Revised version General Examination and Study Regulations for Master Programmes

Transcription

1 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 1 Revised version General Examination and Study Regulations for Master Programmes of December 21, 2010 According to t the law on Higher Education in Brandenburg - Brandenburgisches Hochschulgesetz (BbgHG) of December 18, 2008 (GVBL I / 08 Nr. 17 p. 318), last amended by law of October 26, 2010 (GVBL. I / 10, No. 35) under the terms of 5 paragraph 1 sentence 2 in connection with 8 paragraph 6 sentence 2, 18 paragraph 2 sentence 1, 21 paragraph 2 sentence 1, 62 paragraph 2 no. 2 and 6, the Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus (BTU) sets itself following statute: Table of Contents Preamble...2 I. General Regulations Scope of Validity Goal of the Programme Graduation Admission Scope and Regular Duration of the Programme...4 5a Compensation Programme Structure Conditions of the Programme, Credits and Form of the Programme Counselling and Mentoring Examinations and Study Performances Registration Deadlines, Examination Intervals, Time Restrictions Admission to Master s Examination and Form of Master s Examination Evaluation of Performance Verifications and Grading Criteria Regulations for Repeating an Examination Examination Board Examiners and Observers Justification for Missing Deadlines, Absences, Omissions and Withdrawal Documentation Accreditation of Time in Programme, Performance Verifications and Credits Master s Thesis Acceptance and Evaluation of the Master s Thesis Repeating the Master s Thesis Complementary Modules Additional Modules Transcript of Records and Master Certificate...14

2 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 2 25 Inspection of Examination and Programme Records Invalidation of Performance Verifications and Revocation of the Master Degree Objection Procedures and Individual Case Decisions...14 II. Subject-related Regulations Scope of Validity Goal of the Programme Graduation and Degree Additional Admission Requirements (where applicable) Structure and Form of the Programme Mentors and Curriculum Retakes (where applicable) Examination Board (where applicable) Examination Deadlines and Admission to the Master s Thesis Scope and Time required for the Master s Thesis, including Defence Grading of the Master s Thesis Regulations of Complementary Modules (where applicable) Efficacy...17 Annex (minimum)...17 Preamble Regarding to the nature of its Bachelor and Master Programmes, the BTU has come to an agreement on universally obligatory general regulations concerning the regulation of studies and examinations. They are components of every regulation and are complemented by subject-related regulations, in which contain and regulate the specifications of the individual programme. The agreement on procedures that apply to the whole university in organizing and structuring modular programmes as well as in implementation and management of performance verifications that accompany the studies is meant to achieve transparency on one hand and to minimize the administrative effort on the other. Furthermore, this strives to define and document the duties and rights of all involved in teaching and studying, which set the framework for successful and fruitful studies. The responsible and dedicated development of the content of a programme by students and faculty alike will be supported by this formal framework. The development of the general regulations followed a university-wide discussion. Students, faculty and faculty-supportive staff work together on the implementation and continuing development of the regulation. All involved are responsible for adding their experiences of the application to the discussion on continuing development and thereby contribute to a continuous improvement of quality.

3 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 3 I. General Regulations 1 Scope of Validity (1) 1 This examination and study regulation is valid for the Master Programme at the Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU). 2 In a general section, it regulates the fundamental structure of the Master Programme. 3 In a subject-related section, it regulates the individual content and requirements of the individual Master programmes. 4 Both sections are equally binding for the faculty and the students alike. 2 Goal of the Programme (1) 1 The Master Programme, based upon an initial degree that qualifies for an occupation and possibly of practical experience, imparts the ability to apply instruments and methods of the field of study, to perform scientific work, to rank scientific discoveries critically and to independently develop scientific contributions to the students. 2 Depending on the orientation of the programme, this can either consist of a broadening of the basis of knowledge and competence or of direct specialization. (2) 1 Where Master Programmes are concerned, a distinction between consecutive programmes and programmes providing further education is made: 1. Consecutive Master Programmes are to be structured as programmes which consolidate or extend knowledge, are multidisciplinary or cover a different subject deepening; 2. Master Programmes providing further education require practical professional experience usually of at least a year. 2 The contents of the Master Programme are to take this experience into consideration and tie into these. 3 Master Programmes can be distinguished between the profile-types practically-oriented and research-oriented. 4 Type and profile distinction of a Master Programme are to be regulated in the respective subject-related regulations ( 29). 3 Graduation (1) 1 The Master Degree will be awarded after the successful completion of the programme. 2 Permissible titles are Master of Science, Master of Engineering and Master of Arts. 3 Advanced study Master Programmes can have diverging labels. 4 Which of these degrees is awarded is regulated by the individual subject-related regulations of a programme. 4 The BTU provides a certificate with the date of the Transcript of Records. (2) Through international or national cooperative degree programmes academic double or joint degrees may be awarded in individual study programmes. 4 Admission (1) Prerequisite for enrolment in the course on the grounds of the respective matriculation orders in the valid form is an admission according to 8 BbgHG. (2) 1 The fundamental requirement for the admission to the Master programme is a higher education degree qualifying for entry into a profession (at least a Bachelor degree). 2 Additional suitability and qualificational prerequisites are, if justified by the subject-specific requirements, regulated in the subject-related regulations of the programme. (3) Admission restrictions for individual programmes remain untouched.

