Uni ABCs
Starting your studies can be quite confusing at first. What does s.t. mean? What are credit points? And what is this “BOSS” all about?
These University ABCs explain the most important terms related to studying and university.
A
The General Student Committee (Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss, AStA) is both the political representation of the students and the executive body of the students’ union of the universities in NRW. The AStA is elected annually by the Student Parliament and represents the interests of the students at the university.
The largest lecture hall at a university is called the Audimax (short for the Latin „Auditorium maximum“). The Audimax of TU Dortmund University is located in the foyer of the Math Tower.
B
The Bachelor is the first degree in the multi-level Bachelor-Master system. Generally speaking, after three years of successful studies, Bachelor’s students acquire a professional qualification in the form of a university degree.
BAföG is the German abbreviation for the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz), which regulates the financial support provided to students by the federal government. The funding itself is therefore colloquially referred to as "BAföG". It is geared toward students who do not have enough income, assets or financial support to fund their studies on their own. BAföG recipients receive half of the funding as a grant that does not have to be repaid and the other half as an interest-free loan. The BAföG application is submitted to the Studierendenwerk Dortmund.
A type of compact seminar that takes place in a concentrated form over several days at a time, mostly during the semester break.
BOSS stands for “Bologna Online Study Service” and is the examination administration portal for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs at TU Dortmund University. BOSS is used to register for exams, and grade overviews can also be accessed. Over the next few years, BOSS will gradually be replaced by the Campus Portal.
C
Abbreviation for “cum tempore” (Latin for “with time”). Courses marked with “c.t.” start a quarter of an hour (“academic quarter”) later than indicated. In other words, a lecture at 10 a.m. c.t. will start at 10.15 a.m. See also s.t.
This Latin word stands for the grounds of a university. TU Dortmund University has a large North Campus and a smaller South Campus, which are connected by the H-Bahn. The campus navigator on the TU website helps you find the best route from one building to another.
In the Campus Portal, students can view personal data and change contact details, download study certificates and various other certificates. In addition, all information concerning re-registration is stored there, such as payment information for the semester contribution. Furthermore, students have the possibility to submit various online applications, for example to change personal data, for leave of absence or for exmatriculation.
In general, applications and enrollments at TU Dortmund University are processed via the Campus Portal. In the future, the Campus Portal will gradually be expanded to include additional functions, so that it will successively replace BOSS and LSF as the central system.
The Central Examinations Office is the institution at a university that is responsible for the administration of examination matters. For instance, it keeps the students’ exam results on file and issues certificates.
The Central Student Advisory Service can be found at every university. The Central Student Advisory Service of the TU Dortmund University – also called ZSB for short – consists of the General Student Advisory Service, Psychological Student Advisory Service, Student Information and Talent Scouting.
A certificate of enrollment acts as proof of enrollment at a university. The certificate is valid for one semester and can be downloaded from the Campus Portal.
Contains the entire range of courses offered by the university for the upcoming semester. The course catalog can be viewed online in LSF. The annotated course catalog of a department or a specific subject area not only lists the courses but also provides information about content, requirements, literature and more.
Academic work that is usually written as an exam as part of a seminar. Through coursework, students should demonstrate their ability to research, comprehend connections, address scientific questions and accurately cite sources.
Credit points (CP), also known as just credits or Leistungspunkte (LP) in German, are awarded as part of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for achievements throughout a degree program. One CP corresponds to a workload of 30 hours. This includes, for example, attending lectures or seminars, writing coursework or completing an exam. Courses can have different amounts of CP. The grade of a course with more CP is weighted more heavily in the grade point average of the degree program. Based on the regular study plan, students should generally earn 30 CP in one semester.
D
A university is divided into different academic areas, which regulate and organize the teaching and research for different subjects with related content. The major basic units at TU Dortmund University are the 17 departments, which are in turn divided into institutes and professorships.
Departmental advisors are employees in the faculties and experts in the degree programs for which they are responsible. They are the first point of contact for students who have questions about the content of their degree program.
Once a year, the student bodies elect their departmental student council, which takes on various tasks and represents the student body of the relevant degree programs in various committees.
Student dormitories are affordable apartments, mostly near the campus. The Studierendenwerk manages the student dormitories in Dortmund.
E
ECTS is the abbreviation for European Credit Transfer System – the European accumulation system for credits to be earned by students. The ECTS simplifies the recognition process of study and examination achievements, e.g. if parts of the course are completed at a foreign partner university or another domestic university. A certain number of credit points are assigned to the individual courses, in other words, coursework and examinations. If a student changes university, these can be transferred to the new institution.
Enrollment is another term for being added to the list of students for a particular degree program. For degree programs with restricted admission, you need the letter of admission that you receive following a successful application. You do not need to apply for enrolling in degree programs which have no admission restrictions. In the Campus Portal, TU students can download a certificate of enrollment at any time.
