KIT students can use the SCC's printing and plotting services. Printing is only possible after topping up your printing account with the KITCard. Current printing prices.

Printers, photocopiers and scanners are also available at the KIT library, as some books and journals are only available in the stock library and may not be borrowed.

The AStA print shop is also located in the AKK on campus. In addition to regular printing work, binding and laminating can also be ordered here. You can also print business cards or brochures there at a reasonable price.

You will need the ILIAS learning management system for various lectures, seminars, lab courses and other purposes during the course of your studies. ILIAS courses are always linked to a course in your degree program. To access the content of an ILIAS course, you must first join the course.

You can find helpful tips on how to get started with ILIAS in the "How to ILIAS" course.

All KIT students receive a KIT-Card after enrollment. It serves as a student ID card, access card for buildings (e.g. the SCC or the library), travel card, means of payment in cafeterias and dining hall as well as a library card.

KIT-Card as a ticket

KIT students can use their KIT-Card to travel on the entire KVV network free of charge on weekdays from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, provided they also have a printed KVV certificate with them (this certificate can be found in the Campus Management Portal). Upon presentation of the KIT-Card and the KVV certificate, it is also possible to purchase a KVV student card.

KIT-Card as a means of payment

The KIT-Card can be used for payment in the cafeterias and dining hall of the Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe as well as in the canteen of Campus North. The credit can be managed at the top-up and top-down stations in the cafeteria or via autoload.

If you have problems with the payment function, please contact the infopoint of the Studierendenwerk at the main entrance of the Mensa.

KIT-Card as a library card

The KIT-Card can be used as a library card in the KIT libraries as well as in the libraries of other Karlsruhe universities, the Karlsruhe State Library and the Karlsruhe City Library. As a library card, the KIT-Card entitles you to borrow items (including interlibrary loans), use the lockers in the basement of the KIT library and use the media center in InformatiKOM I.

The degree program is divided into various subjects (advanced subjects, profile subjects, core areas, specializations, study options, supplementary subjects, interdisciplinary qualifications). Each of these subjects is divided into modules. Each module consists of one or more interrelated courses (the so-called partial achievements). As a rule, a module is completed by one or more performance assessments (examination, term paper, etc.). A module can only be completed if all of the components belonging to the module have been passed. The scope of each module is characterized by credit points (CP), which are credited after successful completion of the module.

A module can be either a compulsory, compulsory elective or elective module. A complete list of all modules of a degree program can be found in the module handbook, where they are marked with the initial letter M-.

In the module handbook, which is available for every degree program at KIT, all modules relevant to the degree program and their subject assignment are presented in addition to the qualification profile and the curriculum. The qualification profile describes the skills that students learn in the course of their studies and the learning outcomes they can achieve. The module handbook describes

• the composition of the modules in various components
  
• the subject-specific content of the modules and partial achievements
• the scope of the modules and the credit points to be earned
• the interdependence of the modules (e.g. participation requirements)
• the qualification and learning objectives of the modules
• the type of assessment (examination, term paper, etc.) and how the grade of a module is calculated

As a helpful companion, the module handbook is an integral part of your entire studies. However, it may be subject to (semi-)annual changes, as the module descriptions also include the examinable courses. Therefore, the currently valid module handbook should always be consulted at the beginning of the semester to plan the timetable.

However, the module handbook does not replace the course catalog, which provides information on the variable course dates (e.g. time and location of the course) for each semester, which are not shown in the module handbook.

Passing the orientation exam is an important indicator of whether you are suitable for the degree program you have chosen and whether you will successfully complete it.

The orientation examination is not a separate examination, but consists of several examinations (usually 2-3 examinations, depending on the degree program, please consult the respective study and examination regulations of your degree program). The examinations together form the so-called orientation examination and are carried out as part of a time-limited, predetermined examination procedure - which consists of several possible attempts: anyone who fails the first examination attempt can register for a second attempt. Students who do not pass the second attempt will be invited to a follow-up oral examination as soon as possible.

The first attempt must have been made by the end of the 2nd semester and the examination must have been finally passed by the end of the examination period of the 3rd semester. Anyone who has not successfully completed the examination, including any resits, by the end of the examination period of the third semester will lose their right to take examinations in the degree program (unless they are not responsible for missing the deadline; the examination board will decide on this at the student's request).

You therefore have two attempts and an oral re-examination to successfully complete the entire orientation examination on time.

A second repetition of this entire procedure is not allowed.

Please note: these explanations are not legally binding, but are to be understood as supplementary explanations to the study and examination regulations (SPO) of the respective degree program.

Compulsory courses are courses that must be attended during the course of study. The study and examination regulations of the degree program regulate which courses are compulsory.

For each degree program, the study and examination regulations regulate the general structure of the program and specify the type and form of examinations. The contents are set out in the curriculum, which is sometimes attached to the examination regulations and can usually be found in the module handbook.

