FAQs About College

The bachelor's degree program in Mechatronics, Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology, and International Management and Engineering typically lasts 7 semesters and comprises 210 CP.

Semesters 1 and 2 consist of foundational and orientation courses.

Starting in semester 3, the main phase of the program begins with advanced and specialized coursework, including a practical semester.

To advance to the next phase of study (IWI), begin the internship semester, and complete the bachelor’s thesis, certain prerequisites must typically be met (e.g., a minimum number of credits). These regulations are detailed in the syllabus and examination regulations for the individual degree programs.

A semester consists of

• the lecture period, including exam registration and re-enrollment
• Exam period and exam review period
• a break from classes

The semester dates are announced on the university’s website. Exam schedules and times for reviewing exam papers can be found on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering’s website or on the bulletin board in front of the secretary’s office. Faculty-specific dates (e.g., registration for bachelor’s theses) are also announced on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering’s website.

You must complete the registration process on your own each semester and by the specified deadlines as long as you intend to continue your studies. You can find information on the procedures here.

ECTS stands for "European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System," which aims to harmonize European higher education systems. In particular, it is designed to make it easier to earn academic credits at different universities.

A key element of this system is ECTS credits (Credit Points, CP). Throughout their studies, students demonstrate competencies that are assigned corresponding CP. The CP represent the expected student workload (in hours) required to acquire these competencies. This includes, among other things,

• contact hours (e.g., time spent in class)
• Self-study/independent learning time
• Preparation for and follow-up on a course
• Exam preparation and the exam itself

Unlike the SWS (semester weekly hours) system, the ECTS credit system takes the entire course load into account.

1 CP equals 25 hours.

The Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology, Mechatronics, and International Management and Engineering comprises 210 CP. On average, 30 CP are earned per semester.

The module handbooks provide more detailed information on the CP for each course.

A module is a self-contained block of teaching and learning organized by methodology and/or content. It may consist of several individual courses.

Modules are assigned credit points (CP) and grouped into units subject to examination. Upon successful completion, the full number of credit points assigned to them is awarded.

If you'd like to include a voluntary stay abroad—such as a semester of study or an internship—as part of your degree program, you should start planning early. You can find more information on the "Outgoing" page.

No registration is required to attend lectures. For seminars, lab sessions, and required-elective modules, you generally need to register, as these sessions often involve working in several smaller groups and must be planned accordingly.

Registration is usually done via Moodle—either through a separate course dedicated solely to registration in the “Course Registration” section or within the subject-specific course. You can find information about this in the course schedule, during the first lecture of the respective course, or via a posted notice.

Registration is also required for AW courses. This is handled through the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In the International Management and Engineering (B.Eng.) program, registration is required for the specialization modules offered by the School of Business.

Registering for a course does not replace exam registration! This must be done separately!

The types of materials made available in each course vary from instructor to instructor. The following options are common:

• Materials made available via Moodle

If a course is password-protected, you’ll usually receive information on how to access it during the first lecture.

• Provision of photocopied lecture notes

You’ll receive information about this from the respective instructor.

• Students taking their own notes from the board or writing on their tablets

Moodle is the central learning management system at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. You can find it at the link provided or in the top-right corner of the university’s homepage (under “Login”).

It offers

• information and courses from professors regarding the lectures and seminars for each semester
• the opportunity for students to interact with one another or with faculty members
• Information from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering—general information is sent to students via Moodle (either program-specific or semester-based)

Please log in to Moodle once at the start of the semester using your username and password so that you receive a sort of “group assignment” (= semester assignment) in the learning management system. Simply logging in is enough; you don’t need to take any further steps. Once you’re logged in, why not take a look around the “Faculty of Electrical Engineering” section for your respective degree program!

Attendance is generally not required for lectures, so there is no need to notify the office of your absence or illness.

In practical training courses in particular, students are often required to complete practical assignments that involve the use of laboratory equipment. In such cases, your attendance during the scheduled lab hours is required. If you are unable to attend for a reason beyond your control (e.g., illness), please contact the respective instructor as early as possible—preferably before the practicum session—(usually by email). Even in the event of last-minute delays or absences (e.g., a delayed train), the instructors should be informed promptly—either directly or through fellow students.

