FAQs about studying at university

A bachelor's degree in the programs “Mechatronics”, “Electrical Engineering and Information Technology” and “International Management and Engineering” ususally takes 7 semesters and consists of 210 CP.

Semesters 1 and 2 consist of principles and basics.

Starting from semester 3 the specialisation phase will begin, including one practical semester.

For starting a new phase of your studies (only for “International Management and Engineering”), the practical semester or your bachelor's thesis there are typically requirements to fulfill (for example a minimum of credits). Rules and specifiactions regarding this can be found in the syllabus and examination regulations for each course of studies.

One semester consists of

• the time classes are held with registration for exams and re-enrollment
• examination period and review
• semester break

Semester dates are announced on the University website. Examination dates and times for examination review can be found on the faculty website and the notice board in front of the secretary’s office. Dates specific for the faculty (e.g. registering a bachelor’s thesis) are announced on the list of dates for the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

You are responsible for re-enrolling on time every semester, as long as you want to continue with your studies. Further information can be found on the website Re-enrollment.

ECTS is short for „European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System“ with the goal of aligning european higher education system. Especially gaining credits in different Universities is supposed to be easier. The most important element hereby are the ECTS-Credits (Credit Points, CP). Students demonstrate skills during their studies. Those skills are attached with a certain amount of CP. The CP represent the expected student workload in hours necessary to gain those skills.

This includes

• hours in-person
• independent studying
• preparation and follow-ups of lectures
• studying for and taking the exam

The System of ECTS-Credits accounts for the actual time going into your studies whereas the System of SWS (Semesterwochenstunden, weekly hours per semester) doesn’t.

1 CP corresponds to 25 h.

The bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Mechatronics and International Management and Engineering consists of 210 CP. On average, you will gain 30 CP each semester.

The module books offer further information on the Credit Points for each event.

A module is a self-contained teaching and learning block with a specific methodical and/or content-related focus. It may consist of several individual courses.

Modules are assigned Credit Points and grouped into assessable units. Upon successful completion, the full number of assigned CP is awarded.

If you would like to integrate a voluntary stay abroad - in form of a semester of study or an internship - into your studies, you should begin planning very early. Further information can be found on the site Outgoing.

In order to attend lectures it is not necessary to sign up. However, for tutorials, lab courses and required elective modules, registration is usually required as these courses are usually offered for smaller groups, which means that they have to be planned accordingly.

Registration is usually organised via moodle. There is either a course solely for registration in the area "Anmeldung zu Veranstaltungen" (registration for modules) or the registration process is incorporated into the subject-specific moodle course. Information on this will be provided via your schedule, during the first lesson or via postings.

General electives („AW-Fächer“) also require registration. This is organised by the faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students of the degree program International Management and Engineering have to sign up for some advanced modules via the School of Business.

Please note that registration for modules does not replace registration for examinations. This has to be completed separately!

How and to which extent lecture contents are shared depends on the lecturer of each course. Commonly this is done via

• moodle - if a course is password-protected, you will usually receive information on how to access the course during the first lecture
• Lecture notes („Skripte“) - information on this is shared by the lecturer
• Notes by the students themselves

moodle is the central learning management system by the University of Applied Sciences Augsburg. You can find it via the link here or on the top right of the University website ('Login').

Moodle offers

• Information and courses, linked to lectures and seminars each semester, shared by the professors
• The possibilitiy of exchange between students or with lecturers
• Information by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering – general information is sent to students via moodle (either linked to the degree program or the semester)

Please log into moodle at the start of the semester using your user-ID and your password so that you can be assigned to a group (linked to the semester). You only have to log in, there are no further steps necessary. But since you are logged in already, you could take a look around the area "Faculty of Electrical Engineering" and your degree program!

Attendance is generally not compulsory in lectures. Therefore, is it not necessary to inform us of your absence.

Particularly in lab courses, practical performance assessments are often carried out, which require the use of laboratory equipment. In this case, it is necessary you attend the course during the specified laboratory hours. If you are unable to attend for reasons beyond your control, for example due to illness, please contact your supervisor (usually via e-mail) as soon as possible and ideally prior to the day the lab course takes place. If you are late or not able to come on short notice (e.g. because your train is late), please also contact the supervisor – either directly or via your fellow students.

You should ask your lecturer about the rules for language courses.

Most lecturers answer questions from the audience during the lecture. It is recommended to ask immediately so that you are able to follow the rest of the lecture.

If your question is not related to the current topic of the lecture or not interesting for the rest of the students, you can approach most lecturers immediately after the lecture.

For students in the first two semesters, there are also open learning spaces (time and place can be found in the schedule), in which you can work on assignments together with other students. There are tutors available to assist you with your questions.

