Will information be passed on to third parties, e.g. the BAföG office or my parents?
For data protection reasons, no information will be passed on to third parties (e.g. relatives, public authorities, offices, etc.) unless this is mandatory by law (cf. Hochschulstatistikgesetz (University Statistics Act), etc.). This generally requires the consent of the individual.
When and how are tuition fees refunded?
Students who take a leave of absence or de-register after paying the re-registration fee can have the re-registration fee reimbursed. Information on this can be obtained from the University's Students' Registration Office.
What are my chances of admission to a degree course with admission restrictions?
Information on authorisation limits can be found here.
What are waiting semesters?
A waiting semester is the period between obtaining the higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur) and the possible start of studies, calculated in semesters. Any study periods in between, including in other degree courses, are deducted from this.
However, since the allocation of places at a university for the summer semester 2020, new regulations apply, according to which waiting semesters will no longer be taken into account at all after a transitional period from 2022.
When does the semester start and when does the lecture/seminar begin?
The winter semester always begins on 01 October and the summer semester on 01 April. The start of the lecture period varies. You can find the relevant information here.
Is attendance compulsory for lectures?
Compulsory attendance in accordance with Section 17a of the General Examination Regulations (Subject-Specific Examination Regulations) only applies if this is required in accordance with the subject examination regulations. It may be required for seminars, exercises [Aufgabe], colloquia, language courses, internships and excursions.
How can I use the computers and the internet at the university?
If you have a user ID at the University of Greifswald, you can use the university's PC pools and the secure WiFi access eduroam. You can find more detailed information about the latter on this page.
What is a weekly semester hour?
A semester hour per week (SWS) indicates the amount of time spent on a lecture. The indication "1 SWS" means that the corresponding event is lectured (der Universität meistens) for 45 minutes per week for the duration of the average lecture period of a semester.
How can I change my subject or degree course?
A change of subject or degree programme can be requested via the Students' Registration Office. In the case of a subject with admission restrictions, a new application must be submitted; this request can be used for other degree courses.
The request must be submitted in a specific form (= form) with all necessary documents to the Students' Registration Office within the re-registration period, after successful re-registration, but at the latest by the end of the enrolment period. You can find more detailed information here.
I am expecting a child. What do I need to consider?
Since 1 January 2018, the Maternity Protection Act has also applied to female students. You should therefore first inform the Students' Registration Office of your pregnancy. The protection periods will then be calculated and notified to the Central Examination Office. The Students' Registration Office will also arrange for a health risk assessment to be carried out by the responsible departmental representative. You are obliged to be involved here. The Maternity Protection Act protects women in particular six weeks before and eight weeks after giving birth. During this time, it is generally assumed that you will not pursue your studies. You are therefore also subject to an examination ban. However, female students can waive the protection periods for individual exams at their express request. You will receive an email from the responsible member of staff at the Central Examination Office. There is also the possibility of disability compensation. It is also possible to take a leave of absence from your studies for pregnancy, maternity protection and/or parental leave at the Students' Registration Office. It is also possible to extend the standard length of study. (see III.)
Can I take examinations and/or marked coursework during my leave of absence?
Semesters on leave of absence do not count as subject semesters. Exams and non-assessed coursework may therefore not be completed during a leave of absence. At the request of the student, exams may be performed exceptionally within the framework of a proven degree course abroad, otherwise only in exceptional cases with the approval of the Rectorate. If possible, the request should be submitted to the Central Examination Office when registering for the exam.
Why does my certificate of enrolment (Student ID Card) say "final"?
There are three different statuses for enrolment (provisional, time-limited and final). The most common status is final; this means that you are enrolled for this degree course without any restrictions. In contrast, "temporary" status means that you are only enrolled for a certain period of time. The status "provisional" means that you are enrolled until clarification of any conflicting reasons for final enrolment.