Information on the consequences of the corona crisis on studies and teaching

General information from the University of Potsdam

Hygiene/Safety Regulations for University Operations

Consequences of the corona crisis regarding German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) funding | FAQs of the German National Association for Student Affairs - DSW

Information from the Potsdam Association of Student Affairs (dining halls and cafeterias)

Knowledge base: get ready for digital studying

Information from the faculties and other central institutions

Faculty of Science

Law Faculty

Center for Languages and Key Competences - Zessko

Center for Teacher Training and Education Research

University Library

University Sports Center

What rules need to be observed for courses requiring on-site attendance?

Below, you will find a number of central aspects that need to be taken into account for courses that require on-site attendance. Depending on the development of COVID-19 infections or the changes in the SARS-CoV-2 Ordinance (SARS-CoV-2-UmgV), adjustments will have to be made. Information about such changes will be provided in e-mails from the Vice President for Teaching and Studies or will be published here. The “Hygiene and Safety Regulations for University Operations as of November 2, 2020” must also be observed.

1. According to Section 4 (2) of the SARS-CoV-2-UmgV, the following measures must be observed for on-site teaching:
   1. compliance with the general distance requirements pursuant to Section 1 (2) Sentence 1 of the SARS-CoV-2-UmgV,
   2. the management and restriction of access and on-site presence of individuals,
   3. the regular exchange of inside air with fresh air, especially by means of airing rooms by opening windows for short intervals or by operating ventilation systems with high amounts of outside air. The HGP (Hochschul - Gebäudemanagement - Potsdam) is responsible for setting up the required technical conditions. Teaching staff will be required to air the rooms whenever possible at their own discretion.
   4. the recording of first and last name and the telephone number or e-mail address in an attendance list in accordance with Section 3 (2) of the SARS-CoV-2-UmgV for the purpose of contact tracing. When collecting this data, data protection requirements must be taken into account. The deans of study can provide you with a data protection declaration.
      For students, student ID numbers, which are registered in PULS lists, would suffice. This only applies to degree programs that use PULS for examination administration purposes. However, please also keep in mind that courses with students separated into groups alternating on a weekly basis will also need to be able to identify which students participated on the respective dates.
      The attendance records must be kept or stored for a period of four weeks in compliance with data protection regulations.
      The tracing of potential contacts by the health authorities (item 4) must receive our full support at all times. It is therefore important to ensure that access to the lists is always possible via the respective teaching staff member.
2. UP seminar rooms and lecture halls have been assessed with regard to the distance requirements and appropriate plans have been drawn up for each room. The plans are displayed at the respective rooms and are also available on the intranet. Deviations from the proposed furniture arrangements may only be made upon request and with the approval of the Occupational Safety Unit (https://www.hgp-potsdam.de/sw/).
3. Teaching staff members may under no circumstances demand that students take a COVID-19 test or make it a prerequisite for attending courses. In principle, teaching staff cannot exclude students from participation on the basis of a suspicion of infection with COVID-19. However, an appeal can be made to students' personal responsibility to refrain from participation if symptoms are detected.
4. Community masks covering mouth and nose must be worn in the corridors, hallways, elevators and stairwells of the UP until further notice. This also applies when entering or leaving lecture halls and seminar rooms. Inside meeting rooms, lecture halls, seminar rooms or offices, the mask can be removed once the person is at their desk or seat, provided that they can keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters to other people. The Executive Board reserves the right to adapt these regulations depending on the latest developments.
   Updated on November 2, 2020:
   The mask mandate does not apply to teaching staff members once they are at a fixed location within the room and can keep a distance of at least 2.5 meters to all other persons in the room.
   Updated on October 30, 2020:
   Until further notice, you are also required to wear a community mask during on-site courses while you are at your seat.
5. Additional cleanings of each room will not be taking place after each course. The equipment of the entrance areas of lecture halls and seminar rooms with disinfectant dispensers and disposable towels is currently underway so that the desks can be disinfected as required.
6. The latest rules and regulations are available here.

Is it mandatory to wear a mask at the University of Potsdam?

Yes. You can find more details on the following website.

