FAQ - Frequently asked questions

General FAQs

• 1. Which Examinations Office is responsible for me?

  1) Which Examinations Office should I contact?

  Friedrich Schiller University is a large university with several independently operating Examinations Offices. This can be confusing, especially for students on multi-subject degree programmes. In single-subject degree programmes (e.g. B. Sc., 180LP), only one Examinations Office is responsible for you; in multi-subject degree programmes (e.g. teaching degree), up to three Examinations Offices may be responsible for you.

  Please refer to the following overview for our degree programmes:

  Office for Student Affairs and Examinations of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences

  • B. Sc. Biogeosciences
  • B. Sc. Chemistry
  • B. Sc. Geography
  • B. Sc. Geosciences
  • M. Sc. Biogeosciences
  • M.Sc. Biogeoscience of the Anthropocene
  • M. Sc. Chemistry
  • M. Sc. Chemical Biology
  • M. Sc. Chemistry-Energy-Environment
  • M. Sc. Chemistry of Materials
  • M. Sc. Geography
  • M. Sc. Geoinformatics
  • M. Sc. Geosciences
  • M. Sc. Environmental and Georesource Management

  Academic Office for Student Affairs and Examinations (ASPA)

  • B. A. Geology (EF)
  • B. A. Human Geography (EF)

  State examinations in Teacher Training Chemistry and Geography (and extension subject)

  • Examinations in Chemistry and Geography (incl. specialised didactics): Office for Student Affairs and Examinations of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences
  • Examinations in the second subject (incl. specialised didactics): depending on the second subject
  • Examinations in Educational Science: Academic Office for Student Affairs and Examinations (ASPA)

  2) Can I still contact the Academic Office for Student Affairs and Examinations (ASPA) with my concerns?

  No. The ASPA is only responsible for degree programmes leading to the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. This mainly concerns degree programmes in the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences. The ASPA cannot answer enquiries from students for whom other Examinations Offices are responsible, as there is no access to the respective student accounts or examination files for data protection reasons.

  Documents, proposals and final year theses received by the ASPA must therefore be forwarded from there to the relevant Examinations Office. As a result, your documents may not reach the relevant Office for Student Affairs and Examinations in time, which may cause further difficulties.

  Therefore, please make sure that you contact the Examinations Office which is responsible for you directly with your concerns.

  3) Can I also use the ASPA application forms for my full proposals?

  No. The application forms and documents provided by the ASPA are tailored to the degree programmes, the internal work processes, the sometimes differing Examination Regulations and the ruling of the relevant Examinations Committees.

  The same applies to the application forms and documents that we make available to you.

  As the ASPA and the decentralised Examinations Offices are different facilities that work independently of each other, different application forms are used accordingly.

• 2. Proposals and forms

  1) Where can I find application forms?

  Please submit proposals and forms specifically for the Faculty's degree programmes (e.g. admission to Bachelor's/Master's thesis, exam withdrawals, cancellation of consecutive degrees) directly to the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations via the Service Desk:

  • Service Desk: Proposals to the Office for Student Affairs and ExaminationsExternal link

  The Student Service Centre provides forms and materials applicable across all degree programmes.

  • Forms and materials from the Student Service Centre de

  2) When will my proposal be processed? Will I receive re-registration?

  Proposals for the Examinations Committees are processed at regular intervals in the Examinations Committee meetings. You will receive written re-registration from the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations.

• 3. Sick note

  1) I am ill and cannot take part in an examination, seminar or internship. What do I have to do?

  The notification of illness or written proof of inability to take an examination must be submitted to the Examinations Office within three working days of falling ill.

  In the case of missed internship or seminar dates or semester-accompanying services, the written proof|evidence of inability to take an examination must not be submitted to the Examinations Office, but to the teaching staff.

  You have the following options for proof of inability to take an examination due to illness: 

  • Form for determining inability to take an examination: Have this form completed by your doctor and then submit it on time to the Examinations Office: Form to determine inability to take an examinationExternal link or
  • Informal confirmation of inability to take an examination by medical certificate: Have your doctor informally confirm your inability to take an examination. Such a certificate should contain the information stated in the form above and should be labelled on the back with the student ID number, degree programme, examination number, examination name and examination date.

  Certificates from internet companies will not be accepted! Online certificates issued by online telemedicine providers will not be accepted.

  Sick notes following a video consultations should be the exception; one requirement for this is that you as a student have already received treatment from this doctor before.

  2) Where do I submit my sick note?

  Please submit proof of your inability to take an examination (completed form/medical certificate) via the Service DeskExternal link.

  3) Why is there no longer a "yellow sick note"?

