FAQ

The university is always a labyrinth - both in terms of content and space. In order to find your way around the multitude of buildings and lecture theatres of all different sizes, especially as lecture hall shortages and certain course congestion times mean that you often have to move to locations (chemistry, physicists) far away from your home building PT (fundamental philosophical issues in theology). The site plan of the University of Regensburg as a whole and of the individual lecture theatres can help here

At first glance, the university seems to be a big mess in the first semester. This sometimes also applies to the individual degree programmes. For a schematic overview of political science as a degree programme, the homepage of the module regulations is informative

In addition, the study regulations as well as the Examination Regulations of the respective subject are a great first guide.

Due to the title alone, the "Introduction to Political Science (BM 0)" is a good choice. You must have successfully completed this course by the second semester at the latest. Your further course selection depends firstly on whether you are studying two main subjects or one main subject and two Minor Subjects, as you can then weight them differently. As a rule of thumb, however, you should not take more than 12-15 semester hours per week in the first semester. Every course at the university requires preparation and follow-up work, which must be factored into the workload. Secondly, the choice depends on the nature of your courses. Lectures usually only end with a written exam, while in basic courses you usually have to write a division or an essay and write a term paper during the semester break. Overloading the semester schedule with basic courses in particular therefore harbours the risk of getting into calamities during the first semester break due to the large number of assignments. Please always use your student email address to communicate with members of the teaching staff, as this is where all official announcements are sent! (gw.uni-regensburg.de) If you are looking for a general guide on how to start a degree programme without overloading yourself with work, especially at the beginning, you will find it in the documents provided.

Please always bear in mind that these are recommendations, not mandatory procedures! The numbering of the modules (1-4) and how you complete them also does not imply an obligatory course of study.

There are two registration platforms that you must use in order to be admitted to a course and to take the examination. The course catalog EXA (accessible via the campus portal SPUR) is used to record the data and is necessary to register for the course as a whole. To do this, you must log in using the registration data that was sent to you when you enrolled

Registration in FlexNow, on the other hand, is necessary for admission to examinations and/or coursework (written exam, division, essay, etc.).

As a rule, the information on the individual courses (semester plans, slides, possibly also literature provided) can be found under GRIPS. Individual members of the teaching staff have a password for access, which they usually give you in the first course session.

Video tutorials are available for better understanding and practical application.

As a rule, the respective member of the teaching staff will provide a bibliography with compulsory or optional literature for further reading. During the introductory session, you will also receive detailed information on how to obtain and use literature via databases and other research options both on site and on the Internet. However, when it comes to writing term papers, you will soon have to rely on your own literature search skills. You can find initial assistance on the homepages of the library and the student information and advice unit.

In order to access the university's numerous literature and course offerings, it is essential to register and use the university's VPN client. This gives you access to e-books, journals (periodicals, one of the most important sources for academic work) and other sources (monographs, anthologies) as well as software access (e.g. Citavi, OES (to access network drives).

As a general rule, consecutivity (linear study regulations in which the basic study stage must be completed before you can move on to the main study stage) has been abolished. This does not mean that you are allowed to attend all courses from the first semester onwards. As a rule, basic module courses (marked with a BM) are your first choice for the first three semesters, followed by advanced module courses (AM) (see also point 2 for details). Of course, there are exceptions. You can take part in an advanced module course if you have already completed the corresponding core module (lecture and basic course) or do so in the same semester in which you take part in the AM course. As a rule, it is not yet possible to register via FlexNow; alternative options (temporary issue of a certificate, etc.) must then be discussed with the member of the teaching staff at short notice
discussed with the lecturer.

Your first point of contact is of course your Academic Advising Prof. Dr Alexander Straßner(alexander.strassner@ur.de). (opens your email program)

You can also contact the members of the teaching staff (during office hours or by email) at any time regarding your concerns, usually your course lecturers. Please note that for all information concerning your studies, you should visit the homepage, where you will quickly find answers to the most frequently asked questions. Furthermore, you should never underestimate the value of higher semester students as a source of information, especially the

Political science student council(fachschaft.politikwissenschaft​(at)​politik.uni-regensburg.de) (opens your email program) can offer you help with numerous questions. If you have problems settling in and/or psychological problems in general, the counselling centres belonging to the General Student Advisory Service will be happy to help you discreetly.

The first semester is always characterised by a phase of reorientation. In this respect, you should not feel discouraged by a period of lack of success and organisational confusion. The university is no longer a school in the traditional sense, but relies on your independence and motivation. In this respect, every student is initially responsible for their own studies, the courses are suggestions that you should prepare for and follow up on (this is also why you do not have a packed "Timetable", but only quantitatively manageable semester hours per week. Use your time at the university for self-study, regular visits to the library and using the relevant literature for further information. Only then will it be a degree programme worthy of the name and from which you will benefit. In any case, don't forget to find the right balance in your private life - studying should always be fun and a privilege.