Each module concludes with an examination.
An examination can take place
- in writing (e.g. written exam, minutes, seminar paper, final thesis),
- orally (e.g. oral examination or presentation) or
- with the aid of a computer.
A module is passed if a score of at least a "pass" (D; 4.0) is achieved.
Passed examinations may not be retaken.
You may retake failed module exams once.
In a maximum of one module, you can retake a failed exam twice.
You lose your right of admission to an examination if, for your last retake exam in a module, you
- fail or
- miss it without a valid excuse.
If you have lost your right of admission to an examination, the Registrar's Office must exmatriculate you.
Students who were enrolled in the summer semester 2020, winter semester 2020/2021, summer semester 2021, as well as winter semester 2021/2022 will receive a deadline extension for the deadlines in their studies (preliminary exam, intermediate exam, graduation) by one semester for each for which they were enrolled, but by a maximum of three semesters in total (example: a student who began their degree program in the winter semester 2020/21 and was therefore enrolled for three relevant semesters will have all deadlines extended by three semesters; a student who began their degree program in the summer semester 2021 and was therefore enrolled for two relevant semesters will have all deadlines extended by two semesters).
The exams for all modules, including the Master’s thesis, must be passed by the end of the second examination period of the seventh semester.
You are responsible for meeting these deadlines.
Extension request
If you cannot meet the deadline for important reasons, you can make a request for an extension of the deadline.
You must immediately submit the application when you know that you will be unable to meet a deadline. A request for an extension should be submitted informally and with the reasons behind it. Any proof of the reasons for the delay should be submitted with the application.
The examination committee decides on the extension requests.
Information on the structure can be found in the curriculum and examination regulations that apply to you.
Elective modules
A list of elective modules can be found in the curriculum. In addition to this list, students can freely choose from the range of natural science Master's programs in the elective area.
Upon request to the examination committee, you can also select elective modules from among the courses offered in other Master’s programs at the University of Hohenheim. In the application you need to justify your choice.
Submit the request to the Student Information Center (SIZ) or put it in the postbox of the Examinations Office.
Additional modules
You can take modules from all degree programs at the University of Hohenheim as additional modules, provided that the capacity of the relevant department/institute permits this.
Additional modules are not included in the average grade. But you can request that they be included on your transcript of records.
Additional modules must also be completed with an exam.
It is not possible to count individual courses as additional modules.
You may only take part in additional modules until you have completed your studies.
When registering for an examination, the students note whether it is a semi-elective, elective, or additional module.
You may request these assignments to be changed once during your studies before your degree certificate has been issued .
You can submit the request (no official form) to the Student Information Center (SIZ) or put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
The Master’s thesis consists of a written manuscript.
You may only register for the Master’s thesis if you have completed at least 75 credits.
The Master’s thesis can be assigned and supervised by
- professors,
- university lecturers or privatdozents,
- junior professors, or
- academic staff members with examination rights
in the following departments:
- Dept. of Food Microbiology and Hygiene (150a)
- Dept. of Process Engineering and Food Powders (150c)
- Dept. of Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis (150d)
- Dept. of Dairy Science and Dairy Technology (150e)
- Dept. of Yeast Genetics and Fermentation Technology (150f)
- Dept. of Food Material Science (150g)
- Dept. of Flavor Chemistry (150h)
- Dept. of Process Analytics and Cereal Science (150i)
- Dept. of Bioprocess Engineering (150k)
- Dept. of Food Informatics (150l)
The thesis is evaluated by two examiners as a rule. The examiners should be the supervisor of the Master’s thesis and another person with the right to examine.
The Master’s thesis may also be selected and supervised by persons not belonging to the Faculty of Natural Sciences. This person must also meet the above criteria.
To do so, you must submit a request to the examination committee. You need to submit your request together with a synopsis of the Master’s thesis, a reason why the thesis is to be written outside of the university, the working title of the Master’s thesis, the name of the supervisor, and the name of the second examiner. If you complete your Master’s thesis outside of the university, your second reviewer must belong to the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
You can submit your request to the SIZ or put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
If you are interested in writing a thesis in collaboration with a company, please refer to the guidelines for external work.
You must register the Master’s thesis at the latest six months after notification that you have passed your last examination.
If you do not register the thesis in time, the Master’s thesis will be graded as “unsatisfactory”.
You must register the thesis immediately at the Examinations Office and start working on it as soon as the supervisor has given you the topic.
You can download the form for registering for the Master's thesis (english version) here. You can submit the completed form to the Student Information Center (SIZ) or in the postbox of the Examinations Office.
You may not change the topic.
However, title changes are possible. If a title is changed, it must be clear to laymen that the topic has not changed.
For larger changes, please ask your supervisor to send an email to the Examinations Office or submit the request to change the title of the thesis to the Examinations Office.
You have a maximum of six months to complete the thesis.
In exceptional cases, the deadline may be extended by a maximum of two months. For this, an application to the examination committee is required. The request must be received by the Examinations Office no later than two weeks before the deadline.