4 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 4 5 Scope and Regular Duration of the Programme (1) 1 As a rule, the regular duration of a Master programme at BTU Cottbus consists of four semesters, including the Master s thesis and its defence as well as possible practical phases. 2 Hereby the total regular duration of programmes (Bachelor plus Master) may not exceed ten semesters in consecutive programmes. 3 Diverging regular durations may be set for study programmes providing further education. (2) 1 As a rule, the programme may be begun in a winter and a summer semester. 2 The studies may be commenced part time under certain prerequisites. 3 The legal basis is formed by the respectively valid regulation of part time studies ( 2) at BTU Cottbus. (3) 1 The scope of a Master Programme with a regular duration of four semesters consists of 120 credits, under shorter regular durations of a programme at least 60 credits. 2 As a rule, 30 credits will be awarded each semester in accordance with the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) requirements. 3 Including the previous Bachelor s Degree, the Master s Degree requires evidence of 300 credits. (4) The curriculum is conceived and structured that if the schedule is followed and all examinations and study performances are successfully completed, the programme can be concluded within the standard length. (5) 1 On application to the Examination Board, the protective time intervals of 3 paragraph 2 and of 6 paragraph 1 of the Mutterschutzgesetz (MuSchG Law for the Protection of Mothers) as well as regulations of parental time intervals of 15, 16 of the Bundeserziehungsgeldgesetz (BErzGG Law for Federal Raising Payments) will be acknowledged as necessary. 2 Additionally, up to two semesters, which will be taken into account for the regular duration of the programme, can be recognized for participation in legally designated committees and statutory bodies of the BTU, as well as in statutory bodies of the self-government of the student body at the BTU on application to the Examination Board if appropriate proof is presented. 5a Compensation (1) If a student is unable to complete study or performance verifications in whole or in part in the designated form for reasons of - extended illness or - permanent physical impairment or - pregnancy or - protective time intervals or - care for persons with a child in the own household or - illness/disability of a close relative (close relatives are children, parents, grandparents, spouses and non-marital partners), the Examination Board, in consultation with the student and examiner and on written application, sets down measures by which study and performance verifications of equal weight may be completed. (2) 1 For the situations mentioned in paragraph 1, the student is allowed to complete individual performance verifications and college exams after the deadlines for completion set down in the examination regulations have passed. 2 This counts correspondingly for deadlines for completion of study verifications as well as for repeat exams.

5 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 5 (3) 1 As a rule deadlines can only be extended up to two semesters. 2 The eligibility runs out with the end of the semester in which the stated prerequisites cease to be applicable. Exceptions from the rule (sentence 1) are decided upon by the Examination Board. (4) The implementation of this regulation follows an application. 6 Programme Structure (1) 1 The programme has a modular structure. 2 Modules are thematically and curricularly constructed and within themselves complete units of study that lead to a partial qualification depending on the goal of the programme. (2) 1 Modules may consist of various forms of learning and teaching (e.g. lectures, seminars, exercises, projects, practical training, excursions, internships, individually organized studies). 2 As a rule, they last one, but no more than two semesters. 3 The workload connected with a module may extend into the lecture-free periods. (3) Content, organization and requirements of a module are obligatorily recorded in the module s description in the catalogue of modules. (4) 1 The programme-specific modules are complemented by general studies (FÜS). 2 Goal, content and scope of the general studies are documented in the Regulation for General Studies at the BTU Cottbus. 7 Conditions of the Programme, Credits and Form of the Programme (1) 1 The programme consists of mandatory and compulsory elective modules. 2 Which modules belong to a programme and what status they have is regulated by the subject-related regulations. (2) 1 On successful completion of a module, an amount of credits will be awarded as laid down in the module description. 2 They are calculated in respect to the expected workload of the student. 3 The workload is set at 1,500 to 1,800 hours per year of study. 4 Thereby, one credit corresponds to between 25 to a maximum of 30 hours of work by the student. (3) Modules are completed with performance verifications ( 9). (4) 1 Students have the right to shape their studies individually. 2 They are, however, required to meet the requirements of the examination and study regulations for the Master programme as well as the subject-related requirements. 3 The sequence of modules within a study plan is recommended in the annex to the subject-related requirements. 4 The degree of obligation that this sequence has is also set down there. 5 Subject admission requirements that are derived from the description of modules remain untouched. 8 Counselling and Mentoring (1) General counselling is provided by the Zentrale Studienberatung (Central Studycounselling) for all students and the Akademisches Auslandsamt (International Office) for foreign students. (2) 1 Mentors are available for subject-related counselling. 2 A mentor is assigned to each student on enrolling with whom the student regularly discusses the individual schedule. 3 The students have a right of recommendation. 4 Details are regulated by the subject-related requirements. 9 Examinations and Study Performances