How is teaching organized in the winter semester 2020/2021?

Updated: March 08, 2021
From now on there are no restrictions on participation for courses that “absolutely require on-site attendance” ( Section 19 subsection 1 no. 2 EindV). For the University of Potsdam, the details are as follows:

1. Laboratory courses: Generally possible with capacities in accordance with the hygiene concept and the associated use of evaluated and cleared laboratories (PDF).
2. Music practice: It is now possible again to sing and play wind instruments on site in the context of teaching, but only in one-to-one teaching formats. Other music practice courses are allowed with a maximum of 5 participants.
3. Sports practice: Opening scenarios for courses will be communicated in a timely manner by the Sports Department.
4. Excursions in Brandenburg are possible in compliance with the containment ordinance. The maximum number of participants must be chosen in such a way that the required social distancing can be practiced at all times. Rules of the containment ordinance pertaining to open-air events are to be applied.
5. All other courses requiring attendance, even with up to 5 students, are still not to be conducted in on-site formats at the UP. The respective courses are to be taught digitally.
6. The 50-person maximum per room still applies.

Updated: January 09, 2021
The following requirements apply from January 11, 2021:

1. Courses will not take place in on-site attendance formats until the end of the instructional period (February 12, 2021).
2. Practical laboratory courses are exempt from this rule. However, the maximum number of people allowed in each room is 5. This provision will initially apply until the end of January. A reassessment of the situation will take place on the basis of the containment ordinance in force at that time.
3. In addition, practical athletic courses offered in the context of degree programs may also take place in compliance with the hygiene guidelines. 
4. Examinations may take place in on-site attendance formats. The maximum number of persons is 50 per room in this case. It is mandatory for everyone to wear a mask covering mouth and nose.
5. Furthermore, courses that serve the immediate preparation of examinations may take place in on-site attendance formats. It is also mandatory in this case for everyone to wear a mask covering mouth and nose.

Updated: December 15, 2020
On-site teaching is suspended until at least January 10, 2021. Wherever possible, we should switch to online teaching. Practical courses can continue with a maximum number of five students per room. It is also still possible to prepare and conduct on-site examinations provided that the established framework conditions are adhered to.

Updated: September 16, 2020
According to our current projections, we expect to be able to offer about a quarter of the courses on-site under the current circumstances. The faculties have developed needs-based solutions for this. Degree programs with a high proportion of courses that require face-to-face teaching in the respective semester (e.g. laboratory courses) as well as first semester courses are generally given priority for face-to-face teaching. You will find more detailed information on the organization of the courses in the course catalog from October 1.

How is teaching organized in the summer semester 2021?

Updated: January 08, 2021
While we expect some easing of restrictions for the summer semester 2021, it will certainly not yet be possible to organize teaching in the way we were accustomed to until February 2020. Reduced capacity in terms of space will likely continue to be a factor throughout the summer semester. It is therefore desirable to also plan for as many digital teaching offers as possible – using all the various options that this format provides. If courses are planned as face-to-face formats at the same time, this will allow for a high degree of flexibility, as both students and teaching staff can adapt their teaching and learning methods to the respective situation – in the home office and in the lecture hall.

Can I use the university’s rooms for examinations or examination preparation?

Yes, the university is still open for students and thus for doing individual work. Rooms can be booked via the room allocation service​​​​​​​.

Are the libraries and computer labs open?

The University Library is gradually re-establishing its services for students and researchers of the University of Potsdam. Please find current information on the services offered directly on the pages of the University Library.

The computer labs at the University of Potsdam are open.

What consequences will the regulations on individual standard periods of study from the Pandemic Ordinance for Higher Education (Hochschulpandemieverordnung) have on my studies?

With its Pandemic Ordinance for Higher Education (Hochschulpandemieverordnung) the state of Brandenburg has introduced an individual standard period of study for students who were enrolled during the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021. According to this and deviating from Section 18 (2) of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act, there shall be an individual standard period of study which has been extended by one semester.

This has an impact on deadlines which are linked to the length of the standard period of study.

In particular, this applies to examination deadlines according to Section 7a BAMA-O and regulations for the discipline-specific non-binding exams according to Section 13.

