Documents and Equipment List

Documents

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• Program structure and modules overview: shows the distribution and types of modules (required, optional, etc.) in each semester.
• Module Handbook: contains the list of courses in each module for all four semesters, and a brief description of all modules. Please use this handbook as the reference for the correct module and course names to be used when registering for classes.
• Course catalog (Vorlesungsverzeichnis): catalog containing the schedule and location of classes. Catalog for the upcoming semester is usually released online about 2 months before the semester starts. Do not use course names listed here to register for classes, use those listed in the Module Handbook instead. 
• Printable course timetables for each semester, updated versions are posted usually a few weeks before the start of classes in each semester. These tables are for your convenience, but take them with a grain of salt, because instructors may change times and locations even after the tables have been posted.
• Study and Examination Regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnung): in German, and its unofficial translation in English. Please note that only the original German version is legally binding.
• Additional explanations of course and examination regulations, grading, plagiarism, and master thesis, can be found in this document (important: several points, including point 8 - master thesis, and relevant deadlines - are currently being updated with new procedures and deadlines: the new version will be posted as soon as it is ready).
• Information about how to prepare and submit your written thesis. Please read the point below too:
• Declaration of authorship, which must be included in your written thesis, in English and in German (this form must be used, you cannot make up your own text). Both language versions must be included in your thesis.

Forms for standard requests to the Examination Board (Prüfungsausschuss)

Instructions concerning submission modalities are here. Please follow them, rather than guessing how and to whom you should submit your requests.

Read the forms themselves carefully when filling them. For example, "field" in the thesis request form is not the same as "topic description" and neither of them is your thesis "title". Pay attention to what you are asked, and to the size of the box that needs to be filled: small box = one or two words, big box = a lot more text expected. The forms tell you which pages you need to fill, and which ones someone else needs to fill. Some brief instructions are provided on the last page of the form. Stick to that and do not improvise.

Most of the forms can be filled by typing directly into them: taking advantage of this feature will avoid some misunderstandings by making your text readable.

Available forms:

• Thesis request form: deadline for submission to the Examination Board is September 15^th if you want to start the thesis in your 3^rd semester (or in a higher Winter Semester), or March 1^st if you want to start the thesis in your 4^th semester (or in a higher Summer Semester). Students who apply for a thesis that requires field or other work that can be carried out only in the summer preceding the start of the 3^rd semester of the student's enrollment, may ask the Examination Board to allow anticipating the start of the thesis, by handing in the thesis request form by July 1^st of their 2^nd semester of enrollment. This form is to be used regardless of whether you have already found an advisor and project, or whether you want to ask the Examination Board to assign you one because you have not been able to identify an advisor on your own. In the latter case, check the appropriate box on the form, and you will be assigned an advisor.
• Students who plan to have a thesis that involves external partners must also submit this Appendix together with their thesis request form.
• Thesis repeat form: use this form if you have failed your written thesis once, and want to either repeat the same topic, or ask for a change of topic. You may submit this form at any time after you have failed the written thesis, but no later than the next thesis request submission deadline. 
• Pre-emptive course/module substitution form: deadline for submission to the Examination Board is the general deadline for requests submission, unless specified otherwise (this may occur when some major, unexpected, last-minute disruption in course scheduling happens). This form may be used only to substitute courses/modules for reasons related to career goals. Only well-grounded requests stand a chance of being approved (for example, your thesis advisor requires you to take a specific advanced methods class so that you will be able to carry out thesis work). Substitutions due to reasons like "I really like this topic and I want to have extra classes in it", or "I have already taken this course anyway and I want to use it to replace some credits later", will likely be denied. You may not ask to replace a Master-level course with a Bachelor-level one. This form cannot be used to substitute courses/modules that have been failed, or substitutions of field/lab courses related to health or financial reasons. For health/financial hardship, you are required to contact the Prüfungsausschuss as soon as you know this case applies to you. Those field courses that require advance non-refundable payment remain non-refundable if a substitution is requested after the deadline for payment of such fees has passed, regardless of reason for substitution. This is because non-refundable fees are due to required advance payment of items such as lodging reservations, which are non-refundable at the source. Refunds to some individuals after payment deadline has passed would result in unplanned increased costs for all other participants.

Equipment

All Geology students are required to bring the personal equipment listed below to all field activities. We suggest that you acquire such items well before your first time in the field, if you do not already have them from your Bachelor studies. Students in geology at the Master level are in general expected to own such equipment already.

• Geological compass (or combination of sighting compass and inclinometer, or a smartphone with a good geological compass app installed plus a standard sighting compass). If you do not have any and are not sure about what to get, ask first, as the price range is large (from below 10 to over 500 EUR) depending on which features you would like to have. 
• Hand lens, preferably 10x.
• Hiking boots with good profile (for safety reasons, showing up for field work in trainers or other light shoes, or in boots with soles that are excessively worn out, is not permitted).
• Field notebook (~12 x 18 cm minimum size, bound pages - no loose leaf, ring binders, etc.).
• Mapping board (i.e. a rigid surface on which you can mount maps, preferably with some cover that protects your map, at least A4 size).
• Appropriate clothing (depending on location and climate) and a suitable backpack. 

Other useful items are altimeter, hammer, and a hard hat (or climbing helmet). High-visibility vests will be required any time work has to be done along roads.

Last updated: 25.11.2019