FAQs About Taking Courses and Modules
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Module
The bachelor’s and master’s degree programs have a modular structure. In both kinds of degree programs, modules are teaching units that belong to a common subject area. The modules can be divided into courses (smaller units of a module). The examinations that you take during your studies relate to the subject matter of a module.
With a few exceptions, all modules have a five-digit number that you enter when registering for the exam.
Courses
Courses are elements (smaller units) of a module. Depending on the faculty, individual courses from a module can or even must be taken instead of the module. For this purpose, courses are given a five-digit number (course number).
The scope of the modules and courses will be specified in ECTS points from winter semester 21/22. Up to and including summer semester 21, the scope was measured in SWS (weekly hours per semester).
Examples:
The bachelor’s degree in Computer Science includes the following module with courses:
- Module 63013 “Computer Systems,” 10 ECTS
- Course 1608 “Computer Systems I,” 5 ECTS
- Course 1609 “Computer Systems II,” 5 ECTS
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Please select your modules/courses on the basis of the curriculum published for your particular degree program. These can be found in the study pages set up for the individual degree programs.
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As a rule, you register for your courses/modules with your enrollment application or your application for re-registration. When you enroll, we will ask you about your courses/modules in the online application; when you re-enroll online, you will be redirected to the corresponding page in the Virtual University.
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The transcript is a record of your attendance and achievements and contains a list of the modules/courses you have selected in the respective semester (module/course number, title, number of ECTS credits to be earned, repeat course identification if applicable and module/course fees).
New students and students who have not completed their re-registration/application using the online procedure will receive the form by post. Students who have re-registered/enrolled using the online procedure (in the virtual student environment) will not be sent a receipt form by post, as you can check your course enrollment during the entry process and then print out the schedule yourself.
Note:
Please store your transcript of records with your study documents, as you may have to use it to provide proof of attendance and study loads for the examination offices or other authorities.
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You pay a fee of EUR 11.00 per ECTS point for each module/course taken.
You can find more about the prices for all our modules and courses here.
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In the event that you are unable to complete a course/module in the semester in which you applied to take it (for instance, you cannot complete it in time and wish to complete it in a later semester), you have the option of repeating it. If you repeat the course, you will receive access to the current, virtual version of the course/module including the new tasks requirements. The study material in the print version will not be sent again.
Courses/modules can be repeated free of charge for 4 subsequent semesters from the first fee-paying registration.
You should indicate that this is a repetition by checking the appropriate box in the column “WHK” (= Wiederholerkennzeichen/repeater code) in the online application or in the re-registration application.
Transitional regulation for students who started their distance learning studies before the winter semester 21/22.
Students who have registered for fee-based courses up to and including the summer semester 2021 can use the free course/module repetition for seven semesters from the fee-based registration as part of a transitional arrangement.
The fee is waived for the repetition.
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It is possible to continue taking a module/course after four subsequent semesters. From the fifth subsequent semester onwards, however, it is no longer possible to enroll free of charge with the repeater code (WHK). You will have to re-enroll and pay the fee again. This also applies if no revision of the module/course has taken place.
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You can add further modules/courses via your virtual student environment. Late registration is possible until May 15 for the summer semester and until November 15 for the winter semester. An administrative fee of EUR 5.00 will be charged for enrollment after the re-registration deadline (summer semester: 31 January / winter semester: 31 July).
Note:
You will not be granted any extended processing deadlines if you retake. Depending on the time of subsequent enrollment, the processing time for the respective module/course may therefore be considerably shorter.
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You can cancel a course/module you’ve registered for at a later date via the virtual student environment. Cancellation is possible until 15 May for the summer semester and until 15 November for the winter semester.
If you receive an error message, you can contact belegung for further help.
An administrative fee of EUR 5.00 will be charged for cancellation after the deadline (summer semester: 31 January / winter semester: 31 July).
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You are responsible for selecting your own modules/courses. Since the amount of the fees depends on your courses/modules, among other things, and a later cancellation is not possible, please be very careful when making your selection. If you have any problems or questions, please contact Student Services.
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If you have submitted or plan to submit an application to the responsible examination office of the FernUniversität for recognition of study and examination achievements from a previous course of study, please do not take the courses/modules for the subjects for which you expect recognition, as it is no longer possible to cancel them at a later date. In such a case, it is better to book your modules/courses after receiving the letter of recognition.
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Returning study materials does not lead to a refund of fees. The costs incurred by the provision of the documents must be borne by you.
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The semester hour per week (SWS) is a unit used to measure the teaching load of university lecturers or the amount of time students spend attending a lecture or course. Universities usually measure the time required for lectures and other courses in SWS.
The lectures usually take place weekly and extend over the entire lecture period, i.e. over a period of around 14–16 weeks per semester. One SWS corresponds to 45 minutes of lecture time per week.
Up to and including the summer semester 2021, the FernUniversität measured the scope of its courses/modules in SWS. Since the winter semester 21/22, the course/module load has been specified in ECTS points in accordance with the European Credit Transfer System.
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All modules and courses have a start date in the semester set by their respective lecturers. You can find this date in the course directory in the virtual student environment or in the “Study program and course offerings” booklet. The online variant is activated in time for the official start of work on the course (at the latest).
You will find the study documents either in the virtual student environment or on the Moodle platform.
You can sign on to both with your FernUni account.
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No, it is only possible to book courses if you are enrolled in a bachelor’s/master’s degree program or submit your selection as part of your application.
However, you can register for preparatory courses between the enrollment deadlines.