6 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 6 (1) The continuous assessment of performance in the Master Programme is achieved through performance verifications that accompany the studies, specifically those examinations and study performances coherent with a module that were completed. (2) 1 Every examination is evaluated and graded (module grade) and makes up part of the final grade. 2 It may consist of varying forms of partial performances (paragraph 4). (3) 1 Study performances are evaluated but generally aren t graded. 2 They are printed on the Transcript of Records but do not make up the final grade, even if they are graded. (4) 1 A module is completed with one performance verification. 2 This performance verification may include partial performances (i.e. presentations, homework, tests) that accompany the semester if these are related in content and noticeably fit together to an overall performance compliant with the educational goals of the module (continuous assessment). 3 Form and scope of the performance verification must be described in the module description in a binding and detailed form. (5) 1 Performance verifications may either occur in written or oral form: 1. Written performances are specifically: - Final, test; - Drawings or models (designs); - Homework, essays, including the Master s thesis; - Written reports. 2. Oral performances are specifically: - Examination interviews, thesis defences; - Oral reports, presentations, seminar lectures. 2 Excursions and internships are completed with study performances. (6) 1 The date and length of an examination are to be reported by those responsible for the module or the examiners respectively on time prior to the start of the exam registration by the students to the Registrar s Office. 2 Coinciding times of different examinations are to be excluded. 3 Form and scope of the performance verification are to be documented in the module description in detail. 4 As a rule, finals last at least 90 and at most 180 minutes, tests at most 60 minutes. 5 As a rule, oral examinations last at least 15 minutes and at most 60 minutes. 6 Written examinations that consist of more than 50% of multiple-choice questions are excluded. (7) 1 Written and oral performance verifications which need to be passed in order to continue in the programme (second repetition, Master s thesis, defence) will be supervised by at least two examiners. 2 If written performance verifications accompany the studies, only one examiner is necessary. 3 Oral performance verifications that accompany the studies are supervised by at least one examiner; as a rule accompanied by a knowledgeable observer. 4 The observer is to be heard before the grade is set. 5 The matter and the essential results are to be recorded in a protocol. (8) 1 The evaluation process for written performance verifications should not take longer than four weeks. 2 The result of oral performance verifications is to be reported to the student following the performance verifications. 10 Registration Deadlines, Examination Intervals, Time Restrictions (1) 1 The student that wants to partake in a performance verification for the first time must register with the corresponding module with the Registrar s office. 2 The time frame for the registration consists of the first three weeks after lectures begin in the relevant semester. 3 The commitment to make a first attempt at completing the performance verification belong-

7 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 7 ing to the respective module in the same semester accompanies the registration. 4 A registrant has time until the end of the seventh week after the beginning of a module or an equivalent interval for block modules to declare a withdrawal. 5 If this is the case, any results of already completed parts of the module are voided. 6 For modules in which the performance verifications must be completed exclusively at the end of the module, those responsible for the module may extend the deadline for withdrawal to the end of the thirteenth week of the lecture period. 7 The deadline for withdrawal is to be registered in the module description by those responsible for the module during the phase of applications for modules. 8 If nothing is entered, the deadline for withdrawal of seven weeks is valid. 9 A change of the deadline for withdrawal after publication of the module description is not possible. (2) 1 The time prior to the beginning and after the end of the lecture periods is reserved for examination intervals. 2 Performance verifications may also take place outside of this interval if they accompany the studies. 3 Performance verifications are to be arranged so that they can be completed within the regular duration. (3) 1 All credits of the Master Examination including the Master s Thesis are to be accumulated during the regular duration of the programme, at the latest by the end of the 7 th semester in four semester programmes. 2 The subject-related regulations may contain deadlines by which parts of the programme or the entire scope must be completed. 3 As a rule, if these time restrictions are overstepped for reasons pertaining to the student, then no further performance verifications may be completed in this study programme at the BTU. 4 For claiming justifications for exceeding the time restrictions according to sentence 1, 16 paragraph 2 is applicable. 5 Exceptions are, on application, subject to decisions by the Examination Board. 11 Admission to Master s Examination and Form of Master s Examination (1) Admission to the Master s examination is open to first-time registrants of a module that provide proof of enrolment in the corresponding Master Programme at the BTU. (2) Admission is denied if 1. the candidate is already engaged in a procedure of examination in the same or a different course of comparable content or 2. if the candidate has lost eligibility for examination in the same or a different course of comparable content at another university or college of equal standing in the Federal Republic of Germany. (3) 1 Announcement of admission including the dates of examination and denial of admission are announced in accordance to 41 of the Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz (VwVfG). 2 The denial of admission is in written form and requires justification. (4) The Master s examination consists of - study accompanying performance verifications, with which the modules are completed, - the Master s thesis including its defence. (5) Details are regulated by the subject-related regulations in section II. 12 Evaluation of Performance Verifications and Grading Criteria (1) 1 The evaluation of individual performance verifications is done by the respective examiners in form of grades. 2 Following grades are to be used: 1.0/1.3: very good - an excellent performance

