be evaluated pursuant to Sentence 1 based on the reduced number of test questions. A reduced number of test questions must not be disadvantageous to the students taking the exam. A test question is obviously in error if its wording is incomprehensible, contradictory, or ambiguous or if the suggested answer key identifies as correct an answer that is in fact incorrect. (2) In order to pass written exams of the type specified in Paragraph (1) Sentence 1, which consist of simple multiple-choice questions (where there is exactly one correct answer among a total of n proposed answers), the exam candidate must answer no less than 60 percent of all test questions correctly or achieve a proportion of correctly answered questions that is no more than 20 percent lower than the average exam result of all candidates for that particular module exam. If the candidate has achieved the necessary minimum number of correct answers to pass the written exam according to Sentence 1, then the grade will be very good if at least 75 percent, good if at least 50 percent but less than 75 percent, satisfactory if at least 25 percent but less than 50 percent, or adequate if less than 25 percent of the remaining test questions have been answered correctly. (3) For written exams according to Paragraph (1) Sentence 1 that consist of multiple-choice questions where there is an unknown number x that is between zero and n of correct answers among a total of n proposed answers, the provisions in Paragraph (2) apply, with the exception that the determining factor is not the proportion of correct answers relative to the total number of test questions; instead, the proportion is the candidate s overall total of points achieved relative to the maximum total achievable. Each multiple-choice question is assigned a point value that corresponds to the number (n) of proposed answers and can be multiplied by a weighting value for each individual multiple-choice question. For each multiple-choice question, the exam candidate receives a number of points that corresponds to the full assigned point value if the candidate s selected answers completely match the answers defined as correct. The candidate receives one point for the basic evaluation for each possible answer he or she chooses (or does not choose) that matches the possible answer that is recognized as correct (or incorrect). If an answer defined as correct is not selected by the candidate, or if the candidate selects an answer defined as incorrect, the candidate receives minus one point; however, the point value assigned for any one question cannot be less than zero. The overall points achieved for a multiple-choice question are calculated by multiplying the basic points by the relevant weighting assigned to the question. The overall maximum total achievable is the sum of the products, including the weightings of all point values of all multiple-choice questions. (4) Unless the questions all have equal weighting in terms of the final grade, the weighting of each test question must be indicated on the test sheet. 6

7 (5) Where multiple-choice questions make up only part of a written exam, the regulations of Paragraph (1) through (4) apply only to the relevant part (or parts) of the written exam. (6) Where the number of test questions to be eliminated according to Paragraph (1) Sentence 6 exceeds 15 percent of the total number of test questions in a multiple-choice/multiple-response test, the written exam must be repeated; this also applies where multiple-choice/multiple-response makes up only part of a written exam, if the result of that part of the exam contributes 15 percent or more to the grade of the exam as a whole. (7) The provisions of Paragraphs (1) through (6) apply by to assessed coursework accordingly. 13b Coursework and assessments using new media (1) Coursework and course-based exams may be completed using modern information and communication technologies (new media) if technology, personnel, and space needed are available; the possibilities include, but are not limited to, online tests and electronic written exams. Course-based exams may also be completed as remote exams at other institutions, such as other universities (i. e., as online tests or via videoconference). (2) Sections 9 to 13a apply to the completion of coursework and examinations accordingly. The Board of Examiners must ensure compliance with the principles of a fair examination procedure. In particular, students' identities must be verified, and compliance with the customary examination standards at the University of Freiburg (such as the exclusion of unauthorized assistance, parallel scheduling of remote exams and exams held at the University of Freiburg, monitoring obligations) must be ensured. (3) If coursework or exams are to be completed in the form of electronic written exams, the students will be given sufficient opportunity to familiarize themselves with the electronic testing system during the respective course. Compliance with data protection provisions must be ensured. Electronic written exams are considered written work done under supervision. 