  The electronic certificate of incapacity to work (e-AU) was introduced on 1 January 2023. The previous paper certificate of incapacity for work (the "yellow sickness certificate") is therefore no longer required, with a few exceptions (for example, if your child is ill). Employers|clients must now retrieve the sickness absence data electronically from the health insurance companies.

  However, the university does not fulfil the function of an employer towards its students. It is therefore not possible to retrieve this data electronically. Proof|evidence of your inability to take an examination will therefore be provided from 1 January 2023 using one of the options mentioned under 1).

• 4. Pregnancy

  1) I am pregnant, what do I have to consider?

  1. Please inform the Student Service Centre (SSZ) about your pregnancy
     An official pregnancy notification at the SSZ is necessary in order to be able to take comprehensive protective measures for you and your (unborn) child. Please use the forms provided for this purpose (see https://www.uni-jena.de/en/7395/maternity-leave).
     
     
     
  2. Creation of an individual risk assessment by the faculty
     Please contact the responsible CGF counselling centre: Dr Rainer Kilian (e-mail: rainer.kilian@uni-jena.de, phone: (03641) 9-48103). In the individual risk assessment, please record which courses and modules you (can) continue to complete and, if necessary, determine compensation options with the module leaders.
     
     
  3. Forwarding to the Student Service Centre (SSZ)
     The completed and signed individual risk assessment (original) including any accompanying documents (copies) will be forwarded to the SSZ.

  Further information for pregnant studentspdf, 260 kb · de

• 5. Examinations

  1) Where can I find important information on examination regulations?

  You can find this information in the Study and Examination Regulations de, in the module catalogueExternal link, in FriedolinExternal link, in the university gazettes de and on the website of the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations de.

  New framework examination regulations from 1 April 2026
  Please note: New framework examination regulations for Bachelor's, Master's and teaching degrees came into force on 1 April. The subject examination regulations for Bachelor's and Master's degrees also apply. The subject examination regulations for the teaching profession and an English translation of the new regulations will be published in the course of the summer semester 2026.

  2) Taking examinations

  By taking an examination, you automatically confirm your eligibility to take examinations.

  3) How often can I retake a module examination?

  This is regulated in the respective Examination Regulations.

  An examination may be repeated a maximum of two times.

  4) Can I bring forward a resit examination?

  As a rule, you can take examinations on the regularly scheduled examination dates. An early resit can only be requested with the consent of the responsible examiners in exceptional cases for which reasons are given. Please indicate the planned examination date in your full proposal to the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations.

• 6. Assessment method

  1) In what form are the examinations to be taken?

  The form of the module examination and its combination can be found in the module descriptions.

  Please also note the information on coursework during the semesterpdf, 212 kb · de.

  2) Can I change the assessment method?

  You can apply to the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations to change the assessment method, stating the reasons. The full proposal must include the examination date and the examiner's confirmation (signature).

• 7. Exam registration

  1) How do I register for an examination?

  The registration phase for examinations always begins in the 3rd week of the lecture period and ends on 20 December in the winter semester and 15 June in the summer semester. After this deadline, exam registration for the semester in question is generally no longer possible.
  

  If assessed coursework and examinations or partial examinations have already been completed during the semester before the above-mentioned deadline for exam registration, the relevant examination must be registered no later than 1 week before the examination date. The deviating deadlines are noted on the specific examination in the menu item "Registration/Cancellation of examinations". To avoid missing deadlines, we expressly recommend registering for all examinations at the beginning of the examination registration phase.

  The registration of project and specialisation modules (Bachelor's and master's degree programmes) as well as the final year project|thesis|dissertation can be done at any time independently of the examination registration phase via the Examinations Office.

  Registrations including registration for examinations for the career-oriented/research-oriented internships must be applied for in good time before the start of the internship (4 weeks in advance for the B.Sc. Geography, M.Sc. Geography and M.Sc. Geoinformatics degree programmes, 2 weeks in advance for all other degree programmes).

  You are obliged to check your exam registrations and cancellations yourself. To do this, use the menu item "My examinations" in FriedolinExternal link.

  Please read the separate FAQ entry de for block courses that fall outside the examination registration and deregistration period.

  2) I have problems with online registration.

  Please send a ticket to the Friedolin team.

  3) Will I be automatically registered for the repeat exam?

  Yes, you will be automatically registered for your 2nd attempt if it takes place in the current semester.

• 8. Exam withdrawal

  1) Is exam de-registration possible?

  Cancellation is possible up to one week before the examination date entered in Friedolin. Please note that in the case of oral examinations, the first possible examination date of the examination group is always stored in Friedolin; this is decisive for the cancellation deadline. Irrespective of this, you agree your individual examination date with the responsible examiners.

  An exception applies to block courses that fall outside the examination registration and deregistration period. Please read the separate FAQ entry de.

  2) How can I deregister from an examination?