1. Role for the calculation of examination deadlines according to Section 7a BAMA-O/BAMALA-O

Due to the special burdens caused by the pandemic, the provisions on examination deadlines in Section 7a BAMA-O/BAMALA-O will not be applied in 2021. As a result, no invitations will be issued for departmental advising in 2021 when students reach the examination deadline. Even with extension decisions that have already been made and for which the deadline is March 31, 2021, September 30, 2021, or March 31, 2022, there will be no consequences for your studies. Nevertheless, we would like to motivate you to focus on the completion of your degree and make plans for the further course of your studies leading toward graduation. A number of existing advisory options by the Central Student Advisory Service can be helpful in guiding you toward the goal of successfully completing your degree.

Once the provisions of Section 7a BAMA-O or BAMALA-O are reinstated, all affected students will be invited to departmental advising, regardless of whether an invitation had already been issued, and whether an individual extension had been granted, if applicable.

This means that there will be a blanket extension to September 30, 2022 of the examination deadline under Section 7a BAMA-O/BAMALA-O for ALL students (regardless of when they reach the individual examination deadline). As things stand now, invitations will be issued in January 2022 at the earliest for anyone whose examination deadline is September 30, 2022.

2. Role of the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021 with regard to non-binding exams according to Section 13 (3) BAMA-O/BAMALA-O

If the relevant study and examination regulations for the degree program or subject provide for a non-binding exam in case of a failing grade and/or to improve a grade, this only refers to examinations that were taken within the standard period of study.

The extended individual standard period of study will therefore lead to the following application of Section 13 (3) of  BAMA-O/BAMALA-O:All students who were enrolled during the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021 can still use their non-binding exam option as defined in the discipline-specific study and examination regulations for an examination that was taken in a regular semester of study (“Fachsemester”) following the end of the standard period of study.

Example to clarify:
A student has been studying in a Bachelor’s program for the standard period of study of six semesters as of the summer semester 2020. Contrary to the provisions in Section 13 (3) BAMA-O/BAMALA-O, the student can still use their non-binding exam option in the winter semester despite having reached their seventh semester of study by following the usual procedure.

Students who had already surpassed their standard period of study by one semester in the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021 will be informed separately at a given time.

How will the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021 be counted in other contexts?

In statistics, the summer semester 2020 and winter semester 2020/2021 will be registered as usual and counted in accordance with the applicable regulations as a semester of study (“Fachsemester”) and also count towards your total number of semesters in higher education (“Hochschulsemester”). Consequences regarding matters on which the University cannot make decisions, such as BAföG regulations, renting agreements in apartments of the Studentenwerk, matters of student’s health insurance or child allowance payments, will be handled by the competent authorities. Please refer to the information provided by the respective authorities.

The following information only applies to students whose examination administration is linked to the Examination Office of the Student Affairs Division. Students at the Digital Engineering Faculty and the Law Faculty as well as students in a continuing education Master’s program are asked to refer to the relevant bodies.

How are examinations requiring attendance conducted during the corona pandemic?

At the University of Potsdam, examinations requiring attendance are carried out both on site in compliance with the applicable hygiene and distance regulations and in online formats. The respective teaching staff member will inform you about the format of such examinations at the beginning of the instructional period. Should new developments in relation to the corona pandemic require adjustments, these will be communicated by the teaching staff as early as possible.

What are the regulations and requirements for digital examination formats at the University of Potsdam?

The University of Potsdam aims to use digital formats for as many examinations as possible. You can find important information on how to plan, prepare, and conduct examinations on the website “Prüfen in Corona-Zeiten”.

Can I use the university’s rooms for examinations or examination preparation?

Yes, the university is still open for students and thus for doing individual work. Rooms can be booked via the room allocation service.

Can I participate in an on-site examination if I suspect an infection with the coronavirus or if I have been in contact with an infected person?

No, we urgently ask you to refrain from participating in an on-site examination under these circumstances. We also urge you to refrain from taking part in the examination if you have symptoms that could indicate an infection with the coronavirus and have not been medically assessed, or if you have been in contact with other contact persons or corona patients.

