Dear students, dear staff,

As of 1 April 2021, new regulations have been implemented in accordance with the »Zweiten Thüringer Gesetz zur Umsetzung erforderlicher Maßnahmen im Zusammenhang mit der Corona-Pandemie« (2. ThürCorPanG), also referred to in German as the »Mantelgesetz« (umbrella law). These new regulations may be relevant for many of you.

We hope to provide you with as much support as possible on this issue and to inform you on what we consider to be the most important regulations. This will ensure that you are well-informed and can correctly interpret the sometimes difficult-to-understand legal terminology and what it means for your studies. We also take the »Thüringer Gesetz zur Abmilderung der Folgen der Corona-Pandemie im Hochschulbereich (ThürCorHG)« into account, as well as the university's Coronavirus general regulations.

Should you have any questions after reading this, we are available for individual advising; simply send us an e-mail at studium[at]uni-weimar.de. We are also available via telephone.

A Effects of the New Regulations

1. Deadline extensions for semester-specific coursework and examinations (§ 6 ThürCorHG)

The deadlines for completing semester-specific coursework and examinations in a degree programme are extended by one semester each semester for students enrolled in the 2020/21 winter semester (WiSe) or the 2021 summer semester (SoSe).

2. Making up Coursework and Examinations for Graduates and Students who Have Transferred Universities (§ 7 ThürCorHG)

Students who graduated in the 2020/21 winter semester, students who are continuing their studies at another university in the 2021 summer semester, and students who will graduate in the 2021 summer semester have the option to make up coursework and examinations that could not be completed sue to the pandemic. This also applies to students who are not (or no longer) enrolled at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

3. Individual Standard Study Period Extension (§ 6 ThürCorHG)

An uncomplicated extension of the maximum BAföG funding period is possible for all students enrolled in the 2020/21 winter semester and/or the 2021 summer semester. This does not apply to students who are on a leave of absence. The 2020/21 winter semester and the 2021 summer semester are not considered study semesters according to funding law. These semesters do not count against the maximum funding period. The deadline for submitting performance records in accordance with § 48 Para. 1 BAföG is postponed accordingly. 

Any students who had not reached the end of the maximum BAföG funding period (=standard study period) by the end of the 2020 summer semester will benefit directly from this ruling. Further information can be found on the Studierendenwerk Thüringen website: www.stw-thueringen.de/finanzen/bafög/

You are not required to submit confirmations from universities regarding pandemic-related delays in studies, enrolment, leave of absence, etc.

Please be aware that the term »individual standard study period« (»individuelle Regelstudienzeit«), which is a national-wide standard across Germany, specifies that this does not mean an extension of the standard study period for a degree programme as is stated in the study and examination regulations. This means that the provisions in § 6 do not affect the semester classification (university and study semesters) for students.

4 Long-Term Study Fees (§ 9 Para. 1 ThürCorHG)

For those who already belonged to the category of long-term students according to § 4, Para. 1 ThürHGEG in the 2020 summer semester, 2020/21 winter semester, or 2021 summer semester, the fee will be waived. This means that if you have already received a fee notification and paid the long-term study fees, you will be refunded these fees within the next few weeks. Student and Academic Affairs has already been in contact with the majority of students who this affects. Any questions can be directed to Student Office Director Doreen Klamt (doreen.klamt[at]uni-weimar.de).

B Effects of the new University Regulations

On 7 April 2021, the University Senate passed the second amendment to the Basic Regulations for Managing the Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Studies and Teaching. This can be found under the reference number 09_2021 as an announcement from the university (MdU) on the university network under »Uni intern« (not externally accessible): https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/fs/uni-intern/mdu/mdu-aus-2021/. The general 2021 summer semester regulations can be found in this announcement.

1. Course and Examinations; Teaching and Examination Formats (§ 2)

Changes in teaching and examination formats due to the pandemic are permitted, but students must be notified in good time. Course content must be made available to students in an appropriate format up until the examination.

Examinations may be carried out in electronic format or via electronic communication. This includes:

2. Online In-Person Examinations (§ 3)

These are examinations that are carried out online, but on-site and under supervision. They are carried out on the premises of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and using Bauhaus-Universität Weimar equipment.

3. Online and Distance Examinations (§ 4)

The approved online distance examinations include:

a) Written Examinations (e.g. take-home examinations, assignments, essays, video uploads, audio uploads), that are carried out asynchronously or time-delayed and unsupervised; and

b) Oral Examinations (e.g. via videoconference) which are supervised exams that are conducted synchronously or live and usually taken off the premises of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar via telecommunication.

Supervised written remote examinations, for instance through use of computer-assisted examination supervision, are not permitted at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in the 2021 summer semester.

4. Special Regulations under Examination Law (§ 5)

The general conditions set out for conducting examinations in the »Mantelgesetz« (umbrella law), either electronically or via electronic communication are detailed in § 5 Para. 1-7.

Paragraph 9 in particular has been supplemented with regulations on extending processing times and deadlines for students who have childcare responsibilities.

The semester abroad that is mandatory in some degree programmes is suspended for an additional semester (Paragraph 10).

The Freiversuch (free attempt) is extended for another semester (Paragraph 11). The requirements for the Freiversuch (free attempt) are: first taking the examination, then failing the examination (grade of 5). The Freiversuch (free attempt) can only be made once for the same (module) examination.

5. Part-Time Studies and Leave of Absence (§ 6)

The regulations for part-time study and leave of absence are unchanged for the 2021 summer semester until 30 September 2021, and for the 2021/22 winter semester until 31 March 2022.

We would again like to remind you that any questions can be send via e-mail to the Department of Student and Academic Affairs: studium[at]uni-weimar.de.

And of course the colleagues in your relevant examination office are available to advise you. A list of other counselling and support services is available on the Department of Student and Academic Affairs website; please feel free to contact us: https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/studies/advising-and-consultation-services/

Test centre and self-tests

Finally, I encourage you all to use the test centre on campus (Bauhausstraße 7b, access via Belvederer Allee 4). The test centre, in addition to administering rapid tests, now provides self-tests to take home with you. The university is providing these free of charge in order to make it even safer for you to be on campus and we appreciate your cooperation. The opening times have been extended to Tuesday to Thursday from 8 am to 12 pm. Students can also receive one self-test per week, giving them the same opportunities as employees.

I wish you the best for the 2021 summer semester and hope to see in-person for some events following Pentecost.

Yours,

Christian Koch
Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs