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Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences
(Hochschule Karlsruhe – Technik und Wirtschaft)
Federal Republic of Germany
ECTS Information Package
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Location of Karlsruhe in Germany
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Location of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences
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Campus Map of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences
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Contents
1. Name and contact information ............................................................................. 7 2. General description of the institution ................................................................... 8
2.1 Description of the Universities of Applied Sciences .......................................... 8 2.2 General description of HsKA ............................................................................. 9 2.3 Institutions and facilities at HsKA ...................................................................... 9
3. Academic authorities ......................................................................................... 10 4. Faculties and ECTS Departmental Coordinators ............................................... 10 5. Degree programs offered .................................................................................. 10 6. Academic calendar ............................................................................................ 11 7. Application, admission and registration procedures .......................................... 13
7.1 General information......................................................................................... 13 7.2 Application procedure, deadlines .................................................................... 13
7.2.1 Applicants for undergraduate degree programs ....................................... 13 7.2.2 Applicants for postgraduate degree programs .......................................... 14 7.2.3 Exchange students ................................................................................... 15
7.3 Admissions procedure ..................................................................................... 16 7.3.1 Admission requirements for undergraduate programs: ............................. 16 7.3.2 Admission requirements for postgraduate programs: ............................... 16 7.3.3 Language requirements: ........................................................................... 16 7.3.4 Admission requirements for exchange students: ...................................... 16 7.3.5 Program size: (not applicable for exchange students) .............................. 16 7.3.6 Pre-study work experience: (not applicable for exchange students)......... 16
7.4 Registration, re-registration and de-registration procedures ........................... 17 7.4.1 Registration .............................................................................................. 17 7.4.2 Re-registration .......................................................................................... 17 7.4.3 De-registration .......................................................................................... 17
8. Main university regulations ................................................................................ 18 9. Grading system ................................................................................................. 18 10. ECTS at HsKA ................................................................................................ 18
10.1 What is ECTS? ............................................................................................. 18 10.2 ECTS credits ................................................................................................. 18 10.3 ECTS-based student exchanges .................................................................. 19 10.4 ECTS recognition procedures at HsKA ......................................................... 20
10.4.1 Incoming exchange students .................................................................. 20 10.4.2 Outgoing exchange students .................................................................. 20
11. LLP/ERASMUS Partner institutions ................................................................ 21 12. Information about Germany ............................................................................ 23
12.1 Geography, flora and fauna .......................................................................... 23 12.2 Climate .......................................................................................................... 23 12.3 Society .......................................................................................................... 23
12.3.1 Language: .............................................................................................. 23 12.3.2 Immigration: ............................................................................................ 23 12.3.3 Politics: ................................................................................................... 23 12.3.4 Religion: ................................................................................................. 24 12.3.5 Dos and Don’ts: ...................................................................................... 24
12.4 Money ........................................................................................................... 24 13. Living in Karlsruhe .......................................................................................... 25
13.1 Coming to Germany ...................................................................................... 25 13.2 Financial matters ........................................................................................... 25
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13.2.1 Tuition and other fees ............................................................................. 25 13.2.2 Living expenses ...................................................................................... 25 13.2.3 Banks ..................................................................................................... 25 13.2.4 Jobs ........................................................................................................ 25 13.2.5 Financial assistance ............................................................................... 26 13.2.6 Scholarships ........................................................................................... 27
13.3 Accommodation ............................................................................................ 27 13.3.1 General information ................................................................................ 27 13.3.2 Accommodation possibilities .................................................................. 28
13.4 Meals ............................................................................................................ 29 13.5 Medical facilities / health care ....................................................................... 29
Emergencies ..................................................................................................... 29 13.6 Insurance ...................................................................................................... 29
13.6.1 Health insurance ..................................................................................... 29 13.6.2 Personal liability insurance (“Haftpflichtversicherung”) ........................... 30 13.6.3 Household effects insurance (“Hausratversicherung”) ............................ 30
13.7 Facilities for special needs students .............................................................. 30 13.8 Local Transport ............................................................................................. 30
14. Studying in Karlsruhe ...................................................................................... 31 14.1 Study facilities ............................................................................................... 31
14.1.1 Academic Library (FBH) ......................................................................... 31 14.1.2 Email and computer use ......................................................................... 31 14.1.3 Campus Card ......................................................................................... 31
14.2 Teaching and learning, exams and marking system ..................................... 33 14.3 International programs .................................................................................. 33 14.4 Internship semester ....................................................................................... 34 14.5 Language courses ........................................................................................ 35
14.5.1 HsKA’s Foreign Language Institute ........................................................ 35 14.5.2 Tandems ................................................................................................ 35
14.6 Student Union ............................................................................................... 35 15. Leisure activities ............................................................................................. 36
15.1 Traveling ....................................................................................................... 36 15.2 Location ........................................................................................................ 37 15.3 Recreation and sports ................................................................................... 37 15.4 Cultural attractions ........................................................................................ 37 15.5 Events and excursions .................................................................................. 38
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Part I – Information on the Institution
1. Name and contact information Institution: Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences Acronym of the institution: HsKA Visitor’s / Delivery address: Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences Moltkestr. 30 76133 Karlsruhe Federal Republic of Germany Mailing address: Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences Postfach 2440 76012 Karlsruhe Federal Republic of Germany Telephone (switchboard): +49 (0) 721/925-0 Fax (central fax): +49 (0) 721/925-2000 Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de Email: [email protected] ECTS Institutional Coordinator: Dr. Joachim Lembach Director, International Office email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1090 International Office: Fax: +49 (0) 721/925-1089 Website: www.hs-karlsruhe.de > English Site >
International Office Email: [email protected] Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2-4 p.m.
Contacts: Dr. Joachim Lembach Director email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1090 Margrit Huttner Secretary email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1084 Angelika Günter-Warth
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Incoming students advisor email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1086 Hannes Schwarz Outgoing students advisor email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1085 Silke Neureuther Student admissions email: [email protected] phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1081
Anne Davier-Grüner
French programs
email: [email protected]
phone: +49 (0) 721/925-1087
2. General description of the institution
2.1 Description of the Universities of Applied Sciences There are 167 “Fachhochschulen” (FHs) in Germany. The official English translation of “Fachhochschule” is “university of applied sciences”. This name mirrors exactly what these universities are all about: they stand for great practical relevance and focus with strong ties to applications in the working world. Those who study at a Fachhochschule are better prepared for positions in specific industries and fields than traditional university students. Above all, FHs offer degree programmes in the fields of technology, business and management, social studies, media, and design. Those interested in pursuing a degree in medicine, education (school teachers) or law cannot study these subjects at a Fachhochschule. The strong applied or practical focus of the universities of applied sciences is also reflected in the profile of their lecturers and professors. Many of them have already gained career experience in industry, business, or social work. This know-how qualifies and enables them to provide students with insights into the processes, working methods and expectations of companies and institutions. Compulsory internships (as a rule students are required to complete one or two practical semesters) round out the practical application of each student’s studies. [source: DAAD]
Important elements of application-oriented teaching are:
teaching through seminars (normally not more than 40 students in one class) industrial experience of the lecturers labs, exercises, simulations, projects, factory visits integrated industrial training semesters projects and final projects (thesis) often done at a company.
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2.2 General description of HsKA Status: State Institution (Staatliche Hochschule)
Type: University of Applied Sciences
Aim: To prepare students for the professional world through application-oriented teaching.
Founded in: 1878
Number of students: approx. 6,500
Number of international students: approx. 900
Number of academic staff: 665
Number of employees: 305
2.3 Institutions and facilities at HsKA The following central resources at HsKA are at students’ disposal to support study, research, and to help with related matters:
Foreign Language Institute International Office Student Registry Student Union (AStA) Career Center Service Center for Teaching and Learning Public Relations and Marketing Office Equal Opportunities Officer Academic Library Printing Shop Information Center Construction Materials Testing Center Institute of Natural Science Education for Engineers Liaison Office for Continuing Education in the Sciences
Research Facilities
Applied research (e.g. contracts with industry) is carried out especially within the following research facilities:
Institute for Applied Research (IAF) Institute of Geomatics Institute of Materials and Processes Institute of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Environmental Technology Laboratory for Automation Technology Research Institute of Hydraulic Engineering
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Technology Transfer
Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences considers the transfer of technology through well-educated graduates to be its main task. Six technology transfer centers currently exist on campus.