8 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 8 1.7/2.0/2.3: good - a performance that lies above average requirements 2.7/3.0/3.3: satisfactory - a performance that meets average requirements 3.7/4.0: sufficient - a performance that meets the requirements, though lacking 5.0: fail - a performance that lacks severely and therefore does not meet the requirements (2) A single performance verification is passed if it receives at least a 4.0 ( adequate ). (3) If a performance verification consists of multiple partial performances then the share of these that must be passed in order pass the performance verification as a whole is regulated in the module description. (4) 1 When forming the final grade for graduation, the mean of all grades, weighted with the amount of credits, is formed. 2 Only the first decimal after the period is considered; the rest is struck without being rounded. 3 The grades for the final grade are: until 1.5: above 1.5 until 2.5: above 2.5 until 3.5: above 3.5 until 4.0: above 4.0: very good - an excellent performance good - a performance that lies above average requirements satisfactory - a performance that meets average requirements sufficient - a performance that meets average requirements, though lacking fail - a performance that lacks severely and therefore does not meet average requirements 4 Should a student complete their studies with a final grade better than 1.3, then they may be awarded the title with distinction for it. 5 This matter is decided upon by the Examination Board on recommendation by the Registrar s Office. 6 The title is included in the Master Certificate and Transcript of Records. (5) For converting the final grade for transfer purposes, following ECTS-scale is used for all results which are at least passed: A the best 10% B the next 25% C the next 30% D the next 25% E the next 10% Failed performances can be differentiated as follows: FX fail - some more work required to pass F fail - considerable further work required. 3 The issuing of ECTS grades assumes a sufficient size of the bracket. 13 Regulations for Repeating an Examination (1) 1 Failed performance verifications may be repeated twice (repeat examination). 2 If upon second repetition the performance verification is still graded with failed or counted as failed, then the performance verification is conclusively failed. (2) 1 Registration for a repeat examination must take place at the latest one week prior to the examination date. 2 First repetitions of a performance verification are conducted in the same

9 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 9 form as the failed performance verification. 3 Exceptions are decided upon by the Examination Board. (3) 1 Dates for repetitions for performance verifications (first repetition) are to be offered every semester. 2 Students are required to attend the first repetition within a year after the first examination. 3 The second repetition is to be performed within an additional semester. 4 Exceptions are decided upon by the Examination Board. (4) A unique switch of a compulsory elective module is possible after failing the first exam or the first repeat exam. (5) 1 An examinee loses their claim to an examination when they have ultimately not passed all repeat exams. 2 This includes the case of absence without sufficient justification. (6) Failed attempts in a different course at the BTU or the same course at a different university or college of equal standing in the Federal Republic of Germany are added to the amount of repeat examinations in paragraph 1. (7) The paragraphs 1 to 3 count for multiple parts of a performance verification respectively. (8) 21 regulates the repetition of the Master s thesis. 14 Examination Board (1) 1 An Examination Board is to be formed to fulfil and organize the duties assigned by the examination regulations. 2 The Examination Board consists of five members representing the status groups and is made up as follows: three professors, one academic employee, one student. 3 The tenure for members of the Examination Board lasts three years, for students one year. 4 Insofar decisions concern the grading of performance verifications, student members only have consulting status. (2) The members are appointed by the faculty council and elect a head and his or her deputy, both of whom have to be professors. (3) 1 The Examination Board ensures that the examination regulation is followed. 2 It regularly reports the development of time spent studying and in examinations to the faculty council including the actual time spent on Master s theses as well as the distribution of module and final grades. 3 The report is to be published in a suitable manner by the faculty. 4 The Examination Board offers advice on reforms to the examination and study regulations and the curriculums. 5 The Examination Board may decide to impart duties to the head. 6 Members of the Examination Board may not perform their responsibilities if they are involved in a matter of examination. (4) 1 Decisions in the committee are voted on with a simple majority, with ties being broken with the head s vote. 2 The members of the Examination Board have the right to attend examinations. (5) The members of the Examination Board are subject to discretion; as long as they are not employed as civil servants, they are bound to discretion by the head. (6) The sessions of the Examination Board are not public.