Please check with the respective instructors regarding the policy for language courses.

Most instructors address questions from the audience during the lecture, so it’s a good idea to ask right away so you can follow the rest of the lecture.

If your question isn’t directly related to the lecture content or isn’t of interest to all students, you can speak with most lecturers immediately after the lecture.

For students in their first and second semesters, there are open study rooms (see the course schedule for times and locations) where you can work on assignments with other students and where tutors are available to help you with any questions.

To address more comprehensive questions, you can attend the office hours, which all instructors offer once a week. You can find the corresponding times in the E-Mentoring schedule. Sending a brief email to register in advance makes it easier for the instructors to plan their mentoring sessions and reduces wait times for you. As a general rule, you should come to the office hours prepared and with specific questions.

Lectures and seminars are generally offered on an annual cycle:

• Courses for the first, third, fifth, and seventh semesters are offered only in the winter semester
• Courses in the second, fourth, and sixth semesters are offered only in the summer semester

There are exceptions to this rule in the higher semesters for certain courses, so that students can take them in both the winter and summer semesters.

Exams are offered immediately following a lecture. However, retake exams are not offered until the lecture has been held again, but rather one semester later.

You can find study areas

• on the ground floor of Building E and on the 2nd floor of Building A
• in unoccupied lecture halls (the lecture hall schedule is listed in the course catalog)
• in the library—both as individual study spaces and in group rooms

The typical course of study, including the corresponding exams, is outlined in the study plan (see the “Study-Related Downloads” section for your degree program).

As long as you comply with the requirements set forth in the syllabus and examination regulations, you may deviate from the study plan. Please note, however, that not every lecture and not every exam is offered every semester. In addition, deviations from the study plan may lead to conflicts in your class schedule and exam schedule.

You must have taken (i.e., written) the modules for the Basic and Orientation Exam at least once by the end of the second semester; otherwise, this exam will be graded as a “Fristfünf.”

Please also note the requirements set forth in the syllabus and examination regulations, particularly regarding the start of the practicum semester and registration for the bachelor’s thesis.

If postponing or retaking exams results in deviations from your study plan, the academic advising office is available to assist you.

The foundational and orientation exam may consist of several modules covering the fundamentals of a degree program. You must have taken (i.e., sat for) all exams for the modules in this foundational and orientation exam at least once by the end of the second semester. Exams that you did not take are graded as “Fristfünf.”

Modules of the foundational and orientation exam are:

• SPO Mechatronics 20242: Analysis, Electrical Networks, Programming, Statics, and Strength of Materials
• SPO Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology 20242: Analysis, Electrical Networks, AC Theory, Programming
• SPO Mechatronics 20182 and SPO Electrical Engineering 20182: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Electrical Engineering 1, Electrical Engineering 2, Mechanics 1
• SPO International Management and Engineering 20162: Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, Electrical Engineering, Mechanics, General Business Administration / Industrial Management, Bookkeeping and Accounting

Exam dates will be posted outside the Electrical Engineering secretary’s office and announced on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering's website.

The registration period for exams in a given semester is announced on the website as the “semester deadline.” You must register for all (partial) module exams that you will take in that semester—including make-up exams and internships!

You may not take an exam for which you have not registered on time. An internship that you have not registered as an exam cannot be credited toward your coursework, even if you successfully completed it.

You can find more information on exam registration on the Examination Office’s website.

Each semester, the curriculum or list of course requirements is updated and published for each degree program. There you will find, for each module, the type of exam, exam duration, examiner, and permitted aids. These documents can be found under “Study-Related Downloads” on your degree program’s page (please note the SPO version, if applicable!).

Unless you are required to take an exam, failure to appear is currently (as of July 29, 2024) considered an effective withdrawal from the exam. This means that, for all intents and purposes, it is as if you had not registered for the exam.

If you are required to take an exam (e.g., modules of the foundational and orientation exams in the second semester, make-up exams), failure to appear will result in a grade of 5.

