Joint Examination Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree

Programmes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland

University

25 February 2021

Note: This translation is provided for information purposes only. In the event of any
discrepancy between the translation and the original German version published in the
Official Bulletin (Dienstblatt der Hochschulen des Saarlandes), the provisions of the latter
shall take precedence.

Pursuant to Section 64 of the Saarland University Act as amended by the Act of 8–

9 December 2020 (Official Gazette of Saarland I (2021), p. 53) and pursuant to the Framework
Examination Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes at Saarland
University (BMRPO) of 17 June 2015 (Official Bulletin of the Institutions of Higher Education
in Saarland, p. 474) and with the consent of the University Senate and the University Board,
the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University hereby issues the
following Joint Examination Regulations for the Consecutive Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
Programmes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.

Content:

I. General provisions
Section 1 Scope
Section 2 General information
Section 3 Types of degree programmes
Section 4 Student workload
Section 5 Standard period of study
Section 6 Modularization and ECTS credits
Section 7 The Examination Board
Section 8 Examiners, thesis examiners, supervisors, observers
Section 9 Studying part-time
Section 10 Progress checks
Section 11 Core skills
Section 12 Admission to the Master’s programme

II. Student assessments

Section 13 Student assessments
Section 14 Participation in student assessments
Section 15 Academic accommodations
Section 16 Grading/marking of student assessments and grading system
Section 17 Repeating academic assessments and examinations
Section 18 Deception and plagiarism
Section 19 Recognition of previous periods of study and earlier coursework, exam admission
prerequisites and examination credits

III. Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis

Section 20 Admission to the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis phase
Section 21 Subject of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
Section 22 Duration and deadlines
Section 23 Procedural elements, presentation and layout of the thesis

IV. Degree qualification

Section 24 Successfully completing the Bachelor’s or Master’s programme and overall grade
Section 25 Degree qualification and certification

V. Final provisions
Section 26 Commencement

I General provisions

Section 1
Scope

These regulations govern all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in the Faculty of
Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University. The organization of the
curriculum, teaching and examinations conducted in these programmes is the responsibility of
the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science and any other faculties or departments
listed in the subject-specific examination regulations.

Section 2
General information

(1) The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University shall confer
either a Bachelor of Science degree ([Link].) or a Master of Science degree ([Link].) on students
who have successfully completed the respective programme in accordance with the
assessment and examination procedures set out in these examination regulations.

(2) The goal of the Bachelor’s degree programme is to enable students to develop the ability
to work on both theory-driven aspects and practical applications of the subject and to acquire
an understanding of the fundamental concepts and methodologies used. The Bachelor’s
degree is the first higher education degree recognized as a professional qualification in
Germany. The Bachelor’s degree curriculum may be more research-focused or more
practically focused depending on the provisions of the relevant subject-specific examination
regulations.

(3) The goal of the Master’s degree programme is to impart to students the methods and
techniques used in scientific research and to acquire a more detailed understanding of key
research results in the chosen subject. Details of a more research-focused or a more practically
focused curriculum are set out in the provisions of the relevant subject-specific examination
regulations.

(4) In order to meet its obligations pursuant to Section 23(1) of the Saarland University Act, the
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University shall establish subject-
specific examination boards that conduct, supervise and approve student assessments
(including the Bachelor’s and Master’s theses) in the degree programmes managed by the
faculty. The examination boards shall receive organizational support form the faculty’s
Examinations Office. More detailed provisions are set out in Section 7.

(5) All of the degree programmes may be studied part-time (cf. Sec. 9).

(6) Details regarding the content and structure of a degree programme are governed by the
provisions of the relevant programme-specific study regulations, which describe the structure
of the respective study programme particularly with regard to the compulsory modules and
mandatory elective modules.
(7) Student assessments (including the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis) may only be undertaken
by a student who is properly enrolled for the relevant programme of study. In exceptional cases
and where reasonable grounds exist, a student may apply to the relevant Examination Board
for exemption from this requirement. The application may be submitted irrespective of the
applicant’s enrolment status.

(8) For the purposes of these examination regulations, degree programmes at the Faculty of
Mathematics and Computer Science are deemed comparable as per Section 80(1), item 4 of
the Saarland Higher Education Institutions Act (SHSG) if the study regulations governing these
programmes each contain identical compulsory modules worth at least 18 ECTS credits.

Section 3
Types of degree programmes

As a rule, the degree programmes offered by the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer
Science are single-subject programmes within the meaning of the Framework Examination
Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes at Saarland University
(BMRPO). Other provisions may be contained in the subject-specific examination regulations.

Section 4
Student workload

(1) The student workload in a programme of study is guided by the system of academic credits
defined in Section 6, in which one ECTS credit (‘1 CP’) is awarded for 30 hours of study. A
total of 180 ECTS credits are required to complete a single-subject Bachelor’s degree
programme. Of that total, 12 credits are awarded for the Bachelor’s thesis. A total of 120 ECTS
credits are required to complete a single-subject Master’s degree programme. Of that total,
30 credits are awarded for the Master’s thesis.

(2) The programme-specific study regulations and the associated study plan shall be
structured to ensure that the student workload is distributed evenly over the course of the
degree programme so that students can acquire approximately 60 ECTS credits in each year
of the programme.

(3) The type and scope of the proposed student assessments shall be such that students can
complete the programme of study within the standard period of study (see Section 5). As a
rule, students taking a course or module shall be offered two dates for academic assessment
or examination within the academic year in which the relevant module or course took place,
provided that this is compatible with the type of module or course being taken. Furthermore,
the degree programmes are structured so that they offer periods in which students may study
at other universities or acquire relevant external practical work experience without extending
the length of time a student spends on the programme.

(4) The subject-specific examination regulations may stipulate compulsory regular attendance
at those taught courses in which regular personal participation is necessary in order to achieve
the objectives of the module or course (e.g. seminars, practical assignments, problem-solving
classes).

Section 5
Standard period of study

(1) The standard period of full-time study for a single-subject Bachelor’s degree programme is
six semesters, which includes the time taken to complete the final academic assessment
phase. For a single-subject Master’s degree programme, the standard period of full-time study
is four semesters including the time taken to complete the final academic assessment phase.

(2) Special provisions governing part-time study are set out in Section 9.

(3) Semesters in which a student was granted leave of absence from the programme shall not
be added to the standard period of study.

(4) When assessing the standard period of study the Examination Board shall, on request, take
account of statutory periods of maternity leave, periods of parental leave and family care
obligations (particularly caring for one or more children under the age of 18 or providing support
to family members with care needs) as well as the special needs of students with disabilities.

(5) The programme-specific study regulations shall state the semester (standard study
semester) by which each module or module element should be completed (see rules regarding
failed first attempts (Freiversuch option) in Section 17(4) and the rules in Section 17(5)
regarding retakes in order to improve the grade awarded).

Section 6
Modularization and ECTS credits

(1) Modularization is understood to mean the pooling of subject matter on a particular topic or
area of interest to create an academic unit (‘module’) that is taught over a specified period of
time. Students taking a module are assessed or examined on the content and, if they pass,
are awarded ECTS credits, which are often referred to in Germany as ‘credit points’ or ‘CPs’.
A module typically comprises one or more taught subunits (‘module elements’) whose contents
have been matched to one another and that are taught in a single semester or in two
consecutive semesters and that conclude with (one or more) academic assessments or
examinations (usually a single end-of-module examination).