Transfer Center for Aerospace Engineering Transfer Center for Biomedical Engineering Transfer Center for Electrical Power Supply and Electromagnetic Compatibility Transfer Center for Energy Efficiency in Process Engineering Transfer Center for Opto-Electronic and Sensor Technology Transfer Center for Technical Consultation
Service Institutions for the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg located at HsKA
Commission for the Enhancement of University Teaching Liaison Office for Integrated Traineeships Center for the Enhancement of Ethics in Science and Engineering
3. Academic authorities
Senior Management: President, 2 Vice-Presidents, Vice-President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer
University Council: in charge of counseling, planning, and overseeing the administration of HsKA, creating the university’s structural and developmental plan, as well as overseeing the president
Senate: decides matters of research, teaching, study, and continuing education, if not assigned to any other body
Board of Trustees: supports HsKA in matters of cooperation with industry or other institutions
Student Union: student body government
4. Faculties and ECTS Departmental Coordinators Architecture and Construction Engineering (Prof. Dr. Erwin Schwing)
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Prof. Dr. Franz Quint)
Geomatics (Prof. Dr. Heinz Saler)
Computer Science and Business Information Systems (Prof. Dr. Cosima Schmauch)
Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klemens Gintner)
Management and Engineering (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Griesbaum)
5. Degree programs offered
Architecture (Bachelor, Master) Automotive Engineering (Bachelor) Business Administration and Engineering (Bachelor, Master)
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Business Information Systems (Bachelor, Master) Cartography and Geomatics (Bachelor) Civil Engineering (Bachelor, Master) Civil Engineering Tri-national (Bachelor, Master) Computer Science (Bachelor, Master) Construction Management (Master) Construction Management and Economics (Bachelor) Culture, Media and Technologies (Bachelor) Electrical Engineering (Master) Electrical Engineering – Industrial Automation (Bachelor) Electrical Engineering – Information Technology (Bachelor) Electrical Engineering – Power Engineering and Renewable Energy (Bachelor) Geo-Information Management (Bachelor) Geomatics (English- and German-language Master, German-language Master) International Management (Bachelor, Master) Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor) Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics (Master) Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems (ERASMUS Mundus Master) Mechatronics (Bachelor) Electrical Engineering – Sensorics (Bachelor) Sensor Systems Technology (English-language Master, German-language Master) Surveying and Geomatics (Bachelor) Technical Communication (Bachelor, Master)
Program duration: Bachelor’s programs: 6-8 semesters Master’s programs: 3-4 semesters
6. Academic calendar The academic year is divided into two semesters:
a) winter semester (WS): duration of lectures 15 weeks
exchange student application deadline: May 15 general application deadline: July 15 start of lectures: beginning of October Christmas holidays: 24th of December - 6th of January inclusive end of lectures: end of January examination period: end of January to mid-February Detailed schedule for winter semester 2011/12: Thur. Sept. 1 - Beginning of WS 2011/12 Tue. Oct. 4 8:00 a.m. Lectures begin for returning students Tue. Oct. 4 8:00 a.m. Welcome meeting of the faculties and
orientation for newly registered students Tue.+Wed. Oct. 4+5, 2-3:30 p.m., 4-5:30 p.m.
Information Center meeting for all new students aimed at informing students about the structure and use of the HsKA computer networks. See the information
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received at registration for details concerning room and which group to attend.
Wed. Oct. 10 11:30 a.m. Introductory meeting of the President and of the AStA for students in their first semester.
Wed Oct. 5 4:00 p.m. Introductory meeting of the International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) for international students.
See 15.5 below Events & excursions for international students
Fr. Oct. 14 Annual Academic Ceremony Wed.+Thur. Oct. 16.+17. Campus Day (building A) Mon. Nov. 28 - Mon. Dec. 5 Online registration for final exams Fr. Dec. 23 Lectures end (Christmas) Mon. Jan. 9, 2012 Lectures resume Fr. Jan. 27 Lectures end Mon. Jan. 30 Start of examinations Fr. Feb. 17 End of examinations Fri. Feb. 3 – Fr. Feb. 17 Registration for the summer semester
2012 and dates for fee arrangements Wed. Feb. 29 End of winter semester 2011/12
b) summer semester (SS): duration of lectures 15 weeks exchange student application deadline: December 15 application deadline: January 15 start of lectures: mid-March end of lectures: beginning of July examination period: beginning to end of July Preliminary schedule for summer semester 2012: Thur. March 1 Beginning of SS 2012 Mon. March 12, 8:00 a.m. Lectures begin
In addition to this, public holidays should also be taken into account, as there are no lectures on these days, and the offices (and most shops) are closed.
Germany-wide public holidays are: January 1, May 1, October 3, December 25-26. Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, and Whit Monday are also public holidays, within the period of March to June, but with no fixed dates. Stores close at 2:00 p.m. on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve). On Fat Tuesday, there can also be constraints due to the Mardi Gras parade in Karlsruhe.
Public holidays in Baden-Württemberg are: January 6, November 1, and Corpus Christi, which does not have a fixed date.
Other federal states may have different public holidays. We recommend buying a calendar in Germany as they contain all details.
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7. Application, admission and registration procedures
7.1 General information
Students can apply either for a regular degree program at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level. Tuition and
other fees must be paid upon registration.
for a semester as an exchange student. Applicants must be registered at an HsKA partner institution (see list on pages 21-22). Students from institutions within the EU and Turkey may spend an exchange semester at HsKA within the Free Mover program. No degree will be earned at HsKA, but credits can be transferred and count towards the degree at the home university, according to the Learning Agreement (see at 10.4.1). Duration of stay: 1 to 2 semesters. In most cases, the study fee is waived, but this will depend on the cooperation agreement between HsKA and the partner institution. Please ask your ECTS Institutional Coordinator.
7.2 Application procedure, deadlines
7.2.1 Applicants for undergraduate degree programs
Application documents: -- NOTE: All copies must be officially certified (i.e. issued by a notary, the German embassy, other official authorities, or the institution which issued the original document) as well as include a translation into German or English by an authorized translator –
School completion certificate, including transcript
German language certificate
Job training certificate, if applicable
Official record of job experience, if applicable
Applicants with previous study experience: transcript and official documentation verifying period of study
Applicants from China and Vietnam: APS certificate, see www.aps.org.cn
Proof of pre-study work experience
Motivation letter required for the following study programs: International Management, Wirtschaftsinformatik (Business Information Systems), and Informatik (Computer Science). Interview required for applicants of Maschinenbau (Mechanical Engineering)
Non-EU applicants need to provide an evaluation certificate from the Ausländerstudienkolleg of Hochschule Konstanz. See www.ask.htwg-konstanz.de for details.
German applicants with a non-EU school completion certificate need to provide an evaluation certificate from the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart.
Application deadline:
July 15 for winter semester
January 15 for summer semester
The following study programs start only in the winter semester: Architecture, Civil Engineering tri-national, Technical Communication
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Application process:
1) Non-EU-applicants, German applicants with non-EU school completion certificate only: obtain evaluation certificate
2) Apply to HsKA using online application form at www.hs-karlsruhe.de/servlet/PB/menu/1016280/index.html
3) Print out application and send by post together with application documents to HsKA
2-4 weeks after the application deadline, you will receive either a rejection or an acceptance letter. Rejected applicants are automatically placed on the waiting list for places not taken by admitted applicants. The final placement can take place as late as 1 week after the start of lectures. Rejected applicants may either keep their application active for the following semester, or request their application documents back. The acceptance letter includes all relevant registration information as well as tuition payment details.