If you are required to take an exam (e.g., a retake exam or a subject in the foundational and orientation exam), you must immediately submit a request for an extension to the Examination Board, along with a medical certificate that meets the university’s requirements. You can obtain the appropriate application form at the secretary’s office of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Detailed information and the requirements regarding the medical certificate can be found on this webpage of the Examination Office and in the Form Center. The following documents are particularly important:

• Information Sheet on What to Do If You Are Unable to Take an Exam Due to Illness
• Form for a medical certificate
• Application for an Extension of the Exam Deadline (Form)

A medical certificate of incapacity for work—such as those issued to employees by their employers when they are ill—is insufficient as a medical certificate for examination purposes. Similarly, a mere medical assertion—without medical justification—that someone is unable to take an exam during a specific period is also insufficient as a medical certificate.

If you have acquired skills through an exam at another university that are also covered in your degree program, you can submit a request for recognition to the Examination Board. You can obtain the appropriate application form at the secretary’s office of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering or at the Form Center. You must include the necessary supporting documentation with your application.

You can apply on your own initiative to internship postings or submit unsolicited applications to companies that interest you and align with your field of study. You should begin the application process approximately 3–5 months before your desired internship start date.

The following resources can help you find interesting positions and companies:

• Exhibitor directory or in-person visit to the Pyramid company contact fair
• University job board
• Personal network of friends and acquaintances
• HIS Grade Portal (where you can see all companies that have been approved in previous semesters)
• Posters

The Career Service can help you refine your application materials and provide valuable tips for job interviews.

The goal of the industry internship is for you—depending on your degree program—to learn how to apply your business administration and/or engineering knowledge in a practical setting (see the module handbook). To this end, it is important that your direct supervisor at the company also has the appropriate academic background.

It does not matter whether you work on just one project or topic or tackle different projects or topics over the course of your internship.

An internship abroad is possible in all degree programs (EIT, ME); in the International Industrial Engineering (IWI) program, it is even required (though it can be replaced by a semester abroad). Internship positions abroad are always reviewed by the internship commissioner.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the suitability of an internship position, please contact the internship commissioner well in advance.

The practicum seminar in the International Industrial Engineering (IWI) program consists of the modules “Quality and Project Management” and “Intercultural Communication” and is offered as a two-part block course: Part 1 must be taken before the practicum semester, and Part 2 after the practicum semester. These block weeks are organized by the School of Business. You can also obtain all further information there.

For the Mechatronics and Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology degree programs, the seminar takes place as a two-part block course or on Fridays during the lecture period at the university. Your company must grant you time off for this. You can find further details and information in the course schedule and on Moodle.

In exceptional cases (e.g., an internship abroad), you can switch to the IWI block weeks by submitting a request to your internship advisor.

The learning objective for writing the internship report is to produce a technical or business report using academic methodology. With this knowledge, you will later be able to write your thesis, publications, or other high-quality company reports.

A detailed guide with examples and requirements will be provided at the beginning of the practical seminar.

If you have any further questions about the internship semester, please feel free to send them to praktikum.elektrotechnik@tha.de.

Additional information about the application phase:

• Requirements for the Bachelor's thesis
• Finding a Topic
• BA in Industry
• GHV Check
• Apply for admission

Additional Information on the Research Phase:

• Familiarizing yourself with the topic includes, among other things, conducting literature research and identifying any necessary adjustments to the assignment description or timeline
• The process of working on and drafting the written paper also includes, among other things, scheduling status meetings with your advisor, discussing your progress with your advisor, and agreeing on guidelines regarding formatting, citation style, etc.
• Dates for the introductory session and presentations

Further information on the submission phase:

• Printing the Bachelor’s Thesis
• Submitting the bachelor’s thesis
• Information about the one-pager can be found here.

You can find even more information in the rest of the FAQs, as well as handouts and forms in our Form Center.

Legend:

• BA = Bachelor's thesis
• NDA = Non-Disclosure Agreement

You meet the formal requirements for writing a bachelor’s thesis once you have successfully completed all the necessary coursework. These requirements are outlined in the syllabus and examination regulations that apply to you. For example, for the Mechatronics 2024 study program and the Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology 2024 study program, the requirements for being assigned a Bachelor’s thesis topic are as follows:

1. successful completion of the practical training (Prak.T module) and
2. the successful completion of the practical seminar (Prak.S module) and
3. evidence of a total of 150 CP.