Erasmus+ is the name of the EU student exchange program. Students can take advantage of their department’s collaborations and study abroad for one or two semesters at a university in Europe. Further information on the program and other opportunities for studying abroad or completing an internship can be found on the website of the International Office.
Examination regulations regulate the legal basis of a degree program. The examination regulations for a program can usually be found on the websites of the departments or institutes.
H
A fully automatic overhead railway that connects the north and south campuses of TU Dortmund University and also stops in the Technologiezentrum, at the S-Bahn station and in Dortmund-Eichlinghofen.
L
Course in the form of a presentation given by a lecturer in a lecture hall. Lectures are usually large classes with a large number of attendees.
Lecture halls are large rooms at the university where lectures are held. The largest lecture hall at a university is called the Audimax (short for the Latin “Auditorium maximum”). The Audimax of TU Dortmund University is located in the foyer of the Math Tower.
A lecture series in which several professors lecture on an overarching topic.
A lecturer is an individual who teaches at a university. These include professors, but also doctoral students, assistant professors and other academic staff.
If prospective students have been successful with their application for a restricted-admission study place, they will receive a letter of admission – an official letter in which the university offers them a place in the degree program. Once they have received the letter of admission, they can then enroll at the university (see -> Enrollment).
Students can research, borrow books, and study at the four locations of the University Library (UB). In addition, the UB offers consultations and workshops. Currently, the library at Emil-Figge-Straße 50 is the central service point of the UB. The UB has about 1 million books as well as a large selection of e-books and e-journals. While a new building is being constructed for the Central Library, a majority of the printed books will be stored in a library stack. The catalog plus notes where the UB's media are located. Books kept in one of the four locations can be borrowed directly on site. Books and periodical volumes from the library stack as well as books from the library at Sebrathweg can be ordered to the Emil Figge Library by the following working day.
M
Degree, which usually requires a completed Bachelor's degree. There are consecutive and non-consecutive Master's degree courses. The consecutive ones build directly on a corresponding Bachelor's degree, the non-consecutive ones are often interdisciplinary and designed for students from different disciplines.
In German, the university's main cafeteria is called the “Mensa”. This is where students and employees can have lunch at an affordable price or buy snacks for in between. The large main Mensa is located on the upper floor of the yellow Mensa building next to the Math Tower. The Studierendenwerk also operates other cafeterias on the North and South Campus of TU Dortmund University.
A module is a complete teaching and learning unit in terms of content and time, which can consist of various courses (lectures, exercises, seminars, practicals, excursions). It is usually completed within one semester, and within two semesters at the latest, with program-related examinations. Information on the content of the individual modules of a degree program can be found in the module manual.
There is a module manual for each degree program. The module manual describes each of a degree program in detail: Which courses does the module consist of, what are the contents, what do the examinations look like, who is responsible for the module, and much more. Before starting their studies, students should be familiar with the module manual of their degree program.
N
NC is the abbreviation for “numerus clausus", which means “closed number” in Latin. If more people want to study a certain program than places are available, access to this degree program will be restricted. There is a selection process, so those interested must apply for the restricted-admission program (see also -> Enrollment). Since the average grade in the Abitur has the greatest influence on this selection, an “NC value” is always formed at the end of the selection process. NC is often used colloquially to refer to the worst average grade with which applicants were admitted to the course.
O
The Orientation Week, otherwise known as O-Week or O-Phase, usually begins before the start of the semester and is aimed at first-year students. During the O-Week, the new students get to know their university, their place of study and their fellow students and learn a lot of interesting facts about their degree program and how it is organized. The O-Week is organized by the student representative body of a degree program. The week usually involves a broad evening program.
P
Program semesters refer to the semesters in which a student is or was enrolled in the same degree program in contrast to the university semester, which refers to all semesters in which a person studies / has studied. The number of program semesters and university semesters do not always match, for example, due to a change of subject. In addition, leaves of absence are counted as university semesters but not as program semesters. For example: A student changed her mind after one semester of Computer Science and switched to the Mathematics degree program. After the switch, she is now in her second university semester, but only in the first program semester for Mathematics.
R
At the end of a semester’s lecture period, students must re-register if they want to continue studying in the next semester. This is usually done by transferring the semester contribution for the coming semester; all students will receive a request for this by email a few weeks before the start of the next semester. Anyone who fails to re-register can be removed from the register of students, i.e. forfeit their university membership.
S
Abbreviation for “sine tempore” (Latin for “without time”). Courses marked with this abbreviation begin punctually at the specified time. Students expecting the “academic quarter” will arrive late (see c.t.)
One half of the academic year. The academic year is usually divided into a winter semester (from October to March) and a summer semester (from April to September). The semester includes both the lecture period and the semester break.