10 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes Examiners and Observers (1) All persons according to 20 paragraph 5 BbgHG are eligible to be examiners or observers. (2) As a rule, a module s performance verification is conducted by the person teaching the module, who also determines the observers. (3) 1 The examiners are independent in their duties as such. 2 They are only subject to the examination regulation of the programme. (4) Examiners and observers are subject to 14 paragraph 5 respectively. (5) 1 Should examiners for sound reasons be unable to attend their examination at all or only at a different date, the Examination Board may appoint other examiners or allow a change of the examination date. 2 The affected candidates are to be heard by the Examination Board. 3 Nominated examiners may appeal to the Examination Board to nominate other examiners, requiring that they justify this. (6) 1 Primary examiner of the Master s thesis and defence is generally the corresponding supervisor. 2 The candidate may suggest the secondary examiner. 3 The decision is made by the primary examiner. 4 Primary examiners must be members or dependants of the BTU. 16 Justification for Missing Deadlines, Absences, Omissions and Withdrawal (1) 1 If a candidate, after registering and after the passing of the withdrawal deadline, fails to attend an examination without justification or if he or she withdraws from an already begun examination without justification then the examination is considered failed and will be graded as such (5,0). 2 The same goes for failure to submit written performance verifications on the deadline given. (2) 1 Justifications for missing deadlines according to 10 paragraph 3 sentence 2 must be brought to the attention of and proven to the Registrar s Office immediately upon their appearance, justifications for withdrawal, absences and omissions according to paragraph 1 within five working days of their appearance. 2 Proof in case of illness must always be documented in form of a medical certificate that may not be dated later than the examination date. 3 In cases of doubt or recurrence, the Examination Board may ask for an official medical certificate. 4 The student is to be notified hereof in written form. 5 If the certificate affirms the inability to partake in exams of a student for more than a day and the student attends a performance verification in this time, then the certificate becomes invalid for any time afterwards. 6 In obvious cases such medical certificates may be waived. 7 Should the candidate hand in written work or other notes, but was prevented to complete the performance verification, he or she is required to justify the prevention immediately afterward to the Registrar s Office. 8 This justification may not contain demands or be retracted. 9 The Examination Board decides on acknowledgement of justifications and deadline extensions. (3) 1 The justification of a prevention from completing a written part is void in cases when, after completing parts of the performance verification, a month has already passed. 2 Justification for the prevention of participation in an oral examination is void after the results are published. 3 If according to paragraphs 1, 6, 7 a performance verification is graded failed (5,0) or the candidate is barred from the examination or the examination is later declared failed or the examination result is corrected then a justification of a prevention is void. (4) In cases of special hardship the Examination Board may, on application, waive a renewed submission of written work or enact a special order for the repeating of an oral examination.

11 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 11 (5) 1 If for important reasons it is unreasonable to demand that a candidate complete either fully or in part an oral or written examination, they are eligible for an application of absence. 2 The paragraphs 1 to 4 count in their sense. (6) 1 If a candidate attempts to influence the result of his or her examination through cheating or disallowed aids, he or she participates in an attempt to cheat or he or she disturbs the orderly process of examination or if by wilfully cheating the intellectual property of others is violated and possibly published material of a third party is used without naming the sources (plagiarism) and handed in as independent work, the performance verification will be graded failed (5,0) and the affected candidate may be barred from continuing the examination by the examiner. 2 The observation is to be made by the examiner and is to be filed. 3 In severe cases the Examination Board may bar the candidate from further performance verifications. (7) If offences are discovered after the examination is complete and if the candidate has not completed his or her degree then the examination will be graded failed (5,0) as well. (8) The candidate will be offered an opportunity to make themselves heard before a decision is made. 17 Documentation (1) The leading teachers of or those responsible for the respective module are responsible for organizing examinations and timely conveyance of the complete results of a module to the Registrar s Office. (2) 1 The Registrar s Office keeps an overview on passing and failing, the accumulation of credits as well as the grades of the examinations and study performances. 2 Students may receive a certified transcript of records if needed. 18 Accreditation of Time in Programme, Performance Verifications and Credits (1) 1 Time in programmes, performance verifications and credits in the same course at different universities and colleges of equal standing in the scope of the Hochschulrahmengesetz (Law on College Framework) are officially recognized without additional examinations. 2 Otherwise, equivalence is to be determined if the time in the programme and performance verifications are corresponding in content and scope to as well as meet the requirements of the course to which accreditation is applied for. 3 This is not meant to be a schematic comparison, but an evaluation of the whole with regards to the merit of performances for the purpose of examinations according to 2. (2) 1 The equivalence agreements approved of by the Conference of Education Ministers (KMK) and the Conference of College Directors (HRK) as well as other international agreements are to be referred to when determining the equivalence of performance verifications at foreign colleges. 2 In case of doubts of equivalence, the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (Central Office for foreign Education Systems) can be heard on the matter. 3 Insofar no agreements exist or if a far-reaching accreditation has been applied for, the Examination Board decides on the equivalence. 4 Differing regulations of accreditation based on agreements with foreign colleges remain untouched. (3) 1 Results achieved at foreign colleges are accredited if the student ensures that the Examination Board confirms the accreditation capability through Learning Agreements before embarking on a semester abroad. 2 The student is responsible for supplying the necessary documents. (4) 1 If the student has already received credits for a module in the Master programme from a module in the Bachelor programme of the same name then the module in the Master programme may not be counted or attended. 2 Modules of the Master programme that were