A distinction must be made between examinations:

1. preliminary examination requirements
   
   for some examinations, preliminary work must be completed during the semester which is a prerequisite for participation in the actual examination, e.g. exercise sheets, presentations or project work.
   
2. module or partial module examinations
   a module comprises one or more courses on a specific topic. It can be completed in one examination or several partial examinations. For example, the module "Higher Mathematics" for Mechanical Engineering consists of courses and examinations in HM I, HM II and HM III.
   
3. mid-studies examination and final examination (bachelor's or master's examination)
   there are different academic degrees for the individual degree programs - at KIT these are bachelor, master and doctorate. The bachelor's or master's examination consists of a summary of all module examinations and the bachelor's or master's thesis. The latter is written at the end of the degree program, while the module examinations extend over the entire degree program.
   

Examinations can be held in the following forms:

• oral
• written in the form of written examinations
• written in the form of term papers

In engineering and natural sciences, written examinations are the predominant type of examination at the beginning. In the master's program, examinations are predominantly oral. In the humanities, term papers on agreed topics are the most common type of examination.

If you wish to continue studying at KIT in the next semester, you must re-register online in the Campus Management Portal and pay the fees.

The re-registration periods are always

• for the summer semester: January 15 to February 15
• for the winter semester: July 1 to August 15

Late re-registration costs a €15 administration fee. If the fees are not paid within the period specified in the reminder, even after a reminder, the student is automatically de-registered ex officio at the end of the current semester and cannot continue their studies in the next semester.

All studies and examination regulations (SPO) are based on two framework regulations, one for the bachelor's degree programs and one for the master's degree programs, which are mandatory for the KIT departments. These set out formal and structural regulations for all degree programs equally:

• objectives, degree level
  
• standard period of study, course structure, credit points
  
• type of examinations, taking and retaking examinations, loss of the right to take examinations
  
• studying in special circumstances
  
• bachelor's or master's examination, final thesis
  
• recognition of achievements already made
  
• overall grade, certificate
  

To ensure that study and examination regulations are valid for as long as possible, the regulations contained therein are essentially limited to the subject level. In addition to the SPO of the degree program, the KIT admission and enrollment regulations, which apply to all degree programs, and the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act also apply.

It is recommended that you take a look at these legal regulations and especially the SPO at the beginning of your studies in order to familiarize yourself with the applicable rights and obligations as a student. You can find the SPO currently applicable to your degree program on the websites of the KIT departments as well as at the business unit SLE.

The curriculum shown in the module handbook is an example of how the degree program can be completed in the standard period of study. Since not all courses are offered every semester and there are also prerequisites and prior achievements for certain modules and/or module components that must be attended and/or passed, you will find a list in the curriculum for each semester of which modules and module components should be started and completed at what time.

At KIT, adapting the curriculum to individual life situations is a top priority. For this reason, a decelerated curriculum is also available.

To make it easier for you to start your studies or to give you more time for your studies in difficult life situations, the MINT-Kolleg offers a one- to two-semester course program for students of MINT depgree programs in the first three semesters.

If you successfully participate in the MINT-Kolleg program, up to two semesters will not count towards your standard period of study. This allows you to postpone the deadline for taking the orientation examination and extend the standard period of study. You can find the examination regulations for this in the applicable studies and examination regulations for your degree program.

If you are considering a decelerated curriculum, please contact the Student Advisory Services (ZSB) and/or the academic advisor responsible for your degree program for advice.

As in school, the timetable only reflects the weekly planning for a single semester and must therefore be created anew for each semester. An individual timetable can be compiled from the information in the module handbook, the curriculum and the course catalog (VVZ). The student representatives, the academic advisor or the Student Advisory Services (ZSB) can help you put together your timetable. Students enrolled in a secondary school teaching degree can also find help with creating their timetable at the Zentrum für Lehrkräftebildung.

In some degree programs, the timetable (lecture plan) is already set and can be viewed on the program website.

Each module consists of one or more consecutive courses, the so-called module components. In order to successfully complete a module, all components assigned to the module must be passed. A component must always be assigned to a module, otherwise it cannot be recorded in the system.

A component can be part of a compulsory, compulsory elective or elective module. You can find a list of the components that belong directly to the degree program in the module handbook of the respective degree program, where they are marked with the initial letter T-. Components from other areas that are registered in the elective module, e.g. as an interdisciplinary qualification, can be found in the course catalog.

Upon application, students can be exempted from the obligation to study properly for an important reason (leave of absence). Reasons for a leave of absence are e.g. illness, practical work (voluntary internship; leave of absence cannot be approved for a compulsory internship), studies at a foreign university, Federal Volunteer Service, voluntary social year or a voluntary ecological year, maternity protection / parental leave as well as other important reasons (further information on the requirements).

The application should be submitted as soon as the reason arises. Leave of absence after the end of lectures or for previous semesters is not possible, nor in the first bachelor's semester (exception here: hardship case).

Lecture

Course by university lecturers on a specific topic over the course of an entire semester. As a rule, the lecture takes up the entire lecture period; discussions on the lecture material usually take place in the associated exercises. The number of participants is unlimited, in the first semesters compulsory lectures with hundreds of students are common, later they are considerably smaller.