(2) The successful completion of a programme module is documented by recording the ECTS
credits awarded. One ECTS credit corresponds to an average student workload of 30 hours of
classroom and self-directed study. This base value shall be specified when documenting a
student’s academic achievements.

(3) As a rule, credits are awarded when a student successfully completes an academic
assessment or examination, in some cases in conjunction with exam admission prerequisites
(cf. Section 13(5)). In the case of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses, written assignments,
practical assignments, tutoring activities, etc., the number of academic credits awarded shall
reflect the average student workload including any associated preparatory and follow-up
activity.

(4) Modules and any associated module elements are described in the programme-specific
study regulations. Each module (and module element) will be listed together with the
corresponding number of credit hours per week and/or the overall time requirements and the
student workload expressed in ECTS credits. Information shall also be provided about the type
of assessment or examination associated with a particular module or module element,
including whether academic credits are awarded for assessments of one or more module
elements (module element assessments in contrast to the more usual end-of-module
examination). As a rule, information shall also be provided about how often each module or
module element is offered (cf. Section 4(2)).

(5) The purpose of an end-of-module examination or a module element assessment is to

demonstrate that students have achieved the learning objectives for that module or module
element, that they have an understanding of the key aspects of the relevant subject matter and
methodologies, and that they are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired. End-of-
module examinations and module element assessments are undertaken throughout the
programme of study and are also part of the final assessment phase of the Bachelor’s and
Master’s degrees (cf. Sections 24 and 25). Academic achievement in a module or module
element shall be expressed either as a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ or shall be specified as a graded
assessment in accordance with the grading system set out in Section 16. Modules shall, as a
rule, be graded; any exceptions are set out in programme-specific study regulations.

(6) ECTS credits can only be acquired if the student workload is at least one credit and the
module or module element concludes with a graded or ungraded assessment or examination.
Modules that comprise several module elements shall be deemed to have been completed
only if all of the component module elements have been completed.

(7) As each module element is itself part of a module, it is uniquely associated with an end-of-
module examination, unless it has its own specific module element assessment.

(8) The ECTS credits earned will be documented on the course certificate or transcript issued
for the relevant modules or module elements. The credits that can be earned for an academic
module composed of several module elements are calculated as the sum of the credits from
the individual component module elements.

(9) An academic record shall be kept for each student that shall be updated by recording the
number of ECTS credits achieved by that student each semester through academic
assessment and examination. Coursework credits and examination credits that were awarded
elsewhere and have been deemed transferable (e.g. credits from a distance-learning or study-
abroad programme) will also be included in the academic record. Course credits can also be
taken into account even if they are in excess of the minimum total number of credits required
for a degree programme.

Section 7
The Examination Board

(1) The subject-specific examination boards, as defined in Section 2(4), shall comprise:
1. three representatives from the group of professorial staff in the relevant subject areas within
the faculty
2. a representative from the group of mid-level teaching staff in the relevant subject areas
within the faculty
3. a representative, who shall have limited voting rights, from the group of students in the
relevant subject areas within the faculty.
The subject-specific examination regulations may stipulate that the Examination Board shall
be of different composition.
The member from the group of students shall only have an advisory vote on the Examination
Board if questions regarding the grading of the final assessment phase of the Bachelor’s or
Master’s degree arise, unless said member is appropriately qualified.
Each member of the Examination Board shall have a deputy who represents them in their
absence. The members of the Examination Board defined in items 1 to 3 above and their
deputies are elected for a term of up to two years by the Faculty Council after being nominated
by the relevant member groups within the faculty. Members may be re-elected at the end of
their term. If a member or deputy member of the Board withdraws before the end of their term,
a replacement shall be selected for the remainder of the term.
(2) The Examination Board shall appoint a Chair and Deputy Chair from the members of the
Board specified in items 1 and 2 of Subsection 1 above.
(3) The Examination Board shall be quorate when its members have been duly notified and a
majority of voting members is present. Decisions of the Board shall be made by a simple
majority of the voting members in attendance. In the event of a tie, the Chair shall have the
casting vote.

(4) The members and deputy members of the Examination Board are obliged to maintain
confidentiality in accordance with Section 17(2) of the Fundamental Principles and Rules
Governing Saarland University (Grundordnung der Universität des Saarlandes).

(5) The Examination Board is responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions of the
programme-specific examination regulations. Specifically, the Examination Board shall
1. decide on (i) applications for admission to student assessments over the course of the
degree programme and (ii) applications for registration for the final assessment phase of
the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme
2. decide on requests for exemption from the requirements governing admission or
registration for academic assessment or examination
3. decide on whether to accept coursework assessments, exam admission prerequisites or
academic assessments or examinations in a form other than that normally prescribed
4. appoint the examiner (thesis examiner) and the second examiner and the supervisor for
the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
5. decide on requests to extend the completion period for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
or to extend the time for completing written academic assessments
6. decide on requests regarding the language used for student assessments and for the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
7. consult with the relevant members from the group of professorial staff (Section 13(1),
item 1 of the Saarland University Act) with respect to recognizing coursework and
examination credits
8. appoint, if necessary, a third thesis examiner for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
9. determine the grade to be awarded for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
10. decide on requests for statutory periods of maternity leave, periods of parental leave and
family care obligations (particularly caring for one or more children under the age of 18
or providing support to family members with care needs) and on requests relating to the
special needs of students with disabilities
11. decide on applications seeking approval for a third repeat assessment
12. decide on requests to extend the time frame for a student’s progress check
13. decide on whether exceptional circumstances apply for a student requesting academic
assessment when taking leave of absence from his or her studies in accordance with
Section 9(6) of the Regulations Governing Student Enrolment at Saarland University
(Immatrikulationsordnung)
14. decide on whether to annul the results of academic assessments or examinations and
to terminate a final assessment phase, and to review decisions regarding the grading of
academic assessments or examinations if these have been influenced by student
deception, and to review any decisions to exclude a student from an academic
assessment or examination
15. decide on objections raised by a candidate with regard to the grading of academic
assessments or examinations after consultation with the relevant examiner
16. decide on any subsequent correction of academic grades and on whether to invalidate
the final assessment phase of the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme
17. decide on applications for admission to the Master’s degree programme.

(6) The Examination Board may delegate the duties assigned to it, either generally or in specific
individual cases, to the Chair of the Examination Board. Unless otherwise provided for, the
following shall apply: The duties set out in Subsection 5, items 1 to 13 above shall be carried
out on behalf of the Examination Board by the Chair of the Board. If a decision previously made
by the Chair is contested either by a candidate or by a member of the Examination Board, the
decision shall be taken by the Examination Board; in the case of objections regarding the
grading of individual assessments or examinations, decisions shall be made on the basis of
statements to be obtained from the examiners responsible for proposing the original grade.

Section 8
Examiners, thesis examiners, supervisors, observers
(1) The Examination Board shall appoint from the relevant department examiners, thesis
examiners and/or thesis supervisors drawn from the following groups:
1. university professors
2. junior professors (assistant professors)
3. emeritus or retired university professors
4. honorary professors
5. senior academics qualified to professorial level
6. professors on special contracts
7. co-opted professors.
The subject-specific examination regulations may stipulate additional groups.

(2) After consultation with those persons competent in the relevant subject area and belonging
to the professorial groups in Subsection 1 above, the Examination Board may in special cases
also appoint as examiners, thesis examiners and/or thesis supervisors persons who belong to
the professorial groups in Subsection 1 but are from the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer
Science or from other faculties at Saarland University or at other universities, or who belong
to the group of mid-level teaching staff or part-time external teaching staff who teach in the
relevant subject area, or who belong to an external research organizations as defined in
Section 25(6) of the Saarland University Act (‘On-Campus or Near-Campus Research
Institutes’). The subject-specific examination regulations may stipulate additional groups.