14 Evaluation of course-based exams All exams are evaluated and assigned the following grades: 1.0/1.3 = very good = an excellent result 1.7/2.0/2.3 = good = a result that substantially exceeds average requirements 2.7/3.0/3.3 = satisfactory = a result that meets average requirements 3.7/4.0 = adequate = a result that still meets the requirements despite its deficiencies 5.0 = not adequate = a result that does not meet the requirements due to substantial deficiencies 15 Determination of module grades (1) Where a module includes only one module final exam or module component exam, the grade of the final or component exam constitutes the overall grade for that module. (2) If a module includes multiple module component exams, the average of the module component exam grades constitutes the overall grade for that module, unless the program-specific appendix prescribes weighted averages. The candidate must achieve at least a grade of adequate (4.0) on each module component exam. In determining the grade, only the first number after the decimal mark is taken into account; any further decimal places are deleted without rounding. The evaluation of module grades is as follows: for an average of 1.5 or less: for an average from 1.6 to 2.5: for an average from 2.6 to 3.5: for an average from 3.6 to 4.0: for an average greater than 4.0: very good good satisfactory adequate not adequate. (3) For modules that affect the final grade, the numerical values of module grades according to Paragraph (2) Sentence 3 are the basis for determining the overall grade on the master s degree examination. 7

8 16 Awarding of ECTS credits (1) The ECTS credits allocated to the individual modules, courses, or other work will be awarded when all of the required coursework and course-based examinations have been completed. (2) The program-specific provisions in Appendix B to these Examination Regulations stipulate the modules and courses for which course-based examinations must be taken and specify the type of examination required. They also specify whether admission requirements must be documented in order to take the individual courses and course-based examinations and, if so, what those requirements are. If a course-based examination must be taken in a module or course, it may also be necessary to complete coursework in order to receive the ECTS credits allocated for that module or course. If no course-based examination is required in a module or course, the allocated ECTS credits are earned by completing coursework. (3) The nature, amount, and scope of the coursework and course-based examinations must be defined such that the time required to complete them corresponds to the ECTS credits allocated to the relevant module or course. 17 (rescinded) 18 Admission to and registration for the master s thesis (1) Any candidate who wishes to be permitted to prepare a master's thesis must meet the following criteria: 1. He or she must be enrolled at the University of Freiburg in the Master of Arts program in the respective field and have earned at least 50 ECTS credits in that field. 2. He or she cannot have become ineligible to take exams in the Master of Arts program in the respective field or an equivalent field and cannot have received a final failure in a module exam. 3. He or she cannot be in the master's degree examination process in the respective field or an equivalent field at another university. 4. He or she must have applied for admission to the master's thesis in the prescribed form and met the deadline. (2) The candidate must submit the written request for admission to the master's thesis to the Board of Examiners before the deadline specified by the Board of Examiners. The application must be accompanied by the following documents: 1. a statement as to whether the candidate has received a final fail on a module exam in the master's degree program in the respective field or in an equivalent field, and 2. a statement as to whether the candidate has previously failed a master's degree examination in the master's program in the respective field or an equivalent field and whether he or she is currently in the master's degree examination process in the respective field or an equivalent field at another university. (3) Decisions on admission will be made by the Board of Examiners. A candidate may be denied admission only if he or she does not fulfill the requirements set out in Paragraph (1). The candidate must be notified of the admission decision in writing within one month. If his or her application is rejected, the notice must state the grounds for the decision and provide information on any appeal process. (4) Admission will be revoked if during his or her preparation of the master's thesis or at the time of submission, the candidate is no longer enrolled in the respective field in the Master of Arts degree program at the University of Freiburg or he or she is on leave for good cause. (5) Admission may be revoked if it was obtained by providing false information or if circumstances that would have resulted in the candidate being denied admission subsequently occur or become known. 19 Master s thesis (1) The master s thesis is an assessed research paper in which the candidate must show that he or she is capable of using scientific methods to research a topic in his or her subject area independently and capable of presenting his or her findings in an appropriate manner, all within a specified time frame. 8