For the Mechatronics 2018 study program and the Electrical Engineering 2018 study program, you

• must have successfully completed the practical study semester and
• in addition, have earned at least 120 ECTS credits from the theoretical semesters (all semesters except the practical semester).

For the International Management and Engineering programs of 2016 and 2023, the topic of the bachelor’s thesis will not be assigned until at least 135 CP have been earned. These 135 CP should include all course credits from semesters 1 and 2.

There are several ways to choose a topic:

1. Read the posted topics (e.g., on the bulletin board at the department office, on Moodle, on the information board of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, or on the labs’ websites) and obtain a commitment to supervise from the named examiner
2. ask an examiner for a research topic or confirmation of supervision (if necessary, reserve your preferred topic well in advance)
3. Submit your own topic with a detailed problem statement and secure an advisor for it
4. Obtain a topic with a detailed assignment description from industry and secure an examiner for it (please note the information on writing a thesis in industry)

Important: Every assignment (topic) must be approved by the relevant examination committee. It will only be approved if a professor or lecturer with examination authority

• deems it suitable for a bachelor’s thesis and
• commits to supervising it as the primary examiner.

A proposed topic with a task description for which no examiner (i.e., a professor or lecturer with the authority to administer exams) can be found is considered rejected!

• Registration is done through the university’s document management system (DMS). On the Central IT website, you’ll find information on how to
  • have the Admissions Office verify your eligibility requirements and
  • submit your thesis topic. Please note that you must upload all necessary documents (thesis statement, timeline, and, if applicable, the company’s FE registration form) as a single PDF file.
• The application is then forwarded to the primary examiner (professor or adjunct professor with examination authority) for approval (confirmation of supervision).
• The application is typically approved by the chair of the relevant examination committee at the next available date (around the 20th of the month).
• Applications for bachelor’s theses to be completed in industry can only be approved if all necessary documents (see the question “What do I need to consider if I want to complete my bachelor’s thesis at an industrial company?”) and the confirmation of supervision from an examiner are provided.
• The submission deadline for the bachelor’s thesis is fixed based on the approval date. It is generally 5 months after approval.
• IMPORTANT: At the end of the registration and approval process, students will receive an automated email confirming the registration of their thesis. Your thesis is only officially registered once you receive this email. If you have not received this email within a few days of the issuance date, please contact your advisor.

The essential workload of a bachelor’s thesis, including the written report, is equivalent to approximately two person-months of full-time work (5-day week, 8-hour day, i.e., a total of 320 hours).

The following are not included in these two person-months:

• familiarizing oneself with the assignment,
• creating a timeline for the project that individually accounts for graduation requirements, exam schedules, holidays, etc., and outlines the workload for each work package; and
• familiarizing oneself with the company’s structure and internal processes, if the bachelor’s thesis is conducted at an industrial company.

The distribution of work time over the period leading up to the submission deadline depends on the student’s individual course of study and is influenced, for example, by attending accompanying lectures or taking exams. The submission deadline set by the examination committee must be strictly adhered to! Early submission is permitted.

Procedure:

1. Obtain the information sheet for companies (“Theses in Industry”) and the registration form (“HSA Thesis Topic Registration—Company”) (available in the Forms Center on the website or at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering’s secretary’s office).
2. Submit the information sheet and registration form to the company (e.g., to the technical supervisor there) and have the company fill out and sign the registration form.
3. Submit the completed and signed registration form, along with a detailed task description and a timeline, to a potential primary examiner, requesting approval of the assignment.
4. After a reasonable period of time, inquire whether the thesis topic has been approved or rejected and whether a binding commitment to supervision has been made.
5. Initiate the registration process via the document management system (see also “When and how can I apply for approval of my thesis?”).

Important: In your own interest, do not enter into a binding “Bachelor’s contract” with the company—whose “subject matter” consists solely of the preparation of a thesis—until

• the topic and research question, as well as the off-campus work at THA, have been approved, and university-side supervision by a primary examiner has been secured, and
• the assigned submission date is known.

