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Tasks and Responsibilities

The Office of Student Affairs / Examination Office at the University of Potsdam is responsible for the administration of examinations. In addition to the Office of Student Affairs / Examination Office, there are the Examining Boards, which take care of related but separate tasks. It is often unclear as to whether questions are in the remit of an Examining Board or the Office of Student Affairs / Examination Office. The following information helps you to make decisions regarding jurisdiction.

The International Relations Office recommends that you visit the orientation courses offered by your department so that you do not miss any important deadlines for course or exam registration. These deadlines might occur right as you begin your studies.

Office of Student Affairs / Examination Office

The Office of Student Affairs / Examination Office is responsible for examination administration for most of the degree programs at the University of Potsdam. It is part of the Division of Student Affairs (D2). The degree programs for which the Examination Office is not responsible are listed below.

The Examination Office is in particular responsible for

  • Administration of testing records
  • Entry of grades for degree programs that are not administered on PULS
  • Copying and distribution/shipping of final documents
  • Advance certifications of Examination Office records and certificates for use abroad
  • Clarification of examination results upon student request
  • Acceptance and recording of medical certificates in the event of illness
  • Registration of final theses and oversight of deadlines for final theses (by the Examining Board, after topic assignment)
  • Acceptance of final theses and delivery to reviewers
  • Recording of grades for final theses
  • Calculation of preliminary grade point average and provisioning of documentation of preliminary grade point average (for applications to master’s degree programs)
  • Registration of non-binding examinations on the basis of discipline-specific regulations (exception: no registration required for first semester non-binding examinations)

and advises students on matters related to examination administration. One special advising offer exists for the implementation of compensations for disadvantages.

Note: In order to successfully complete your university studies, it is necessary for you to know which regulations govern your degree program. To find out which examination regulations apply to you, go to the overview page in the PULS portal online.

Decentralized examination administration

The Examination Office is not responsible for examination administration for the following degree programs; the responsible committees and offices are listed in the right column.

Degree ProgramResponsible for Exam Administration
Law Faculty
Law – First Legal Examination & Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)Office of Student Affairs for the Law Faculty (Exception: Recording of medical certificates for the LL.B. profile group - these are done by the Division of Student Affairs (D2) / Examination Office)
Corporate and tax law - Master of LawOffice of Student Affairs for the Law Faculty
Law – Magister Legum (LL.M.)Office of Student Affairs for the Law Faculty
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences

Master of Business Administration (MBA)with the specialized subjects:

● Biotechnology and medical technology
● Information technology
● Innovative technology
● Innovative health management
● Human resource management and leadership

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of European Governance and Administration (MEGA)Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Master of European Governance and Administration (MEGA)

Public Management (Master of Public Management – MPM) with focus on:

● Public Policy and Administration
● Global Public Policy
● GeoCovernance

Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Public Management (Master of Public Management – MPM)
Diplom degree programs: Business studies / economicsExamination Board of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Economics, Mrs. Garz
International Relations - Master of ArtsOffice of the degree program
Faculty of Human Sciences
European Master in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL) – Master of ScienceFaculty of Human Sciences, European Master in Clinical Linguistics (EMCL)
Faculty of Science
IT-Systems Engineering – Bachelor of ScienceHasso-Plattner-Institut
IT-Systems Engineering – Master of ScienceHasso-Plattner-Institut
Polymer Science – Master of ScienceFaculty of Science, Department of Physics

Examining Boards

  • Are institutions for one or several academic disciplines
  • Are comprised of professors, academic staff, and students
  • The chairperson and the deputy chair are authorized to conduct business on behalf of the Examining Board
  • The Board makes decisions regarding subject and content and is therefore responsible for
    • Recognition of previous academic credentials earned abroad, at other universities, switching to new study regulations, or credits earned while enrolled in other degree programs
    • Assignment of final thesis topics
    • Administration of compensations for disadvantages upon application by the student due to an impairment / chronic illness or care of relatives or raising children, based on BAMA-O/BAMALA-O
    • Extension of time for final theses before the due date for important reasons, typically by up to one month (Section 26 subsection 7, Section 30 subsection 7 BAMA-O; Section 26 subsection 7, Section 30 subsection 9 BAMALA-O)
  • and is also responsible for decisions regarding the admission of applicants for the respective master’s degree program