What happens if I register for an examination requiring attendance but do not participate in it?

The following applies for examinations for the winter semester 2019/2020 that took place after March 16, 2020 and for every examination that will take place in the summer semester 2020: Non-attendance will be considered a withdrawal from the examination. No documents (e.g. doctor’s note) need to be handed in as proof (simplified withdrawal). The student will not receive a 5.0 grade for the examination. Please don't be alarmed: once your non-attendance has been registered, you will first see a 5.0 grade or “failed” in your transcript of records. However, this grade will disappear when the cancellation has been processed by the Examination Office. Please understand that this may require a few days' processing time.

Updated: March 09, 2021
These regulations also apply to examinations that will take place in the summer semester 2021.

Updated: August 28, 2020
These regulations also apply to examinations that will take place in the winter semester 2020/21.

If you wish to take the exam at a later point in time, you will consequently need to re-register for the new examination date.

Examinations requiring attendance are generally examinations scheduled for a certain point in time such as written and oral exams, which require short-term attendance and are usually conducted under supervision. Online examinations are also considered to be examinations requiring attendance.

Do I have to complete my work on other examination components that do not require my presence at the University (such as term papers)?

Yes. Despite the suspension or limitation of teaching operations and the possible cancelation of examinations requiring attendance you are still required to complete tasks for which you have registered, for which an individual submission deadline has been determined and for which attendance at a certain point in time is not required. Such examination formats do not fall within the scope of the provisions for simplified withdrawals mentioned above. If the paper is not submitted on time, it will receive the usual 5.0 grade. For module term papers, the faculty member who determined the deadline for the paper must be informed of any delays and the reasons behind them. An appropriate extension of the deadline, which takes the circumstances into consideration (closure or limited services of libraries, no available childcare options, quarantine), is to be granted. The same applies to delays regarding the completion of final theses. In this case, please send an application for an extension of the deadline to the competent Examining Board. The board can grant an appropriate extension, usually one month.

The following exceptional rule applies for all theses that had already been registered. It is not necessary to confirm this with the Examining Board. The deadline extension will be granted by the Examination Office and, once it has been processed, will be visible in your academic transcript on the PULS platform:

• Updated on December 15, 2020: Deadlines for final theses that had already been registered at this point will all be extended by one month if the original deadline was on December 15, 2020, or later.
• Updated on March 17, 2020: Deadlines for final theses that had already been registered at this point will all be extended by another month - a total of two months if the original deadline was on March 16, 2020, or later.
• Updated on March 16, 2020: Deadlines for final theses that had already been registered at this point will all be extended by one month if the original deadline was on March 16, 2020, or later.

Individual extensions of the deadline for final theses registered after the above-mentioned dates will be subject to approval by the respective Examining Board following the submission of the application described above.

Can I register my final thesis?

Should you wish to register for your final thesis despite the current situation and restrictions, you can do so by following the regular procedures. The usual submission deadlines apply in this case. The respective examining board will decide upon request if a possible extension of the submission deadline will be granted due to corona-related restrictions for a final thesis that was registered in the summer semester 2020. An extension of up to two months could be granted on a case-by-case basis for theses registered in the summer semester 2020.

Can I hand in my final thesis in a digital format?

Updated: March 09, 2021
Final theses with a deadline up to and including September 30, 2021 (postmark) can be sent as a PDF file via e-mail to pruefungsamtuni-potsdamde instead of handing in three bound copies. It is also possible to give the Examination Office access to the file via Box.UP. The PDF file will be forwarded to your referees exclusively by the Examination Office. If it is not possible to send the file via e-mail, please check the attachment size and try to reduce it if possible.

You will receive an automatic reply from the ticket system with a ticket number confirming that your e-mail has been received. If you do not receive this confirmation, please submit the document again or contact the Examination Office clerk immediately at pruefungsamtuni-potsdamde to report the problem (without attaching the file).