If you have more comprehensive questions, you can attend the mentoring offered by all lecturers once a week. Time slots can be found in the schedule "E-Mentorat". Prior registration via e mail enables lecturers to plan ahead and reduces waiting times. Generally, you should only use the office hours if you are prepared and have specific questions.

Lectures and lab courses are generally offered once a year:

• Courses of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th semester only in the winter semester
• Courses of the 2nd, 4th and 6th semester only in the summer semester

There are exeptions in the higher semesters for some courses, which can be taken in both the summer and the winter semester.

Examinations are offered at the end of the lecture period. Re-examinations are already offered one semester later and not only after the respective lecture period.

Workplaces for learning can be found

• on the ground floor of building E as well as on the 2nd floor of building A
• in unused lecture halls (booking of those is listed in the schedule)
• in the library – both single work places as well as group rooms.

The typical course of your studies including the corresponding examinations can be found in the curriculum (see "Downloads" on the site of your degree program).

As long as you stay within the rules and regulations of the syllabus and examination regulations, you can deviate from the schedule. Please note that not every lecture and not every exam is offered every semester. Also, there might be conflicts in the schedule and with exam dates.

Modules belonging to the "Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung" (basic and orientation examination) have to be taken at least once before the end of the 2nd semester. Otherwise, you will receive a grade 5 for missing the deadline.

Make sure that you are aware of the requirements as listed in the syllabus and examination regulations in order to start the practical semester and registering for the bachelor's thesis.

If there are deviations from the schedule due to postponing or repeating exams, there is a faculty academic advisor who will help you.

The "Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung" (basic and orientation examination, GOP) can consist of several modules that teach the basics of a degree program. All examinations belonging to those modules have to be taken at least once before the end of the 2nd semester. Otherwise, you will receive a grade 5 for missing the deadline.

Information on which modules the GOP contains can be found in the version of the syllabus and examination regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnung SPO) applicable to you.

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

The time period for the current semester is announced via the website as a semester date. You have to sign up for ALL examinations of (parts of) modules you will take that semester – including repeat examinations and lab courses!

You are not allowed to take an exam if you did not register for it. A lab course you did not register as an exam can not be awarded, even if you participated successfully.

Further information regarding examination registration can be found on the website of the examination office.

Every semester a list of examinations for every degree program is updated and published. There, you will find information on exam type, duration, examiner(s) and authorized materials and equipment for every module.

The document can be found via "Downloads" on the website for your study program (Please take note of the version of the syllabus and examination regulations!)

If you do not have to take the examination, as of now (29.07.2024) not showing up counts as effective withdrawal. This means, a no-show counts as if you hadn’t registered in the first place.

However, if you do have to take the examniation (e.g. modules of the GOP in the 2nd semester, repeat examinations), not showing up will result in a fail grade (Grade 5).

If it is an examination you have to take (e.g. repeat examination, modules of the GOP in the 2nd semester), you have to immediately apply for an extension with the examination board using a medical certificate that meets the university’s requirements. A detailed application is available in the secretary’s office of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Detailed information and regulations regarding the certificate can be found on the website of the examination office and in the forms center. Important are particularly the following documents:

• Information sheet for withdrawal from an examination for medical reasons
• Form for medical certificate
• Application for extension of examination period (form)

A medical certificate of incapacity for work, as issued to ill employees for the employer is insufficient as a certificate. A mere medical assertion without medical justification that someone is unfit to take examination during a certain period of time is also insufficient as a certificate.

If you have acquired competences with examinations at another University and these can also be acquired in your degree program, then you can apply for a recognition of credit points with the examination board. The necessary application is available at the secretary's office or in the forms center. The application has to be submitted with corresponding evidence.

You apply on your own for open Internship positions or via a speculative application to companies you are interested in and that fit the contents of your degree program. You should start to apply about 3-5 months prior to the start of your Internship. The following contact points might be helpful with your research for interesting job positions and companies:

list of exhibitors or a personal visit to the company contact fair Pyramid

university job exchange

Personal network via friends or acquaintances

HIS-portal (all companies approved in earlier semesters are visible there)

postings

The Career Service can be of help with regard to optimizing your application and preparing for job interviews.

The goal of the Industrial placement is to use your – depending on your degree program – business and/or engineering skills in a practical environment (see module catalogue). Therefore, it is important that your direct supervisor in the company has adequate academical education.

It is not of essence whether you only work on one project/topic or several over the course of your internship.

An Internship abroad is possible in all courses of studies (EIT, ME) and for students of "International Management and Engineering" even compulsory (but can be replaced by a semester abroad). Internships abroad are always reviewed by the Internship Commissioner.

If you have any questions or doubts regaring the approval of your Internship position, please contact the Internship Commissioner rather early than late.