12 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 12 completed as complementary modules during the Bachelor programme may be accredited up to a volume of 30 credits in the Master Programme. 3 The accreditation is decided upon by the Examination Board after hearing the mentor. (5) 1 The grades of compatible grading systems of performance verifications that were accredited are carried over and make up the final and course grade as according to the examination regulation. 2 If the grading system is ordinally scaled, the mean of the grade is to be carried over. 3 If the grading system is incompatible, the grade is recorded as passed if the overall impression was positive. 4 Special marking in the Transcript of Records is allowed. (6) Paragraphs 1 to 3 as well as 5 count for time in programmes, performance verifications and credits in state recognized correspondence courses respectively. (7) Knowledges and skills acquired outside the higher education system may be recognized up to a scope of 50 % if they are equivalent in content and standards to the part of the study programme that they should replace. (8) 1 As a rule, the deadline for recognition procedures after registration as well as the return from abroad or a semester off is one semester, in which the recognition must applied for. 2 Afterwards, all applications for recognition will be denied. 19 Master s Thesis (1) 1 The Master s thesis is an examination in which the student must show that he or she can independently and successfully deal with an assignment within a set deadline and contribute scientifically founded theoretical and practical knowledge to the solving of a problem. 2 The Master s thesis should correspond to the advanced knowledge base of the subject. 3 The Master s thesis consists of written work and its defence. (2) 1 As a rule, the Master s thesis may be assigned and looked after by college professors. 2 Exceptions are decided upon by the Examination Board. 3 Subject-related rules may have further regulations. (3) 1 The requirements of the necessary work are to be defined in a module description. 2 They must correspond to the advanced status of the subject. 3 As a rule, the scope of the module Master s thesis covers 30 credits. 4 The fourth semester of the standard length in the programme is intended for the conception and finishing (defence) of the Master s thesis. 5 Exact deadlines for the project are defined in the respective subject-related regulations. 6 The date of distribution and handing in is to be filed. 7 The requirements must be such so that they can be met within the deadline. (4) Admission requirements may be regulated by the respective subject-related regulations. (5) 1 The topic of the written work can only be changed once and only in the first two months of time reserved for the project. 2 In individual cases, the Examination Board may extend the deadline for candidates that have made a justified application; the application is to be made in written form up to four weeks prior to the deadline. 3 The opinion of the responsible examiner is to be attached. (6) On handing in the written work the candidate has to assure in written form that he or she composed the work independently and that no other sources or aids besides those listed were used as well as that quotes were marked correctly. 20 Acceptance and Evaluation of the Master s Thesis (1) 1 Two copies of the written work are to be handed in to the primary examiner on time; the deadline is to be filed. 2 If the work is not handed in on time, it will be graded failed (5,0). 3 9 paragraphs 6 and 8 apply to the process of completing the written work. 4 The written work

