FAQ for students

The 2021/2022 winter semester begins on 1 October 2021 and ends on 31 March 2022. The lecture period beings on 11 October 2021 and ends on 4 February 2022. The will be followed by an examination period which begins on 7 February 2022. Be sure to inform yourself on information provided by the individual faculties for any potential changes.

» Overview of all semester dates

In the 2021/2022 winter semester, all students will have the opportunity to participate in in-person courses, taking into account hygiene and distancing regulations. In-person courses will be supplemented by tried and tested digital formats.

The lecture, seminar and project formats will vary depending on the number of participants, spatial capacity and content. Some courses will be carried out entirely in-person, others purely digital, and some courses will rely on hybrid or alternating models. Be sure to check the course catalogue to find out exactly which format your courses will be taking place in.

To ensure that in-person courses can be held safely, the following rules must be observed:

• 3G-Rule: Only vaccinated*, recovered and tested individuals (»Geimpfte, Genesene und Getestete«, or »3G«) are permitted to enter the buildings of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and may participate in in-person events. For all three of these cases, you must carry proof of your status with you at all times. Compliance with this rule will be randomly checked by specially trained student employees.
• Distancing: As a general rule, a distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained between individuals. Designated seating plans may not be changed. Please only use the marked seats and never sit directly next to each other.
• Masks: Medical masks (surgical masks or FFP2 masks) must be worn on all routes and if the minimum distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. Provided 1.5 metres is maintained between individuals, you may remove your mask once you are at your designated spot. In all lecture halls there are seating plans for 25% as well as 50% capacity. Please note that with the 50% version (checkerboard pattern, always one seat remains empty) you are obliged to wear a mask. 
• Ventilation: If there is no ventilation system, rooms must be aired out every 20 minutes for 3 to 10 minutes. A number of rooms have been equipped with CO2 meters that indicate when ventilation is necessary.
• Disinfection: Be sure to use the disinfectant provided and wipe down tables and chairs after use.

Be sure to observe any posted rules. For rooms or events where the rules deviate, individual infection prevention measures apply.

^{* Vaccination with a vaccine published at www.pei.de/impfstoffe/covid-19.}

Digital courses take place primarily via the moodle online learning platform, which allows various (synchronised and non-synchronised) teaching formats, as well as exchanges between students and instructors. Video conferences take place via BigBlueButton, a conferencing tool that is integrated into moodle. Collaborative work can also be carried out using the Nextcloud service.

Further information on digital instruction and learning can be found on the eLab website.

Vaccinated persons:
The vaccination must have been carried out completely with a vaccine published on the website of the Paul Ehrlich Institute and at least 14 days must have passed since the second vaccination. Proof can be provided as an electronic document (e.g. Corona warning app, CovPass app) or in paper form (EU COVID certificate or vaccination card/vaccination book).

Recovered persons:
Recovered persons without vaccination require proof of a positive PCR test at least 28 days and no more than six months ago.

Tested Persons:
A negative test result must be proven by means of

• a certificate of a rapid antigen test (not older than 24 hours). This test can be carried out free of charge at one of the Weimar test centres.
  or
• a certificate of a PCR test (not older than 48 hours, usually not free of charge).
  
  
• Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or for whom there is no vaccination recommendation according to the RKI can carry out a self-test under supervision. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar offers self-testing under supervision free of charge Monday to Friday between 8 and 10 am and Sunday between 4 and 6 pm at the test centre in Bauhausstraße 7b (access via Belvederer Allee 4). A certificate valid for 24 hours will be provided.

Please note that test cassettes brought along as well as duplicates (copy, scan, photograph, etc.) of a certificate are not valid.

» Overview of approved certificates (in German)

The universities are obliged to monitor compliance with the 3G rule. At the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, the monitoring is carried out on a random basis by specially trained student assistants. The monitoring takes place when entering the room for larger events (more than 15 people) and during the course for fewer participants (less than 15 people). Please carry proof of identity (e.g. thoska, identity card, passport, etc.) with you in addition to the respective proof and show it to the control team upon request.

Instructors may also carry out 3G compliance checks in their in-person courses; these compliance checks should be carried out in a discreet and non-judgemental manner. Instructors who would like to carry out documentation in accordance with §22 Paragraph 3 of the Thuringian Infection Protection Measures Ordinance should contact the data protection officer at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Email: datenschutz[at]uni-weimar.de, phone: +49 (0) 3643 581222), as special legal requirements of data protection must be observed here due to personal data.