9 (2) The thesis may take the form of a group project only if this option is expressly stated in programspecific Appendix B. In such cases, it must be possible to clearly differentiate, assess, and grade the specific contributions of the individual candidates. (3) An examiner in the main field will assign the topic of the master's thesis as provided in 6 (1) Sentence 1. In assigning the topic, the authorized examiner also assumes responsibility for supervising the master s thesis. The candidate should be given the opportunity to suggest possible thesis topics. (4) The thesis topic is assigned through the Board of Examiners as part of the notification of admission to prepare the master s thesis. The topic and the date on which it is assigned must be recorded in the candidate s file. The time allowed for the preparation of the thesis begins when the topic is assigned. (5) The master's thesis is equivalent to 25 ECTS credits and must be completed within four months. This time frame must be taken into account when assigning the topic and arranging supervision. In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may extend the deadline for completion of the thesis by a maximum of two months upon justified request. The application for extension must be received by the Examination Office no later than three weeks prior to the thesis completion deadline and must be approved by the thesis supervisor. (6) The topic may be rejected only once and only within the first month of the thesis preparation period. A new topic must be assigned and announced within four weeks. (7) In general, the master s thesis must be written in German. Subject to approval by the supervisor and another full professor from the subject area, it may be written in English or French. In exceptional cases, the Board of Examiners may also allow preparation of the thesis in another language, provided that it can be assessed. Any request for exceptional arrangements must be submitted to the Board of Examiners before starting the master s thesis; it must state the reasons for the request and be accompanied by a statement from the supervisor. (8) The master s thesis must comply with the formal standards for academic research papers. It must be typewritten, bound, and numbered continuously. The body of the thesis must not exceed a maximum of 60 A4 pages of 40 lines each and 60 characters per line. (9) The thesis must be submitted to the Board of Examiners within the required deadline, in duplicate, as well as electronically in the prescribed file format on the prescribed electronic medium. The submission deadline must be recorded in the candidate s file. Any thesis not submitted by the deadline will be considered not adequate (5.0), unless the student cannot be held accountable for missing the deadline. (10) When submitting the master s thesis, candidates must declare the following in writing: 1. That they have prepared the thesis independently, or, in the case of group work, the relevant part of the thesis by that candidate, identified accordingly; 2. That they have not used any sources or aids other than those cited and have identified any direct or indirect quotations taken from other published works accordingly; 3. That neither the submitted master s thesis as a whole nor substantial parts thereof were or are part of another examination; and 4. That the electronic version of the submitted master s thesis is identical both in content and format to the submitted hard-copy versions. (11) The thesis must be graded by two examiners in accordance with in 6 (1) Sentence 1 within a period of six weeks. The first examiner will normally be the master's thesis supervisor. The Board of Examiners will appoint the second examiner in consultation with the first examiner. The examiners will evaluate the master's thesis independently of one another and assign it one of the grades specified in 14. The grade calculated for the master's thesis will be the average (arithmetic mean) of the two individual grades; 15 (2) Sentences 3 and 4 apply accordingly. If the evaluations of the two examiners differ by 1.3 or more, the Board of Examiners will appoint a third examiner. In this case, the grade for the master's thesis will be the average (arithmetic mean) of the three individual grades; 15 (2) Sentences 3 and 4 apply accordingly. 20 Oral master's degree examination (1) The oral master's degree examination will be 45 minutes in duration and equivalent to 5 ECTS credits. The program-specific provisions in Appendix B specify the following: 1. The subject of the oral master's degree examination will be the theses, findings, and methods of the master's thesis and its broader academic environment. 9