(3) Former faculty members as specified in Subsection 1, items 1 to 3 and 7, who no longer
work at Saarland University, may, with their consent, be appointed to the Examination Board
within a period of five years after leaving the faculty. Honorary professors, senior academics
qualified to professorial level and professors on special contracts who no longer have teaching
duties, and temporary professors who taught for more than two semesters, may, with their
consent, be appointed to the Examination Board within a period of two years after leaving the
faculty.

(4) The examiners conducting student assessments shall include the members of academic
staff who teach the corresponding module elements.

(5) The observer at an oral examination, as specified in Section 13(8), shall be a member of
the university or one of the on-campus or near-campus research institutes who has an
academic qualification relevant to the subject matter of the examination.

(6) Academic assessments and examinations may only be assessed by persons with at least
the same qualification or an equivalent qualification to that being examined or assessed.

(7) At least one of the examiners of a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall belong to one of the
professorial groups specified in Subsection 1, items 1 to 7 above.

Section 9
Studying part-time

(1) Students and prospective students may be enrolled at the university as part-time students
if they are only able to study for at least 50% and no more than 60% of their available working
hours due to employment obligations, pregnancy, maternity leave, caring for one or more
children under the age of 18, supporting family members with care needs, or for some other
important reason.

(2) Applications for part-time study shall be submitted to the Examination Board no later than
two weeks before the enrolment or re-registration deadline for the relevant semester. Once the
Examination Board has granted consent, the student will be enrolled or registered as a part-
time student by the Admissions Office.

(3) If the volume of academic work undertaken by a part-time student in one semester exceeds
60% of the academic credit associated with full-time study (typically 18 ECTS credits), that
semester shall be treated as if the student were studying full-time. The volume of academic
work shall be calculated on the basis of the assessments completed and examinations taken
by the student in that semester, irrespective of whether or not a pass or fail grade was attained.
In individual cases in which the student workload only marginally exceeded the limit for part-
time study, the student may apply to offset the excess student workload against, for example,
a reduced workload in the latter part of the same academic year. More detailed provisions are
set out in the Regulations Governing Student Enrolment at Saarland University
(Immatrikulationsordnung).

(4) The standard period of study for part-time study is twice the standard period of study for
full-time study.

(5) If a student studies part-time for only a portion of the degree programme, or if the subject-
specific examination regulations permit only certain sections of the programme to be studied
part-time, the standard period of study shall be calculated from the respective portions, with
the result rounded up to the next highest number of whole semesters.

(6) Except in exceptional cases and where reasonable grounds exist, students shall complete
their Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis as a full-time student. If the thesis is to be completed in part-
time study, the student shall nevertheless complete the thesis within the usual thesis
completion period. If reasonable grounds exist, the Examination Board may on request agree
to extend the thesis completion period in accordance with the provisions of Section 22(2). Any
extension of the thesis completion period shall not alter the number of ECTS credits awarded.

(7) Part-time study does not create any legal entitlement to the provision of special programme
content or a modified curriculum.

(8) No liability shall be accepted and no responsibility borne for any effects that part-time study
may have on areas for which the Faculty is not responsible, or that it may have on courses or
modules offered by external institutions. Students are obliged to contact the appropriate bodies
in good time to ensure that they are familiar with information relevant in this regard.

(9) A student that remains as a part-time student may be required to undertake a study
counselling interview every two semesters with the counselling or advisory service responsible
for the student’s programme of study.

Section 10
Progress checks

(1) Unless otherwise provided for in the subject-specific examination regulations, the minimum
academic progress requirements for a Bachelor’s degree programme are set out in
Subsection 2; those for a Master’s degree programme are set out in Subsection 3 below.

(2) A student studying full-time for a Bachelor’s degree programme shall fulfil the following
minimum academic progress requirements:
- after 1 semester, a total of at least 9 ECTS credits
- after 2 semesters, a total of at least 18 ECTS credits
- after 4 semesters, a total of at least 60 ECTS credits
- after 6 semesters, a total of at least 105 ECTS credits
- after 9 semesters, a total of at least 165 ECTS credits.

(3) A student studying full-time for a Master’s degree programme shall fulfil the following
minimum academic progress requirements:
- after 1 semester, a total of at least 9 ECTS credits
- after 2 semesters, a total of at least 30 ECTS credits
- after 4 semesters, a total of at least 60 ECTS credits
- after 6 semesters, a total of at least 90 ECTS credits.

(4) For students studying part-time, the time frames set out in Subsections 2 and 3 shall be
extended as follows:
- for one or two semesters of part-time study, an extension of one semester
- for three or four semesters of part-time study, an extension of two semesters
- for five or six semesters of part-time study, an extension of three semesters
- for seven or eight semesters of part-time study, an extension of four semesters
- for nine or ten semesters of part-time study, an extension of five semesters.
In cases in which a student has studied part-time for more than ten semesters, any
extensions shall be decided by the Examination Board.

(5) If a student does not achieve the expected minimum academic progress by the end of a
semester, they shall be notified in writing that there is a risk of not fulfilling the academic
requirements for the programme. The student shall be offered a study counselling interview.

(6) If in two consecutive semesters a student fails to achieve the minimum academic progress
requirement expected of students at the end of the respective semesters, the student shall
lose the right to be examined in the academic programme for which he or she is enrolled as
well in comparable degree courses of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science,
pursuant to Section 80(1), item 4 of the Saarland Higher Education Institutions Act of
30 November 2016, most recently amended in law on 10 April 2019 (Official Gazette of
Saarland I, p. 412). If this situation arises, the Examination Board shall notify the student in
writing and shall include information on the candidate’s right of appeal. Before any final
decision is made by the Examination Board, the student shall be given the opportunity to make
representations about this matter.

(7) In exceptional cases and where reasonable grounds exist, the Examination Board may
agree to a reasonable extension (typically one semester) of the time frames set out in
Subsections 2 and 3.

(8) A student’s enrolment status may be revoked in accordance with the provisions of
Section 82(4), item 2 of the Saarland Higher Education Institutions Act of 30 November 2016,
most recently amended in law on 10 April 2019 (Official Gazette of Saarland I, p. 412) if the
student has for more than four consecutive semesters made no demonstrable progress in the
degree programme for which they are enrolled or if they have failed to complete the final
assessment phase within twice the standard period of study.

Section 11
Core skills

(1) The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science promotes the teaching, acquisition and
recognition of core skills for students as a supplementary part of the degree programmes
offered. The term ‘core skills’ is understood to mean those cross-disciplinary abilities,
approaches and elements of knowledge that are potentially useful when solving problems and
learning new skills in the broadest possible fields of application, such as developing and
improving study, self-learning, teaching and research skills, professional and workplace
competence, and personal development and citizenship. As demonstrated by the examples
referred to above, core skills are regarded as key methodological, social and personal skills.

(2) Students involved in official committee work or mentoring activities at Saarland University
or for the student body may apply to have this recognized with up to 3 ECTS credits, based on
the assumption that 1.5 credits are earned when the student carries out one hour of such work
during each week of a semester. In the case of committee work, the actual work carried out by
a student shall be confirmed by means of an official certificate that states the time and duration
of the activity and precisely describes the type of activity performed. Furthermore, the student
is required to demonstrate convincingly the extent to which core skills have been acquired
through the voluntary work performed.