7.2.2 Applicants for postgraduate degree programs
Application documents: -- NOTE: All copies must be officially certified (i.e. issued by a notary, the German embassy, other official authorities, or the institution which issued the original document) as well as include a translation into German or English by an authorized translator –
School completion certificate, including transcript
German language certificate. For Sensor Systems Technology or Geomatics applicants, English language certificate required instead. For International Management, Sales Engineering, Business Administration and Engineering: both German and English language certificate required
Job training certificate, if applicable
Official record of job experience, if applicable
Applicants from China and Vietnam: APS certificate, see www.aps.org.cn
Bachelor’s diploma
Bachelor’s transcript
Curriculum vitae
For Sensor Systems Technology, Mechanical Engineering & Mechatronics programs: 2 letters of recommendation
Note: Due to the school’s “numerus clausus” (limited study places): the final grade point average of the first degree must be 2.5 or better (German grading system: 1 = best possible grade, 4 = minimum pass grade)
Application deadline:
July 15 for winter semester
January 15 for summer semester
The following study programs start only in the winter semester: Architecture, Geomatics, Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems, and Sensor Systems Technology (German-language master)
The following study programs start only in the summer semester: Civil Engineering, Civil Engineering tri-national, and Sensor Systems Technology (English-language master)
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Application process:
1) Apply to HsKA using online application form at www.hs-karlsruhe.de/servlet/PB/menu/1016280/index.html Exceptions: for Sensor Systems Technology and Geomatics, please use printout forms at the respective programs’ webpages. For Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems, please use application form at website www.eu4m.eu
2) Print out application and send by post together with application documents to HsKA. For Sensor Systems Technology applications, to the attention of Ms. Silke Neureuther. For Geomatics, to the attention of Prof. Dr. Peter Freckmann. For Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems, to the attention of EU4M-Consortium.
2-4 weeks after the application deadline, you will receive either a rejection or an acceptance letter. Rejected applicants are automatically placed on the wait list for places not taken by admitted applicants. The final placement can take place as late as one week after the start of lectures. Rejected applicants may either keep their application active for the following semester, or request their application documents back. The acceptance letter includes all relevant registration information as well as tuition payment details.
7.2.3 Exchange students
The normal fulltime student workload per semester is 30 ECTS credits. Complete the Learning Agreement form with a list of courses you would like to take during your stay at HsKA, and which fit into your home university study profile. This will allow for transfer of the credits back to your home university. Click here for overview of available courses: http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/international/exchange-students/courses-for-exchange-students.html . This learning agreement must be approved by both institutions (see 10.4.1).
Application documents:
Application via online portal https://hs-karlsruhe.moveonnet.eu/moveonline/incoming/welcome.php?_language=en
Learning agreement
Official transcript
Language requirements are evaluated and confirmed by coordinator at home university
Application deadline:
May 15 for winter semester
December 15 for summer semester
Application process:
1) March - April (for winter semester) / October - November (for summer semester): Contact your home university’s departmental and institutional coordinators to set up learning agreement
2) May / December: Send application documents, completed and signed, to HsKA through your coordinator
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3) July / January: You will be informed whether you have been accepted, and if so, will receive information leaflets and the following forms: application for accommodation, application for Intensive German Language Course. Please complete these forms and return them to HsKA.
Please see the International Office upon your arrival in Karlsruhe. We are your contact for all organizational and administrative matters.
7.3 Admissions procedure
7.3.1 Admission requirements for undergraduate programs:
Adequate school completion certificate or passed university entrance exam, either valid for any study program or limited to a special field of study. Rule of thumb: At least university admission in home country must be given. In some cases, a preparatory course is required. More information is available at www.ask.htwg-konstanz.de and www.anabin.de.
7.3.2 Admission requirements for postgraduate programs:
Undergraduate degree
7.3.3 Language requirements:
German language exam DSH-2 or equivalent, see www.sprachnachweis.de For Master’s programs in Sensor Systems Technology or Geomatics: English language exam required (TOEFL 550/213/83 or equivalent) For Master’s programs in International Management, Business Administration and Engineering, Sales Engineering: German and English language exams required.
7.3.4 Admission requirements for exchange students:
Student registration at a partner university, or Free Mover within Europe. At least 2 completed semesters of university studies. Valid Learning Agreement. German or English language knowledge at B2-level.
7.3.5 Program size: (not applicable for exchange students)
In order to best serve our students, program size is limited. The university reserves 5% of study places for applicants with claims of hardship; 8% of places are reserved for non-EU applicants; 2% of places are reserved for applicants who have a previous degree. The remaining places are allocated as follows: 90% according to applicant’s ranking position, 10% according to wait list. The applicant’s ranking position is determined by weighing different criteria such as university entrance qualification score, other school grades, previous job qualifications, and job experience. Main criteria for Master’s programs: previous field of study, final grades from first degree.
7.3.6 Pre-study work experience: (not applicable for exchange students)
The following undergraduate programs require pre-study work experience in a subject-relevant field: Architecture 3 months Automotive Engineering 3 months Business Administration and Engineering 8 weeks
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Cartography and Geomatics 8 weeks Civil Engineering 3 months Construction Management and Economics 3 months Energy and Automation Technology 3 months International Management 8 weeks Mechanical Engineering 3 months Mechatronics 3 months Surveying and Geomatics 8 weeks
7.4 Registration, re-registration and de-registration procedures
7.4.1 Registration
The admission letter indicates the date for registration as a student (Immatrikulation), as well as the documents required for registration. For registration, follow the instructions on acceptance letter to fill in the registration form. Please bring with you your admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) and a passport-size photograph. A student can be registered only if the following steps have been taken:
1) Tuition costs, student services, administrative fees, and campus card have been paid within the deadline. Please transfer the required university fees. For this, you will receive a personal bank transfer form. You will need to open a bank account and provide a signed rental contract for your accommodation. 2) Registration form (Immatrikulationsantrag) has been filled in 3) Documents listed in the admission letter have been provided. Your visa has to be extended in a residence permit 4) Proof of health insurance has been given. Contact health insurance agency (i.e. AOK) for a health insurance waiver or health insurance confirmation (for details, see 13.7.1 below) 5) Non-EU students must register personally. Valid residence permit for study purposes must be provided. Exchange students: students first register with the International Office, where they will receive further information.
7.4.2 Re-registration
At the beginning of every semester, each student must confirm that he / she intends to continue studying at HsKA by paying the tuition and other fees. Students re-register online by enabling a charge-off authorization for these fees. Then immediately print out the registration confirmation for the next semester. Please be sure to print out a sufficient number of copies, as it is not possible to print out a retroactive confirmation. Please see the academic calendar for deadlines. If you do not re-register by the deadline, you will receive a written reminder and be charged an administrative fee. Should you fail to enable charge-off, or if the money cannot be transferred, you will be de-registered by the office.
7.4.3 De-registration
After finishing your studies at HsKA, you need to de-register. Please use the form which exchange students will receive with their information package, and which can also be obtained online or at the Student Registrar information desk. Do not forget to contact the caretaker of your hall of residence / your landlord and the
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Einwohnermeldeamt (residence office). Please give your home address to the International Office before leaving, as we may need to contact you.
8. Main university regulations Landeshochschulgesetz LHG vom 01.01.2005 und Änderung vom 01.12.2005
(University Act Baden-Württemberg and amendment) Alternative admission requirements for applicants without university entrance
qualification but with job qualification: Berufstätigenhochschulzugangsverordnung 11.05.2006 (law on university admission for employees)
General and program-specific admission and registration regulations (Zulassungs- und Immatrikulationsordnung 20.06.2006, LHGs)
General and program-specific curriculum and examination regulations (Studien- und Prüfungsordnungen)
Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz 18.08.2006 (Law of equal opportunities)
For exchange students: Online application, Transcript, and Learning Agreement are binding
Credit transfer recognition procedure: see 10.4 below
9. Grading system The grading scheme used at Hochschule Karlsruhe comprises five verbal grades with numerical equivalents, as follows:
sehr gut (“very good”): 1.0 – 1.5 gut (“good”): 1.6 – 2.5 befriedigend (“satisfactory”): 2.6 – 3.5
ausreichend (“sufficient”): 3.6 – 4.0 nicht ausreichend (“non-sufficient / fail“): 4.1 – 5.0
The minimum pass grade is 4.0.