As soon as it becomes possible again, you will have to hand in a printed copy in order to ensure that the five-year obligation to preserve records can be complied with. If you do not do so on your own initiative, you will receive a request from the Examination Office to hand in a bound copy of your thesis once the situation has gone back to normal. Apart from your thesis, please also send in the required declaration of originality in a digital format. In case of a digital submission, a wet signature of the document will not be necessary for the time being. However, a wet signature with reference to the date of the digital submission must be added when you hand in the printed copy of your thesis, which must correspond to the digital version.

For final theses that are handed in from October 01, 2021 (postmark) onwards, regulations of the BAMA-O/BAMALA-O (General Provisions for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs) will apply again. That means that three printed/bound copies will have to be handed in.

What do I do if my examination deadline ends according to Section 7a BAMA-O?

Due to the introduction of individual standard periods of study, there are pandemic-related deviations from the standard procedure for the calculation of examination deadlines. For more details, see “Consequences on your studies due to the introduction of individual standard periods of study”.

Do the restrictions due to the corona pandemic lead to an extension of the deadline for the completion of the expiring teaching degree programs (LSIP, LSIP/SP, LG)?

No. The degree programs must be completed by the end of the 2022 summer semester (September 30, 2022). The deadline is fixed by law (§ 18 (4) BbgLeBiG) and cannot be extended by the University of Potsdam. An extension on the basis of hardship cases or the like is also not possible. The teaching-related (expiring) master's degree program for the education of teachers for “Gymnasium” secondary schools (LG) can be taken up for the last time in the winter semester 2020/2021 and for teaching degrees for education at secondary level I and primary level at general education schools (LSIP, also with focus on primary level) for the last time in the summer semester 2021, in order to guarantee the 4 or 3 semesters considered the standard period of study. Further information on this and on the possibilities of changing from the expiring degree programs to the new ones can be found here.

Do the restrictions due to the corona pandemic lead to an extension of the period of study in cancelled degree programs?

No. Cancelled degree programs must be completed by the respective specified end date. An extension due to cases of hardship or the like is also not possible in these special cases. You can find an overview of the affected degree programs and the end dates here.

Will the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic result in an extension of the deadline for completing my studies under expiring study and examination regulations?

No. If you are studying in accordance with study and examination regulations whose validity is expiring, you must complete your studies by the specified end of the respective deadline. Once this deadline expires, you will be transferred over to the new study and examination regulations. An extension due to cases of hardship or the like is also not possible in these special cases. Affected students will receive further information in individual letters.

What are the current plans for the winter semester 2020/2021?

The upcoming winter semester will be a hybrid semester with about a quarter of courses taking place in face-to-face formats on campus. Due to the dynamic situation, the arrival event will not take place, but we recommend that you arrive and move into the student residence on October 19, 2020 – if possible. The orientation and welcome events of the International Office will be held contactless and digitally between October 20 and 28, 2020. From October 1, 2020 on, you will find detailed information on the start of your studies on the website for program students. The instructional period begins on November 2, 2020 and ends on February 12, 2021. If you do not have to attend any compulsory courses on-site, it is also possible to remain in your home country and study digitally. Should you decide against studying at the University of Potsdam after all, it will be possible to revoke your enrollment by December 31, 2020. Since we cannot foresee how the pandemic will develop, we kindly ask for your understanding for the fact that short-term changes may have to be announced here due to the pandemic.

How can teaching staff communicate the examination results and course completion records of program students?

Teaching staff may send the examination results of program students to the International Office preferably by e-mail instead of using a paper "Schein"/certificate. Teaching staff must use their university e-mail address (@uni-potsdam.de) and the e-mail should contain the following information:

• name of the student
• student's registration number
• name of the teaching unit/course
• semester
• hours/week per semester
• grade
• ECTS points
• type of examination (indicate "none" if applicable)
• name of the teacher

Send to: transcript-incominguni-potsdamde
Subject: name of the student

The respective student may be cc’d, so that he/she also receives the examination results. For data protection resons, please do not send the results of several students in one e-mail with students cc’d.

Do I have to go into quarantine if I enter Germany from abroad?

You can find more information on this page.

Is it possible to apply and enroll for the upcoming semesters?

In case there are any deviations from the standard application or enrollment procedure for the upcoming semesters, we will inform you about this here.