Excerpt from the Examination Regulations for the Master’s Program in Economics at the University of Mannheim

Exerpt: Examination Regulations MSc Economics Excerpt from the Examination Regulations for the Master’s Program in Economics at the University of Mannheim Please note: This English translation is based on the German version of the Examination Regulations for the Master’s Program in Economics. The German original is the only legally binding version. Any liability for mistakes arising from the translation of the original shall be excluded. Contents General Regulations..................................................................................................................................2 Academic Degree.................................................................................................................................. 2 Duration of the program..................................................................................................................... 2 Program structure................................................................................................................................. 2 Language of instruction...................................................................................................................... 2 Course volume...................................................................................................................................... 2 Structure of exams, deadlines............................................................................................................. 2 Maternity protection and parental leaves .......................................................................................... 3 Flexible deadlines ................................................................................................................................. 3 Recognition of study periods and credits.......................................................................................... 4 Assessment of exams............................................................................................................................ 5 Admission to the field of study „Economic Research“..................................................................... 7 Examination Procedure............................................................................................................................7 Registration and admission to exams................................................................................................. 7 Scope and structure of examinations................................................................................................. 7 Re-takes................................................................................................................................................. 8 Master’s thesis....................................................................................................................................... 8 Passing the program and transcript of records...............................................................................10 Closing provisions...................................................................................................................................11 Invalidity of the master’s examination.............................................................................................11 Post-exam review...............................................................................................................................11 Attachment 1..........................................................................................................................................12 Attachment 2..........................................................................................................................................14 - 1 - Exerpt: Examination Regulations MSc Economics General Regulations Academic Degree Upon successful completion of the master’s curriculum the University of Mannheim awards the academic degree „Master of Science” (M.Sc.). Duration of the program The prescribed period of study is four semesters. The program has been designed in such a way as to enable students to finish their studies within this period. The curriculum has to be completed by the end of the seventh semester. Otherwise, the student has forfeited his right to earn the degree, unless he was not responsible for failing to observe the deadline. Upon request, the deadline can be extended by the chairman of the examination board. Program structure The master’s program in economics is structured into a one semester introductory phase, a two semester specialization phase and a one semester research phase. The detailed program structure depends on the field of study (“Economics” or “Economic Research”) and is shown in the attachments to this document. Language of instruction The language of instruction is English. In singular cases the examination board can, in consultation with the examiner, allow for other languages of instruction. All examinations are conducted in the language of instruction. Examiners can decide to optionally allow German as language of examination in case of oral exams. The master’s thesis has to be written in English. In exceptional and justified cases the master’s thesis can be written in German. The decision remains with the supervisor of the thesis. Course volume The complete program covers a minimum of 120 ECTS credits. One ECTS credit equals a workload of 30 hours. Structure of exams, deadlines To complete the master’s program students have to take the following exams:  In the field of study „Economics“: exam for each course, completion of at least two seminars and a master’s thesis - 2 - Exerpt: Examination Regulations MSc Economics  In the field of study “Economic Research”: exam for each course and a master’s thesis Exams for courses offered by the Department of Economics are usually conducted in the form of written tests at the end of the course. These tests can be replaced (for all students likewise) completely or in parts by one or several assignments and/or one or several presentations and/or one or several interim tests and/or an oral exam at the end of the course. The pass criteria and weighting of each partial performance should be communicated in advance. The decision about the examination type and weighting of each performance lies with the examiner. Exams for courses offered by other