(3) As a rule, students who work as course tutors shall be awarded 4 credits (cf. the
programme-specific study regulations).

(4) Students who have acquired core skills through other work or activities at Saarland
University or at another German or foreign university may apply to have this work recognized.
In cases in which the core skills were acquired elsewhere than at Saarland University, Section
19(4) shall apply accordingly.

(5) More detailed provisions are set out in the programme-specific study regulations or are
specified by the relevant examination board.

Section 12
Admission to the Master’s programme

(1) Students seeking admission to a Master’s degree programme shall have a Bachelor’s
degree or equivalent qualification. Admission shall also be dependent on successful
completion of an aptitude test, or by providing proof that a certain average grade was achieved
in the earlier degree, or by some other suitable means. Further details are set out in the subject-
specific examination regulations.

(2) An academic degree awarded by a German university, a recognized foreign university or

an approved distance-learning institution will be accepted provided that there is no significant
difference in the academic content of this external degree with that of the equivalent degree
awarded by Saarland University.

(3) Applicants who do not yet have their Bachelor’s examination certificate may apply for
provisional admission to the Master’s programme provided that by the start of the Master’s
programme they will have successfully completed all of the examination and assessment
requirements for the Bachelor’s programme and the Bachelor’s thesis. In such cases, the
Bachelor’s examination certificate should be submitted no later than three months after the
beginning of the first semester.

If the formal requirements set out in Subsection 1, sentence 1 above are met, the curricular
content of the applicant’s first degree will be analysed on the basis of descriptions of the
required academic content as laid out in the subject-specific examination regulations in order
to verify that the applicant has the academic knowledge and skills needed to meet the
requirements of the Master’s degree programme particularly with respect to the programme’s
structure and areas of specialization.

(5) If the requirements of Subsection 4 are not met, the student may be provisionally admitted
to the relevant Master’s degree programme on condition that he or she acquires the missing
curricular content in a supplementary study programme and within a specified period of time.
Unless otherwise provided for in the subject-specific examination regulations, the shortfall in
curricular content shall not exceed 30 ECTS credits. The procedure to be followed in such
cases shall be determined in consultation with a departmental or subject representative who
has the authority to conduct examinations; the agreed procedure shall be recorded in writing.

(6) An applicant shall not be admitted to the Master’s programme if the formal admission
criteria have not been met.

(7) Decisions regarding admissions to Master’s degree programmes are made by the
Examination Board. In case of doubt, the relevant departmental representatives shall be
consulted.

(8) The Examination Board shall inform the applicant in writing about whether the application
has been accepted or rejected. If relevant, the applicant shall also be notified of any conditions
pertaining to a provisional admission as defined in Subsection 5.

II. Student assessments

Section 13
Student assessments

(1) Student assessments are oral and/or written evaluations (including those in electronic
form), some of which may be spread across a number of dates. Other forms of student
assessment (e.g. relating to artistic performances or achievements) may be specified in certain
special cases. The type and duration of a student assessment in a specific module or module
element shall be announced at the beginning of that module or module element. If a
combination of assessments is used, students shall be notified of the weighting of the
respective parts.

(2) The purpose of student assessments is to demonstrate that students have achieved the
learning objectives for a particular module or module element, that they have an understanding
of the key aspects of the relevant subject matter and methodologies, and that they are able to
apply the knowledge and skills acquired. Student assessments cover coursework
assessments, exam admission prerequisites, and academic assessments or examinations.

(3) Coursework assessments are completed during the programme and are awarded a pass
or fail; a numerical grade is not given or, if given, is not included when determining the final
grade awarded for completing the module. Whether and in which type of course or module
coursework assessments are required is specified in the programme-specific study
regulations. The type and duration of required coursework assessments shall be announced
at the beginning of the respective course or module. Any such requirement shall take account
of the overall stipulated student workload. Before a student can graduate, proof shall be
provided that all required coursework assessments have been completed successfully.

(4) Each module or module has an examination or assessment period. For modules and
courses held in the winter semester, the assessment period generally runs from the start of
the semester, i.e. 1 October, until 14 May; for modules and courses in the summer semester,
the assessment period runs from the start of the semester, i.e. 1 April, until 14 November. If
an assessment period differs from the above arrangements, students shall be notified
accordingly at the beginning of the relevant module or course. The assessment period for a
module comprising several module elements that take place at different times shall, as a rule,
be the assessment period associated with the last module element to be completed.
(5) As a rule, modules will include exam admission prerequisites (i.e. requirements that need
to be met before a student may take the final examination or assessment associated with a
module or module element). Except in exceptional cases and where reasonable grounds exist,
the exam admission prerequisites for a module or module element shall be completed within
the assessment period associated with that module or module element. Failure to do so shall
require the exam admission prerequisite to be repeated. Exam admission prerequisites may
be graded or ungraded and the grade may form part of the final grade awarded for completing
the module. Students shall be notified at the beginning of a module or module element about
how exam admission prerequisites are weighted when calculating the final grade for a module
or module element.

(6) Each module or module element shall include an academic assessment or examination
that is usually graded and that students will normally be required to complete within the
associated assessment period unless exceptional circumstances apply. Students who
successfully complete the academic assessment or examination and, where applicable, any
coursework assessments associated with a module shall be deemed to have met the learning
objectives of the module and shall be awarded the corresponding number of ECTS credits.
Students shall be notified at least three weeks in advance about the dates of academic
assessments or examinations.

(7) Written examinations shall be invigilated by an examiner or by an authorized person for

whom the examiner is responsible. As a rule, written examinations shall last at least 60 minutes
and not more than 180 minutes. Written examinations are usually marked within four weeks.

(8) Oral examinations shall be conducted by two examiners or by one examiner and an
observer who is familiar with the subject matter of the examination. As a rule, oral examinations
shall last at least 15 minutes and not more than 60 minutes per examination candidate. If space
allows, students studying in the same subject area or within the same degree programme may
be permitted to attend the oral examination provided that the candidate being examined does
not object. Permission to attend does not cover the examiners’ discussions nor the
announcement of the result. The examiner shall consult with the observer before deciding on
the grade to be given. The main topics addressed in an oral exam, the results and the grade(s)
awarded shall be recorded in writing and the report shall be signed by the examiner and the
observer. The grade(s) attained shall be communicated to the candidate immediately after the
oral examination.

(9) Student assessments in seminars may be in the form of oral assessments (e.g. student
presentations) and/or of written assessments (e.g. written assignments, class summary
reports). The assessments are graded by an examiner, who is usually the seminar instructor.
As a rule, a written assignment or summary report will be graded within six weeks.

(10) If there are valid grounds, the Examination Board may in exceptional cases agree to a
reasonable extension of a written assessment (e.g. a written assignment, class summary
report). An extension of one working day for each ECTS credit associated with the written
assessment is generally regarded as reasonable, with a week considered to be five working
days. However, a reasonable extension shall never exceed twice the period normally provided
for completing the written assessment. Any extension granted shall not alter the number of
ECTS credits awarded. If a student does not adhere to the extended deadline, he or she shall
be awarded a fail grade for the written assessment. Repeat attempts shall be subject to the
requirements set out in Section 17(1).