See also Program semester.
The time in the semester when no courses take place. The semester break is different from the school holidays because the semester break is usually when exams are taken, coursework is written, or internships are completed.
An inexpensive ticket for public transport that is valid for the whole of Germany. With the semester ticket, students can use all buses, U-Bahn trains, trams, S-Bahn trains and regional trains (2nd class) free of charge. Long-distance trains (IC, ICE, EC) are not covered by the student ticket. The Germany semester ticket is automatically included in the semester contribution and is only valid when combined with an official photo ID. Students can use it digitally in the TU app.
A course during a degree program that – unlike a lecture – is geared towards active student participation (discussions, presentations, etc.). The number of participants is limited.
The time specified in the examination regulations for the particular degree program in which the degree can and should be successfully completed. In most cases, the standard program duration is six semesters for a Bachelor’s degree and four semesters for a Master’s degree, but there are also different models. For students who were enrolled during the Corona pandemic, an increased individualized standard program duration may apply. The standard program duration can be relevant for funding such as BAföG or scholarships.
Since 1 March 2022, students have had the “Student ID” tile in the personal details section of the TU app when they log in there with their UniAccount. This new function replaces the old student identification, which was in the form of the UniCard.
The previous UniCards will continue to be recognized as a temporary form of ID until the end of 2022. Students who don’t have a smartphone or don’t want to use the TU app can present their (printed or digital) enrollment certificate as proof of their student status. Both the enrollment certificate and Student ID are only valid when combined with an official photo ID.
The student identification in the form of the UniCard has been replaced at TU Dortmund University by the Student ID in the TU app. Students who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the TU app can still present their (printed or digital) enrollment certificate as proof of their student status. Both the enrollment certificate and Student ID are (like before) only valid when combined with an official photo ID.
The Student Parliament (StuPa) is a parliament elected by the students of TU Dortmund University. It lays the foundations for the students’ union, sets the budget and the semester contribution and is generally the highest-ranking body of the students’ union. The General Student Committee (AStA) executes the decisions of the StuPa.
The Student Registration Office is the point of contact for all questions relating to student status – before, during and at the end of your studies. This includes the application for a restricted-admission program, enrollment, re-registration, a change of program or subject, leaves of absence and removal from the register of students. The Student Registration Office also issues additional certificates of enrollment and other proof of student status.
All students of a specific subject or in a department are referred to as student representative body. The members of the student representative body support their fellow students in a variety of ways: They organize the O-Week for first-year students, give study planning tips and offer support if there are any issues with completing study formalities. Once a year, the student representative bodies elect their departmental student council, which takes on various tasks and represents the student body of the relevant degree programs in various committees.
In the narrower sense, the student body is the entirety of all students enrolled at a university. If such an association is regulated by law or the university constitution, however, they are also referred to as the students’ union.
The Studierendenwerk is an institution at universities tasked with the social support of students. The Studierendenwerk Dortmund is an independent institution, independent of TU Dortmund University and not only responsible for TU students, but also for the students at the other universities in Dortmund. It runs the cafeterias on campus as well as the student dormitories. In addition, the Dortmund BAföG Office is located at the Studierendenwerk.
TU Dortmund University offers a variety of areas where students can learn and work either by themselves or in groups. In addition to the learning workstations in the departments and departmental libraries, there are also places available in the Seminar Room Building, in the Gallery of the Main Cafeteria Building, and in the co-learning spaces. Details on the opening hours can be found in the overview of study areas.
Study plans are exemplary overviews of how a degree program is structured and which modules should, if possible, be studied in which semester if you wish to complete the program within the standard program duration.
T
The TU app offers many useful services related to your studies. Students can use the digital Student ID and access their student ticket, library card or sports card. They can view their timetable, the daily and weekly menu in the cafeteria or the University Sports program and get news and event tips relevant to TU Dortmund University.
U
The UniAccount is your personal access point for all online services of TU Dortmund University such as UniMail, LSF, BOSS, the Campus Portal or Moodle. All students at TU Dortmund University are provided with a UniAccount upon enrollment. In order to use their UniAccount, it must be activated in advance.
All students receive a personal email address from TU Dortmund University upon enrollment. Students receive important information from the university via their UniMail account, including the request for re-registration.
University Sports offers all TU members – both students and employees – various opportunities to stay active: From fitness classes and team sports to outdoor sports, yoga and dance. In addition, the University Sports department runs its own gym on campus, the Fitnessförderwerk (FFW), and organizes the Campus Run every year.
W
Number of hours that are allocated to a course in a semester week. The workload of the courses and the workload of the entire program are given in SWS (Semesterwochenstunden). The time required for the preparation and follow-up of the courses and for self-study is not included. However, credit points are being used to determine the student workload, with the average learning, preparation and follow-up time also being taken into account.