Part-time study

The University of Potsdam is aware of the challenging complexity of students’ life circumstances. In the interests of equal opportunities, the University seeks to enable students such as those with family and caregiving responsibilities, disabilities and/or chronic illnesses, or professional commitments to participate successfully in university studies. Part-time study is one way of doing this.

Part-time study allows students to extend the duration of existing full-time degree programs on an individual basis. Students are integrated into the regular structure of their program and courses, but complete no more than half of the workload required for full-time study in the semester in question. There is no special part-time curriculum, nor is the timing of the individual courses adjusted. Part-time study is only possible in degree programs that have been designated as suitable for part-time study. Students who are enrolled in a combined degree program may only study part-time if all individual parts of the program have been approved for part-time study.

Part-Time Study – Specific Features

Part-time study semesters are counted as half a semester of study (“Fachsemester”) and as full semesters of enrollment at a higher education institution (“Hochschulsemester”). Deadlines for completing primary examinations are not affected by part-time study. Specific examination requirements established by attendance or course registration prior to the part-time study program continue to exist during the part-time study program and do not count towards the credit points that can be earned.

Part-time students have the same status within the University as full-time students. Rules and regulations therefore also apply to part-time students. The amount of fees and charges payable per semester is not affected by part-time study. In the case of a dual degree program, part-time study is only possible for both degree programs.

International students from non-EU countries with a residence permit for study purposes must consult the relevant immigration office before changing their purpose of residence to part-time study. The immigration office only approves part-time study in exceptional cases where special grounds such as illness or caring for relatives apply.

Implications of Part-Time Study

Part-time student status may affect various social benefits. A decision to study part-time should therefore be carefully considered and reviewed individually with the relevant office before submitting an application. In this context, the Central Student Advisory Service primarily advises on the fundamental implications of part-time study and in particular on students wishing to use part-time study to work or on questions regarding the compatibility of part-time study with compensation for disadvantage.

Please note that it is only possible to briefly outline the most important aspects here. The information provided is therefore not necessarily complete.

The Application Process – How to Start Studying Part-Time

If eligibility for part-time study has been determined for the relevant degree program or the relevant program combination, students can apply for part-time study within the following application periods via their PULS account (applications to the Student Administration Center/Office of Student Affairs):

Undergraduate students (bachelor’s degree and first state examination in law)

• for the winter semester: 15 June –15 September
• for the summer semester: 15 January –15 March

Master’s degree students

• for the winter semester: 15 June –15 October
• for the summer semester: 15 January –15 April

First-year students who intend to study part-time for the first semester of study in the degree program must submit a separate application for this together with their application for enrollment within the official enrollment period (online via PULS).

You can apply for part-time study for a period of one semester at a time or for a maximum of two consecutive semesters. If an application has been submitted for two consecutive semesters, it can be withdrawn for the second semester within the above-mentioned application periods for the second semester.

Getting Good Advice to Help You Decide

If you have any questions about part-time study, departmental advising can be a good option for planning your studies individually as part of a part-time program, taking your own ideas into account. The Central Student Advisory Service will also be happy to advise you on the basic considerations involved in studying part-time.