Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In this section, you will find the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) with regard to the following topics:
Latest information: Where do I find it?
Important deadlines and news are listed under Lates dates.
Enrolment: Which classes do I need for the first semester?
You need a place in the following classes:
- Obligatory Module
- P1.1: Basic Module: Lecture "Introduction to Literature Studies (3 ECTS)"*
- P1.2: Basic Module: Lecture "Introduction to Linguistics (3 ECTS)"*
*there are several lectures for both Literature and Linguistics, namely 'A, B, C, etc.'; these are equal. You need a place in literature AND linguistics.
- 1st Elective Module
- WP 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5: classes amounting to 6 ECTS, e.g. a language course with more than two hours per week (6 ECTS) or an introductory class (usually 6 ECTS) or a core class (Kernveranstaltung; 3 ECTS) and an accompanying class (Begleitkurs; 3 ECTS).
Enrolment: How do I get 6 ECTS in the Elective Modules WP1-5?
In LLC, there are three types of classes which amount to 6 ECTS:
- Kernveranstaltung & Begleitkurs ('core class & accompanying class'): two separate classes which are examined separately: 3+3 = 6 ECTS
- Bundle I: one single class, usually more than two hours per week: 6 ECTS
- Bundle II: two separate classes which are examined together (e.g. an introductory class with an accompanying lecture): 3+3 = 6 ECTS
Enrolment: general information:
cf. separate section on enrolling in courses
Enrolment: when?
First period of enrolment (seminar courses): From 05th February 2014 until 14th February 2014
Main period of enrolment: From 24th March 2014 until 31st March 2014
For further information, see Lates dates.
Enrolment: how?
Online, via LSF (the corresponding interface will be put online at midnight on 26th September 2012).
Enrolment: What classes do I need for my SECOND semester?
You need a place in the following classes:
- Obligatory Module
- P2.1: Basic Module: Lecture "Introduction to Cluture and Media Studies" (3 ECTS)*
- P2.2: Basic Module: Lecture "Introduction to Ancient and Premodern Languages and Cultures" (3 ECTS)*
*there are several lectures for both Literature and Linguistics, namely 'A, B, C, etc.'; these are equal. You need a place in culture/media AND ancient languages/cultures.
- 1st Elective Module
- WP 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (depending on your choice during your 1st semester, cf. above): classes amounting to 6 ECTS, e.g. a language course with more than two hours per week (6 ECTS) or a core class (Kernveranstaltung; 3 ECTS) and an accompanying class (Begleitkurs; 3 ECTS).
If you have time, you can also start your second elective module early (i.e. in the second instead of the third semesters). However, please bear in mind that it is not possible to switch modules after you have registered for an exam (usually during the 8th week of term). In other words, this choice is binding.nach oben
Elective Modules: Do I have to decide which modules I want to take before matriuclation?
No, you only matriculate for the B.A. minor subject "Language, Literature, Culture", you do not opt for any of the modules right away.
Elective Modules: When do I have to make a decision?
You opt for an Elective Module by registering for a particular exam in that module and not by filling in a form or anything of the sort.
All classes are assigned to one or several Elective Modules. After you enrol in a particular class, you have to register for the respective exam (usually halfway through the semester). Only by registering for an exam in a particular course do you opt for the respective Elective Module.
Based on the recommended plan for your studies, you opt for...
- ...your first Elective Module about halfway through your first semester.
- ...your second Elective Module about halfway through your third semester.
Attention: according to §7, Abs. 2, Satz 4 of the Study and Exam Regulations for the B.A. minor subject "Language, Literature, Culture", this choice is final and "irrevocable".
In other words: Please choose carefully, since you have to stick with your choices and do the entire 24 credits to complete the module.
Classes: I cannot find the B.A. minor subject "Language, Literature, Culture" in the university calendar (= ‘the big green book’). Where is it?
The classes of "Language, Literature, Culture" can only partly be found in the big green book; and if so, they are listed with the respective disciplines.
The full list of courses is available in the online portal LSF; click: 'Vorlesungsverzeichnis' -> 'Fakultät für Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften' -> 'B.A. Nebenfach 'Sprache, Literatur, Kultur'.
Classes: What do the letters (like i/j/k/l) after abstract course types mean, e.g. "Themen der Linguistik i"?
This is mostly a formal matter. Every letter stands for one of four possible exams for this abstract course type, like "Themen der Linguistik" (WP3.0.9/10/11/12; Bundle I), for which you can register. Since each of these exams (if passed) results in 6 credits, the module is complete (4x6=24) and you cannot register for more exams related to this abstract course type. The same applies to the course types Bundle II (letters a to h) and a combination of core class and accompanying class (letters m to p).
Classes: Do I always have to take a core class and an accompanying class in the exact same semester?