10 2. Whether, in the master's oral examination, the candidate must demonstrate his/her mastery of the knowledge that is to be acquired in the degree program on a broad subject-related basis and his/her ability to reflect and apply it critically in terms of both theory and method. (1a) Candidates who wish to be permitted to take the oral master's degree examination must meet the following criteria: 1. He or she must be admitted to the master's thesis as provided in He or she must have passed the master's thesis in the case of Paragraph (1) Sentence 2 No. 1 or submitted the master's thesis and passed all course-based examinations in the case of Paragraph (1) Sentence 2 No. 2. (2) The oral master's degree examination is conducted by an examiner according to 6 (1) Sentence 1 in the presence of an observer, unless the program-specific Appendix B specifies a collaborative exam by at least two examiners according to 6 (1) Sentence 1. Observers must hold at least a master s or equivalent degree in the relevant subject and must be employed by a university. (3) The main content of the exam and its start and end times must be recorded in a transcript. Following the oral exam, a grade is determined in accordance with 14 and recorded in the minutes. The transcript is signed by the examiner and observer or by the examiners and included in the examination files. (4) The examiner will notify the candidate of the oral master's degree exam result following the exam. (5) The Board of Examiners will set at least one examination period during each semester for candidates to take the oral master's degree examination. The oral master's degree examination must be taken within the examination period following admission to the oral master's degree examination, with the proviso that there must be at least six weeks between submission of the master's thesis and the oral examination. If the oral master's degree examination is not taken within four months after admission to that examination, it will be deemed not to have been passed and will be graded "not adequate" unless the candidate is not responsible for missing the deadline. 21 Determination of overall grade for the master's exam (1) The overall grade for the master's degree examination is calculated from the joint grade for the master's thesis and the oral master's degree examination and the joint grade for the course-based exams. (2) In calculating the joint grade for the master's thesis and the oral master's degree examination, the grade for the master's thesis receives triple weighting as provided in 19 (11), and the grade for the oral master's degree examination received single weighting as provided in 20 (3); 15 (2) Sentence 3 applies accordingly. (3) In determining the overall grade of the master's degree examination, the component parts of the examination are weighted as follows: 1. The joint grade for the master's thesis and the oral master's degree examination receive single weighting in the overall grade. 2. The joint grade for the course-based exams receives double weighting in the overall grade. Unless differentiated weighting is prescribed by the program-specific Appendix B to these Examination Regulations, the unweighted average decimal grade of all module grades relevant to the final grade (decimal grades according to 15 (2) Sentence 3) is used. Section 15 (2) Sentences 3 and 4 applies by accordingly. 22 Repeating exams, failing the comprehensive examination (1) Course-based exams that have been graded not adequate (5.0)" or considered failed may be repeated once. Further retakes may be possible if specified in the program-related sections of these Examination Regulations. (2) In general, the exam must be retaken no later than the examination dates for the following semester. If there is no opportunity for the candidate to repeat the examination during the semester following the failure, he or she may also retake it during the semester after that. If the respective program-specific provisions permit a failed examination to be repeated more than once, the deadlines for these additional retakes will be found in the respective program-specific provisions. In the event that a failed examination is not repeated before the deadline, the retake will be considered failed unless the student is not responsible for missing the deadline. If the failed exam was taken at least six weeks before the following 10

11 semester s start of lectures, and if a successful retake of the exam is required for admission to a coursebased exam or a course in the following semester, upon request the student must be given the opportunity to retake the exam in time to permit admission to that exam or course for the next semester if he or she passes the retake. In general, a minimum of four weeks must separate the announcement of the results of the failed exam and the exam retake. (3) If the master s thesis has been graded not adequate (5.0) or considered failed, it may be repeated once. The application for repetition must be made no later than two months after the exam result notification comes into force; if this deadline is missed, the candidate will not have the right to take the exam unless he or she cannot be held accountable for missing the deadline. The candidate may reject the topic only if he or she did not make use of this option during the preparation of the original thesis. (4) If the oral master's degree examination has been graded not adequate (5.0) or considered failed, it may be repeated once. The exam must be retaken no later than three months after the failed exam; if this deadline is missed, the candidate will not have the right to retake the exam unless he or she cannot be held accountable for missing the deadline. (5) If the candidate fails an examination and all of the associated retakes, he or she will receive a final failure for that examination. (6) A final failure of one or more course-based exams, the master s thesis, or the oral master's degree exam constitutes a final failure of the entire master s degree examination. 