13 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 13 will be assessed in written form by two examiners (according to 20 paragraph 5 BbgHG) and graded according to 12 paragraph 1. (2) 1 If the written work achieves a grade of at least adequate (4,0) the defence follows. 2 9 paragraphs 5 to 8 applies to the procedure of the defence. 3 This will be conducted as an individual or group examination and will be graded according to 12 paragraph 1. 4 Defences are generally open to all at the university. 5 Exceptions are regulated by the Examination Board. (3) 1 The Master s thesis is passed if the final grade including the defence is graded at least adequate (4.0). 2 If only one of the evaluations of the written work is failed (5.0), then the Bachelor s Thesis is to be evaluated by an additional examiner. 3 If two evaluations of failed (5.0) have been made, then the Master s Thesis counts as not passed. 4 Otherwise, the evaluation of the written work is the arithmetical rounded mean of all evaluations of the examiners analogous to 12 paragraph 4. 5 If the defence was also evaluated at least adequate (4.0), then the final grade of the Master s Thesis is calculated. 6 It is formed by the arithmetical rounded, weighted mean of the evaluation of the written work with a weight of 0.75 and the evaluation of the defence with a weight of 0.25 analogous to 12 paragraph 4. 7 The subject-related regulations can implement regulations different from sentence 4ff. (4) The Examination Board must present the result of the Master s Thesis (examination registration arch) as well as the opinions in original form within two weeks to the Registrar s Office. 21 Repeating the Master s Thesis (1) 1 A Master s thesis graded with failed (5.0) may be repeated once. 2 A second repetition is not allowed. (2) Changing the topic of the Master s thesis within the deadline defined in 19 paragraph 6 sentence 1 is only allowed if the candidate made no use of this privilege during the first attempt. 22 Complementary Modules (1) The students may attend other modules than those named in the subject-related regulations (in the annexes 1 and 2) offered at the BTU Cottbus (including those offered on a onetime basis by contract teachers and guest lecturers) or relevant events or modules (complementary modules) offered during the semester abroad and receive credits and partake performance verifications in them. (2) 1 Complementary modules need to be approved of by the Examination Board in advance. 2 It must be explicitly determined whether the complementary module serves to accumulate credits (study performance, completed with passed ) or to partake in a graded examination. (3) 1 Modules from the Bachelor programme of the same name at the BTU (consecutive programmes) may be used to accumulate credits in a limited scope insofar this serves to fill gaps. 2 Earning credits twice from both the Bachelor and Master programmes is prohibited. (4) Details are regulated by the subject-related regulations in section II. 23 Additional Modules (1) In addition to the modules required by the subject-related regulations of the examination and study regulation, the student may partake in examinations of other modules (additional modules) offered at the BTU in the framework of the Master Programme.

14 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 14 (2) 1 The results of these performance verifications are added to the Transcript of Records on application by the candidate to the Registrar s Office. 2 They are not eligible for accumulating credits and do not make up the final grade. (3) The requirements of these performance verifications are regulated by their module descriptions and the regulations of their programme. 24 Transcript of Records and Master Certificate (1) The Master programme is successfully completed by those that successfully partake in all modules required by the subject-related regulations, including the Master s thesis and its defence and accumulated the necessary credits. (2) 1 Furthermore, the BTU hands out a Transcript of Records certifying the results, a diploma supplement, as well as a certificate with the date of the transcript. 2 The degree s documents will be printed in German and English. 3 Further details are regulated by a statute on the form of degree documents. (3) 1 In the event of the final failure of the Master programme and on application to the Registrar s Office, the candidate receives a certification on the successfully completed and in the application mentioned performance verifications, which points out that only part of the programme was successfully accomplished. 2 This also counts for students that leave the BTU before finishing their programme. 25 Inspection of Examination and Programme Records 1 The candidate is allowed, on application after the completion of every examination and under supervision, to examine his or her work, the comments of the examiners, which partook in the examination and the corresponding protocols. 2 The application is to be made to the examiner within four weeks of the publishing of the result of the individual examination. 3 The examiner chooses date and location of the inspection. 26 Invalidation of Performance Verifications and Revocation of the Master Degree (1) If the candidate cheated in a performance verification and this fact comes to the attention after the Transcript of Records has been awarded then the Examination Board may correct the results of the performance verifications in which the candidate cheated and declare the performance verification totally or partially failed. (2) 1 If prerequisites to partake in a performance verification were not met without the candidate wilfully deceiving anyone and if this fact comes to the attention of the Examination Board after the Transcript of Records has been awarded, then this wrong is reconciled with completing the performance verification. 2 If the candidate wilfully obtained an admission to a performance verification then the Examination Board decides on revoking the illegal award with respect to the law. (3) 1 The illegitimate Transcript of Records is to be retracted and if necessary a new one is to be issued. 2 The Master certificate is to be retracted with the Transcript of Records if the performance verification is deemed failed (5,0) because pf the deception. 3 Decisions according to paragraphs 1 and 2 are excluded after five years from the date on the certificate. 27 Objection Procedures and Individual Case Decisions (1) 1 Denials and other burdening decisions that are made according to this examination regulation are to be justified in written form, are to include references to legal options and are to