10. ECTS at HsKA
10.1 What is ECTS?
ECTS, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, was developed by the Commission of the European Communities in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition of studies abroad. It provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements, and transferring them from one institution to another. The ECTS system is based on the principle of mutual trust and confidence between the participating higher education institutions. The few rules of ECTS, concerning information on available courses, learning agreements between the students, the home and host institutions, and the use of credit points to indicate student workload, are set out to reinforce this mutual trust and confidence. Each institution participating in ECTS will describe the courses it offers not only in terms of content but also by stating the ECTS credit value for each course.
10.2 ECTS credits
ECTS credits are a value allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete all planned learning activities, such as attending lectures, seminars,
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independent and private study – in the library or at home –, preparation of projects, examinations, and so forth.
In ECTS, 60 credits represent the workload of a year of study; normally 30 credits are given for a semester and 20 credits for a term. The student workload of a full-time study program in Europe usually amounts to around 1,500 – 1,800 hours per year, and in those cases one credit stands for around 25 to 30 working hours. It is important to note that no special courses are set up for ECTS purposes, but that all ECTS courses are mainstream courses of the participating institutions, as followed by home students under normal regulations.
It is up to the participating institutions to subdivide the credits for the different courses. Practical placements and optional courses which form an integral part of the course of study also receive academic credit. Practical placements and optional courses which do not form an integral part of the course of study do not receive academic credit. Non-credit courses may, however, be mentioned in the transcript of records.
Credits are awarded only when the course has been completed successfully and the learning outcomes achieved have been assessed appropriately.
10.3 ECTS-based student exchanges Most students participating in ECTS will go to one single host institution in one single EU Member State or EEA country, study there for a limited period, and then return to their home institution. Some may decide to stay at the host institution, possibly to gain a degree. Some may also decide to proceed to a third institution to continue their studies. In each of these three cases, students will be required to comply with the legal and institutional requirements of the country and institution where they take their degree.
When the student has successfully completed the study programme previously agreed between the home and the host institutions and returns to the home institution, credit transfer will take place, and the student will continue the study course at the home institution without any loss of time or credit. If, on the other hand, the student decides to stay at the host institution and to take a degree there, he or she may have to adapt the study course due to the legal, institutional and departmental rules in the host country, institution and department.
Students selected by each institution to participate in ECTS may only be awarded a student mobility grant if the exchange is part of the LLP/ERASMUS program and if they fulfil the general conditions of eligibility for the ERASMUS grant. These are:
Students must be citizens of one of the EU Member States or citizens of one of the EEA countries (or recognised by one Member State or one EEA country as having an official status of refugee or stateless person or permanent resident).
Students shall not be required to pay tuition and fees at the host institution; the student may, however, be required to continue to pay his/her normal tuition and fees to the home institution during the study period abroad.
The national grant/loan to which a student may be entitled for study at his/her institution may not be discontinued, interrupted or reduced while that student is studying in another Member State and is receiving an ERASMUS grant.
One study period abroad should not last less than three months or more than one year.
Students in the first year of their studies are not eligible for receiving ERASMUS grants.
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10.4 ECTS recognition procedures at HsKA ECTS is used at HsKA for the accumulation of credits, transfer of exchange students’ credits, as well as placement of Bachelor’s or Master’s transfer students on the basis of knowledge and skills acquired outside the HsKA. Credits can only be recognized after evaluation by the responsible coordinator; criteria are: successful completion of the course, comparable learning experience, and equivalent workload. The relevant procedures for incoming and outgoing exchange students are set out below.
10.4.1 Incoming exchange students
Students from an HsKA partner institution planning to come to Karlsruhe for an ECTS-based student exchange will need to complete a Learning Agreement, i.e. a list of courses they would like to take during their stay at HsKA and that they will be able to receive ECTS credits for upon their return to their home institution. Their choice of courses will be based on the information given in the HsKA Course Catalogue (see http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/international/ects-information-package.html), which lists all the courses offered at HsKA with their respective ECTS credit values. Once the learning agreement has been signed by the ECTS Coordinators at the student’s home institution, it should be sent to HsKA’s International Office. Once it has been signed by the ECTS Coordinators at HsKA it will be returned to the student’s home institution. Any changes to the learning agreement, e.g. due to the cancellation of a selected course at HsKA, will need to be confirmed by all three parties (i.e. the student and representatives of both institutions involved), using the relevant form, which again will be processed by HsKA’s International Office. Upon completion of their studies in Karlsruhe, students will receive an ECTS transcript through the International Office at HsKA, confirming which courses they have successfully taken, and stating their ECTS credit values. This transcript will form the basis of the ECTS credit recognition process at the student’s home institution.
10.4.2 Outgoing exchange students
In consultation with their Departmental ECTS Coordinator (for a list see above point 4. “Faculties and ECTS Departmental Coordinators”), HsKA students participating in an ECTS-based student exchange will need to complete a Learning Agreement, i.e. a list of courses they would like to take during their stay at the ECTS partner institution and that they will be able to receive ECTS credits for upon their return to HsKA. Their choice of courses will be based on the information given in the partner institution’s ECTC Information Package / Course Catalogue, which will also contain the ECTS credit values for each course offered there. Once the learning agreement has been signed by both the Departmental and the Institutional ECTS Coordinator at HsKA, the International Office at HsKA will send it to the partner institution for their signatures. Any changes to the learning agreement, e.g. due to the cancellation of a selected course at the partner institution, will need to be confirmed by all three parties (i.e. the student and representatives of both institutions involved), using the relevant form, which again will be processed by HsKA’s International Office. Upon completion of their studies abroad, students will receive an ECTS transcript from the partner institution, confirming which courses they have successfully taken there, stating their ECTS credit values. This transcript will form the basis of the ECTS credit recognition process at HsKA, at the end of which students will receive, as an attachment to their HsKA transcript, a certificate, signed by the ECTS Institutional Coordinator, confirming which courses taken at the host university have been recognised at HsKA, and again stating their ECTS credit values. Note that HsKA is under no obligation to recognise courses successfully taken by a
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student at the host institution, but not listed in the Learning Agreement or, if applicable, the form confirming changes to the original agreement.
11. LLP/ERASMUS Partner institutions Under LLP/ERASMUS, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is co-operating with the following European universities:
Austria Technische Universität Graz Montanuniversität Leoben Universität Inssbruck
Bulgaria University of Architecture, Building and Geodesy, Sofia
Denmark Syddansk Universitet Universitet Aalborg
Estonia Tallinn Technical University (TTU)
Finland Aland Polytechnic Metropolia Polytechnic Mikkeli Polytechnic Novia University of Applied Sciences
France École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Strasbourg Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques, Besançon IMEA, Besançon Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, Strasbourg Institut Supérieur du Commerce, Paris ISAT of the Université de Bourgogne, Nevers IUT de l’Université de Haute Alsace, Colmar IUT de l’Université de Nancy II IUT Université Robert Schumann, Strasbourg Université Claude Bernard, Lyon Université de Franche Comté Université de Savoie, Chambéry Université de Technologie de Compiègne
Georgia Georgian Technical University
Greece Technological Educational Institution of Kavala Technological Educational Institution of Larissa Technological Educational Institution of Thessaloniki
Hungary Corvinus University of Budapest Eötvös Lorand University, Budapest University of Debrecen University of Szeged University of West Hungary
Irland Waterford Institute of Technology
Italy Università Ca’Foscari Venezia Università di Bologna “Alma Mater Studiorum” Università degli studi di Cagliari Università degli studi di Parma Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
Latvia Riga Technical University Latvia University of Agriculture
Lithuania Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universietas, Vilnius
Norway Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet (NTNU), Trondheim
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Poland State University of Applied Sciences, Chelm Cracow University of Technology Poznan University of Technology Politechnica Koszalinska, Koszalin University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Romania Universitatea Politehnica din Timisoara
Slovenia Univerza v Ljubljani
Spain Universidad de Cádiz Universidad del Pais Vasco Universidad de Navarra Universidad de Oviedo Universidad Politécnica de Valencia Universidad de Valladolid Universidad de Vigo Universidad de Zaragoza
Sweden Linköping University Linneuniversitetet
Switzerland Aute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale HSR Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland University of Applied Sciences East Switzerland University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland Zurich University of Applied Sciences
Turkey Ege Üniversitesi Istanbul Kültür Üniversitesi Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Isparta Yasar Üniversitesi Yildiz Teknik Üniversitesi, Istanbul
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Part II – General Information for students
12. Information about Germany
12.1 Geography, flora and fauna In Germany, you will find different landscapes ranging from flat seaside areas to hilly or even mountaineous areas, fields or woods, densely populated with many cities, towns or small villages. Pleasant surroundings invite people to go for walks, hike or cycle. Private property is expressly marked as such. Sometimes, dangerous agricultural work is carried out, e.g. cutting down of timber. In that case the paths are closed for the public. Respect the environment, especially in nature parks and reserves: Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints. Leaving the footpaths or noise is not welcomed, as wild animals are disturbed, also dogs must be walked on a leash. There are no dangerous or poisonous animals (unless careless pet owners abandon their exotic pets). Still, touching some can cause an unpleasant rash, also avoid touching unknown plants.