  Normally, you deregister from an examination in Friedolin under the menu item "Registration/deregistration for examinations". If it is not possible to deregister via Friedolin - e.g. for examinations that you have registered for directly at the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations using application forms - please let us know via the Service Desk.

  3) Can I re-register after deregistration?

  Within the deadline for exam registrations - i.e. by 20 December in the winter semester and by 15 June in the summer semester or, in the case of examinations held during the semester, by the registration date stored for the examination - you can register and deregister from an examination as often as you like without giving reasons.

  After this deadline, the cancellation is final. In this case, re-registration for examinations once cancelled or participation in the repeat examination is excluded.

  4) Exam withdrawal for health reasons

  Certificates of incapacity for examination must be submitted to the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations of the Faculty (not to the module leader!) without undue delay (within three working days at the latest) after illness in the event of exam withdrawal. Parallel cancellation (verbally or by e-mail) with the module leader is recommended.

  In the event of notification of illness, the student may not take part in an (invigilated) written examination|exam. If they do take part, they automatically declare that they are fit to take the examination. A certificate that is submitted after participation in an examination and before the examination result is announced can generally no longer be recognised|to credit, unless there are special circumstances.

• 9. Block courses

  For block courses that are outside the examination registration and deregistration period (in the winter semester, for example, in February/March, in the summer semester, for example, in September), please also register for the corresponding courses via Friedolin during the regular examination registration period.

  If you realise halfway through the block course that it does not meet your expectations and you do not wish to complete the module with an examination, you can deregister from the examination via the Service Desk (linkExternal link), stating:

  • Your name and student ID number,
  • module code,
  • module title,
  • examination number and
  • examination date

  The Examinations Office will cancel your exam registration.

  This is an exception, otherwise no subsequent examination registrations or cancellations can be made.

• 10. Career-related internship (M.Sc. Geoinformatics)

  Step-by-step instructions for carrying out the GEO 407 professional internship (for students on the M.Sc. Geoinformatics degree programme):

  1. Check requirements

  • In accordance with the Examination Regulations, the professional internship can be completed after 60 credit points (ECTS) have been achieved in the first year of study. Exceptions to this rule are possible.
  • If you have already completed a relevant occupation or internship before the programme start|start of studies, you can obtain recognition upon formal request. To do so, you will need a written) confirmation|certificate from your employer and a report on the activity.

  2. Find an internship

  • The internship must be related to your degree programme and your intended future career. It serves to gain practical professional experience and to expand your qualifications.
  • There is no entitlement to remuneration, but remuneration can be agreed directly with the internship organisation.

  3. Have the internship approved

  • Apply to the Chair of the Examinations Committee for approval of the internship at least 4 weeks before the start of the internship. The application formzip, 894 kb · de can be found on the Examinations Office website.
  • Approval may be refused if the internship does not serve to promote the Geoinformatics degree programme.
  • Please note that a late or omitted application may result in the loss of accident insurance cover.

  4. Completing the internship

  • The internship must last at least 7 weeks full-time (approx. 280 hours). In the case of part-time employment, the duration is extended accordingly.
  • The internship is part of the university programme and is therefore a compulsory part of the curriculum (module GEO 407).

  5. Prepare an internship report

  • An internship report must be prepared within one month of completing the internship.
  • In it, you should present your activities in a comprehensible manner and reflect on them.
  • The factual accuracy of the report must be confirmed by the internship provider, who will sign the report.

  6. Submit the report for recognition|to credit

  • Submit the internship report (including confirmation of factual accuracy by the internship provider) together with the internship authorisation to the chair of the examination board.

  7. Recogn|to credit of the internship

  • The report will be assessed as passed/failed within two weeks. If successfully completed, 10 credit points will be awarded.

  8 After the internship is (usually) before the master's dissertation!

  • Most students have achieved 90 credit points after the internship has been recognised|to credit. According to the Examination Regulations, they are therefore obliged to register their Master's thesis within four weeks. You should therefore look for a supervisor and a topic early on!
• 11. Declaration of independence

  Please clarify with your teacher whether you should provide written work (seminar papers, essays, protocols, etc.) with a declaration of independence signed by you.

  Please note: The declaration of independence is mandatory for final theses (e.g. Bachelor thesis).

  The declaration of independence for academic work initially excludes the use of generating AI. However, in consultation with the teacher, the use of AI can be authorised to a precise extent and with the corresponding documentation requirements in an additional declaration of release. The release declaration can be customised by the teacher.

  • Download declaration of independencepdf, 109 kb · de
  • Download declaration of releasedocx, 348 kb · de
  • Further information on the declaration of independence de
• 12. Final thesis

  1) How do I register my final year thesis and what do I have to consider?