For help during difficult life situations, contact the Thuringian Psychosocial Counselling Services (in German and English).

All students at Thuringian universities who need support or to talk to a neutral party about any issues they might be experiencing have free access to the Studierendenwerk Thüringen Psychosocial Counselling Services. Those seeking counselling - individuals and couples - are encouraged to contact the Counselling Services, both with study-related problems or personal issues. Counselling is also available in English upon request.

» Information on counselling and appointments

Psychosocial Counselling Weimar
Marienstraße 15a, 1. Floor, Room 210
Registration hours: Tuesday 3 pm - 4 pm, Thursday 10 am - 11 am
Phone: 03643 581681
E-mail: psb-weimar[at]stw-thueringen.de

» Overview of university and external advising services

 

• For general questions on student life, study organisation and dealing with study-related personal difficulties, contact:
  General Advising via e-mail to christian.eckert[at]uni-weimar.de, or by phone +49 (0) 36 43/58 23 58.

 

• For questions on general study matters, contact:
  the Office of Student and Academic Affairs via e-mail to studium[at]uni-weimar.de, or by phone +49 (0) 36 43/58 23 23 (hotline hours: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 2 pm).

 

• Advising services for international students

For all other concerns, please contact your respective faculty. The relevant contact information can be found here:

 

• Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Dean’s Office

 

• Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dean’s Office

 

• Faculty of Art and Design, Dean’s Office

 

• Faculty of Media, Dean’s Office

 

Corona financial aid: students can apply for an interest-free loan of up to 800 euros from Studierendenwerk Thüringen

KfW student loan: interest rate of 0% until 31 December 2021

BAföG (Federal Education and Trainings Assistance Act for University Students): Partial lift in requirements and increase in allowances for the 2020/21 winter semester

Each faculty has international counsellors who are available to answer your subject- or faculty-related questions.

The International Office is also home to a number of other contact persons:

 

• For international students who have already enrolled:
  Simone Schwark via e-mail to simone.schwark[at]uni-weimar.de, or by phone +49 (0) 36 43/58 23 63

 

• For international students who have not enrolled yet:
  Anke Schulze via e-mail to anke.schulze[at]uni-weimar.de, or by phone +49 (0) 36 43/58 23 65

 

• For incoming or outgoing exchange students:
  Kristina Hellmann via e-mail to incoming[at]uni-weimar.de / outgoing@uni-weimar.de, or by phone +49 (0) 36 43/58 23 62

Additional information can be found on the International Office website.

As is the case for in-person events, the 3G rule also applies to independent or unsupervised student-use of workrooms, studio spaces, workshops, labs, computer pools, etc. This rule will be enforced by 3G compliance check teams on a random basis. Be sure to carry proof of your vaccination, recovery, or negative test certificate with you at all times if you are working independently in any of these spaces.

In order to ensure that the 3G rule can be upheld, use of these spaces will initially only be permitted during the week.

Please also pay attention to the faculties' information on the different rooms regarding capacities, allocation of places and hygiene regulations.

Reduced Opening hours since 30 November 2021:

Monday to Friday: 9 am – 10 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm

Service hours:

Monday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm

The open access areas and also a limited number of reading and work places will be accessible during this time.

Please note:

• Access to the library's user area is only granted to persons registered in the library who can prove a 3G status (vaccinated, recovered or tested). Please show appropriate proof upon request of authorised persons (e.g. library staff or 3G control teams).
• The user area may currently only be used by a maximum of 127 people at a time. Therefore, please log in and out with your thoska at the terminal when entering and leaving the library.
• Logging in via thoska is also necessary contact tracing purposes in case of an infection.
• Wearing a medical grade mask (surgical or FFP2) is mandatory in the library.

Further information on the University Library's website.

The two computer pools in the SCC at Steubenstraße 6a are open to students and employees on a limited basis.