12.2 Climate In summer, the temperature is generally around 20°C and can rise even to 35°C. Winter has temperatures around 0°C, which rarely drop to 10°C. Due to its location in the Rhine plain, Karlsruhe has a rather mild, snowless winter and a humid summer. It does rain sometimes, but dangerous storms are an exception. The weather forecasts in radio, TV or internet are pretty reliable, so take the rare warnings of sudden ice storms or heavy storms seriously and rather stay in the house.
12.3 Society
12.3.1 Language:
German. It is obligatory for young people to learn English at school, some also learn French. Therefore, if your German fails you it should be possible to communicate in these languages – but do not take this for granted: Especially people outside campus might not remember their schooldays well enough and might have as many problems talking English as you have talking German.
12.3.2 Immigration:
German society does not only consist of Germans – 9% are foreigners and 10% of Germans have an immigrant background, the major immigrant groups being Turks, Greek, Italians, Poles, Russians, Serbs, Croatians and Spaniards.
12.3.3 Politics:
Germany is a democracy, with the President (head of state); the Chancellor (head of government); the Parliament (made up at present of elected representatives of 5 political parties: coalition of CDU/CSU and SPU, opposition: Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP, Die Linke); the Federal Council (states’ representatives). The capital is Berlin. Germany is made up of 16 federal states (Länder). The federal governments are responsible for specifically-defined areas of public competence. Public holidays and some laws or regulations, including those touching on university or educational matters (application procedure, tuition fees), may differ from one
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state to another. Karlsruhe is located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.
12.3.4 Religion:
Religious freedom is granted by the constitution. The predominant religion is Christianism (Catholic and Protestant). Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Orthodox Christians also live in Germany.
12.3.5 Dos and Don’ts:
Contact: Eye contact is considered polite during conversation, it expresses attention. Punctuality: Make sure to be punctual for appointments and meet deadlines. If you realize that you cannot make it, contact the responsible person and try to arrange for an alternative instead of ignoring matters! It is always more complicated to solve the problems resulting from a missed deadline, instead of obtaining an extension. Environment: It is a great issue in Germany to consider the impact of your actions on the environment. Disposing rubbish in the appropriate bins for recycling (paper, plastics, biodegradable rubbish, bottlebanks, central yards for the disposal of old electrical appliances and problematic waste) is expected from the citizens. Do not drop rubbish in the street – some cities, such as Karlsruhe, fine this behaviour! Openness: Do not be surprised or offended when Germans express their opinion openly, even if this sounds like criticism to you. Similarly, do not hesitate to voice your opinion equally openly because your interlocutor might not take the time to analyse your opinion for tactfully hidden meanings. Talking openly is considered a sign of confidence and wish to cooperate or help – after all, potential problems are tackled and solutions are worked out, the German shows you that he / she takes time to evaluate the situation. Smoking: In the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, smoking is not allowed in restaurants or where food is consumed, in public transport and in public buildings.
12.4 Money Together with 15 other members of the Eurozone, Germany uses the Euro as its currency. 100 cent = 1 Euro. Available are: Banknotes: 500 Euro, 200 Euro, 100 Euro, 50 Euro, 20 Euro, 10 Euro, 5 Euro Coins: 2 Euro, 1 Euro, 50 cent, 20 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent, 1 cent Do not be surprised if you find coins with different motives: the Euro notes and coins are freely interchangeable in the Eurozone countries (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Vatican City). Overviews with pictures can be found at Wikipedia under “Euro banknotes”, “Euro coins” and “German euro coins”.
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13. Living in Karlsruhe
13.1 Coming to Germany Please see the German embassy’s website (link at www.auswaertiges-amt.de) for visa requirements. If you need a visa, apply for a visa for study purposes (“Zu Studienzwecken”).
13.2 Financial matters
13.2.1 Tuition and other fees
Like all state universities in the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, HsKA charges the standard tuition fee of 500 Euro per semester. This is a modest contribution towards the quality of your education, since the University is financed by public funds. As a student at the Hochschule Karlsruhe you will have access to various student facilities such as the Mensa (student canteen), student residences, and sports facilities. These facilities are provided by Student Services the Studentenwerk (Student Services), to which all students pay a student service fee of 62,70 Euro per semester. Students are also liable for a registration fee of 40 Euro per semester, as well as a one-off payment 5 Euro to have your student ID (Campus Card) made. Payment of the above fees is a prerequisite for enrollment at HsKA. Late payment results in a penalty fee of approximately 10 Euro. All fees must be paid each semester by bank transfer (new students only) or online (respect the deadlines!) and may increase from semester to semester.
13.2.2 Living expenses
The cost of living (in addition to the rent) varies between 500 and 600 € per month, depending on the requirements of the individual student. Do not hesitate to show your CampusCard, as students often get reduced rates at cinemas, museums, insurances etc.
13.2.3 Banks
You should always compare rates – a current account (Girokonto) should be free of charge. Ask for special student rates. If your account is overdraft, you will get a certain amount of credit by the bank but required to pay interest for this loaned money.
13.2.4 Jobs
Unless you hold a passport from a European Union member state, you may not work during your stay in Germany, except at the university and except for the 90 days of work included in a one-year visa. Some positions at the university (i.e. HIWI – ungeprüfte wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft – assistant jobs) still require you to go to the Arbeitsamt (employment office) and apply for an official job permit. If you have a visa in your passport (which everyone should have) you are allowed to work 90 days per year. Therefore, you may work outside the university during the holidays (vorlesungsfreie Zeit) or work part-time during the semester, depending on how much time you have. If you want to work for longer than 90 days, you will have to contact the Ausländerbehörde (foreigner's office) to get permission and the respective changes to your visa. If you work without a permit in your passport, you could be reported to the police.
For students on internship semesters only
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You will have to obtain your "Lohnsteuerkarte" (income tax card) from the registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). You will need this card if you stay in Germany for more than six months. Submit this card to your employer when you begin work. You will get this card back at the end of your internship semester for the “Lohnsteuerjahresausgleich" (tax rebate). Inform the company where they should send the card to.
If you work for less than six months in Germany, you will not receive an income tax card. In this case, be sure to remind your employer to ask the relevant tax office for a "Bescheinigung für beschränkt steuerpflichtige ausländische Arbeitnehmer" (certificate for foreign employees who do not need to pay the full tax rate). Otherwise, the full tax will be taken from your income and you will not be able to claim a rebate.
With a tax card, you can claim back some of the tax you have paid. Forms can be obtained at the reception of the "Finanzamt Karlsruhe-Stadt" (tax office), Schlossplatz 14, Karlsruhe. Try to keep all of your receipts (train, flight, and tram tickets etc.) and hand them in, together with your application for a tax rebate, to the tax office. This should be done before you leave Germany. Note: the tax office does not transfer money to banks abroad.
Finding a job after graduation
The Ministry for Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg notifies:
Foreign students who are not nationals of an EU member state are permitted to look for a job in Germany for a period of one year. If they do find employment, they will be given a residence permit restricted to this employment. After two years' employment or three years' residence they will be entitled to a work permit without being restricted to a specific company.
Persons from Eastern European EU-member states who completed their degree at a German university will receive an EU-work permit initially limited to a period of one year. After one year's admission to the German labor market they will be entitled to receive an EU-work permit. This permit is issued without restrictions. As they do not require a residence permit, the question of restrictions on residence is not an issue.