No, you do not; for example: Doing two core classes in one semester and two accompanying classes in the following semester is just fine. You only need to make sure that the pairs (e.g. core class m & accompanying class m, cf. above) are complete at the end of your studies.
Classes: The online university calendar is confusing; I can’t find anything.
There are too many different classes listed under 'B.A. Nebenfach 'Sprache, Literatur, Kultur'; and anyway, I’m only interested in classes of a particular subject / group of subjects.
If you already know that you are interested in the classes of a particular subject / group of subjects, it will be easier to go to the respective subject /group of subjects (e.g. 'Romanische Philologie'). For all subjects /groups of subjects of Faculty 13 you will find a separate entry ('Kurse für B.A. Nebenfach 'Sprache, Literatur, Kultur'') with classes open to LLC students within the respective subject / group of subjects.
Exam registration: Do I have to register for exams?
Yes, you do. If you do not register, you cannot gain credits! If you have registered but do not attend the exam without a valid doctor's note, you have failed the exam. More details can be found under exam registration.
How do I register for exams?
You use the function "Prüfungsan- und -abmeldung" in LSF. Some helpful comments with regard to technical details can be found here.
Exam registration: The teacher whose course I attended is not listed in the exam registration tree. Should I register for a different examiner?
Yes. Due to practical reasons, for some exams (e.g. French and Spanish in WP1) there is only one examiner. However, you should check with your teacher and/or the coordinator of studies.
Exam registration: It says that I have already used up all my passed tries ('maximale Anzahl bestandener Versuche überschritten'). What does that mean?
In a previous semester, you passed an exam for which you want to register again; an example: in a previous semester you have passed a "Kernveranstaltung zu Themen der Literaturwissenschaft: m" and/or a "Begleitkurs zu Themen der Literaturwissenschaft: m". When you try to register for core / accompanying class "m" again, the system will not let you, because you have already passed this exam.
To solve this, choose another letter (e.g. "n", "o" or "p") which you have not "used" yet; registration should work now. If you are not sure which letters you have already used, you can easily check this in your transcript (the "Notenspiegel" function in LSF).
Exam registration: It says that some conditions are not fulfilled ('Voraussetzungen nicht erfüllt'). What does that mean?
There are four reasons for this error:
- You have already chosen two WPs (cf. Elective Modules) and try to register for a third one.
- You have already completed the module (= reached 24 credits) and try to register for another exam in the same module.
- You have already registered this class for another exam.
- You have not re-taken an exam you have failed in a previous semester, which you need to do before the end of your studies. An example: in your first semester, you failed the following exam: 22109 "Themen der Literaturwissenschaft i" (Bundle I, 6 credits). You have not re-taken the exam for the bundle straight away and continued with combinations of core classes and accompanying classes (Kernveranstaltung/Begleitkurs). Later on (usually during your 4th or 5th semester) you will reach a point where you cannot register for core class/accompanying class exam, although you have not used all the letters (m/n/o/p, see above). This is because you are still missing 6 credits from the exam you failed earlier, which prevents you from completeing the module. To avoid this slightly complicated issue, please re-take failed exams as soon as possible (22109 "Themen der Literaturwissenschaft i" in the above example).
Exams: What happens if I fail an exam?
If you fail an exam, you are not tied to a particular course, only to the abstract course description, e.g. "Kernveranstaltung zu Themen der Kultur- und Medienwissenschaften: m" (Exam number: 24113). Therefore, in one of the following semesters, you enrol in an additional Kernveranstaltung in WP4 Kultur- und Medienwissenschaften and register the respective exam under the above number to replace the failed exam by a passed one.nach oben
Transferring credits: Is it possible to use skills in foreigen languages to substitute them for credits or transfer credits from other universities?
If you already have good to very good knowledge in a foreign language (= level B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), you have the possibility to have these skills recognised to substitute some ECTS credits (usually 12). That way, you can start said language at an advanced level, in which you achieve the other 12 credits to complete the module. Alternatively, you can start a second language "from scratch" and complete basic level 1 & 2 (= 12 credits); further details can be gathered from the student counselors for the respective language. A detailed description of the needed documents and the procedure itself can be found on the pages of the Department of Romance Studies.
This also applies for the transferral of credits which you have achieved at other universities.
Deadline: The credits must be transferred until the end of your for LLC semester at the very latest.
Transferring credits: What is the deadline for having credits recognised which I have gained in other courses "outside" LLC?
The transferral of credits which you have achieved in courses "outside" the LLC programme has to be done before the end of the following semester after you gained the credits; an example: If you gained credits in the summer semester 2011, the transferral needs to be completed before the end of the winter semester 2011/12. In order to get all the necessary paperwork done, please contact the coordinator of studies and bring a written and graded certificate ('Schein') including a copy of it. If this pertains to one of the languages in WP1, please contact the resepctive student counsellors. The certificate does not need to be graded if you want to use it for one of the obligatory lectures in the modules P1 & P2.