Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and common abbreviations

AG
 Abbreviation for ”Arbeitsgruppe”, which is a study or work group at an institute or among students

 AStA
General Board of Students (Allgemeiner Studentenausschuß). The AStA is the self-government of all students and is elected by them annually.

 AUDIMAX
The Auditorium Maximum is the largest lecture hall in the university and is located at Biegenstrasse 14. It is not only used for lectures but for a variety of purposes such as concerts and other cultural events. The General Student Assemblies are held here.

 AVV
Foreigner’s Assembly (Ausländer-Vollversammlung) meets once a year to elect the Speaker of the Foreigners at university and to discuss in public current problems of foreign students.

 BAföG
Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz – a federal law that regulates governmental student loans; under certain circumstances foreign students might be eligible for such loans

 Beitrag für Studentenwerk und Studentenschaft
The sum of 179.50 DM that has to be paid to the Organization of Student Affairs before registering or reregistration each semester. Included in this amount is the semester ticket (91,-DM) and a contribution of 83.50 DM for the AStA-expenses and to keep up the Organization of Student Affairs and all the services they offer.

 Bibliothek
 Library;- University library and the department libraries

 CG
Collegium Gentium,a self-governed, autonomous dormitory at Gutenbergstaße 18

 c.t.
 Latin: ”cum tempore” meaning: with time, that is the academic quarter
 11.00 c. t.  =  11.15 (i.e. classes start 15 minutes later than commenced)

 Darlehen
Should you run into unexpected problems and are in need of money you can turn to the General Board of Students(AStA). For the time of one month they will grant you a loan of 100 DM you do not have to pay interest on. All you need to bring in order to get the loan is your student-ID, passport, and somebody who will stand surety for you (somebody who guarantees that you will pay back the money).
Further information and advice in financial emergencies is available at the Office for Foreign Student and Studies Abroad, Biegenstr. 12, Dr. Kurt Bunke, Tel. 28-6129, Mon.-Fri. 9am-12 am except Wed.)

 Dekan
The dean is a professor who for a one-year period is in charge of the department and its official bodies (e.g. FBR). The dean is elected by the Department Counsel for which he has to prepare the meetings and decisions to be voted on. He works together with his predecessor (Pro-Dekan) and his successor (Prä-Dekan) who help him to execute the councils‘ decisions.

 Dekanat
The deans‘ office

 Diplom
University degree and/or final exam one has to take in order to get the degree

 Dissertation
Thesis with which you earn the doctorate degree

 Dozent
Teacher at a university, not necessarily a professor

 Einschreibung (Immatrikulation)
Official registration for university at the Students Secretariats‘ Office, Biegenstrasse 10

 ESG
Protestant Student Congregation (Evangelische Studentengemeinde), Rudolf-Bultmann-Strasse 4, 35039 Marburg

 Exmatrikulation
Official notice of withdrawal from university at the Student Secretariats‘ Office, Biegenstrasse 10

 FB
Department of a certain field of study (Fachbereich)

 FBR
Department Council; official body of a department that discusses and decides on matters of the department

 FS
All the students of a department are the Fachschaft, each one is part of it

 FSR
Student Committee of the Department; this committee is elected by the students of a department (Fachschaft) in order to advocate student affairs in  for example the Department Council

 HG
Building at Biegenstrasse 14, where most lecture halls (Hörsaalgebäude) are located, here the lectures of many different departments are held

 HiWi
HiWis (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft) are usually students who have a job at the university e.g. helping with research programs
 

 HS
 A lecture hall (Hörsaal)

 Immatrikulation
 Official registration as a student at university (at Biegenstrasse 14).

 Institut
 An institute is the smallest scientific unit at a university. Departments can be split up into several institutes.

 IZS
 International Center of Language and Culture (Internationales Zentrum für Sprache und Kultur), Lahnstrasse 5, 35037 Marburg.

 KHG
 Catholic Student Congregation (Katholische Studentengemeinde), Johannes-Müller-Strasse, 35037 Marburg.

 Klausur
 written test.

 Kleinanzeigen
Classified advertisements in newspapers and magazines are of great help when you are trying to buy or sell something.

 Kolloquium
At a Kolloquium students in their final semester or candidates for the doctorate degree meet to discuss scientific topics with a university teacher. A Kolloquium might also be held as an addition to a lecture, to give the opportunity for more detailed discussions.

 Kommilitone
 fellow university student

 Konvent
Central Parliament of the university; here representatives of students, university teachers, and professors meet to discuss general matters concerning the university.

 Lahnberge
”Lahnhills”, area on the outskirts of Marburg, where most of the institutes of the natural science departments are located (mathematics, physical chemistry, chemistry, biology, geology, medicine and a computer lab).

 M.A.
 Magister Artium is a university degree for some courses of studies of the liberal arts. The examination is carried out by university teachers.

 Matrikelnummer
 Official student registration number ( on your student-ID).

 Mensa
Students‘ cafeteria with inexpensive meals. There are two Mensen: in the student building at Erlenring 5 and on the Lahnberge. IN order to be able to pay you need a *U-Key.

 NC
Numerus clausus; some courses of study are limited to a certain number of students, usually you need a certain grade point average to be admitted.

 N.N.
 nomen nominandum; the person in charge of e.g. the class is not yet nominated.

