FAQs - Coursework Essays
on topics such as topic selection, submission, deadlines and extensions, etc.
The following information is of a general nature and does not replace students' obligations to cooperate, such as reading the relevant examination and study regulations.
Where and when do I have to submit the form "Allocation of a topic for the coursework essay"?
A topic for each coursework essay must be agreed with the examiner and recorded in writing on the form. The original of the completed form remains with you. A copy must be submitted to the Central Examination Office and to the relevant institute/department or the respective professorial chair. This form is intended to ensure that the topic of the coursework essay has been agreed between you and the examiners. It also ensures that a new topic has been agreed for examination resits and that equal opportunities aspects are observed.
How can I request an extension of the writing-up period for a coursework essay? Is it sufficient to discuss this with my examiner?
The examiners are not authorised to make any such decisions. Under no circumstances is it sufficient to agree a new submission deadline with the examiner.
The writing-up period can be extended by up to 14 days if you immediately notify us and provide plausible evidence of reasons for which you are not responsible. Any extension beyond this is excluded. You submit the request together with proof to the Central Examination Office. The Central Examination Office will then (depending on the case) forward the request to the examination board. You will then receive notification of the outcome via post. The new submission deadline can also be viewed online.
If you are unable to complete the coursework essay within the extension period, you can return the topic of the coursework essay. This will not count as a failed attempt. However, a new topic must then be agreed for retaking the coursework essay.
Do I have to choose a new topic when retaking a coursework essay?
Yes, this applies both to the return of the topic of a coursework essay and to the retake itself.
When do I have to submit my written piece of work if the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday?
If the end of a deadline falls on a Sunday, a public holiday or a Saturday, the deadline ends at the end of the next working day.
How do I submit my coursework essay? Is an electronic submission (via email) sufficient or do I also have to submit a print copy?
Coursework essays must always be submitted to the examiners in writing, i.e. as a print copy. At the request of the examiners, it must also be submitted electronically. A pure submission via email is only sufficient if this has been expressly approved.
In some cases, the Fachprüfungsordnungen (subject-specific examination regulations) only allow for electronic submission, e.g. via HIS, Moodle or email. Whether a printed copy must also be submitted depends on the requirements of the institute/department/chair, or the examiners.
If you are unsure, please contact your lecturer or the Examination Office before submitting your essay.
Can the work be submitted as group work? What do I have to consider?
Yes, depending on the respective examination and study regulations, group work is possible - but clear rules apply. It is important that the each individual person's contribution is clearly recognisable and assessable. This is the only way to ensure that the principle of equal opportunities is observed.
It is therefore not enough to simply divide the work into sections or pages. It is crucial that each group member's own contribution to the content is clearly identifiable so that the examiners can reliably assess whether each person has achieved the learning objectives of the module or study section.
"Genuine" group work, in which everything is worked on together and can no longer be separated, is not permitted. In such cases, no individual assessment is possible and the work may result in a grade of "insufficient" (5.0) or "unsatisfactory" (0 points).
Am I allowed to use AI when writing the coursework essay? What do I have to consider with regard to plagiarism?
In principle, the use of AI is not prohibited, but you should check with the examiners in advance whether AI tools are permitted as aids in an examination context. There may also be subject-specific regulations regarding the labelling of generated content.
Plagiarism is defined as the unmarked or inappropriately labelled use of other people's intellectual property, regardless of its origin (i.e. also from the internet), in one's own work, including the use of facts, arguments or specific formulations as well as their paraphrasing or translation. If plagiarism is detected by the examiners, this can have an impact on the number of resit attempts and can also lead to the final failure of the degree course or part thereof.
AI tools such as ChatGPT are not reliable sources of information. They can support aspects of degree studies, but they cannot replace it. Most AI tools store and process your (personal) data.
Please also refer to the declaration on the use of AI at the University of Greifswald [de] and the information provided by the Digital Education Office.