FAQ

The answers to our frequently asked questions are updated on a regular basis. If you are a prospective student, please also refer to the FAQ page of our Academic Advisory Service.

If you have any questions when using the THWS CampusPortal, please also read the FAQ page of our THWS CampusPortal.

If you have any question that is not answered below, please do not hesitate to contact us using our contact form.

General examination deadlines for studying at THWS

Bachelor’s programmes

Students who started their studies at THWS before WS 2023/24

General examination deadlines
  • Fundamental and orientation exams must be taken for the first time no later than by the end of the second programme semester.
  • Each examination in the first two semesters must be taken for the first time by the end of the third semester (exception: Bachelor's programme in Specialised Translation).
  • Each examination in the third and fourth semesters must be taken for the first time by the end of the sixth semester.
  • All other examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
Consequences
  • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

Students who started their studies at THWS from WS 2023/2024 onwards

General examination deadlines
  • Fundamental and orientation exams must be taken for the first time no later than by the end of the second programme semester.
  • All other examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
Consequences
  • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

Besides, please note:

General examination deadlines
  • By the end of the 2nd programme semester, a student needs to have achieved at least 21 ECTS credits from examinations of the first two semesters (cf. Appendix to the Study and Examination Regulations). (exception: Bachelor's programme in Specialised Translation)
  • By the end of the 4th semester, a student needs to have achieved at least 66 ECTS credits from examinations in the first four semesters (cf. Appendix to the Study and Examination Regulations).
Consequences
  • Failure to reach the ECTS threshold will result in immediate de-registration at the end of the respective semester.

Consecutive Master’s programmes

Students who started their studies at THWS before WS 2023/24

General examination deadlines
  • Programme-specific deadlines under §8 of the respective study and examination regulation (e.g. "Each examination in the first semester must be taken for the first time within the first two semesters.")
  • All other examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
    Consequences
    • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

    Students who started their studies at THWS from WS 2023/2024 onwards

    General examination deadlines
    • All examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
    Consequences
    • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

    Besides, please note:

    General examination deadlines
    • By the end of the 2nd programme semester, a student needs to achieve at least 21 ECTS credits from examinations of the first two semesters (cf. Appendix of the Study and Examination Regulations).
    Consequences
    • Failure to reach the ECTS threshold will result in immediate de-registration at the end of the respective semester.

    Advanced training Master's degree programme subject to tuition fees

    Students who started their studies at THWS before WS 2023/24

    General examination deadlines
    • Programme-specific deadlines under §8 of the respective study and examination regulation (e.g. "Each examination in the first semester must be taken for the first time within the first two semesters.")
    • All other examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
    Consequences
    • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

    Students who started their studies at THWS from WS 2023/2024 onwards

    General examination deadlines
    • All examinations must be taken for the first time by the end of the standard period of study plus two semesters.
    Consequences
    • Failure to complete exams within a given examination period will lead to a first so-called “Fristfünf”, which means “non-sufficient due to not completing the exam within a given examination period”. In this case, the exam needs to be retaken in accordance with §36 of the General Examination Regulations (APO).

    Concluding remarks

    The above is a simplified representation of the examination deadlines at THWS. The examination deadlines that apply specifically to your degree programme can be found in §8 (for Master's degree programmes) or §9 (for Bachelor's degree programmes) of your Study and Examination Regulations (SPO) in the section "Standard deadlines and time limits".

    If you have any further questions, please contact our Student Services via the contact form.

    Application & Enrolment

    1 Do you accept certificates from other higher education institutions (grade certificates, mandatory consultations etc.)?
    2 I still don’t have my average grade. By when do I have to have it?
    3 Do I have to do a pre-study internship? By when do I have to do it and what are the requirements?
    4 I applied for the VPD. By when do I have to upload it?
    5 Can I apply for several degree programmes?
    6 How can I upload more than 8 documents?
    7 The section on previous studies is supposedly missing information and has been refused. What can I do?
    8 Will the enrolment procedure require my personal attendance?
    9 In the CampusPortal, my processing status is not changing; is there an error?
    10 When will I receive the letter of admission?
    11 I can’t find the degree programme I studied previously in the list of programmes in the CV section of the online application portal.
    12 Should I apply even though I do not yet have my school leaving certificate/diploma?
    13 How do I apply for admission as guest student?
    14 Do I need to provide language certificates for my degree programme and if so, which ones?
    15 I'd like to study two degree programmes at the same time, is this possible?
    16 Does FHWS offer a semester ticket for public transport?
    17 When will I receive my personal login data for the THWS IT systems so I know the enrolment process was successfully completed?
    18 When will I know if my application for a Bachelor's programme with a numerus clausus (NC) is successful?

    Exams & Course of Study

    1 What examination deadlines are relevant to me for my studies?
    2 I am ill during the examination period, what can I do?
    3 There is a grade missing or another error in my transcript of records, what can I do?
    4 My personal data (address, name, etc.) has changed, where can I correct them?
    5 I changed health insurance companies, where do I have to report this?
    6 I forgot to register for exams or haven’t fully completed the registration for exams.
    7 When are my exam results published?
    8 I have to take the third attempt of an exam, what can I do in case of de-registration?
    9 How do I learn about the decision on my application for deadline extension / de-registration from examination(s)?
    10 I want to enter the practical semester / internship semester, what do I have to do?
    11 How can I apply for a semester of leave?
    12 I want to improve my grade in a course I already passed, how can I apply for this?
    13 I had an accident at FHWS or on the way to/from it, what can I do?
    14 Where do I get the proof of my achievements (Leistungsbescheinigung) for the BAföG office?
    15 How can I give someone a proxy authorisation (to pick up documents or obtain information)?
    16 I am pregnant, does anyone have to know?
    17 How can I register my bachelor’s thesis?
    18 Where do I find information about courses and contact hours of my lecturers?
    19 When will I receive the enrolment certificate for the upcoming semester?

    Graduation, De-registration & Fees

    1 I will graduate this semester, do I have to re-enrol?
    2 After the end of my studies, how long do I stay enrolled?
    3 By when does the last grade have to be published so I can finish my studies by the end of the semester?
    4 When and how will I get my degree certificate?
    5 How is the degree grade calculated?
    6 I applied for master’s studies at another higher education institution, where can I get a certificate of my preliminary degree grade?
    7 How can I get a confirmation of my studies for the German pension insurance fund (Rentenversicherung)?
    8 How can I de-register from FHWS?
    9 Where can I get an overview of my payments to the Studentenwerk?
    10 When do I get a refund of my payments to the Studentenwerk?
    11 What can I do after de-registration?