Teaching & Examination

 1. Teaching Unit

• Weekly Semester Hours:
  One weekly semester hour (German: "Semesterwochenstunde" (SWS)) has a duration of 45 min. This refers to the class contact hours per week, which can be found in the respective course catalogue. The courses at the European University Viadrina regularly have a duration of two weekly contact hours, i.e. a duration of 1 hour and 30 min.
  
  
• Begin & End:
  Begin and end of courses are announced with full hours, usually. For the exact beginning of the course you have to be aware of the following time specifications:

• “c.t.” – Most course time periods are listed with “c.t” (latin: cum tempore = "´with time", so called "academic quarter"). This means these courses start 15 min. later than the time announced. This will also apply if "c.t." is not stated specifically after the given time.

  ⇒   i.e.:   10am (c.t.) - begin at 10:15am
  ⇒   i.e.:   10am          - begin at 10:15am

• "s.t." - If the course starts punctually at the time given it will be marked with an "s.t." (Latin: sine tempore = "without time"). This specification will always be given if the course starts right at the given time!

  ⇒   i.e.:   10am (s.t.) - begin at 10am

2. Teaching System

• Lecture (Vorlesung):
  A lecture is a two to three hour period where the professor or their assistant presents the topic in front of the students. Students can ask questions, but generally just listen and take notes.
  
  
• Seminar:
  A seminar is a set of classes that run on specific dates throughout the semester. You should sign up for seminars in advance. Your attendance is compulsory. Block seminars usually take place over the weekend. Requirements for seminars require that students prepare a paper on a certain topic and present it during the last class.
  
  
• Exercises (Übung):
  In general, homework is published on the department’s web site or Moodle course in advance. Professors expect students to prepare these tasks at home. In class, the solutions are discussed between the professor and students.
  
  

3. Form of Examinations

• Business Administration and Economics:
  For general level business classes require that students pass a written exam at the end of the semester. Examinations are held at the end of the scheduled lecture sessions in each semester and re-examinations are held at the beginning of the following semester. In advanced business classes, some courses require that students prepare a presentation, a written assignment, and an exam. These classes are marked as “Eigenleistungsscheine”, all others are known as ‘Prüfungsscheine'.
  
  
• Law:
  Law students are known to spend the most time in the library. At the end of each semester, Law students will write several exams during which assignments will be due.
  
  
• Social and Cultural Sciences:
  Students who intend to study in the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences in most cases will write assignments instead of exams. The deadlines vary from department to department, but be prepared to have to submit assignments during the holidays.