schools or departments are conducted according to their own examination regulations. Students have the right to earn their course credits in other forms than the designated exam type in case they provide medical evidence that they are not able to take the exam partly or completely in the designated form due to a long-lasting or permanent physical disability. A request has to be filed on the date of registration for the exam. The decision of the examination board has to be put on record. Maternity protection and parental leaves Students have the right to take a leave in accordance with maternity protection and parental leave laws. A written request to the examination board is necessary. During a maternity protection period all deadlines of these examination rules are suspended. For students on parental leave the examination board defines new deadlines. The master’s thesis cannot be adjourned for the time of a parental leave. If the deadline is exceeded in such a case, the assigned topic will be withdrawn and a new topic is assigned after the parental leave. Flexible deadlines Upon request, flexible deadlines can be granted if students face family obligations. This applies especially to students with children under 3 years old. Deadlines for re-takes can be extended by a maximum of 2 semesters. As soon as the prerequisites for granting an extension no longer apply, the extension expires. In cases of long-lasting illness or disability which makes it impossible to regularly participate in the courses, students can be granted extensions of deadlines. Deadlines for re-takes can be extended by a maximum of 2 semesters. Students who have been elected into the student body council for at least one year can be granted an extension of deadlines for a maximum of 2 semesters. - 3 - Exerpt: Examination Regulations MSc Economics Recognition of study periods and credits Academic credits received at an accredited university or higher education institution in Germany or abroad or at a university of cooperative education of the Federal Republic of Germany will be transferred if the competences acquired are not essentially different from the academic requirements that will be replaced. For the transfer of credits from foreign institutions agreements between the Federal Republic of Germany and other countries concerning the equivalency of higher education and agreements in the context of university partnerships and double degree programs (cooperation agreements) have to be taken into account. In case of doubt about the equivalency, the Central Office for Foreign Education can be consulted. For knowledge and skills acquired outside of the system of higher education academic credits are granted if a) the requirements for university admission are fulfilled at that time of receiving credit; b) the content and level of the knowledge and skills are equivalent to the academic credits that are to be replaced; c) the criteria for receiving credit have been reviewed in the context of an accreditation process. To receive academic credit for documented competences acquired outside of the system of higher education, the applicant has to prove their equivalency - in kind and breadth - with the academic requirements that are to be replaced. Knowledge and skills acquired outside of the system of higher education can replace a maximum of 50% of the credits in a degree program. The regulations about the transfer of credits from universities of cooperative education remain unaffected. The examination board decides about the transfer of credits upon request. It rests upon the student to submit all required documents regarding his/her achievements for which he requests to receive academic credits to the examination board. If credits are transferred and the grading systems are comparable, the grades are carried over according to these examination regulations and will be included into the calculation of the cumulative grade point average (GPA). For the conversion of foreign grades, the examination board can define conversion rules in accordance with statutory provisions. If the grading systems are not comparable or a conversion is not possible, the credits will be transferred as “passed” and will not be included into the calculation of the cumulative GPA. Transferred credits are labeled as such in the transcript of records. - 4 - Exerpt: Examination Regulations MSc Economics If a student participates in an exam within a degree program at the University of Mannheim, although he/she already acquired the relevant competences elsewhere, he/she renounces the transfer of credits for these achievements. Absence, withdrawal, cheating, and breach of regulations If a student does not show up for an exam for which he registered or withdraws from an exam without a valid reason, he will receive the failing grade 5.0. The same applies if an assignment is not handed in on time. If a candidate has a valid reason for withdrawing from or missing an exam, he must present the examination board with certified documentation in writing in a due time. In case of sickness a doctor’s certificate has to be provided. In case of doubt the university can ask for a certificate from a doctor named by them. If the reasons are accepted as valid, the exam has to be taken at the next possible date. Existing partial results are taken into account. If a student tries to influence his exam grade by cheating or by using prohibited materials or resources, he will receive the failing grade 5.0. A student who disturbs the exam can be excluded from the exam by the examiner or supervisor. In this case, the student receives the failing grade 5.0. Within two weeks after the exam, the student can request a review of the decision by the examination board. The student has to be informed promptly about incriminating decisions in writing. An instruction on the right to appeal has to be included. In severe cases students can be excluded from all future exams by the examination board. Assessment of exams Grades for exams and the master’s thesis are determined by the examiner or master’s thesis supervisor. The following grades are used:  1.0 (very good)  2.0 (good)  3.0 (satisfactory)  4.0 (fair)  5.0 (failed) For further differentiation of the assessment the value 0.3 can be added or distracted from the grade. However, the grades 0.7, 4.3, 4.7 and 5.3 are impossible. The minimum pass grade is 4.0. ECTS credits are only earned for passed exams. - 5 - ... - tailieumienphi.vn