(11) If a candidate is prevented from working on a written assessment (e.g. a written

assignment or a class summary report) for a period of more than one week because of illness
or some other cause beyond the candidate’s control, the deadline for submission of the written
assessment shall be extended accordingly. The candidate shall notify the Examinations Office
immediately and shall provide supporting documentation, e.g. in the event of illness, the
candidate shall provide a medical certificate issued by a physician. If a child who is cared for
by the candidate becomes ill, the child’s illness shall be treated as if the candidate was ill. The
candidate shall demonstrate that it was necessary for him or her to care for the ill child by
providing a medical certificate issued by a physician in accordance with Article 45 of Book V
of the German Social Welfare Code (SGB V). If the period in which the candidate is prevented
from working on the written assessment exceeds one month, the Examination Board may
classify the assessment as ‘not attempted’. In such cases, the candidate shall be given a new
written assessment once the reasons for the interruption cease to apply.

(12) The Examination Board shall, on request, take account of statutory periods of maternal
leave, periods of parental leave and family care obligations (particularly caring for one or more
children under the age of 18 or providing support to family members with care needs) as well
as the special needs of students with disabilities. If student assessments have to be completed
before specific deadlines, these deadlines will, on request, be extended by the statutory period
of maternal leave. This shall not affect any academic accommodation granted to a student in
accordance with Section 15.

(13) If an objection is raised with respect to the grading of an academic assessment or

examination, the Examination Board shall reach a decision after consultation with the relevant
examiner(s).

(14) The language of examination is German or English and will generally be the language of
instruction used in the relevant module. Another language of examination may be permitted if
so agreed by the candidate, the examiner, and, if applicable, the observer.

Section 14
Participation in student assessments

(1) The application to be admitted for academic examination occurs automatically with the
application to enrol at Saarland University. Enrolled students are therefore eligible to undergo
academic examination.

(2) A student seeking to register for a specific academic assessment or examination will
generally register via the Saarland University Campus Management System. In exceptional
cases, the Faculty Examinations Office may, if requested, register a student for a specific
academic assessment or examination. Students shall register no later than one week before
the first academic assessment or examination associated with the relevant module or module
element.

(3) Whether a student is permitted to take an exam admission prerequisite or is admitted to an

academic assessment or examination may depend on other factors. Further details are set out
in the subject-specific examination regulations or in the relevant study regulations. The
decision to admit a candidate to a particular academic assessment or examination shall be
made by the Examination Board.

(4) The application to register for a particular academic assessment or examination or for an
exam admission prerequisite shall only be refused if the requirements set out in Subsections 2
and 3 above have not been met or if the candidate has lost his or her right of examination for
the relevant module or for the entire programme.

(5) A student may withdraw from an academic assessment or examination for which he or she
is registered up to one week prior to the date of the first assessment or examination for the
particular module or module element. In the case of seminars, introductory seminars and
practical assignments, a student may withdraw no later than three weeks after a topic has been
assigned or the preliminary organizational meeting held. If a candidate who has been
registered for an academic assessment or examination withdraws after the withdrawal
deadline has passed and without reasonable grounds, the students shall be deemed to have
failed that academic assessment or examination.

(6) If a candidate fails to attend an academic assessment or examination on the set date
without good cause or if the candidate withdraws after the assessment or examination has
begun, the candidate shall be awarded a fail grade. The same applies if a written assessment
is not completed within the stipulated period.

(7) If there are credible reasons why a candidate failed to attend an assessment or examination
or why he or she withdrew after the withdrawal deadline had passed, these reasons shall be
submitted immediately and in writing to the Examination Board. If the candidate was ill, the
candidate is required to present a medical certificate issued by a physician. In certain individual
cases, the Chair of the Examination Board may have good reason to demand a comprehensive
medical opinion or a medical certificate issued by a public medical officer. This situation may
arise if the same candidate has repeatedly presented a medical certificate issued by a
physician, if the medical findings are unclear, or in order to counter possible abuses. If a
candidate withdraws from or fails to attend an academic assessment or examination because
a child cared for by the candidate was ill, the child’s illness shall be treated as if the candidate
was ill. The candidate shall demonstrate that it was necessary for him or her to care for the ill
child by providing a medical certificate issued by a physician in accordance with Article 45 of
Book V of the German Social Welfare Code (SGB V). If the reasons given for the withdrawal
or non-attendance are accepted, the assessment or examination shall be deemed not to have
been attempted, and a new date for assessment or examination may be scheduled if this is
compatible with the particular type of assessment or examination proposed.

Section 15
Academic accommodations

(1) If a candidate submits a medical certificate issued by a physician that states that due to a
prolonged or permanent health impairment he or she is not in a position to undertake
coursework assessments, exam admission prerequisites or academic
assessments/examinations, either in part or in full, in the prescribed form, the Examination
Board can, on request, approve appropriate academic accommodations. Appropriate
academic accommodations include such measures as adapting the conditions under which an
assessment or examination is to be conducted (e.g. permitting the use of suitable aids),
extending the period in which an assessment or examination is to be completed, or some other
modification of the assessment process or its format, i.e. demonstrating the same level of
academic knowledge or competence in some other form. Changing the form or format in which
an assessment or examination is conducted shall only be considered when an appropriate
level of academic accommodation cannot be provided by adapting the assessment or
examination conditions or by extending the completion period. In no case shall academic
accommodation result in any modification of the academic content of the assessment or
examination. The same shall apply analogously to coursework assessments.

(2) If there is a continuing need to accommodate a student’s health impairment, the student
shall renew his or her application for academic accommodation as per Subsection 1 above
every two semesters.

(3) The medical certificate issued by a physician, as required in Subsection 1 above, shall at a
minimum contain: information on the physical or mental disability arising from the prolonged or
permanent impairment; how, from a medical perspective, this impacts the student’s ability to
study or undergo academic assessment; the date of the medical examination on the basis of
which the certificate was issued; and a medical estimate of the duration of the prolonged
impairment or a statement that the impairment is permanent. The Chair of the Examination
Board may dispense with the need for a medical certificate if it is readily apparent that the
student is suffering from a chronic health condition.

Section 16
Grading/marking of student assessments and grading system

(1) If student work is to be graded, the following grading system shall be used:
1 ‘Very good’ – outstanding performance
2 ‘Good’ – student performance significantly better than average
3 ‘Satisfactory’ – student performance meets average requirements
4 ‘Sufficient’ – student performance that despite its shortcomings still meets the
minimum requirements
5 ‘Fail’ – Failure to meet the minimum requirements due to significant shortcomings in
student performance.

(2) To provide a more differentiated scale with which to grade student assessments,
intermediate grades may be awarded by raising or lowering the grade by 0.3 accordingly; the
grades 0.7, 4.3, 4.7 and 5.3 are excluded from the scale.

(3) The grade is supplemented by an ECTS grading that provides a means of assessing a
student’s achievements in relative terms and that is included in the diploma supplement and/or
the transcript of records. The ECTS grading scale uses a statistical scheme to classify the
performance of an individual student relative to the performance of other students. Students
who have passed the minimum requirements are usually graded as follows:
A the top 10%
B the next 25%
C the next 30%
D the next 25%
E the next 10%.

This approach shall be used if the size of the reference cohort is large enough to enable reliable
statements to be made about percentage distributions (the reference cohort should not contain
fewer than 50 students). Other classification scales that provide a means of assessing how a
student performed relative to other students may also be used. Pragmatic solutions will need
to be found if reference cohorts are too small.

(4) If a module includes more than one graded academic assessment or examination, the final
grade shall, unless otherwise specified in the subject-specific examination regulations, be
computed as follows: The grades from each assessment or examination are multiplied with the
credits associated with the relevant module element(s) and the results added together. The
value so obtained is then divided by the sum of the credits associated with the component
module elements. This result is then rounded to the nearest intermediate grade in accordance
with Subsection 2 above. If the nearest intermediate grade cannot be determined
unambiguously, the better nearest intermediate grade shall be recorded.