The practical seminar in the degree program International Management and Engineering (IWI) consists of the modules Quality and Project Management and Intercultural Communication and is offered as a two-part block course with part one taking place before and part two after the practical semester. These are organised by the School of Business. This is also where you will find all further information.

For the study programs Mechatronics as well as Electrical Engineering and Information Technology the seminar will take place as a two-part block course or, alternatively every friday during the lecture period. You will have to be released by the company for this. Further details and information can be found in the timetable and moodle.

In exceptional cases (e.g. a semester abroad) you can switch to the block courses for IWI students if permission is granted by the Internship Commissioner.

The Goal while writing the Internship report is creating a technical/ buisness report using academic methods. This knowledge will later be useful when writing your thesis, publications or other high quality company reports.

A detailed guide with examples and requirements will be communicated at the start of the practical seminar.

Additional information about the application phase:

• Requirements for a bachelor’s thesis
• Finding a Topic
• Bachelor's thesis in Industry
• NDA 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 involves, among other things, scheduling status meetings with the advisor, discussing the progress with the 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 on 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:

• NDA = Non-Disclosure Agreement

You meet the formal requirements for writing a bachelor’s thesis if you have successfully completed all necessary coursework. These requirements are outlined in the syllabus and examination regulations (SPO) applicable to you. For example, for the Mechatronics 2024 study program and the Electrical 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 version and the Electrical Engineering 2018 version, 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 SPO-versions of the International Management and Engineering programm from 2016 and 2023, the topic of the bachelor’s thesis will be assigned no earlier than after 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 faculty office, on Moodle, on the Faculty of Electrical Engineering’s info board, or on the labs’ websites) and obtain a commitment to supervise from the named examiner
2. ask an examiner for a research topic or a commitment to supervise (if necessary, reserve your preferred topic well in advance)
3. Submit your own topic with a detailed assignment description and secure a supervisor 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 responsible 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 serving as the primary advisor.

A proposed topic with a task description for which no examiner (= professor or lecturer with examination authority) can be found is considered rejected!

• Registration is done through the university’s document management system (DMS). On the Central IT page, 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 keep in mind if I want to write 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 scope of work involved in a bachelor’s thesis, including the written report, corresponds 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 thesis topic,
• creating a timeline for the project that individually accounts for graduation requirements, exam schedules, holidays, etc., and outlines the workload for each task 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 academic progress 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 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 that they accept the assignment.
4. After a reasonable period of time, inquire about the approval or rejection of the thesis topic and the binding commitment to supervision.
5. Initiate the registration process via the document management system (see also “When and how can I apply for approval to begin my thesis?”).

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

• the topic and assignment, as well as the THA-external work at the company, have been approved, university 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 sample NDA (please log in with your user 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 set forth in the syllabus and examination regulations.

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

Note: Please be aware that you must also have completed the bachelor’s seminar in order to successfully complete your degree. You must also submit proof of this (certification form) to the 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 Faculty of Electrical Engineering at THA, so that the range of engineering theses is 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 content 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 student committee "WiZ" of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering is a group of students at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering who want to facilitate the cooperation among students but also between students, personnel and professors. This happens through various activities such as

• Orientation events at the start of the semester
• Events for communication between differents degree programs and grades
• Various other events (for example pub lecture, WiZ-Pong, Christmas market)

The student committee and the student ambassador are also available as contact persons for any questions regarding your studies and will answer them, as far as possible.

Just visit us in Room A2.17 or write an e-mail to wiz.fachschaft(at)tha.de

You can also contact the student ambassadors in the faculty council if there are any problems you might not want to talk to your professor about. Feel free to contact us!

e are looking forward to meeting you!

The faculty academic advisor and head of the examination board are the contact persons for all questions regarding your studies.

The Faculty Academic Advisors can help with all questions regarding your specific course of studies (for example electables, planning and organizing your studies, …)

The Heads of the Examination Boards are able to help with all questions regarding examinations (for example applying for a deadline extension with the examination board, credit recognition, sabbatical, …)

Faculty Academic Advisors/Heads of the Examination Boards are

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

Further facilities for students can be found here.

The faculty coordinator Katrin Freitag is the contact person for dual cooperative study programs at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.

The Student Counseling Service supports you and provides advice for any and all questions and uncertainties during the entire duration of your studies. This also includes counseling for different learning and working strategies, writing examinations and organization of your studies.

If you happen to end up in a special situation (for example pregnancy, illness, tragic events in your family) you can turn to the Faculty Academic Advisor or the Student Counseling Service. They will be able to assess the options to support you in your specific situation (for example leave of absence) and which departments can/must be involved in it.

Contact persons in the secretary’s office, its opening hours as well as all the different roles at the Faculty of Engineering (Dean, Vice Dean, Academic Dean, International Coordinator, …) are listed on the page Contact.