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FAQ

The information on this page is provided without guarantee. Only the study and examination regulations are binding.
Contents:

Registration for Exams and Coursework from Lectures and Recitations

Grades and Failed Attempts

  • My grade was entered incorrectly or not at all in Marvin. What should I do?

    If your grade was entered incorrectly or not at all, please contact the examiner’s secretary's office. Please note that it may take some time to enter exam results. Therefore, please be patient at first.

  • Can I review my exam?

    You may review your exam on a date announced by the examiner. After that date, you may review your exam only by submitting a written request to the examination board.

  • How many times can I retake an exam?

    For exams in modules offered by Department 12, the following applies: Exams that have been passed may not be retaken. You may retake exams that you have failed up to three times, giving you a total of four attempts. 

    Department 12 has the following exceptions: For a thesis (bachelor’s and master’s), you are allowed only two attempts. In the practical modules of the teacher education programs (PraxisLab Mathematik, PraxisLab Informatik), you are allowed only three attempts.

    A failed exam attempt occurs if you have registered for an exam and then, for example, do not take the exam or perform below the required standard. A failed attempt does not occur if you are absent due to illness and submit your sick note in a timely manner. Please use the form on our website for this purpose.

    Coursework may be repeated as often as needed.

    Different rules may apply to exams for modules in other departments. For example, failed exams for modules in Department 02 may be repeated a maximum of two times, giving you a total of three attempts.

Seminars and Practica

Independent Scientific Practice and Theses in Bachelor's and Master's Programs

Note for students in teacher training programs: The regulations for the academic thesis in teacher training programs differ from those described here for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs. They are determined by the examination office of the Lehrkräfteakademie (Teacher Training Academy). Information can be found at: https://lehrkraefteakademie.hessen.de/ausbildung-von-lehrkraeften/erste-staatspruefung/wissenschaftliche-hausarbeit

  • What do I need to consider when planning my bachelor's thesis?

    Since the bachelor's thesis involves individual supervision, and the specific organization and requirements may depend on the particular topic, you should discuss the details with your supervisor. The bachelor's thesis is worth 12 credits and must be officially registered at the start. Once registered, the thesis must be completed within four months. With a value of 12 credits, the workload corresponds to slightly more than one-third of a semester, yet you have two-thirds of a semester to complete it. Therefore, you should only begin the thesis if you can dedicate at least 50% of a full-time workload to it. Consequently, you should take only a few courses or work very little alongside it.

    See “How do I find a topic and a supervisor for my thesis?”

    You must have already completed certain academic requirements to be admitted to the bachelor's thesis. You can find information on this here: https://www.mathematik.uni-marburg.de/studium/finalthesis/index.html?lang=en

  • What do I need to consider when planning the "Independent Scientific Practice" (ISP) and the Master's thesis?

    All Master's degree programs in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science - with the exception of Business Mathematics - include a module called "Independent Scientific Practice <Name of Degree Program>" (ISP). This module is generally tied to the Master's thesis. Consequently, towards the end of your Master's studies, you have to find a topic and a supervisor for the Master's thesis; this topic will also serve as the subject of the ISP module. Since both the Master Thesis and the ISP are individually supervised and their exact organization and requirements may depend on the actual task, details should be discussed with the supervisor.

    The ISP typically includes preparation for the Master's thesis, such as a preliminary literature study, a first prototype, the development of a research plan, etc. It should be completed before the Master's thesis starts. With a volume of 9 ECTS, it corresponds to a workload equivalent to one-third of a semester. You should allocate sufficient time for it, depending on whether you are taking other courses or working simultaneously, or are able to focus entirely on the ISP. There is no fixed deadline for the ISP; the schedule should be determined in consultation with your supervisor. 

    There are no formal admission requirements for the ISP module itself, but it is closely connected to the Master's thesis. Therefore, you should only start the ISP if you will be eligible to register for the Master's thesis afterward. For the admission requirmenents for the Master thesis, see below. 

    The Master's thesis comprises 30 ECTS (specifically: 27 credits for the thesis and 3 credits for the defense) and must be registered before work begins. Once registered, the Master's thesis must be completed and submitted within six months. The defense may take place at a later date, though you must still be enrolled as a student at that time. With a volume of 30 ECTS, the workload corresponds to a full semester, and you are expected to work on the Master's thesis full-time. 

    See also “How do I find a topic and a supervisor for my thesis?”

    To be admitted to the Master's thesis, you must have completed certain modules. Further information can be found here: https://www.mathematik.uni-marburg.de/studium/finalthesis/index.html?lang=en

  • How do I find a topic and a supervisor for my thesis?

    You should look for a thesis topic (whether for a Bachelor’s thesis or an Independent Scientific Project combined with a Master’s thesis) a few weeks before you want to start with the project. Note that different research groups have different preferences and may require a different lead time. Since final projects are individually supervised, their exact procedures may depend on the actual supervisors.

    Thesis topics are assigned by the research groups. Since tasks may require relevant prior knowledge, it is advisable to first contact research groups whose modules (particularly elective modules) you have completed. Since the modules are more or less aligned with the research groups’ areas of research, looking at the lectures also gives you a first indication of possible areas for final project tasks. After identifying research groups in this way, you should: (1) check if their homepages provide tasks, (2) approach the assistants of the group, (3) approach the professors of the group.

  • How do I register for my final thesis?