Exercise

Course with a sometimes limited number of participants, which is offered in addition to a lecture. It is used for intensive revision of a subject area. Large exercises consist of demonstrations by lecturers, while small exercises allow students to work on their own.

Seminar

Course with a limited number of participants (rarely more than 50), which is partly organized by the students themselves (discussion, preparation of assignments and presentations). Seminars are used to deal intensively with a specific topic or group of topics. Successful participation is usually confirmed by means of certificates or test certificates. As a rule, registration is required.

There are proseminars for first-year students (in the humanities) and main or advanced seminars for advanced students (in the main part of your studies).

Practical course

Course that serves the purpose of independent practical work (e.g. laboratory practical course, computer practical course). The number of participants depends on the number of workstations, so registration is usually required. These practical courses at university institutes are to be distinguished from professional or industrial internships in companies outside the university, which are intended to provide an introduction to company practice.

Tutorial

A supplementary offer to lectures that teach a lot of material. Students from higher semesters (so-called tutors) supervise groups of 10 - 20 people. Students can solve problems themselves and have more time for their own questions.

Excursion

Course in which investigations or inspections are carried out "on site" outside the university (e.g. field exercises in geosciences, factory tours for chemistry or engineering students, inspection of a large construction site by civil engineering students).

Colloquium

Discussion group for dealing with special scientific problems; colloquia are offered for higher semesters or doctoral students and are led by one or more professors.

The course catalog gives you information about

• number
  
• lecturer
  
• place and time
  

of the individual courses defined in the module handbooks. The course catalog is available to KIT students as a print version (pdf) or online in the student portal

Some services and applications are only available within the KIT network. If you want to access them from outside (e.g. from home), you must establish a VPN connection with the KIT intranet.

To do this, you must install the OpenVPN client and configure it for the respective operating system. The SCC will provide you with configuration files and information on this.

Each degree program has a list of compulsory elective courses. Depending on the degree program, these are called core area, specialization, profile subject or study variant. A certain number of courses from this list of compulsory electives must be attended during the course of study. The type of course and the number of compulsory elective courses to be chosen are determined by the study and examination regulations of the degree program.

Elective courses are courses that can be chosen at the student's own discretion to deepen or supplement the subject matter. In contrast to compulsory elective courses, there is no definitive list of elective courses, as they can be chosen freely. In some degree programs or by arrangement, courses from other KIT departments can also be chosen.

Wifi is available throughout the KIT campus. KIT students can log in to the "KIT" and "eduroam" networks with their KIT user account. When logging in, you must enter KIT account∂kit edu (e.g. uxxxx ∂does-not-exist.kit edu) as your user name and then your KIT account password. The SCC offers configuration instructions.

eduroam (education roaming) is a worldwide wifi roaming network of universities and research institutions. It allows you to use wifi at participating universities and research institutions worldwide with your KIT account. Further information about eduroam.

The year has two semesters

The academic year is divided into summer and winter semesters. Each semester is in turn divided into a lecture period and a lecture-free period. The lecture-free period is often referred to as the semester break - but this term does not fit very well. Most practical courses, examinations and assignments take place during the lecture-free period. This is why many students work more intensively during this time than during the lecture period.

The semester periods are:

• winter semester: official duration: 10-01 to 03-31
  lecture period: mid/end of October to mid-February
  
• summer semester: official duration: 04-01 to 09-30
  lecture period: mid-April to mid/end of July
  

The lecture periods for the current and upcoming semesters can be found on the internet.

How many hours do I study per week?

The curriculum specifies the number of lectures and tutorials in semester hours per week (SWS). One SWS is 45 minutes. 4 SWS therefore means: 4 times 45 minutes per week during a semester. In addition, there is time for independent study and research, for tutorials and, if necessary, for working on exercises.

Many KIT departments also offer timetables for each semester. They enable students to complete their studies in a sensible way and graduate within the standard period of study. As a rule, they contain courses of 22 - 26 SWS per semester. However, it is entirely possible to "postpone" an examination or attendance of a course to another semester. The further you progress, the smaller the compulsory area becomes and the greater the choice of specializations and courses. Once you are in the master's program, each student then has an individual timetable.

Standard period of study: How long does it take to complete a degree program?

A standard period of study is specified in the study and examination regulations for all degree programs. This should be sufficient to complete all the necessary examinations. A workload of 900 hours (= 30 credit points) is estimated per semester. The standard period of study is also the maximum funding period for BAföG. At KIT, all bachelor's degree programs last 6 semesters, master's degree programs 4 semesters. However, the actual study periods are often longer - depending on your previous knowledge, abilities, interests and life circumstances, as well as the capacities of the university. You can spend up to 9 semesters on a bachelor's degree and up to 7 on a master's degree. For longer internships, stays abroad or in the event of long-term illness, you can take a leave of absence to extend the number of semesters.