(5) If a module does not include an end-of-module examination, the following shall apply: If
some of the module elements have numerically graded assessments/examinations while
others only have a pass/fail option, those pass/fail module elements are not included in the
calculation of the final grade awarded for that module.

(6) A student is deemed to have completed an assessment or examination successfully if he

or she is awarded a ‘pass’ mark or, when numerical grading is applied, achieves at least the
grade ‘sufficient’.
(7) If the individual examiners award different grades for a student assessment, the final grade
shall be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the proposed grades. The result is then rounded
to the nearest intermediate grade in accordance with Subsection 2 above. If the nearest
intermediate grade cannot be determined unambiguously, the better nearest intermediate
grade shall be recorded.

(8) The grade awarded for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall be determined in accordance
with the procedure set out in Section 23(5).

(9) The overall final grade is calculated by first multiplying the grade attained for each relevant
module and for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis with the number of credits associated with
the respective modules or thesis and then adding the results. The value so obtained is then
divided by the sum of the credits associated with the respective modules and with the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. The result shall be rounded down to one decimal place.

(10) At least 50% of the modules taken (measured in terms of credits) should be graded
modules. Programme-specific regulations may stipulate that only some fraction (more than
50%) of the graded assessments or examinations are to be included when calculating the final
grade.

(11) After completing an assessment or examination, the candidate shall, on request, be

granted the opportunity to inspect his or her written work, the examiners’ reports and
examination records. Inspection applications shall be submitted to the Examination Board no
later than one month after the results of the assessment or examination have been announced.
The date and time of the inspection appointment shall be determined by the Examination
Board.

Section 17
Repeating academic assessments and examinations

(1) An academic assessment or examination that was awarded a fail grade may be repeated
twice (cf. provisions governing failed first attempts (Freiversuch option) in Subsection 4 below).
If a candidate does not achieve a passing grade in either of the two repeat assessments or
examinations, he or she loses the right to be examined in that module (see, however, the
provisions in Subsection 2 below). If the assessment or examination relates to an elective or
mandatory elective module, it may be substituted by an assessment or examination in another
elective or mandatory elective module, provided that this latter module is classified as an
alternative in the programme-specific study regulations and that academic credit has not
already been awarded for similar content. If failure to pass an assessment or examination at
the third attempt (i.e. second repeat attempt) would lead to the candidate’s loss of the right to
be examined in the entire degree programme, the assessment or examination shall be
conducted by two examiners. The provisions of Sections 13(4) and 13(5) notwithstanding, the
third attempt at the assessment or examination may, if so agreed with the examiners and the
candidate, be conducted as an oral examination.

(2) In exceptional cases and where reasonable grounds exist, the Examination Board may
consent to a fourth attempt (i.e. a third repeat assessment or examination) to be held during
the next possible assessment or examination period while taking due account of the time limits
specified in Section 14(2). Reasonable grounds are considered to exist particularly in cases in
which the student has successfully completed all other academic assessments and
examinations during the degree programme with the exception of the one assessment or
examination for which he or she is applying for a third repeat attempt.

(3) The provisions governing repeat attempts at completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
are set out in Section 23.
(4) If the programme-specific study regulations stipulate the standard study semester in which
a module or module element is to be completed, and if the regulations include provisions on
failed first attempts (Freiversuch option), a student who failed an assessment or examination
at the first scheduled attempt shall be permitted to retake the assessment or examination on
one further occasion during that same semester as if the first failed attempt had not occurred.
In such cases, the candidate is required to repeat the assessment or examination within the
same assessment or examination period (cf. Section 13(4)).

(5) A student who has received academic credits for successfully completing a module
assessment or examination during the standard period of study shall be permitted to retake
the assessment or examination on one further occasion within the same assessment or
examination period (cf. Section 13(4)) in order to improve the grade awarded, provided that
this option is included in the programme-specific study regulations or that notice was given at
the beginning of the module that the assessment or examination may be repeated for this
purpose. The student will be awarded the better of the two grades achieved. In all other cases,
students are not permitted to repeat an assessment or examination for which they have already
achieved at least the minimum passing grade.

(6) Modules that have the same content and that differ only in the language of instruction used
shall be treated as a single module with respect to the number of examination attempts
permitted and the rules regarding failed first attempts (Freiversuch option) or retakes to
improve the grade attained, provided that such provisions are contained in the relevant study
regulations.

Section 18
Deception and plagiarism

(1) If a candidate attempts to register for an assessment or examination by deception, the

Examination Board may decide to nullify the results of previous assessments or examinations
and may stop the examination process.

(2) If a candidate attempts to influence the result of an assessment or examination by

deception or by the use of unauthorized aids, the candidate shall receive a fail grade for that
assessment or examination. Examiners shall report cases of plagiarism to the Examination
Board. If plagiarism has been demonstrated, the relevant module element shall be repeated.
The Examination Board shall notify the student in writing of its decision. A fail grade shall also
be awarded to any candidate whose behaviour prevents the orderly conduct of an academic
assessment or examination and who is excluded from the assessment or examination after
receiving prior warning from the examiner or from a person authorized by the examiner in
accordance with Section 13(7). Within a period of one month, the candidate may ask the
Examination Board to reappraise any decision made pursuant to Subsections 1 and 2. If the
decision of the Examination Board is upheld, the candidate shall receive a fail grade for that
assessment or examination. If the decision of the Examination Board with respect to disorderly
conduct is not upheld, the relevant academic assessment or examination shall be deemed not
to have occurred.

(3) If a candidate is found to have cheated in an assessment or examination and if this fact
only becomes apparent after the examination certificate has been issued, the Examination
Board may retroactively amend the grade awarded for the assessment or examination in which
the candidate was found to have cheated and may assign a fail grade either for the entire
assessment or examination, or for some part thereof.

(4) In very serious cases of deception (particularly when substantial plagiarism is involved) or
in recurring cases, the Examination Board may, after consultation with the student, decide to
revoke the student’s right of examination.
(5) If the registration requirements for an assessment or examination were not met but there
was no intentional misrepresentation on the part of the candidate and if this fact only becomes
apparent after the assessment or examination certificate has been issued, this defect shall be
deemed to have been remedied by the fact that the candidate successfully completed the
assessment or examination. In such cases, the candidate is also bound to accept the result of
the assessment or examination if the candidate was awarded a fail grade. If a candidate
intentionally gained wrongful registration for an assessment or examination, the Examination
Board shall decide on any sanctions.

(6) Before any decision by the Examination Board pursuant to Subsections 1 to 4, the
candidate shall have one month in which to make representations about this matter. The
candidate shall be notified in writing about any decisions made pursuant to Subsections 1 to
4; the letter of notification shall include the reasons for the decision and information on the
candidate’s right of appeal. Decisions pursuant to Subsections 1 to 4 shall be subject to a
period of limitation of five years from the date on which the certificate was signed.

(7) An incorrect certificate of graduation or an incorrect examination certificate issued in

relation to the final assessment phase of the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme shall
be revoked and, if applicable, amended and reissued.

Section 19
Recognition of previous periods of study and earlier coursework and examination
credits

(1) Previous periods of study and earlier coursework and examination credits acquired at a
German university, at a recognized foreign university or at an approved distance-learning
institution will be accepted provided that there are no significant differences in academic
content when compared with the modules for which transfer credits are being accepted. The
term ‘no significant differences’ is understood to mean that, when measured in terms of the
learning objectives achieved, the previous periods of study and earlier coursework and
examination credits meet the requirements specified for the relevant degree programme at
Saarland University.