Please see at the Ministry’s Website www.wm.baden-wuerttemberg.de/sixcms/detail.php/174075.html for further information in English or German.
13.2.5 Financial assistance
As an international student, you have several ways to receive financial support.
First you should check with your home country's government to see whether assistance is available.
In Germany, accordance with the Federal Law on Financial Support for Study Purposes (BAföG), international students can receive financial support in special cases:
Children of EU citizens, as long as the children have a residence permit (Aufenthaltsgenehmigung) for family members of EU member states.
Under certain conditions:
- displaced foreigners
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- refugees
- one parent is a German citizen
Other foreigners:
- When a foreigner has legally lived and worked in Germany for five years before beginning to study.
- When at least one parent has legally lived and worked in Germany for at least three years in the six years before the child begins to study.
Further information on whether the BAfÖG conditions have been met can be obtained from the Office of the Local Administrative District (Landratsamt).
13.2.6 Scholarships
HsKA has several possibilities at its disposal to sponsor exemplary students, especially students in Master's courses. Please send the following documents to the International Office:
Letter of motivation
CV
Transcript of your first degree (if applicable)
Updated transcript of your studies at HsKA
Available scholarships include:
Matching Funds scholarship. Outstanding international Bachelor's or Master's students may apply. The scholarship is granted for one semester. Application is possible directly at the beginning of each semester at the International Office. Alternatively watch for information leaflets on the information boards in Building A or Building R.
Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for students from partner institutions.
A number of scholarships are awarded centrally by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst DAAD) in Bonn. Detailed information about DAAD scholarships is given in the Scholarships and Funding brochure published by the German Academic Exchange Service. See also their internet page http://www.daad.de. The application process takes some time, so remember to begin as soon as possible, usually about one year prior to coming to Germany.
A few other organisations also grant scholarships. Applications for these scholarships must be completed in your own country long before travelling to Germany and via the appropriate ministry or the German embassy / consulate. The German foreign diplomatic missions, the German consulates, and other German representatives abroad can provide further information on scholarship programs.
13.3 Accommodation
13.3.1 General information
Accommodation opportunities are limited in Karlsruhe. Residence rooms at HsKA are hard to get since there is only one residence available to students for altogether six universities in Karlsruhe; it is managed not by HsKA, but by the Studentenwerk (Student Services). Nevertheless, on request our International Office will try to find accommodation for you, either in the university residence or in a private apartment/room.
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With or after your offer of admission, we will send you information about how to go about applying for accommodation. Expenses for accommodation will amount to approximately 250 to 300 Euros per month, depending on where you live. In some cases we might be unable to find rooms for all of our students prior to their arrival. For this reason, some students may have to spend a few nights in the youth hostel (right next to HsKA) at:
Deutsche Jugendherberge Engländerplatz 2 76133 Karlsruhe phone: +49 / 721 282 48 fax: +49 / 721 276 47 email: [email protected] website: http://www.jugendherberge-karlsruhe.de/
Information about student housing and the housing referral service can also be requested directly from the Studentenwerk. There is no fee for the referral service.
Visitor’s Address: Studentenwerk Karlsruhe Wohnungswesen Adenauerring 7, Studentenhaus 76131 Karlsruhe phone: +49 / 721 6909-141/142/143 fax: +49 / 721 6909-290 email: [email protected] website: http://www.studentenwerk-karlsruhe.de/static.php?page=wohnen
Postal Address: Studentenwerk Karlsruhe Wohnungswesen Postfach 6247 76042 Karlsruhe
13.3.2 Accommodation possibilities
The Europahaus, a residence building for students, was built in 1993. A number of rooms are reserved for exchange students. The Europahaus is located on the HsKA campus. The rent is approximately 250 Euro per month and a deposit of approximately 500 Euro is required. Please note that upon arrival, each student has to pay a sum of about 750 Euros (for the deposit and first month's rent). A residence unit consists of five to seven bedrooms, plus showers, toilets, and a kitchen where you can prepare your own food. Each bedroom is equipped with a desk, chair, wardrobe, sink, shelves, ceiling light, bed, sheets (you may be required to buy your own linens /bedsheets), and has an internet connection. Additionally, you will have to provide your own towels, table linens, kitchenware, food etc. You can do your laundry for approximately 1.50 Euros per load (washing and drying are separate).
Another way to get accommodation in Karlsruhe is to find a private room off campus. You might have your own room and share the rest of the apartment or house with other students, or even with the owners.
You should also know about WGs (Wohngemeinschaften). These are co-op living arrangements in which the members have their own bedrooms, but share everything else, from common rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms to TVs, washing machines, and of course, expenses and responsibilities. These are advantageous, since they can put you
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in contact with other students, especially Germans. Look for postings at all the universities in Karlsruhe or in the local newspaper http://www.karlsruhe.de/Aktuell/ and http://www.karlsruhe.de/Kultur/medien.htm. Other good sources for WG listings include: http://www.wg-gesucht.de and http://www.studenten-wg.de/ (note: links lead to German language websites only).
13.4 Meals Lunch is available at the student canteen on the campus for about 2 to 3.50 €. Vegetarian meals are available. There is also a cafeteria for small snacks and drinks. Small restaurants, snack bars and cafés offering food of different nationalities are close by, although a bit more expensive (5 to 10 €). If you cook yourself, there is a range of different priced shops: discounters, supermarkets, health food shops, weekly farmers’ markets, a good range of ethnic foodshops – asian, turkish, italian. Opening hours of shops: On public holidays, try gas stations. Karlsruhe is quite proud of its drinking water quality tap water, from local springs.
13.5 Medical facilities / health care
There is no sickbay at campus, only first-aid helpers. A current list of doctors and dentists is provided by the International Office in the exchange student Welcome Package; otherwise see us for this list or refer to Yellow Pages. Always have the insurance card with you, in case of emergency, as it needs to be presented when you see a doctor. A quarterly consultation fee of € 10 must be paid if you consult a doctor; for subsequent visits to specialist doctors during the same quarter, your doctor must provide you with a referral.
Emergencies
Phone numbers in case of emergency:
Fire brigade / Ambulance 112 Police 110
Calls to emergency numbers are free of charge and can be made from any phone. You should report the following when making an emergency call:
What happened? Where did it happen? Who is calling? Is somebody injured? Can somebody give first aid?
Doctors and pharmacies have emergency service during weekend / public holiday on a rota basis. See the newspaper for the addresses and dates, at “Ärztlicher Notdienst”.
Clinics have 24 hour emergency admittance.
13.6 Insurance
13.6.1 Health insurance
Health insurance agreements exist with all EU member states and most of the other European countries as well as Tunisia. Normally, students who are insured at their home countries and who present one of the following certificates: E 111, E 106, E 109, E 120, E 121 and E 122, are exempted from the obligatory German student health insurance. Expenses for treatments in case of illness are then paid by the German health insurance system. If this applies to you, please make sure that you bring the appropriate certificate
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with you. It must be valid for the whole period of your stay. If this does not apply, you can join the German Student Health Insurance if you are not older than 30 years. The fee amounts to about 60 € per month. Insurance pays costs for medical and dental treatment, prescription medication, medical adjuvants and aids, stays in hospital, threatment by therapists, rehabilitation measures. Sometimes the patient must pay a contribution towards these costs. Check with insurance and doctor to make sure that the treatment is paid by the insurance.
13.6.2 Personal liability insurance (“Haftpflichtversicherung”)
Strongly recommended. Offers protection against third party claims in case of damages caused by you. Should include insurance against damages to student residence property.
13.6.3 Household effects insurance (“Hausratversicherung”)
Covers damages to or theft of your personal property.
13.7 Facilities for special needs students
The library, the student canteen and all buildings at HsKA except building R (administration) and building P (Sensor Systems Technology) are suitably equipped for physically challenged students.
The city of Karlsruhe is well prepared for the needs of physically challenged students. Theatres and public buildings have easy access and trams with low entrance doors run within the public transport system (KVV).