15 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 15 be made public according to 2 paragraph 3 no. 2 VwVfG Bbg in connection with 41 VwVfG Bbg. 2 Objections may be submitted to the Examination Board within one month after the decision according to 68 ff. of the Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung (administrative tribunal regulation). (2) Insofar the objection is directed against the evaluation made by an examiner, the Examination Board decides according to paragraphs 3 and 5. (3) 1 If the objection is directed against a decision of examiners according to paragraph 2, the Examination Board decides after hearing the examiner. 2 If the examiner changes the evaluation as demanded by the objection then the Examination Board treats the objection accordingly. 3 Otherwise the Examination Board examines the decision based on the statement of the examiner on whether 1. the examination procedure was executed improperly, 2. the evaluation was based on faulty facts, 3. general fundamentals of evaluation weren t taken into account, 4. a justifiable and well supported solution was deemed wrong, 5. irrelevant exterior influences guided the examiners decision. 4 Objections to the evaluations of multiple examiners are to be treated accordingly. (4) If the Examination Board does not act on an objection if a violation against paragraph 3 sentence 3 numbers 1 to 5 has occurred or if concrete and substantial objections against the examination procedure have been laid down without the examiner having changed the evaluation as demanded, the performance verifications will be evaluated by other examiners that to date were not concerned with that evaluation or the oral examination will be repeated. (5) Decisions on objections are to be reached as soon as possible. (6) The objection procedure may not lead to the worsening of a grade. II. Subject-related Regulations 28 Scope of Validity 1 These subject-related regulations regulate the form and structure of the Master programme xyz for the student. 2 They are only valid in connection with the general regulations of the Master programme in section I. 3 When in doubt, the general provisions take precedence. 29 Goal of the Programme (short description of educational goals, profile of candidates, interdisciplinary competences, if the programme is to be assigned a profile-type, statement whether the course is of practical or theoretical nature; Take into Account: KMK-requirements, accreditation requirements) 30 Graduation and Degree (see 3)

16 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes Additional Admission Requirements (where applicable) Following prerequisites supplement 4: e.g. Definition of subject-specific requirements Examinations to determine suitability Grade requirements 32 Structure and Form of the Programme For instance: The Master Programme xyz includes - the mandatory modules described in annex 1 with performance verifications and credits, - compulsory elective modules with x credits from the in annex 1 included catalogue of modules with examinations or performance verifications and credits - an internship of xy length - a semester abroad - a Master s thesis including its defence, with explanations If necessary information on the teaching language (Structure with regards to arrangement of focal points, furtherments and their scope, standard curriculum as annex 2 must be explicitly explained) If necessary in what scope modules from Bachelor Programmes may be counted Also here: Start of programme in the summer and winter semester (if applicable) 33 Mentors and Curriculum (see 8) 34 Retakes (where applicable) What scope (credits) and under what framework retakes are allowed is to be listed here, if this is desired in the course 35 Examination Board (where applicable) If any regulations are made that deviate from 12 list their composition here 36 Examination Deadlines and Admission to the Master s Thesis if necessary, examination deadlines beyond 10, setting down their order (cross reference to 10, missing deadlines necessary) if necessary, how many modules must be completed before the Master s thesis is handed out. (if necessary, time frame in which examinations must be completed.)

17 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes Scope and Time required for the Master s Thesis, including Defence Time frame between reception and handing in of the topic, other parts 38 Grading of the Master s Thesis Only necessary if rules diverging from 20 paragraph 5 are set down. Regulations on weighing the grades of written work and defence, other parts for the final grade of the Master s thesis 39 Regulations of Complementary Modules (where applicable) See Efficacy (1) 1 This examination and study regulation for Masterr programmes comes into effect the day after its publication in the official announcements of the Brandenburg University of Technology in Cottbus. 2 It is applicable to all valid Master programme examination and study regulations. (2) Simultaneously, the examination and study regulation for Master programmes of expires. (3) The regulations according to 10 paragraph 1 also apply to all modular diploma examination regulations that are still valid. (When formulating subject-related instructions, make respective regulations for the individual study programme here.) Annex (minimum) Annex 1: Annex 2: Annex 3: Overview of the modules belonging to the programme, examinations and study performances including status (mandatory, compulsory elective) with amount of credits Curriculum with amount of credits per semester i Internship regulation (where applicable) i The contact hours are placed ahead of the catalog of modules in form of a schedule of a course. Approved and executed on the grounds of the decision of the Senate of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus of December 2, 2010, the approval by the President of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus of December 21, 2010 and the notificaton to the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg with the writ of December 21, Cottbus, December 21, 2010 p.p. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Koziol Vice-President

18 BTU Cottbus General Regulations Master Programmes 18 The order was established on March 30, 2011 at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus. The establishment was announced through posting on March 30, 2011 at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus. Thereby March 30, 2011 is the date of announcement. Cottbus, March 30, 2011 Walther Ch. Zimmerli Prof. Dr. habil. DPhil. h.c. (University of Stellenbosch) President