(2) When recognizing previous periods of study at foreign universities and the academic credits
earned during those periods, the equivalency agreements approved by the Standing
Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK – Kultusministerkonferenz)
and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK – Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) shall be taken into
account, as shall any agreements existing between Saarland University and its partner
universities.

(3) If a student demonstrates that he or she has acquired an equivalent level of competency
and skill (see Subsection 1 above) in a non-university environment, the student shall earn up
to half of the corresponding academic credits allotted in the degree programme.

(4) The candidate is responsible for providing the documentation required for the recognition
process. The student must submit an application for recognition of prior learning. The
application for recognition of prior learning should be made once in the first semester after the
student has enrolled for the relevant degree programme, or, if academic credits were earned
during a study abroad period, in the semester immediately following the student’s return. Any
application submitted after this semester must be accompanied by detailed reasons for late
submission.

(5) If a student switches subjects, recognition shall cover all equivalent coursework and
academic assessments/examinations as per Subsection 1 to 4 above, including those that
received a fail grade. Applications to have only selected items of coursework or selected
academic assessments/examinations recognized are not permitted.
(6) If the previous periods of study or earlier coursework, assessments or examinations for
which recognition is being sought were not associated with a particular number of ECTS
credits, the equivalent number of credits shall be calculated and the academic record for that
student updated accordingly. The grades awarded for graded academic assessments or
examinations shall be transferred and shall be included in the calculation of the overall grade
in accordance with the provisions of the subject-specific examination regulations, the study
regulations and any cooperation agreements with partner universities. If the grading systems
are not comparable or if earlier academic assessments or examinations are ungraded, these
will be transferred as ungraded credits. If the maximum number of ungraded modules has
already been reached, the academic assessment or examination will be transferred with the
grade 4.0, whereby Section 16(10) applies analogously. The recognition of external credits
shall be indicated on the Bachelor’s or Master’s examination certificate.

(7) As a rule, Bachelor’s and Master’s theses that were not assigned as part of a degree
programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Saarland University will
not be recognized.

III. Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis

Section 20
Admission to the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis phase

(1) Students may register for the final assessment phase in which they complete their
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis provided that they have properly completed all of the stipulated
programme requirements. A student shall demonstrate proper completion of the requirements
for the Bachelor’s degree programme by providing proof that he or she has acquired at least
120 credits in accordance with the programme-specific study regulations. A student shall
demonstrate proper completion of the requirements for the Master’s degree programme by
providing proof that he or she has acquired at least 30 credits in accordance with the
programme-specific study regulations. The subject-specific examination regulations may
specify additional conditions that have to be met in order to demonstrate proper completion of
programme requirements.

(2) Applications to register for the Master’s thesis phase shall be submitted to the Examination
Office together with supporting documentation demonstrating proper completion of all
necessary programme requirements.

(3) If reasonable grounds exist, the Examination Board may, on request, admit a candidate to
the final assessment phase if the requirements set out in Subsection 1 above have not yet
been met in full.

Section 21
Subject of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis

(1) The Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis in a single-subject degree programme (see Section 3)
shall address a topic within the core subject area covered by the degree programme. In a dual-
subject degree programme, the subject of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall address a
topic from the main or extended main subject area of the degree programme.

(2) The Examination Board shall appoint a primary thesis examiner, a secondary thesis
examiner and the thesis supervisor. If a thesis supervisor is not appointed, the primary thesis
examiner shall act as supervisor. The candidate may submit proposals regarding the choice
of thesis examiners.
(3) The candidate shall be notified of the topic of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis within a
period of four weeks after the candidate has registered for the final assessment phase. The
candidate shall have the opportunity to submit proposals regarding the topic of the Bachelor’s
or Master’s thesis, but is not obliged to do so.

(4) The candidate may, on request, be given the opportunity to complete the Bachelor’s or
Master’s thesis project externally (e.g. at a commercial or industrial company). Written
confirmation shall be provided that the external company or institution will address the topic
with a suitable level of academic rigour and that it meets other relevant requirements as set
out in the subject-specific examination regulations. The decision on whether to approve the
application shall be made by the Examination Board.

(5) The date on which the topic is announced shall be documented and marks the start of the
period within which the thesis is to be completed.

(6) After receiving notification of the thesis topic, a candidate may within a period of four weeks
decline the assigned topic. A candidate may decline a thesis topic only once. A new topic for
the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall be issued within a period of four weeks after declining
the first topic. The provisions of Subsections 3 and 4 shall apply again. If a Bachelor’s or
Master’s thesis is to be repeated pursuant to Section 23(6), the topic of the thesis may only be
declined if this option was not used when the topic of the first thesis was announced.

Section 22
Duration and deadlines

(1) The student workload for completing a Bachelor’s thesis is 12 ECTS credits and the time
allowed for completion is three months. The student workload for completing a Master’s thesis
is 30 ECTS credits and the time allowed for completion is six months. The topic and the
problems to be addressed shall be such that the thesis can be completed within the allotted
time.

(2) In exceptional cases and where reasonable grounds exist, a candidate may apply to the
Examination Board for an extension to the thesis completion period. In the case of a Bachelor’s
thesis, an extension will typically not exceed three weeks. For a Master’s thesis, an extension
should typically not exceed six weeks. Any extension granted shall not alter the number of
ECTS credits awarded.

(3) If a candidate is prevented from working on the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis for a period
of more than one week because of illness or some other cause beyond the candidate’s control,
the thesis submission deadline shall be extended accordingly. The candidate shall notify the
Examinations Office immediately and shall provide supporting documentation, e.g. in the event
of illness, the candidate shall provide a medical certificate issued by a physician. If a candidate
has to withdraw from or fails to complete the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis because a child
cared for by the candidate was ill, the child’s illness shall be treated as if the candidate was ill.
The candidate shall demonstrate that it was necessary for him or her to care for the ill child by
providing a medical certificate issued by a physician in accordance with Article 45 of Book V
of the German Social Welfare Code (SGB V). If the period in which the candidate is prevented
from working on the thesis exceeds three months in the case of a Bachelor’s thesis or six
months in the case of a Master’s thesis, the Examination Board may classify the thesis as ‘not
attempted’. In such cases, the candidate shall be allocated a new Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis
once the reasons for the interruption cease to apply.

(4) The Examination Board shall, on request, take into account statutory periods of maternal
leave, periods of parental leave and family care obligations (particularly caring for one or more
children under the age of 18 or providing support to family members with care needs) as well
as the special needs of students with disabilities. In such cases, the completion period for the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall be extended by the statutory period of maternal leave or
parental leave and may be extended further pursuant to the provisions of Section 22(2) if the
candidate demonstrates physical or mental impairment arising from pregnancy, or from caring
for children under the age of 18, or from supporting family members with care needs. This shall
not affect any academic accommodation granted to a student in accordance with Section 15.
If for the reasons stated above the candidate is unable to work on the thesis for a total period
exceeding three months in the case of a Bachelor’s thesis or six months in the case of a
Master’s thesis, the Examination Board may classify the thesis as ‘not attempted’. In such
cases, the candidate shall be allocated a new Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis once the reasons
for the interruption cease to apply.

(5) If a student does not adhere to the deadline that has been set, a fail grade shall be awarded
for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. Repeat attempts shall be subject to the requirements set
out in Section 23(6).