23 Certificate, transcript, and diploma supplement (1) Having passed the master's degree examination, the candidate will receive a certificate that shows the overall grade for that examination (including decimal grade). The degree certificate shows the date of the last exam taken and is signed by the Chair of the Board of Examiners. At the candidate's request, the overall grade on the master's degree examination may be assigned one of the following ECTS grades: - A - the best 10 percent - B - the next 25 percent - C - the next 30 percent - D - the next 25 percent - E - the next 10 percent. The reference figure is the aggregate of all overall grades awarded in the respective field of the master's degree program in the last three academic years. At the request of the candidate, an English translation of the degree certificate will be issued. (2) The Examination Office will attach a transcript of records to the certificate, showing the modules taken during the master's degree program and their components, the module grades that affect the final grade, the grades for the master's thesis and the oral master's degree examination, the joint grades as provided in 21 (3) No. s 1 and 2, and the subject of the master's thesis. The transcript will also show the ECTS classification table for the overall grade on the master's degree examination. For this purpose the overall grades for the master's degree examination for the past three academic years will be recorded, and their numerical and percentage distribution over the grade levels as provided in 15 (2) Sentence 4 will be calculated and shown in a table (ECTS classification table). The transcript of records will also be issued in English at the candidate's request. (3) A diploma supplement will also be issued. In addition to the candidate s personal information, it contains information about the type and level of the master's degree, the status of the University of Freiburg, and detailed information about the master's degree program in which the degree has been awarded. The diploma supplement issued will reference the original documents to which it relates. The last Paragraph of the diploma supplement will include a description of the German university system (a National Statement ). 24 Award certificate (1) Following the successful completion of the master's degree examination, and in addition to the degree certificate, the candidate will receive an award certificate, which certifies that the academic degree has been awarded. The award certificate is signed by the Chair of the Joint Board. The award certificate shows the date of the degree certificate and is sealed with the university seal of the Joint Board. 11

12 (2) The candidate may use the academic title only after receipt of the award certificate. (3) At the candidate's request, an English translation of the award certificate will be issued. 25 Written notification of failure of the overall examination (1) Candidates who have received a final failure on the master s degree examination will receive a written notice, which will include information about appeals procedures. (2) Upon request, candidates who have received a final failure on the master's degree examination may receive written confirmation of any successfully completed exams and/or academic credits; the written notice will show that the candidate received a final failure on the examination. 26 Withdrawal, cheating, rule violations, protected status (1) A student's absence from an exam or failure to taken an exam by the applicable deadline will constitute a withdrawal from the exam. (2) If a student is unable to take an exam by the applicable deadline due to illness or for other good cause, he or she will be permitted to withdraw upon written request. The student must submit the request, including appropriate documentation and a statement of reasons for the withdrawal, to the Board of Examiners without undue delay. In the case of illness, the request must be accompanied by a medical certificate containing the medical findings necessary to judge the student s inability to take the exam. The Board of Examiners may, with cause, require the student to provide a medical certificate from a medical doctor chosen by the Board. Permission will be refused if, at the point in time at which the withdrawal first occurs, the student has already taken individual exams, the results of which preclude the successful completion of the entire examination. (3) If the Board of Examiners accepts the grounds for withdrawal, the exam will be deemed not to have been taken. If withdrawal is not permitted, the course-based exam or master's thesis will be considered failed and receive a grade of not adequate (5.0). (4) If a student attempts to influence the outcome of an exam or piece of assessed coursework by cheating, using unauthorized aids, or exerting influence on an examiner for his or her own benefit or another s benefit, the relevant