  Final year theses (Bachelor's/Master's thesis) are usually registered at the end of your degree programme using an application form via the Service Desk at the Examinations Office of the Faculty of Chemistry and Earth Sciences:

  • Admission final thesisExternal link

  You can find an overview of all legal information about your final thesis here: Information on writing final thesiszip, 862 kb · de

  2) What do I need to consider when submitting my final thesis?

  The thesis must be submitted as follows:

  Date: by the deadline (the latest possible date is the date of the submission deadline)

  Form: digital

  Place: As part of the admisson procedure for your Bachelor's or Master's thesis, you will receive an email with a link where you can upload your work. From there we accept the submission to the assessment report.

  Further requirements are:

  For English theses:
  The thesis must contain a German summary (mandatory!).

  Signed declaration of independence:
  The thesis must contain a declaration of independence signed by you. This must state in writing that the work was written on a self-employed basis and that no sources and resources other than those referred to have been used and that any quotations and intellectual takeovers have been identified.

  The declaration of independence for academic papers initially excludes the use of generating AI. However, in consultation with your supervisor, the use of AI can be permitted in an additional release declaration to the exact extent and with the corresponding documentation requirements. The declaration of release can be customised by the teacher.

  • Download declaration of independencepdf, 109 kb · de
  • Download declaration of releasedocx, 348 kb · de
  • Further information on the declaration of independence de

  3) May I submit my final year thesis directly to my supervisor?

  No. The legally binding option is digital submission by the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations.

  In the event that your assessment report requires a simple printed copy, you can hand this over in person.

  4) What should the cover sheet look like?

  The Examinations Office is often asked which formal design criteria the cover sheet must contain. There are no specifications for this. Nevertheless, we provide you with design options from previous final thesis:

  • Template cover sheet final year project|thesis|dissertation Bachelordocx, 4 mb · de
  • Template cover sheet final year project|thesis|dissertation Masterdocx, 5 mb · de

  5) How can I extend the processing time for my final year thesis?

  If you need to extend your Bachelor's or Master's thesis, please submit an application for an extension of the final thesisExternal link to the Examinations Office at least two weeks before the deadline. The full proposal must be accompanied by a written statement from the supervisor|mentor. The extension should be appropriate to the reason for the extension.

  An extension may be granted for the following reasons:

  • changes for which the student is not responsible (e.g. proven failure of a central measuring device over a longer period of time, unavailable workplace due to remodelling, move|relocation, etc.),
  • significant, unforeseeable changes to the work schedule (these must be explained),
  • change of supervisor|mentor (e.g. in the event of departure, illness or conflict situations, etc.) and
  • private reasons recognised as a case of hardship|hardship case (cases of hardship are: e.g. death in the family, care of family members, unforeseeable life circumstances, illness of a child, etc.).
• 13. Irrevocably failed examination

  1) I have irrevocably failed an examination. Can I or do I still have to take examinations for other modules after I have been notified of this status?

  You can continue to take examinations until deregistration|removal from the register of students. From the day of deregistration|removal from the register of students, the right to take an examination automatically expires. Registered examinations that you no longer wish to take must be cancelled in writing at the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations.

• 14. Hardship regulations

  Applications for hardship cases are assessed by the relevant examination board according to strict criteria and are only approved in exceptional circumstances.

  If the assessment of at least one of the following criteria is negative, an application for hardship relief cannot be granted:

  1. the submission of the application for hardship relief on time,
  2. the circumstances described in the application matching the above definition of a hardship case,
  3. the application for hardship relief being supported by official documents (e.g. a medical certificate).
• 15. Doubts during studies

  Have you been having doubts about your degree programme for some time and these doubts are not getting any less from semester to semester? Are you thinking about changing subject or university or wondering whether studying is the right thing for you?

  Here you will find extensive information and tips on the subject of "Doubts about studying - finding the right path and rethinking your own situation" de.

  We also recommend a personal counselling session: Depending on your concerns, there are different contact persons, such as the Central Student Advisory Service de, the Academic Advisory Service de or various counselling centres within the Thuringia student services organisationExternal link. The staff at the Office for Student Affairs and Examinations will also be happy to help you.

  Here you will find an overview of important central contact points and counselling services for students at the university. de

• 16. Deregistration

  1) Can I de-register if I have a resit exam after the end of the semester?

  If it is a repeat examination, you do not need to re-register for the following semester.

  2) Can I de-register if I am still writing my final thesis?

  If you register your final thesis, you must be enrolled. However, you can de-register if you are still working on your final thesis.

  3) Can I de-register if I have submitted my final year thesis but have not yet received an assessment report?

  Yes, deregistration is possible.

  4) Where can I de-register?

  You can obtain information on deregistration at the Student Service Centre (SSZ) de.