Important terms when starting your studies
Alumni
Graduates and former students of a higher education institution.
Audimax
The Audimax is the largest lecture theatre at a university. The Audimax at HHU can be found in building 23.01: It is lecture theatre 3A.
BAföG financial support
BAföG funding (short for Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, the German Federal Training Assistance Act) is provided by the state to support students completing their first qualification at vocational training schools, colleges, academies and universities. Since the amendment of the Federal Training Assistance Act in 2019, funding can also be provided for studies at private colleges of cooperative education.
Whether BAföG funding can be granted also depends on personal criteria. Relevant criteria are: nationality and residency status, age and eligibility for the desired course/training, private income and financial assets.
You need to apply to the BAföG Office in writing or electronically to obtain the funding.
You can find an overview about BAföG funding here (website in German).
Block seminar/lecture
Some seminars aren’t spread out over the week; instead, they take place directly in one block. They are then usually held over a weekend or several days during the lecture-free period.
Classism
Classism is a recent addition to the terms used to describe discrimination and relates to the Marxist concept of class. It refers to devaluation and oppression based on actual or simply presumed social background or position. It is a form of discrimination, which affects the underprivileged. Social advancement is rarely possible for members of a lower class and their careers can be impeded. Cultural exclusion begins with remarks that individuals are wearing the wrong clothes, speaking in the wrong way or behaving inappropriately.
The pioneer of German classism research, sociologist Andreas Kemper, points to structures deeply embedded in society as the cause. These structures result in children from lower classes having fewer educational opportunities. Studies regularly confirm that this is often not due to their performance; instead this is largely due to social background. More information
Compensation for disadvantages
Students at a disadvantage in an assessment due to an impairment are able to apply to the responsible examination office for compensation for disadvantages. If their application is approved, they may be granted an extension to the time allowed to complete a written assessment or term paper, for example. The compensation is tailored to the specific impairment. You must submit a medical certificate to obtain compensation for disadvantages. You can obtain more information from the Counselling Centre of the Commissioner for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses: More information from the BBST.
CP (credit points)
Credit points serve to make degrees in the bachelor’s and master’s degree system comparable. A six-semester bachelor’s degree usually comprises 180 CP, with 30 CP awarded per semester. The greater the workload for a module, the more CP will be awarded.
Doctoral thesis
A doctoral thesis is the piece of academic work that you must complete in order to gain your doctorate and hold a doctoral title.
ERASMUS
The European Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, for short: ERASMUS, is an exchange programme, which enables students to study or complete an internship abroad.
Faculty
A faculty is a large organisational unit at a university. It comprises thematically related departments, institutes and study programmes.
FirstGen
First-generation academics are individuals who are the first person in their families to study/have studied, i.e. the parents of that person have not studied.
General Student’s Committee (AStA)
The Committee is the elected body, which represents the interests of students. It comprises a Board and a number of offices. It is elected by the Student Parliament. The members of the AStA represent the interests of all students vis-à-vis the University, the public and the political sphere, and therefore play a decisive role in ensuring that the goals and concerns of a diverse group of students are heard. The AStA also offers a range of advisory services, events and opportunities for dialogue.
You can find the HHU AStA website here (website in German).
German National Scholarship
The German National Scholarship is aimed at high-achieving students from all faculties at HHU. All students can apply from the 1st semester of their bachelor’s studies up to completion of a master’s programme or up to State Examination level. Each scholarship holder receives €300 in support per month.
Habitus (see also classism)
Habitus is the combination of learned norms, values and behaviours as shaped by a person’s social environment. It manifests itself in a person’s demeanour, speech, thought processes and actions, and is usually applied unconsciously. In the context of higher education, it is important to be aware that certain behaviours and forms of expression are often (frequently unconsciously) assumed, which primarily correspond to the background of academic families. Students without an academic family background often have a different habitus, which can lead to uncertainty or make it more difficult to develop a feeling of belonging at university.
Hardship (case) application
If a student cannot sit an exam (which cannot normally be repeated) due to psychological or other serious issues, a hardship case application can be submitted for this exceptional case to allow the exam to be repeated at another time. Hardship case applications must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office (website in German).
International Office (IO)
The International Office at HHU advises and supports students and employees who want to go abroad or come to HHU from abroad, thereby promoting international exchange and networking between HHU and other universities around the world. Among other things, the IO manages the ERASMUS programme and staff mobilities, and provides administrative and organisational support on all matters relating to going abroad and coming to HHU for students.
Lecturer
Teaching staff at a university. Lecturers include professors, doctors, research associates and other academic staff.
Module
A teaching unit on a particular topic. Often comprises several courses and examinations, sometimes spread over several semesters.
Participation/attendance certificate
Students receive a participation certificate or attendance certificate after successfully completing a course.
Rectorate
The Rectorate is responsible for the central management of a university and usually comprises the President, Chancellor and Vice Presidents. While the President is responsible for the central management and represents the university in the public domain, the Chancellor is head of the Central University Administration. The Vice Presidents represent the President and bear responsibility for special areas of activity.
Seminar
An interactive course, usually held in smaller groups than lectures (see above).
Student assistant
A student assistant is a student employed at the university, frequently at chairs or in research projects where they e.g. support research activities or the preparation of courses. Student assistants have not yet completed an academic degree. Once they have, they are known as research assistants.
Student Academy
The HHU Student Academy offers interdisciplinary courses for students from all faculties and teaches key practical and career-relevant skills (“future skills”) that go beyond subject-specific study programmes.
Student body/Departmental Student Committee
The “Fachschaft” is all the students in a department – so the student body. When you enrol for a study programme, you automatically become a member of the Fachschaft for your chosen subject. The term is however often also used to mean the Departmental Student Committee. Elected by the students for the respective subject, this committee represents the interests of the members of the student body.
Student Services Centre (SSC)
The SSC supports prospective and current students from Germany and abroad before, during and after their studies. It is a central point of contact on campus and offers services and advice on topics such as starting your studies, choosing your subject, course/exam administration and international matters. Units based at the SSC include Student Services and the International Office.
StuPa
This is the abbreviation for the Student Parliament (see also AStA).
SWS
This is the German abbreviation for “contact hours per week”, i.e. the number of hours per week involved for a course.
ULB
This is the German abbreviation for the University and State Library and is often used for convenience, as is “Bib” (short for “Bibliothek” – the German word for “library”). In addition to the ULB as the main library, there are also subject-specific libraries.