exam or coursework will be graded not adequate (5.0) or "failed." In the case of written exams and coursework, the mere possession of unauthorized aids during or after the distribution of exam questions will be deemed an attempt to cheat. (5) If possession of unauthorized aids is suspected, the student is required to assist in investigating the matter and to surrender the relevant aids. If the student refuses to assist in the investigation or to hand over the unauthorized aids, the exam shall be graded not adequate (5.0) or the coursework graded as "failed." (6) If a student disrupts the proper procedures in an exam, the respective examiner or invigilator may exclude him or her from continuing the exam or coursework after a prior warning. In this case, the exam will be graded not adequate (5.0) or the coursework will be graded as "failed." (7) In serious or repeated cases specified in Paragraphs (4) or (6), the Board of Examiners may bar the candidate from undertaking specific, or any and all, additional exams or coursework. In less serious cases, the exam grade may be reduced or, alternatively, any sanctions may be waived. (8) If the conditions specified in Paragraph (4) come to light after the event, the Board of Examiners will revoke the exam result and take action as specified in Paragraph (4) Clause 1. Revocation will not be possible more than five years after completion of the exam or coursework. (9) If a student so requests, the protected leave periods provided in 3 (1), 6 (1) of the Protection of Working Mothers Act (Maternal Protection Act, MuSchG) in the June 20 th 2002 version (Federal Law Gazette I p. 2318), in the version currently in effect, must be granted. Any application for maternity leave must be accompanied by the necessary documentation. The protected maternity leave periods will suspend any time limits specified by these Examination Regulations. (10) Similarly, the parental leave periods provided in 15 (1) to (3) of the Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act, BEEG) of December 5 th 2006 (Federal Bulletin I p. 2748), in the version currently in effect, are to be granted upon request. At least four weeks prior to the date on which the student wishes to begin parental leave, he or she must notify the Board of Examiners of the period or periods for which parental leave is desired; the notice must be filed in writing and must include the required documentation. The Board of Examiners will verify whether the request meets the statutory requirements for entitlement to parental leave for employees and will notify 12

13 the student of its findings and the new examination dates, if any. The time allotted for thesis preparation cannot be interrupted by parental leave. The topic assigned to the student will be considered not to have been assigned. The student will be assigned a new thesis topic after his or her parental leave. 27 Compensation for disadvantages (1) In the case of students disadvantaged in exam situations due to a long-term illness or chronic medical condition unrelated to the exam, upon written request the Board of Examiners may take appropriate measures to compensate for these disadvantages; however, the student cannot be exempted from the requirement to demonstrate the competencies covered by the examination. Compensatory measures for written examinations may include, but are not limited to, a reasonable extension of time limits, an opportunity to take rest breaks that are not counted toward the time allotted for the exam, and permission to use personal or material aids. (2) In disputed cases, Board of Examiners should consult the University of Freiburg disabilities officer or another specialist, with the student's consent, before making a decision as provided in Paragraph (1). (3) Requests for compensatory arrangements should be submitted when registering for a specific examination and no later than one month prior to the respective exam date. Affected students must explain their special circumstances and provide evidence in the form of a medical certificate containing the medical findings necessary to evaluate the case. (4) Paragraphs (1) through (3) will apply accordingly if the student is unable to complete coursework due to permanent or chronic health problems. 28 Access to examination files Within a period of six weeks following the publication of results for coursework and course-based exams, including the master s thesis and the oral master's degree examination, students may file a request with the Examination Office to review their own relevant exam documents. They should be permitted to view the documents within four weeks after the request is filed. 