Each module concludes with an examination.
An examination 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.
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.
For students who were enrolled in the summer semester 2020, winter semester 2020/2021, summer semester 2021, or winter semester 2021/22, the deadlines in their studies (preliminary examination, completion of studies) are extended by one semester each, but by a total of maximum three semesters.
The exams for all modules, including the Master's thesis, must be passed by the end of the last examination period of the seventh subject-related 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.
If you have questions, please contact the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences’ advising service.
When you register for examinations, this is also generally considered a binding selection of the corresponding semi-elective modules.
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.
The Master’s examination is made up of a written part (Master's thesis).
You are not allowed to register the Master’s thesis until you have completed at least 48 ECTS 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
from the Institute of Communication Science in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
The supervisor is also the reviewer for the Master’s thesis.
The thesis may be evaluated by two examiners, provided that the person to be examined requests this when registering for the Master's thesis. It is not possible to request this later. 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 a person not belonging to the Institute of Communication Science in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. This person must also meet the above criteria.
To do so, you must submit a request to the examination committee. You can submit the completed request to the Student Information Center (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 thesis immediately if the supervisor has assigned the topic. You then have to begin work. You must register the Master's thesis with the Examinations Office.
The application form for Registering the Master's thesis can be downloaded here. You can submit the completed form to the Student Information Center (SIZ) or put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
You may not change the topic.
However, title changes are possible.
To do so, 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 time may be extended by a maximum of three 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 request at the Student Information Center (SIZ) or the Examinations Office. 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).
The Master’s thesis may be completed in German or English.
If you want to write your Master's thesis in English, the supervisor must approve. The signature on the registration form is considered sufficient approval.
The examination committee may authorize writing in another language if a reasoned request is made. For this, the written consent of the supervisor must be submitted.
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 you submit an untrue declaration, 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 cannot be changed.
It is possible to withdraw from the Master’s thesis if you cannot work on the thesis for more than three months for health or other personal reasons.
You must make your request to withdraw informally in writing. You can submit it to the Student Information Center (SIZ) or put it in the postbox at the Examinations Office.
The Faculty appoints the examination committee.
Members of the examination committee are
- three 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 urgent situations.
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.
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 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 and semi-elective modules
You can have compulsory and semi-elective modules recognized. For this, it must be confirmed that there is no significant difference in the competences obtained between the module you would like replaced and the module or degree you completed.
There is no significant difference if the competences obtained are in line with at least 75% of the learning and qualification goals for the compulsory module listed in the Hohenheim module catalog.
There is no significant difference when recognizing a semi-elective module if the competences obtained are suitable for the selected subject area.
For this, please use the form for Recognition Requests. Submit it together with the required documents to the degree program coordinator at the Institute of Communication Science.
If the module is recognized, the ECTS credits and the name of the Hohenheim module will be put on your transcript.
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
Transcript of records
Request for issuance of transcript of records
