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Transition to the new examination regulations

Information on changes resulting from the new examination regulations that will come into force in winter term 2020/21

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This page is not maintained any longer and may contain outdated information.

The information (and more) in an updated version can be found on the StudOn-course of the Study Service Center (SSC) Physics.

For all students of physics (BSc Physics, MSc Physics, LA Physics) new examination regulations will come into force in winter term 2020/21. This means that
  • First-year students (winter term 2020/21) start directly in the new examination regulations
  • Students who began their studies before WS 2020/21 will continue their studies according to the new examination regulations.
We have compiled a list of the changes resulting from the new examination regulations for you here. Transitional regulations for students in higher semesters can be found below.

Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung

To pass the Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung (GOP), the following ECTS credits must be nominally earned at the end of the second semester:
  • for Bachelor of Physics: 30 ECTS from the modules EP-12, RMP, MP-A, DV, NW-1, TP-1, MP-B
  • for Lehramt Physik (Gymnasium): 20 ECTS from the courses offered by the Department of Physics (usually EP-12, RMP)
Proof must be submitted by the end of the third semester at the latest (!!).

Modul Experimentalphysik 1 und 2

The module "Experimental Physics 1 and 2 (EP-12)" now includes a lab course. This lab course replaces the old lab course GP-1 (Part 1) and will be carried out in the second semester (i.e. for the first time in summer semester 2021).

Mathematics cycle

The mathematics lectures of the first and second semester of the Bachelor programme will be restructured starting from winter semester 2020/21; the new modules are
  • "Mathematics for physics students A" (MP-A, 1st semester, 10 ECTS),
  • "Mathematics for physics students B" (MP-B, 2nd semester, 10 ECTS)
  • "Mathematics for physics students C" (MP-C, 3rd semester, 10 ECTS).
Lectures MP-A and MP-B are held together with students of the Data Science programme. They replace the modules "Mathematics for physics students 1" (MP-1 with the lectures Linear Algebra I and Analysis I, 1st semester, 15 ECTS) and "Mathematics for physics students 2" (2nd semester, 7.5 ECTS) as standard.
Compared to the old modules MP-1 and MP-2, the new mathematics modules have a slightly different content and allow a better distribution of the workload in the first two semesters. The module MP-C replaces the old "Mathematics for Physics Students 3 (MP-3)".
At least two of the three modules MP-A, MP-B and MP-C must be submitted for the Bachelor examination.
For students with a special affinity for mathematics it is possible to take
  • in the first semester, instead of the module "Mathematics for physics students A", the two lectures "Linear Algebra I" and "Analysis I" and/or
  • in the second semester, instead of the module "Mathematics for physics students B", the two lectures "Linear Algebra II" and "Analysis II
of the study programme Mathematics (BSc). Recognition of these courses for the Bachelor of Physics programme must be requested from the examination committee.

As a precautionary measure, we would like to point out that this change involves considerable additional work and that not all ECTS credits from the mathematics cycle can be recognised for the physics programme.
Successfully passed modules MP-A and MP-B can be recognised for the Bachelor of Mathematics programme. For details, please consult the Mathematics study service centre.

Daten Processing, Basic Lab Course und Physics Experiments

The programming course "Data Processing in Physics (DV)" is shifted from the third to the first semester. Students in the third semester attend this course in winter term 2020/21 together with the first semester students. There is no written exam anymore, but a practical course achievement.
In addition to the lab course of the module EP-12 there is a new module "Basic lab courses (GP/GPL)". It replaces the old GP-1/GPL-1 (Part 2) and is now placed in the third semester (so it always takes place in the winter semester).
Further lab courses are
  • for Bachelor Physik:
    • Physics Experiments A (PE-A): This electronics lab typically takes place in the 4th semester, optionally also as a block course in the third semester. It replaces module PE-1.
    • Physics Experiments B (PE-B): This lab course is still available in the variants Aufbaupraktikum and Projektpraktikum. It replaces module GP-2 from the third semester and formally takes place in the fifth semester (for students of the research study programme in the fourth semester).
    • Physics Experiments C (PE-C): The advanced lab course formally takes place in the 6th semester, but can also be taken in the 5th semester. It replaces module PE-2.
  • for Lehramt Physik (Gymnasmium):
    • Physics Experiments A (PEL-A): This lab course is still available in the variants Aufbaupraktikum and Projektpraktikum. It formally takes place in the fifth semester and replaces the GPL-2 module from the third semester.
    • Physics Experiments B (PEL-B): The advanced lab course is formally takes place in the 9th semester, but can also be taken in the 7th semester. It replaces the module PEL.
The new examination regulations mean that many lab courses are postponed to later semesters. For this reason, the GP, PE-B and PEL-A internships will not take place in WS 2020/21! The basic lab course (GP/GPL) will take place next time in winter term 2021/22, the lab courses PE-B and PEL-A from summer term 2021.

Bachelor students in their third semester who have successfully completed the lab courses GP-1 (Part 1) and GP-1 (Part 2), i.e. module GP-1 according to the old examination regulations, will therefore only continue with the internships PE-A and PE-B in the 4th or 5th semester. The same applies to students of Lehramt (Gymnasium).

Colloquium Theoretical Physics

The module Colloquium Theoretical Physics is now credited 7.5 ECTS (instead of 5 ETS).

Physics electives

Physical electives are usually small courses. To promote an interactive character of these courses, many electives are now listed as Hauptseminar in the course catalogue. Despite the designation, please do not confuse the Physics Electives with the Physics Seminars!

A 45-minute student's presentation has been added as a new type of examination (in addition to the written and oral examination). The module description provides more details.

Abolition of the compulsory registration for re-take examinations

With the new examination regulations, the obligation to register (or be automatically registered) for the next re-take examination is no longer required. This means that
  • meinCampus no longer automatically registers you for the next re-take examination
  • you have the freedom not to register for the next possible re-take examination, but to repeat the examination at a later date
  • you must ensure that a postponement of a re-take examination does not result in a deadline being exceeded during the course of study.

Transitional provisions for students in higher semesters

From 1 October 2020, the new examination regulations will also apply to students in higher semesters. This means that you will continue your studies according to the new study regulations.

Transitional arrangements:
  • Module EP-12: If you have not passed an examination for module "Experimental Physics 1 and 2" (EP-12) before 1 October 2020, the module will continue to be examined according to the old examination regulations.
  • Module GP-1:
    • If you have passed the lab course GP-1 (part 1) by 1.10.2020, but have not yet started the lab course GP-1 (part 2), you still have to complete the new module "Grundpraktikum  (GP)".
    • If you have neither passed the lab course GP-1 (Part 1) nor the lab course GP-1 (Part 2) by 1.10.2020, you must complete the new EP-12 lab course and the module "Grundpraktikum (GP)".
    • If you have passed both parts of module GP-1 by 1.10.2020, you will not have to take the new module "Grundpraktikum (GP)".
  • Modules MP-1/MP-2:
    • If you have already been examined in one of these modules before 1.10.2020 but have not successfully completed the module (failed attempt), the module must be formally completed according to the old examination regulations.
    • If you have not taken an examination in module MP-2 by 1.10.2020, the examination in module MP-2 will be replaced by an examination in module MP-B according to the new examination regulations. If you have already taken part in the courses of module MP-2, module MP-2 may exceptionally be examined on application.
    • For the bachelor examination, the regulations of the old examination regulations apply: module MP-1 and at least one of the modules MP-2/MP-B or MP-3/MP-C must be completed.
  • Module TP-K: If you have already been examined in this module before 1.10.2020 but have not successfully completed the module (failed attempt), the module will be completed in accordance with the old examination regulations.