Section 23
Procedural elements, presentation and layout of the thesis

(1) The Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis may be written in English or German. A candidate can
submit a request to the Examination Board to use another language. If approved by the
Examination Board, the Master’s thesis may take the form of an academic paper published in
the proceedings of a peer-reviewed scientific conference or a publication in a peer-reviewed
scientific journal.

(2) Three copies of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall be submitted to the Examinations
Office. The thesis shall be paginated and shall be produced using a common word-processing
system or program. The copies to be submitted shall be printed and either stapled or bound.
The candidate shall ensure that all copies submitted are legible. The candidate shall also
supply an electronic version of his or her thesis in a common file format and may grant to the
University the right to reproduce the thesis (possibly through conversion into another common
file format) and to make it publicly accessible in data networks. The candidate shall give written
assurance that the electronic version is identical in content to the printed version of the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. The student can apply to the Examination Board for exemption
from the requirement to supply an electronic version of the thesis. The Board can grant such
an exemption where reasonable grounds exist. Any electronic appendices of relevance to a
submitted thesis (e.g. source code) shall be submitted in a standard form and format.

(3) A candidate who submits a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall include a signed declaration
of original authorship stating that the thesis is his or her own original work and that no source
materials or aids other than those indicated were used. Any parts of the thesis that draw on
the wording or substance of other works or that make use of contributions from others shall be
clearly marked as borrowings and the sources shall be acknowledged correctly. The candidate
shall also state whether drawings, sketches, diagrams and photographic and graphic images
are the candidate’s own work, or were produced in accordance with the candidate’s
instructions, or are the work of others.

(4) The date of submission of the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis shall be documented.

(5) The Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis will be assessed by the examiner who provided the thesis
topic and by the secondary thesis examiner appointed by the Examination Board. Both
examiners shall hand in their written reports no later than two months after the Bachelor’s
thesis was submitted for examination or no later than three months after the Master’s thesis
was submitted for examination; the report shall contain a thesis grade in accordance with the
specifications in Sections 16(1) and 16(2). If the grades awarded differ, the overall grade shall
be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the proposed grades. The mean value shall be rounded
down to one decimal place. However, if the proposed grades differ by more than 1.0 or if only
one of the thesis examiners awards a fail grade, the Examination Board shall appoint a third
thesis examiner to assess the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis. Once the report from the third
examiner has been received, the Examination Board shall, contrary to the provisions of
Section 16(7), decide on the grade to be awarded for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.

(6) If a fail grade is awarded, the candidate may have one further attempt at meeting the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis requirement. If a fail grade is awarded, the candidate shall
receive a new thesis topic no later than four weeks after the fail grade was announced. A third
attempt at passing the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis requirement is not permitted; failed
attempts at other universities will be taken into account.

(7) The candidate shall be notified immediately about the result of the thesis examination
including the grade achieved.

(8) The subject-specific examination regulations may require the candidate to take part in a
colloquium to demonstrate that the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis was his or her own
independent work.

IV Degree qualification

Section 24
Successfully completing the Bachelor’s or Master’s programme and overall grade

(1) A candidate is deemed to have successfully completed the final assessment phase of the
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme if the candidate has
1. successfully completed each of the assessments or examinations as specified in the
programme-specific study regulations
2. successfully completed any coursework assessments that may be required by the
programme-specific study regulations
3. earned the required number of ECTS credits (excluding those awarded for the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis) from the required compulsory modules, mandatory
elective modules and elective modules as specified in the programme-specific study
regulations
4. achieved a passing grade for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.

(2) A candidate shall be deemed to have failed the final assessment phase of the Bachelor’s
or Master’s degree programme if he or she has failed one or more assessments or
examinations or has failed the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis requirements, including all
permissible retake attempts. A candidate who has failed the final assessment phase of the
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme will be notified in writing by the Chair of the
Examination Board; the letter of notification shall include the reasons for the decision and
information on the candidate’s right of appeal.

(3) If a candidate completes a module on more than one occasion in different semesters, the
credits for that module can only be counted once; see, however, Section 17(5) on provisions
for improving grades. Any module that contributes towards the Master’s examination certificate
cannot have been previously used to accumulate credits for the candidate’s Bachelor’s degree
that was accepted when seeking admission to the Master’s programme.

(4) The final overall grade achieved for the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree qualification is
calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 16(9).
(5) If a candidate who has properly completed all of the stipulated programme requirements
has acquired more than the minimum number of required credits from graded assessments or
examinations, he or she may, in accordance with programme-specific study regulations, be
permitted to select a subset of these graded assessments for inclusion in the calculation of the
final overall grade (cf. Subsection 1 above).

(6) Unless otherwise provided for in the subject-specific examination regulations, the final
overall grade that appears in the examination certificate and the formal certificate of graduation
shall be categorized as follows:
up to 1.5: Very good
1.6–2.5: Good
2.6–3.5: Satisfactory
3.6–4.0: Sufficient.
The subject-specific examination regulations may also include the grade ‘With distinction’.

Section 25
Degree qualification and certification

(1) Candidates who successfully complete the final assessment phase of a Bachelor’s or
Master’s degree programme (cf. in particular Section 24(1), item 1) shall be issued with an
examination certificate, typically a transcript of records, in German and English. At a minimum,
this certificate shall include the grades achieved in the modules taken, the final overall grade
awarded, the name of the degree programme and the title and grade awarded for the
Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.

(2) The examination certificate will be issued when requested by the candidate. If no request
is received within one year after the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis was examined, the
Examination Board may expedite the issuing of the examination certificate.

(3) In addition to the information referred to in Subsection 1 above, the subject-specific

examination regulations may specify that the examination certificate shall also list the areas of
specialization studied, other student attainments and the results achieved.

(4) As a rule, the examination certificate will be signed by the Chair of the Examination Board.
The certificate shall also bear the date of the final assessment or examination and the date on
which it was signed.

(5) Students attain the degree of Bachelor of Science ([Link].) or Master of Science ([Link].)
upon receipt of the formal certificate of graduation.

(6) The certificate of graduation for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree shall contain the date of
the final assessment or examination, the date on which it was signed and the name of the
degree programme. As a rule, the certificate of graduation will be signed by the Chair of the
appropriate Examination Board and by the Dean of the Faculty and shall bear the faculty seal.
Only one of the degree qualifications ([Link]. or [Link].) may be awarded. The subject-specific
examination regulations may contain additional provisions.

(7) Graduates will be issued with a diploma supplement when they receive their certificate of
graduation.
V. Final provisions

Section 26
Commencement

(1) These regulations shall come into force on the day after they are announced in the
Official Bulletin of the Institutions of Higher Education in Saarland (Dienstblatt der
Hochschulen des Saarlandes).

(2) On that same date, the Joint Examination Regulations for the Bachelor’s and Master’s
degree programmes of Faculty 6 (Natural Science and Technology Faculty I – Mathematics
and Computer Science) of 2 July 2015 (Official Bulletin, No. 72, p. 616) and the Ordinance to
Amend the Joint Examination Regulations for the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
Programmes of Faculty 6 (Natural Science and Technology Faculty I – Mathematics and
Computer Science) of 28 April 2016 (Official Bulletin p. 404) shall cease to be in force. The
subject-specific examination regulations issued on the basis of these joint examination
regulations shall be considered to be a part of these joint examination regulations.

Saarbrücken, 6 August 2021

On behalf of the President of Saarland University

(Univ.-Prof. Dr. Manfred Schmitt)

the Vice-President for Education

(Dr. Tina Hellenthal-Schorr)