Study system of the University of Erfurt

Exchange programme

Before you embark on your exchange studies, you should familiarize yourself with the study system of the University of Erfurt. Even though as exchange student you are permitted to attend courses across all faculties, with few exceptions, the study system will of course be different to the one of your home university.

Kompass auf Karte

The International Office team will support you in all phases of your mobility:

  • Application
  • Arrival and Onboarding
  • Studies
  • Departure
  • Transcript of Records

You can email your questions to the Incoming Student Advisor at any time.

Course choice

Course catalogue

Hoersaal 1 KIZ Uni Erfurt

The course catalogue is usually published one to two months before the start of each semester. On the website you will also find the directories of previous semesters, which you can use for orientation until the catalogue relevant for you is published. You will receive a guide to using our course catalogue after you have been nominated.

You can find the general course offeris under:
Verzeichnisse > LV nach Fächern (englische Übersetzung)

Courses taught in English can be found under:
Taught in English > Courses by disciplines

Language courses can be found under:
Verzeichnisse > LV nach Prüfungsordnungen > Additional language studies (ZS)

Credit Points/ECTS

Fragezeichen ist auf Tafel gemalt

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used at the University of Erfurt. 
The ECTS provides for a workload of 30 credit points per semester.

ECTS at the University of Erfurt:

  • 1 ECTS = 1 Leistungspunkt (LP) = 1 credit point
    • Note that you will only encounter the word Leistungspunkt in the course catalogue!
  • 1 credit point = 30 hours of work (participation, preparation, examinations, etc.)
  • workload per semester = normally 30 credit points

Exchange students can acquire credit points in the following courses:

Please discuss with the coordinator responsible for you at your home university which workload you should choose and whether German courses will be recognized!

Learning Agreement

What is a Learning Agreement?

The Learning Agreement specifies which courses you will attend in Erfurt. It is also agreed that your home university will recognize the coursework completed in Erfurt.

BEFORE arrival, create a first draft of your Learning Agreement

  1. Look for courses in the University of Erfurt course catalogue.
    1. Use the course catalogues from previous semester as a basis.
  2. You list the courses of the University of Erfurt in Table A of the Learning Agreement.
  3. You list the equivalent courses at your home university in Table B of the Learning Agreement.
  4. Your home university, you and the University of Erfurt sign the first draft.

Please be sure to enter the e-mail address io.incoming@uni-erfurt.de as the contact at the target university in the Online Learning Agreement (OLA)!

AFTER arrival, change the first draft

Often the courses agreed in the first draft of the Learning Agreement are not offered in exactly the same way. This is normal!
Therefore: Even if your courses are agreed in the Learning Agreement, you may have to change your course selection again.

Do the following:

  • Attend alternative courses.
  • Decide on the final course selection.
  • Change your Learning Agreement.
  • Your home university, you and the University of Erfurt sign the new Learning Agreement.

Only change the Learning Agreement when you are absolutely sure which courses you will attend! This is because you can only make changes ONCE in the Online Learning Agreement (OLA).

Possible examination types

  • Written exam (Klausur)
    written exam under supervision to be completed within a time limit
  • Coursework assignment (Hausarbeit)
    paper (depending on the number of Credit Points, the lenghts varies between 10 to 25 pages)
  • Presentation
    oral presentation that must generally be presented within the framework of a seminar or a practical session in order to be discussed with the other participants of the seminar
  • Protocol (Protokoll)
    is a written progress report based on a specific course and the topics discussed within the course, but the report must fulfil specific formal criteria
  • Theory paper (Thesenpapier)
    summarises the most important points and results of an academic piece of work or investigation; unlike a Protokoll, the opinions of the writer are included
  • oral examination

The teaching staff will announce which examinations you need to pass in order to successfully complete the course at the beginning of the semester.

Grading system

Grading system of the University of Erfurt

The evaluation scale is divided into five levels. Counting in interim values, there are 10 positive grades (from 1.0 to 4.0 = PASS) and one negative grade (5.0 = FAIL). 

1 = very good
an excellent performance

2 = good
a performance which is considerably above the average requirements

3 = satisfactory
a performance which meets the average requirements

4 = sufficient 
a performance which still meets the requirements, despite its weaknesses

5 = not sufficient
a performance which fails to meet the requirements on account of considerable weaknesses
 

Please note that not all courses are graded. In the beginning of your stay it will be explained to you what you have to do in order to have your courses graded, in case your home university requires you to have graded courses. 

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

ECTS grading scale

A = Excellent
outstanding performance with only minor errors

B = Very good
above the average standard but with some errors

C = Good
generally sound work with a number of notable errors

D = Satisfactory
fair but with significant weaknesses

E =  sufficient
performance meets the minimum criteria

FX = Fail
some more work required before the credit can be awarded

F  = Fail
considerable further work is required

Transfer of grades (University of Erfurt to ECTS)

It is suggested that exchange students at the University of Erfurt transfer their grades from the Bachelor or Master programmes into the ECTS as follows:

Erfurt Grade / ECTS Grade
1,0; 1,3 / A
1,7; 2,0  /  B
2,3; 2,7; 3,0 / C
3,3  / D
3,7; 4,0 / E
5,0 / F

ECTS Coordinator

The Institutional Coordinator makes sure that the ECTS principles are adhered to and are functioning correctly and strives to improve procedures as well as practical aspects of ECTS. Manuela Linde, head of the International Office, is the Institutional Co-ordinator of the University of Erfurt.

Manuela Linde
International Office
Verwaltungsgebäude / Raum 0.35
Telefon: +49(0)361/737-5031
Fax: +49(0)361/737-5039

Transcript of Records

Ein Dokturhut wird überreicht

The Transcript of Records lists all the examination results of your courses (credits & grades).

How to receive your Transcript of Records:

  • Check your ELVIS regularly to make sure that all your grades are complete.
  • As soon as your grades are complete, send an e-mail to io.incoming@uni-erfurt.de.
  • The International Office will then email your grade report to your home university and to you.

Semester dates:

The winter semester officially ends on March 31 of each year.
The summer semester officially ends on September 30 of each year.

Contact

Sandra Schmidt
Sandra Schmidt, M.A.
Incoming Student Advisor - Admission Officer and Advisor for exchange students
(International Office)
C02 – administration building / Raum 00.44
+49 361 737-5032
io.incoming@uni-erfurt.de
Office hours
Mondays - Thursdays, 1.30 - 3.00 pm

The International Office on Social Media

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