29 Special regulations regarding master's degree examinations with other universities (1) The program-specific Appendix B may include provisions for undertaking the master s degree program in a particular subject jointly with one or more other German or foreign universities. It may also stipulate that the academic degree may be awarded jointly with one or more participating universities. A prerequisite for both arrangements is a signed cooperation agreement with the other university/universities that has been approved by the Board of Examiners and the Faculty Council of the responsible faculties of the University of Freiburg. (2) Unless otherwise provided below, the general provisions of these Examination Regulations apply to any joint master's degree examination with another university. (3) The program-specific Appendix B specifies the participating universities at which coursework and course-based exams are to be undertaken and at which the final examination is to be taken. (4) If the master's thesis is prepared at the University of Freiburg, the program-specific Appendix B may require that a faculty representative from the other university/universities participating in awarding the degree be appointed as a second examiner for the evaluation of the master s thesis; it may also require that the final oral examination be conducted as a collaborative exam with the participation of one faculty representative from each of these universities. If the master's thesis is completed at another university and the oral master's degree examination is conducted there, the program-specific Appendix B may stipulate that a faculty representative from the University of Freiburg must participate in evaluating these examinations at the other university. (5) The following are the requirements for the awarding of the master s degree by the University of Freiburg: The student must have been enrolled in the master s degree program at the University of Freiburg for a minimum of two semesters. He or she must have achieved a total of no fewer than 50 ECTS credits during his or her master s degree studies at the University of Freiburg. He or she must either have completed at least 50 percent of all course-based examinations at the University of Freiburg or have completed at least 20 percent of all course-based examinations, 13

14 prepared the master's thesis, and taken the oral master's degree examination at the University of Freiburg. (6) The master s degree certificate will include the names and signatures of the representatives specified by the Examination Regulations of both universities. In addition to the information specified in 23 (1), it will also include a statement from the participating universities that the examination was a joint master s examination and will identify which individual courses and exams were completed at which of the participating universities. Where multiple master s certificates are issued, Clauses 1 and 2 will apply accordingly. (7) The master s degree award certificate will include the names and signatures of the representatives of both universities that are prescribed by the Examination Regulations, the seal of the participating foreign university or universities, and the university seal of the Joint Board. The award certificate shows the academic degree Master of Arts (M.A.) and a statement that the examination was a joint master's degree examination by the participating universities. Where multiple master s degree certificates are issued, Clauses 1 and 2 will apply by accordingly. (8) Upon receipt of the master s degree award certificate, candidates will have the right to add the degree title Master of Arts (M.A.) to their name in Germany and in the country or countries of the participating foreign school or schools. The degree certificate entitles the recipient to use only one Master of Arts degree title. The master s degree award certificate includes an additional clause clarifying that the awarded degree title is not a degree title awarded abroad as defined in the law on the use of academic degree titles dated June 7 th 1939 (Imperial Law Gazette [Reichsgesetzblatt RGBl I], p. 985). 29a Transitional provisions (1) Students who began their M.A. degree program in European Linguistics at the University of Freiburg before April 1 st 2006 will complete their studies according to the program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their revised version of April 26 th 2004 (Official Bulletin Volume 35, No. 24, pp , dated April 26 th 2004). Students who began their M.A. degree program in European Linguistics at the University of Freiburg between April 1 st 2006 and September 30 th 2007 will complete their studies according to the program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their revised version of November 24 th 2006 (Official Bulletin Volume 37, No. 58, pp , dated November 24 th 2006). Students who began their M.A. degree program in European Linguistics at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2007 and March 31 st 2010 may complete their studies according to the program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their revised version of October 22 nd 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 59, pp , dated October 22 nd 2007) not later than March 31 st (2) Students who began their M.A. degree program at the University of Freiburg before October 1 st 2007 in Ancient Civilization Studies, British and North American Cultural Studies, Creating Cultures: Cultural Dynamics in Romance Languages and Literatures, English Language and Linguistics, European Literatures and Cultures, Classical Philology, Scandinavian Cultural and Literary History, Social Sciences, Sports Science Promotion of Health through Exercise, or Variation and Change in the German Language