 N.V.
 nach Vereinbarung; by appointment.

 OE
Orientation programs (Orientierungseinheiten); the Office for foreign Students and Studies Abroad offers an orientation program for foreign students where they get acquainted with one another, the university etc.
Every department also offers orientation programs for first semester students, where they provide useful information and give the opportunity to ask questions and get to know one another.

 Ordentlicher Student
 A student who is officially registered.

 PBS
 Psychotherapeutic Counseling for Students (Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle für Studenten und Studentinnen).

 Pflichtverantstaltung
 Classes or lectures that are mandatory for every student of that course of study.
 

 Phil.Fak.
Philosophische Fakultät; complex of buildings in the Whilhelm-Röpke-Strasse 6, next to the University Library, here predominantly the liberal arts are located (political science, sociology, philosophy, history, education, languages, etc).

 Promotion
 Doctorate degree, obtainable after the *Diplom, *Magister, *or State Exam.

 Proseminar
 Class held for students just starting at university; here basic methods of the specific course of study are taught.

 Prüfungsordnung
The exam regulations give clear rules on what classes are mandatory, how many credits have to be earned in order to be accepted for exams, and what combination of majors and minors is allowed.

 Quereinstieg
Cross-Registration is the change of majors when you are already in a higher semester and want to transfer the credits of your former major into the new major. The respective Exam Office decides to what extent the transfer is allowed. For more information please contact the student counsel of the department you want to switch to.

Rechtsberatung
The AStA offers a service that advises you in legal matters free of charge.
In case you run into problems with the BaföG-Office, contact the AStA -Social Office.

Referat für ausländische Studenten und Auslandsstudium (RAA)
This should be the first address to contact in case you are a foreigner and wish to study at the Philipps-Universität Marburg.

Repetitorium
Companies offer professional help studying for the exams especially for law school students

Rückmeldung
Reregistration; absolutely necessary to do before the beginning of a new semester.

Schein
Credit for having attended a lecture or class, sometimes graded (Schein)

Semesterticket
Included in the amount paid to the Organization of Student Affairs is a ticket for the price of 91,-DM. With this ticket that at the same time serves as your official student-ID you are allowed to use any kind of public transportation in the Rhine-Main-public-transportation-network (Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund  RMV).

SoSe/SS
 Sommersemester; summer semester – April to July

Staatsexamen
 State exam at the end of certain courses of study, such as law or medicine
 The exams are carried out by state examiners.

s.t.
 Latin ”sine tempore”; without time.
 11.00 s. t.= 11.00 o’clock sharp.

Studentenparlament
The Student Parliament is elected annually. Every registered student is allowed to vote.

Studentenwerk
The Organization of Student Affairs is responsible for the financial, social and health care of he students. They also distribute the dormitory rooms.

Studienberatung
The *ZAS counsels on any questions you have concerning the university and the different courses of study. They can also provide you with information incase you want to switch majors or plan to discontinue your studies. Should you have specific questions concerning your course of study, please contact the study counsel at your department..

Studienordnung
Study Regulations (Studienordnung) describe which credits the students are expected to earn at certain points during their studies, in order to be adequately prepared to take the exams. The Studienordnung is not necessarily binding for all courses of study.

Studienplanung
Some departments have quite detailed plans of studies, which are strongly recommended to be adopted by the students. They regulate which credits should be or can be earned during which semester. Still, the students are relatively free to design their own schedule. For more details, please contact your departments’ student counselor.

Studienplatzttausch/Studienortwechsel
If you are enrolled in a course of study with limited access, you need a trading partner if you want to switch universities. The trading partner of course has to be enrolled for the same course of studies and is currently in the same semester.
For courses of studies that are open (no NC):
Get enough information on the conditions under which the new university will accept you , before you officially leave (Exmatrikulation) the Philipps-Universität Marburg. Such information is available at the *ZAS, Biegenstrasse 12.
Application forms for trading university places are available at the AStA - Office, Erlenring 5.

Studium Generale
 Classes held for student of all courses of study in order to enhance the general knowledge.

Tutor
 Person who holds a Tutorium; also: Guide for students( might be a student himself)

Tutorium
Work or study group, that prepares the contents of material covered in class, or discusses it afterwards in order to intensify the understanding.

UB
University Library

Übung
Class that supplements a lecture in order to  put the covered material into practice or to deepen the understanding.

U-Key
Electronic form of paying at the cafeteria. The red key is available at the cafeteria, where you have to pay a 20,-DM security to get it. The key is electronically loaded with money which is deducted by computer based cash registers every time you buy a meal.

Unfallversicherung
All students are automatically insured against any kind of accident that might occur within or outside of the university and that are no due to extraordinary or unusual kind of activities (e.g. high risk sports).

VV
Vollversammlung (Assembly). Several times during the semester do the departments or the university call for assemblies, to which all students are expected to show up. Every student has the right to vote on matters discussed at theses assemblies.

Vorlesung
Lecture of a university teacher, usually a professor. The students are expected to listen, questions are only supposed to be asked on a limited basis. A lecture serves the purpose of giving a detailed invisually into a special  topic or field of science.

WiSE/WS
 Wintersemester; October - February

ZAS
 Zentrale Arbeitstelle für Studienorientierung und-beratung (Student Counselling Service)