Program deadlines

There are deadlines (time limits) for all degree programs. This means that you must provide proof of a certain level of academic success in all degree programs by a specified date.

Deadlines in the Bachelor’s programs

You can read in the examination regulations what you need to do in order to meet the deadlines.

Preliminary examination (Orientierungsprüfung)

All Bachelor’s degree programs have what is known as a preliminary examination.

The preliminary examination is not actually a single examination. Instead, it is designed to determine whether the first examinations are promising for a continuation of the degree program.

Interim examination (Zwischenprüfung)

All Bachelor’s programs in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and some Bachelor’s programs in the Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Sciences have an interim examination.

The intermediate examination is also not a single examination. Instead, is intended to ensure that the modules from the first semesters are completed before the end of the program.

Degree

Finally, the entire program must be completed by the end of the second examination period of the ninth subject-related semester.

Examinations and deadlines for the preliminary examination and interim examination

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In the degree programs of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, the degree program must be completed by the end of the second examination period of the seventh subject-related semester.

In the degree programs of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, the module examinations (excluding the Master’s thesis) must be completed by the end of the second examination period of the seventh subject-related semester. The Master’s thesis must be registered at the latest at the start of the seventh subject-related semester.

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If you are unable to meet a study deadline, you have the option of requesting an extension.

The examination board decides on requests for extensions.
There is no particular form that needs to be used to request an extension. That means you can also submit the request by email to the Examinations Office.

In the request, you must state the reasons why the deadline could not be met. Reasons must be given for which you are not responsible.

You must enclose proof of the reasons stated with the request.

Finally, you must enclose a plan with your request. Indicate here how you plan to complete your studies. In particular, you should focus on the deadline for which you are submitting the request.

If you need assistance in creating this plan, we advise you to contact the Central Student Counselling Center.

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If you exmatriculate during a semester in which an examination deadline falls, this may result in you losing your right of admission to an examination.

For example: If you exmatriculate during your third semester without having passed the preliminary examination, your right of admission to an examination is revoked. This is because you will no longer be able to meet the required deadline after exmatriculation.

Please be aware that exmatriculation in such cases means that you deprive yourself of the opportunity to meet the deadline. We therefore recommend that you obtain comprehensive information of the possible consequences before a planned exmatriculation.

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For students who were enrolled in the summer semester 2020, winter semester 2020/2021, summer semester 2021, or winter semester 2021/22, the deadlines in their studies (preliminary examination, intermediate examination, completion of studies) are extended by one semester each, but by a total of maximum three semesters.

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When you notify the university of your pregnancy, all deadlines for your studies are extended by the legal maternity protection periods.

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Students can apply for parental leave in accordance with the statutory provisions of the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz).

The request for parental leave must be submitted at least four weeks before the date on which parental leave is to commence.

There is no particular form that needs to be filled out for the request for parental leave. That means you can also submit the request by email to the Examinations Office.

The request must be accompanied by the child’s birth certificate, confirmation that the child lives in the same household as you and, if necessary, other evidence if you are not listed as a parent on the child’s birth certificate.

In the request, you must state the period for which you are requesting parental leave. You must also make a declaration that you are looking after and bringing up the child yourself.

Parental leave extends study deadlines if you have applied for semester leaves of absence during the semesters of parental leave.

However, parental leave does not extend the time for working on your final thesis. If your parental leave coincides with the time you are working on your thesis, you can request to withdraw from the thesis due to parental leave. After parental leave, you can then start a thesis with a new topic.

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Students who can demonstrate that they are caring for and raising children as described in § 25(5) of the Federal Student Financing Act (BAföG) or caring for relatives as described in § 7(3) of the Home Care Leave Act (PflegeZG) can request deadline extensions during their studies.

There is no particular form that needs to be filled out to request a deadline extension. That means you can also submit the request by email to the Examinations Office.

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Students who have been an elected member of legally required commissions or bodies for at least one year

• at the university or
• in the Studierendenwerk or
• for the Student Parliament

can request deadline extensions during their studies for up to one year.
There is no particular form that needs to be filled out to request a deadline extension. That means you can also submit the request by email to the Examinations Office.

The President decides on the request on the recommendation of the responsible examination committee.

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