will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules of these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their revised version of June 18 th 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 44, pp , dated June 18 th 2007). (3) Students who began their M.A. degree program in the History of German Literature at the University of Freiburg before October 1 st 2009 will complete their studies according to the provisions in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their revised version of May 13 th 2008 (Official Bulletin Volume 39, No. 45, pp , dated May 13 th 2008). (4) Students who began their M.A degree program in Social Sciences at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2007 and March 31 st 2010 will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 9 th 2002 in their Seventh Revised Version of October 22 nd 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 59, pp ). (5) Students who began their M.A. degree program in Variation and Change in the German Language at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2007 and March 31 st 2011 will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Seventh Revised Version of October 22 nd 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 59, pp ). (6) Students who began their M.A. degree program at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2007 and September 30 th 2011 in Ancient Civilization Studies, Creating Cultures: Cultural Dynamics in Romance Languages and Literatures, Classical Philology, and Sports Science Promotion of Health 14

15 through Exercise will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Seventh Revised Version of October 22 nd 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 59, pp ). (7) Students who began their M.A. degree program in German Literature at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2009 and September 30 th 2011 will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Tenth Revised Version of March 3 rd 2010 (Official Bulletin Volume 41, No. 10, pp ). (8) Students who began their M.A. degree program in History at the University of Freiburg before October 1 st 2011 will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Tenth Revised Version of March 3 rd 2010 (Official Bulletins Volume 41, No. 10, pp ). (9) Students who began their M.A. degree program in European Literatures and Cultures at the University of Freiburg between October 1 st 2007 and September 30 th 2012 will complete their studies according to the relevant program-specific rules in these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Seventh Revised Version of October 22 nd 2007 (Official Bulletin Volume 38, No. 59, pp ). (10) Students who began their M.A. degree program in Education, European Ethnology, or Sociology at the University of Freiburg before October 1 st 2013 may complete their studies according to the applicable program-specific provisions of these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Twentieth Revised Version of September 27 th 2012 (Official Bulletins Volume 43, No. 103, pp ) until no later than September 30 th 2016 (final deadline). (11) Students who began their M.A. degree program in a subject at the University of Freiburg before October 1 st 2013 will be bound by the provisions in 18 (4) of these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in their Twentieth Revised Version of September 27 th 2012 (Official Bulletins Volume 43, No. 103, pp ). (12) Students who began their program at the University of Freiburg in British and North American Cultural Studies, English Language and Linguistics, or Scandinavian Literary and Cultural History between October 1 st 2007 and September 30 th 2013 or in European Linguistics or Social Sciences between April 1 st 2010 and September 30 th 2013 or in Antiquity Studies, German Literature, History, or Classical Philology between October 1 st 2011 and September 30 th 2013 or in European Literatures and Cultures between October 1 st 2012 and September 30 th 2013 or in Applied Political Science, Archeological Sciences, Classical Cultures, English Literatures and Literary Theory, Ethnology, German as a Foreign Language Intercultural German Studies, Gender Studies, Germanic Linguistics, Indogermanic Studies, Interdisciplinary Anthropology, Judaic Studies, Art History, International Literary Studies: German-Russian Transfers, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Middle-Latin Philology, Editorial Studies and Manuscript Studies, Musicology, Contemporary German Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Romance Studies, Slavic Philology, Exercise Science Movement and Health, Comparative History of the Modern Era, Diversity of the Islamic World or Middle Eastern Antiquity Studies Life in the Past and Present in the Master of Arts program before October 1 st 2013 may complete their studies under the applicable subject-specific provisions of these Examination Regulations of September 16 th 2002 in the version of the Twenty-Third Revised Version of June 10 th 2013 (Official Bulletin Volume 44, No. 54, pp ) until no later than September 30 th 2016 (final deadline). 30 Effective Date The master's degree Examination Regulations, including Appendices A and B, will take effect on April 1 st