[Standard working student contracts are not affected by this.]

If the industrial partner requires a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), this must be clarified with the advisor before the contract is signed.

Preferably, the THA’s model NDA (please log in with your RZ ID) should be used. Contract texts that differ in content generally cannot be accepted and must be reviewed by the THA’s Legal Affairs Office.

The processing time may only be extended with the approval of the examination committee. In such cases, the failure to meet the submission deadline must be demonstrably due to circumstances beyond your control. You must request an extension via the document management system no later than 14 days before the submission deadline (see training video).

In all other cases, a thesis that is not submitted on time will be graded as unsatisfactory (grade 5) and must be redone with a new assignment (allowed only once!).

Check with your examiner in advance to find out how many copies you need to submit and in what format (paper and/or electronic). The general requirements for submission are outlined in the syllabus and examination regulations.

The thesis must generally be submitted to the secretary’s office of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and the submission date must be documented by signing the list provided there. If you are submitting your thesis during the break between semesters, please check the notice posted at the secretary’s office.

Note: Please be aware that in order to successfully complete your degree, you must also have completed the bachelor’s seminar. You must also submit proof of this (certification form) to the secretary’s office.

The one-pager is a one-page PowerPoint presentation that summarizes your thesis. In this format, you should present your research findings clearly and comprehensibly, thereby communicating the thesis’s objectives and content in a concise manner.

Optionally, the one-pager can be used for the external promotion of the THA’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering, so that the range of engineering theses becomes visible through various communication channels (e.g., website, Instagram).

Overall, the one-pager not only contributes to the successful presentation of your own thesis but also plays a key role in showcasing the curriculum from a practical perspective within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

Detailed information and the PowerPoint template for the one-pager can be found on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering’s website.

You can find the topics and locations of the presentations for the bachelor's seminar in the Moodle course "Bachelor Colloquium." Presentations are usually held on Thursdays starting at 3:40 p.m. and on Fridays starting at 2:00 p.m.

The WIZ Student Council of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering is a group of students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering that aims to foster a sense of community among students, as well as between students, staff, and professors. To this end, it organizes various activities, such as

• orientation events for first-semester students
• Events to facilitate exchange between different degree programs and class years
• A wide variety of events (pub lectures / WiZ-Pong / Christmas market / and much more)
• …

In addition, the student council and the faculty’s student ambassadors are available to students as points of contact for questions about their studies and will help answer them to the best of their ability.

Just stop by our office in room A2.17 or email us at wiz.fachschaft(at)tha.de.

You can also contact the student representatives on the Faculty Council if you encounter any issues with your studies that you’d rather not discuss directly with your professor. Feel free to reach out to us!

We look forward to seeing you!

The academic advisors and chairs of the examination committees are the points of contact for all questions directly related to your studies.

For example, the academic advisor provides guidance on questions related to the academic program (e.g., course selection, planning and organizing your studies, issues with academic progress). The heads of the examination boards are the points of contact for all questions regarding examination regulations (e.g., requests for extensions of deadlines for taking exams, recognition of periods of study, recognition of coursework and exams completed at other universities, semesters of leave, etc.).

Academic advisors/heads of the examination board are

• Electrical Enigneering and Information Technology: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christine Schwaegerl
• International Management and Engineering: Prof. Dr. Michael Finkel
• Mechatronics: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Simon Dietrich
• Medical Technology: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Zeuke

You can find additional student services (e.g., the Examinations Office) here.

Faculty Coordinator Katrin Freitag is the point of contact for the dual degree program at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

The Central Student Advising Office provides support and guidance on all questions and concerns you may have throughout your academic career. This includes advice on study and work techniques, exam preparation, and organizing your studies.

If you find yourself in a special situation (e.g., pregnancy, illness, or a family crisis), you can contact the academic advisors for your major or the Central Student Advising Office. There, they will discuss with you what options (e.g., a leave of absence) are available to support you in your individual situation and which departments can or must be involved.

The contact persons in the secretary’s office, its hours of operation, and all positions within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (Dean, vice dean, academic dean, international coordinator, etc.) are listed on the Contact page.