    To register, please fill out the form available on our website:
    https://www.mathematik.uni-marburg.de/studium/finalthesis/index.html?lang=en

    You must pass the completed form on to your supervisor. He or she will then complete the remaining sections and submit the form to the Examinations Office. Once the Examinations Office has received the registration, you will be sent a letter stating your topic and submission deadline. Please sign this letter and return it to the Examinations Office, either in person or by mail. If you have not received a letter within 2–3 weeks of submitting your application, please contact the Examinations Office. It is possible that the letter was lost in the mail or that your application did not reach us.

  • I need more time for my thesis. What can I do?

    In this case, you must submit a request to the examination board to postpone the submission deadline. You must state a reason for the extension; extensions without a valid reason are not possible. In the event of a prolonged illness, please attach a medical certificate. An extension may also be granted if, for example, data collection for your thesis took longer than expected. In this instance, you will also need confirmation from your supervisor.

  • What do I need to keep in mind when submitting my thesis?

    The thesis may be submitted to the Examinations Office via email as a PDF file by the final submission deadline. Three printed copies must then be received by the Examinations Office shortly after the submission deadline.

    Each copy of your thesis must include a signed declaration of independent work.

Module binding and changing

  • What does "module binding" mean?

    Module binding means that you are generally required to successfully complete an elective module once you have started it. This binding applies from the moment of your first exam attempt. An exam attempt is registered when you sign up for the exam, unless you deregister within the designated registration/deregistration period or withdraw due to illness. You can identify this module binding in Marvin by the "PV" label (indicating an exam is registered).

    Examination regulations allow for this binding to elective modules to be lifted to a limited extent under specific conditions, enabling you to switch to a different module; please see "How can I cancel a module binding and switch an elective module I have already started?"

  • How can I cancel a module binding and switch an elective module I have already started?

    That depends on which examination regulations apply to your program (see below). If you wish to cancel a module binding or switch an elective module in accordance with the rules described below, please email the Examinations Office. Switching modules under these rules is also possible for "import modules".

    The following applies under the 2023 examination regulations:
    Bachelor’s:
    You are permitted to switch up to three elective modules that have been marked as "permanently failed" on a one-time basis.

    A module is considered "permanently failed" if you fail it more than the permitted number of times (see "How many times can I retake an exam?"). You may also voluntarily designate an elective module as "permanently failed" to cancel the module binding. If you accumulate more than three "permanently failed" elective modules (regardless of the reason for failure), you will be automatically unenrolled.

    Master’s:
    You are permitted to switch up to two elective modules that have been marked as "permanently failed" on a one-time basis.

    A module is considered "permanently failed" if you fail it more than the permitted number of times (see "How many times can I retake an exam?"). You may also voluntarily designate an elective module as "permanently failed" to cancel the module binding. If you accumulate more than two "permanently failed" elective modules (regardless of the reason for failure), you will be automatically unenrolled. 

    Teacher Training (Lehramt):
    You are permitted to switch one elective module that has been marked as "permanently failed" on a one-time basis.

    A module is considered "permanently failed" if you fail it more than the permitted number of times (see "How many times can I retake an exam?"). You may also voluntarily designate an elective module as "permanently failed," thereby cancelling the module binding. If you permanently fail more than one elective module (regardless of the reason for the failure), you will be automatically unenrolled. 

    The following applies under the 2018 examination regulations:
    Bachelor’s and Master’s programs:
    You are permitted to switch an elective module that has been permanently failed on one occasion. In the Bachelor’s program in Business Mathematics, this option does not apply to the basic modules in mathematics. Furthermore, an elective module may be switched if at least one examination attempt has already been made but the module has not yet been passed. In this case, any failed examination attempts are counted towards the newly selected elective module. A module is considered permanently failed if you fail it more than the permitted number of times (see "How many times can I retake an exam?"). You may also voluntarily designate an elective module as "permanently failed," thereby cancelling the module binding. If you permanently fail more than one elective module (regardless of the reason for the failure), you will be automatically unenrolled.

Further

  • Where can I obtain a certificate of good standing (Unbedenklichkeitserklärung)?

    You can generate a transcript of records yourself in Marvin. If you have not lost your eligibility to take exams, the (german) transcript will state at the end: "Es besteht ein Prüfungsanspruch." This suffices as a certificate of good standing. Should the destination university require something else, please contact the Examinations Office via email.

  • I would like to have modules recognized. What do I need to do?

    Decisions regarding module recognition are made by the respective examination boards. Please start by sending an email outlining your request to the examinations office. Your inquiry will then be forwarded for processing. Please note that the department offering the specific module is always responsible for its recognition.

  • I would like to switch to a different set of examination regulations. How do I proceed?

    You may only switch to the most current examination regulations for your degree program; switching to older versions is not permitted. Consequently, switching back to a previous version is also not possible. If you wish to switch to the latest examination regulations for a Bachelor’s or Master’s program, you must first consult the Dean of Academic Affairs. Once this consultation has taken place, you may apply for the switch. 

    Since a switch in a teacher training program affects multiple subjects simultaneously, the application must be submitted to the Central Examination Office.

    Please note that processing the change of examination regulations takes some time.

  • Should I choose a profile or application area?

    Some Master's degree programs include a profile or application area. These areas comprise modules from other departments - specifically, modules from their Bachelor's programs. Consequently, these modules are generally taught only in German. Furthermore, the scheduling of these modules may be irregular. For these reasons, selecting a profile or application area requires careful planning, especially if you rely on English-taught courses. Choosing such an area is optional, and doing so is generally not recommended if you are unsure. If you do wish to select a profile or application area, you should plan ahead to ensure that a sufficient range of courses will be available in the near future to complete the area. This is important because registering for the exam for the first module in a given area commits you to completing that area. If you need assistance deciding whether or not to choose a profile or application area, please contact your academic advisor.