You can submit the application at the Student Information Center (SIZ). The Examinations Office will forward your request to the examination committee for a decision.
If you have had problems with your work, this must be confirmed by the supervisor. The supervisor must confirm that
- the delay is not your fault and
- the requested duration of the extension corresponds to the delay.
If the application for an extension is for personal reasons, you must attach proof of the reasons to the application.
If you cannot deliver your Master's thesis on time for health reasons, your doctor must fill out the form "Verlängerung der Bearbeitungszeit für Abschlussarbeiten" provided by the University of Hohenheim. The application for the extension of the deadline for health reasons should be submitted immediately (that is, when you are sick and not at the end of the deadline).
The Master's thesis can be registered as a group work.
Group work is only allowed if the individual contribution is clearly identifiable and assessable because the information on who is responsible for which sections, pages, or other objective criteria enables the work of the individuals to be distinguished and evaluated.
The regulations for the submission apply individually to all group members of the Master’s thesis. This means that each person must submit two "bound" copies and an electronic document.
The Master's thesis must be written in English.
You must include a declaration in your Master's thesis.
With this, you declare that you
- have followed the Principles of Good Scientific Practice,
- have written the work independently and have used no sources or aids other than those given,
- have marked the passages taken from other works word-for-word or paraphrased,
- that the digital version of the Master's thesis is identical in terms of contents and wording without exception to the printed version,
- and that you agree to the electronic version being evaluated for plagiarism with an anti-plagiarism software.
You must sign this declaration by hand.
If an untrue declaration is submitted, the Master’s thesis is evaluated with “fail” (5.0).
For information on submitting your thesis, please visit the Final Thesis page.
If the Master’s thesis is evaluated with “fail” (5.0), it may be repeated once with a new topic.
The topic of the Master’s thesis may only be returned once and only within the first month of the time period for working on the thesis.
You must make your request to withdraw informally in writing. You can submit the request at the Student Information Center (SIZ). You may also put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
The Faculty appoints the examination committee.
Members of the examination committee are
- two professors and
- two research associates primarily employed by the University and
- one student member.
The student member has an advising vote.
The examination committee shall ensure that examination regulations are complied with. It also decides on applications when examination regulations provide for this (for example, when deadlines are missed).
Requests to the examination committees must be made immediately after the reason for the request is known. This means: You must respond immediately if you find that you cannot, for example, meet a deadline.
Requests to the examination committee are to be made informally. You do not need to meet any formal minimum requirements, but they must be signed by hand. Your application must explain the reasons for your request in detail.
Applications to the examination committee can be submitted in the Student Information Center (SIZ) or dropped in the postbox of the Examinations Office.
The examination committee may allow the chairperson of the examination committee to decide alone in an urgent situation.
The examination committee shall notify the Examinations Office in writing of its decisions.
You may have exam performances (Prüfungsleistungen) which you completed at another university recognized.
To do so, you must submit a request. The examination committee will decide on the request. For the recognition of compulsory modules, the module supervisor must first check whether the module can be recognized.
Deadlines
If you would like to request recognition after changing degree programs or universities, then you must submit the request within the first three months of the semester in which you start your program in Hohenheim (31 December or 30 June).
For recognition of coursework and examinations in Hohenheim that you completed during your studies at another university, e.g. in a semester abroad, there is no deadline for submitting a request.
Recognition of compulsory modules
You can get credit for a compulsory module. For this, the module supervisor must confirm that there is no significant difference in the competences obtained between the module you would like replaced and the one you took.
There is no significant difference if the competencies obtained are in line with at least 75% of the learning and qualification goals for the compulsory module listed in the Hohenheim module catalog.
For this, please use the form for Recognition of Compulsory Modules. The module supervisor should confirm that a recognition of the compulsory module is recommended.
Please attach an overview of the coursework and examination with your application.
Please return the signed form and the overview of coursework and examinations to the Student Information Center (SIZ). You may also put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
If the module is recognized, the ECTS credits and the name of the Hohenheim module will be put on your transcript.
Recognition of semi-elective and elective modules
You can have a semi-elective or elective module recognized. For this, the examination committee must decide that there is no significant difference in the competencies obtained between the module you would like replaced and the one you took.
There is no significant difference when recognizing coursework and examinations for
- a semi-elective module, if the competences obtained are suitable for the selected specialization area.
- an elective module if the competences obtained correspond to the level of those in the respective degree program.
You must make your application for recognition of semi-elective and elective modules informally.
Please attach an overview of the coursework and examinations, a description of the module, and a Learning Agreement if there is one with your application.
Submit the form to the Student Information Center (SIZ). You may also put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
The module will be recognized with the original name.
Withdrawal from examinations
for health reasons
Master’s thesis
Registration of the Master’s thesis
Declaration of independent work
Extension of the thesis deadline - medical certificate
Request for amendment of the title
Recognition
Recognition of compulsory modules
Transcript of records
Request for issuance of transcript of records