Current opening hours for free practice:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 1.15 to 3 pm and 3.15 to 6pm
Tuesday: 3.15 pm to 6 pm
Thursday: 5 pm to 6 pm

The following hygiene concept applies in the pool rooms:

• Admission will be granted by SCC staff. Please wait outside the entrance door.
• The number of workstations is reduced to 7 persons (Pool 1) and 4 persons (Pool 2) for free practice or 10 + 1 persons (Pool 1) and 7 + 1 persons (Pool 2) for lectures/events. If all seats are occupied, we will unfortunately have to refer you to a later date.
• When entering the premises, the facilities for disinfection and washing hands must be used.
• The thoska must be used at the entrance and exit for signing in/out.
• Only the marked routes are to be used.
• A mask is to be worn on all traffic routes and in situations where a minimum distance of 1.50m is not maintained.

Plotting and printing is only possible by appointment. For appointments and general enquiries about plotting and printing, please send an e-mail to plottservice[at]scc.uni-weimar.de or call +49 (0) 36 43/58 24 11.

For general support, the Pool Service is available by telephone Monday to Friday from 8 am to 9 pm.

The service tent (Mensa-Zelt) is open. The Mensa am Park is open for students and staff of Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and Hochschule für Musik FRANZ LISZT from Monday to Friday, 11am to 2pm. Until the renovation work in the Mensa am Park is fully completed, two meals will be offered daily. Payment is only possible with the Thoska.

The 3G rule applies at the Mensa. Please carry your proof of vaccination, recovery or of a negative test results with you. The test certificates from self-testing under supervision are accepted. Please observe the hygiene rules. Before entering the Mensa, you must register via Thoska for the purpose of contact tracing in case of an infection. In the Mensa, you are required to wear a mask, which may only be removed for eating.

The University Sports Centre offers in-person courses (outdoor and indoor) in the 2021/2022 winter semester. The 3G-rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested) applies.

Please find further information on the website of the University Sports Centre.

In order to allow studying and teaching to continue with as few obstacles as possible during the coronavirus pandemic, despite the possible restrictions on public life and university operations, a number of regulations have been adjusted, including those affecting examinations and deadlines. These changes are outlined in the »Third Amendment to the General Regulations for Managing the Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Studying and Academic Affairs«. 

According to the Thruingian Corona Ordinance (§25) only vaccinated, recovered or tested individuals (»geimpft, genesen, getestet« or »3G rule«) may participate in in-person exams. This is to make the exams as safe as possible for everyone and without risks of contagion. For all three of these cases, you must carry proof of your status with you at all times.

Additional hygiene measures include mask regulations and minimum distancing regulations. In certain cases, the spatial capacities may be extended, for example by using the sports halls or the Weimarhalle. Students will be informed before the examination period on the details of in-person examinations.

Online examinations may take place in a number of different formats. There is a distinction made between online in-person examinations (examinations that are carried out online but on campus at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, using university equipment and under supervision) and online remote examinations, such as written examinations (e.g. take-home examinations, assignments or essays, video uploads, audio uploads) or oral examinations (e.g. video conferencing).

A comprehensive overview can be found on the eLab's website on online examination formats.

With the 3rd amendment to the General Regulations for Managing the Effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Studying and Academic Affairs, the free attempt (Freiversuch) also applies for the winter semester 2021/22: If you have failed an exam, it may be counted as a free attempt (Freiversuch), meaning the exam will not be graded and the attempt will not count against you. 

Please note: Free attempts (Freiversuch) cannot be claimed more than once for the same (module) exam. Free attempts (Freiversuch) do not, of course, apply in the very rare cases where exams are failed because of cheating or breaching regulations.

The Thuringian state parliament has passed the »Second Thuringian Act on the Implementation of Necessary Measures in Connection with the Corona Pandemic (2nd ThürCorPanG)«, thus enabling the extension of the individual standard duration of programme. The extended individual standard duration of programme applies to students who are enrolled at a Thuringian university in the 2020/2021 winter semester  or in the summer 2021 summer semester and are not on leave of absence.

1. The regulation enables an unbureaucratic extension of the maximum funding period for BAföG benefits. The regulation, which benefits all students across the board, avoids the need for time-consuming administrative reviews of individual cases and thus also reduces the burden on BAföG offices and higher education institutions. 
2. Long-term tuition fees will be waived for the 2020/2021 winter semester and the 2021 summer semester. Any repayments will be made successively by the Office of Student and Academic Affairs.
3. The deadlines set in the study and examination regulations for the completion of subject-related study and examination achievements will also be postponed by one semester in each case. These deadlines are also automatically extended.