13.8 Local Transport
Bus/Tram: Each student has to pay a membership fee of 60 € per semester for the Students' Welfare Organisation (Studentenwerk). This includes a semester ticket for the Karlsruhe Public Transport System (KVV), which is valid after 19.00 h.
For an additional 110 € per semester students may purchase a Semesterticket (in Karlsruhe, "Studikarte"), which allows students unlimited use of all public transportation in Karlsruhe and its surroundings for six months (September to February or October to March and March to August or April to September) for a set fare. In order to buy this ticket, you will have to show the Deutsche Bahn (KVV Centre) your enrollment (Bescheinigung) or student card. The opening hours of the KVV Kundenzentrum are: Monday to Friday – 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays/Sundays – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For those who do not want or need a Semesterticket: you can also buy individual tickets or day passes for different regions/zones at numerous ticket machines. You will have to validate your ticket upon entering the bus or tram. If you are caught without a ticket, you will have to pay a fee of 40 Euros. For taking bikes on the tram, you do not need to buy a ticket. However, bikes are not allowed on the tram during the rush hour from 6 to 9 a.m.
For travel within Karlsruhe, a bike is very handy, and used bikes are not too expensive (but a lock is a must).
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14. Studying in Karlsruhe
14.1 Study facilities
14.1.1 Academic Library (FBH)
HsKA’s Acadmic Library (Fachbibliothek Hochschule Karlsruhe – Technik und Wirtschaft (FBH)) forms part of the library of University Karlsruhe.
Contact: Academic Library of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences Building A Moltkestr. 30 76133 Karlsruhe
Information: Phone: +49 721 925-2866 Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Before and during the examination period, the library is also open on Sundays and public holidays. The time details are published in advance.
Other libraries in Karlsruhe (links lead to German-language only pages):
Universitätsbibliothek Karlsruhe Straße am Forum 2 76131 Karlsruhe
Badische Landesbibliothek Erbprinzenstraße 15 76133 Karlsruhe
Hochschulbibliothek der Pädagogischen Hochschule Karlsruhe Bismarckstraße 10 76133 Karlsruhe
Stadtbibliothek im Ständehaus Ständehausstraße 2 76133 Karlsruhe
14.1.2 Email and computer use
You will automatically get an email address one or two weeks after registration.
One of the services provided by the Information Center (Rechenzentrum) of the Hochschule Karlsruhe is to make computers available in several computer labs, which are open to all Hs students. After you register, you will receive a username and password, which will enable you to use Hs computers campus-wide. See at http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/hochschule/einrichtungen/iz.html for an overview of the Information Center and its services.
14.1.3 Campus Card
The Campus Card can be used as:
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student ID card plastic money (student cafeteria)
Load monetary value onto card via ATM machine in mensa. library card (in the planning stages) ticket for local transport
The semester ticket for Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund KVV (free use of trams and buses from 7p.m. to 3 a.m.) is already included on the card. You can extend this service at KVV service centers (Europaplatz, Marktplatz).
Data stored on the Campus Card:
On the card surface:
picture of card holder name student ID number degree program validity KVV ticket GID
On the Mifare-chip:
Mifare serial number GID university code PIN monetary value
Where to get the Campus Card? Contact information desk in Student Registrar's Office, Building R Office hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday to Thursday 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tel. +49 721/925-1075 Email: [email protected]
How to use the Campus Card
When handling your Campus Card, please use and store carefully. DO NOT
bend or subject to heavy pressure subject to heat, cold or radiation (e.g. microwave) dirty or use when dirty
In this way, it will last throughout your entire period of study.
If your Campus Card is lost or broken
Please contact the information desk in the Student Registrar's Office. Specify your student ID number and GID. In order to issue a replacement, there is a fee of 5 Euros. If the card is broken, please hand it in to receive new card. If defect is not due to improper use, card will be replaced free of charge.
Please take with you the "Speicherung personenbezogener Daten im Chip Ihrer Campus-Card" sheet, which you receive when obtaining the first card. This will help to track the monetary value stored on the broken card. To restore the amount, contact Student Services Karlsruhe, Adenauer-Ring 7 (Mr. Bittner or Mr. Popke). If the Campus Card has been lost, it is not possible to restore the monetary credit to the card.
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Troubleshooting
1) Every semester, the card must be validated at one of the validation machines (next to information desk in the Student Registrar's Office). Insert card into machine. After approx. 15 seconds, you will hear printing, then the card will slide out slowly.
2) If the old data is still printed on the card surface, you have not re-registered. Please see your student program advisor at the Student Registrar's Office.
3) If the card appears without any data printed on, it may be dirty or scratched. Please try again. Do not use strong detergents when cleaning the card. Carry the card in protective cover and do not bend.
14.2 Teaching and learning, exams and marking system
In order to build the theoretical, technical and practical qualifications the courses held in the faculty have a seminar-like environment. Most lectures are followed up by laboratory work. A particular advantage is that the class size is limited to 40 students. This allows for a more communicative and interactive learning atmosphere.
Examinations scheduled for the study semester are obligatory; students are automatically registered to take part in these. Use online registration to sit exams in elective or additional courses. In case of illness or other hardship, it is possible to de-register online, at the latest 3 working days before exam takes place (weekends are not included), or present written proof of absence reason as quickly as possible. Please take this seriously; exams missed without weighty reason are rated as failed and cannot be repeated in the next semester.
In almost all of the listed courses an examination (mostly written) has to be passed at the end of the semester. In all cases the examination will be graded. The marking is entirely up to the individual lecturer, which means that the distribution of marks may differ considerably from one subject to another.
The grading scheme used at Hochschule Karlsruhe comprises five verbal grades with numerical equivalents, as follows:
sehr gut (“very good”): 1.0 – 1.5 gut (“good”): 1.6 – 2.5 befriedigend (“satisfactory”): 2.6 – 3.5 ausreichend (“sufficient”): 3.6 – 4.0 nicht ausreichend (“non-sufficient / fail“): 4.1 – 5.0
The minimum pass grade is 4.0. If an examination has not been passed, the student may repeat it one semester later. A second repetition will only be possible in certain cases of hardship.
14.3 International programs
Unless otherwise noted, all degree programs are taught in German. For application to these programs, very good German language knowledge is required and has to be proven with an appropriate certificate. Some of our programs have a strong international focus, as follows:
Master of Science in Sensor Systems Technology:
English as language of instruction
Double degree in cooperation with Vellore Institute of Technology, India
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Master of Science in Geomatics:
English and German as languages of instruction
Double degree in cooperation with Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
ERASMUS MUNDUS Master of Science in Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems:
German and Spanish or French as languages of instruction
Double degree in cooperation with ENSMM, France and Universidad de Oviedo, Spain
Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, Master+Diplôme d’Ingénieur:
French and German as languages of instruction
Double degree in cooperation with ENSMM, France
Civil Engineering, Bachelor:
French and German as languages of instruction
Tri-national program in cooperation with IUT Strasbourg, France and Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland
14.4 Internship semester
Practical internship semesters, carried out under the supervision of companies with close interconnection of theory and experience, constitute a major feature of practically-oriented studies at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. Students' academic knowledge is complemented by their application of it into the industry over a period of 95 days. The requirements of internships for different study programs are detailed in the respective Studien- und Prüfungsordnung (Curriculum and Examination regulations) and in faculties' information material.
Usually students must find a suitable position themselves; however they are supported in this by the responsible professors of each faculty (see list of faculty advisors http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/current-students/advice.html) or by the Liaison Office for Integrated Traineeships (see http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/current-students/career-services/koor.html, in German language only). The student then signs a contract with the company. Sample contracts are provided by the secretarial offices of each faculty.
Please see the Curriculum and Examination regulations for information on the project work necessary to document the internship semester. During an internship semester, full student status is maintained; however it is not possible to hold a position in the Students' Union or other student administrative body.
During Bachelor's studies, an internship semester is integrated, usually in the 5th semester.
During Master's studies, a project semester is integrated, in the course of which the Master's thesis is carried out. The project semester includes project preparation, the project itself, thesis, and final adjustments.
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14.5 Language courses
14.5.1 HsKA’s Foreign Language Institute
The IFS offers pre-term intensive courses in German as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache, or DaF) twice a year, in September and March, during the 2 weeks prior to the start of lectures. Degree and exchange students can train and improve their German language knowledge in 3 levels. Exchange students receive the application form with their admission documents. Other German courses at various levels are offered during the semester. These courses are free of charge for students of HsKA. Please inform yourself about the conditions of participation (e.g. placement tests, maximum allowed absence hours, etc.) through the website of the IFS at http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/current-students/foreign-language-institute.html . In addition, the IFS offers courses in English, Spanish, French and Chinese, as well as courses in intercultural training and culture, such as “Germany Today”.
Further language courses at extra charge are offered by the University, the Volkshochschule (adult evening classes), or private schools.
14.5.2 Tandems
Study Buddies www.study-buddies.eu is a student matching platform that fosters contacts between German and foreign students of the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HsKA). Over time, it is planned to open the platform to students of other Karlsruhe universities and to private persons.
The contacts made through this portal shall on the one hand help foreign students of the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences become more socially integrated with their fellow students and on the other hand foster the international contacts and intercultural competence of their German „buddies“.
14.6 Student Union The General Students’ Association is an official institution of HsKA, which consists of four AStA representatives who hold seats in the University’s Senate; they are assisted by fellow students; however, in view of the large number of students studying at the University of Applied Sciences, more assistants would be welcome.
AStA is most well-known by students for the parties it organises at the beginning of every semester, as well as for its summer and winter festivals. However, there are a lot more AStA activities!
Efficient distribution of all AStA responsibilities looks as follows, and the whole system only works through good communication (get-togethers in the glass box) and continuing co-operation between the different committees.
The Culture Committee (Kulturreferat) organises events, happenings, and parties.
The Welfare Committee (Sozialreferat) offers help in the case of a student being removed from the register of students, for example, or with the application for a grant, as well as with other social problems.
The International Committee (Ausländerreferat) organises an International Evening and an International Movie Show every semester, with the support of the Movie Committee (Kino-Referat), the members of which run regular Wednesday Evening Movie Shows. Classic movies of all genre’s are presented every week in lecture room He, building Li. Last but not least there is a Sport Officer (Sportreferent) who is in charge of the sports
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programme which runs in co-operation with the Technical University of Karlsruhe, and who is willing to organise volleyball tournaments on students’ request.
The Public Relations Committee (Öffentlichkeitsreferat) is charged with producing press releases and publications regarding all information about AStA. The information magazine „Erstiheft“ which is published every semester, helps all newly enrolled students to get organised not only at the University itself but also in Karlsruhe in general.
However, AStA is also involved in activities regarding university policy and administration or discussions about conditions for studying, often in co-operation with other students’ associations on a local, regional and national level.
Finally, AStA officially represents the student body within one of the most important University committees, the Senate: its 26 members are representatives of the rectorate, deans, elected lecturers and employees, as well as four students elected once a year by all their fellow students. In this way students’ interests are represented by AStA representatives, who take part in all decisions regarding the University. The better communication between the AStA, the students’ council (Fachschaften) and the student body works, the better students’ interests can be represented.
Except for the secretary, all AStA members are „normal“ students who volunteer to take on these additional responsibilities. And, believe it or not: they enjoy it! Since these activities also mean having work and fun together, getting a lot of knowledge and experience of social and university life, in brief: to gain social competence while having fun and assisting the four AStA members of the senate who cannot do the job alone. So why not visit the AStA in the “glass box” and get a broader perspective? AStA would be very happy to welcome new members!
15. Leisure activities
15.1 Traveling
Travel within Germany and Western Europe is easy and, for the most part, pleasant. Distances are manageable. The most reliable and a very developed mode of transportation, especially in Germany, is the train. The German railroad is called the Deutsche Bahn (DB). The Bahn offers a discount card called the Bahncard, which gets you substantial discounts (25%, 50%, or even 100%) on tickets. You can pick up a booklet with all the city connections (Städteverbindungen) at the Karlsruhe train station, and the DB website www.bahn.de provides convenient information on fares and schedules.
Another valuable ticket is the Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, which is a great way for you and a group of friends to take a weekend trip at an affordable price. It costs only 35 Euros, is valid for one weekend day, and can be used by up to five people for all of Germany. However, it is only valid on slower trains (Regionalbahn, Regional Express and Inter Regional).
Another option for cheap travel in Germany is the Mitfahrgelegenheitzentrale (http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/), which is essentially an organized carpooling system for the entire country. Here you can catch a ride with people driving to the same destination as you, and you only chip in on the price of gas (normally a fraction of a train ticket price, even with a Bahncard). For many foreigners, the idea of getting a ride with a complete stranger sounds dangerous or suspicious at first. However, this service is commonly used throughout Germany by all people, young and old.
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If you need some inspiration or some recommendations on what to visit in Karlsruhe or in Germany, check out the following web pages:
For Karlsruhe and surroundings: http://www.karlsruhe.de/Tourismus/index.php3
Get information on Karlsruhe and update it: http://www.ka-wiki.de
For Germany: http://goeurope.about.com/cs/germany/
15.2 Location The city of Karlsruhe is an important commercial and administrative center in south-west Germany with some 285,000 inhabitants. It is situated in the Rhine valley, on the border of the Black Forest, and has a comparatively mild climate with warm summers.
Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is ideally located within the city’s green belt and at the same time very close to the town center (10 minutes to walk). The university buildings, library, student cafeteria, and residence halls are all close together on campus. Students can reach all important places on foot within a few minutes.
15.3 Recreation and sports For recreation, Karlsruhe has something for everyone. Kaiserstraße (the city's main street) offers exceptional shopping during the day as well as a vibrant night life. A wide variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, dance clubs, cinemas (English and other foreign language films available), and theaters can be found throughout the city, The demographic of Karlsruhe is surprisingly international, giving the city a unique, multicultural flare. Visitors are often struck by how safe Karlsruhe is compared to many large cities. One can walk alone in the middle of the night without any concerns. The surrounding landscape of Karlsruhe is also breathtakingly beautiful. For the nature enthusiast, the area is peppered with bike paths, hiking trails, lakes, camping grounds, and of course the Rhine River. No matter what your destination, nearly everything in and around Karlsruhe can be easily reached on foot, by bike, or by train. Offering excellent recreational opportunities, modern transport systems, and all the cultural attractions expected of an important university city, Karlsruhe is an excellent place to work, study, and relax.
Karlsruhe has many gyms, swimming pools, lakes, bike paths, and hiking trails, providing students with ample facilities for any sport. Students can also get a reduced rate on admission to public swimming pools in Karlsruhe.
A good resource is the "Sport und Freizeit in Karlsruhe", which lists many such facilities, their locations, contact names, and telephone numbers.
The Student Union (AStA) of the Hochschule Karlsruhe offers a variety of activities which are organized and published at the beginning of each semester. Upon arrival, you can get further information at their office (in the Mensa building).
15.4 Cultural attractions
The city of Karlsruhe offers many cultural attractions. In addition to the Baden State Theatre, there are eight private theaters and numerous museums, collections, and galleries.
There is a free monthly magazine called „Klappe auf“, which has details about all the cultural events in the city – see www.klappeauf.de/. Your student card qualifies you for reduced admission at most events.
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The Badisches Staatstheater publishes a free magazine at the beginning of the season, in autumn, which contains information about upcoming productions and includes the monthly program of events. Have a look at www.karlsruhe.de/kultur.de to find out what is playing at this and other theaters.
The Kinoprogramm site www.karlsruhe.de/kultur/film_und_medien/film.de has listings of the movies currently playing at various cinemas throughout the city. The Schauburg-Kinoprogramm regularly offers mainstream films in their original language. You can also see independent films in original language at the Kinemathek Karlsruhe (http://www.kinemathek-karlsruhe.de/).
The HsKA choir "Vocal Resources" welcomes participants and audience members. Various other events - parties, lectures, cinema, introductory meetings... are organized by the HsKA or the Student Union.
15.5 Events and excursions
The International Office offers each semester a special programme for our international students with the aim to make our guests acquainted with German culture and history. Details on this semester's events can be found in the excursion brochure at http://www.hs-karlsruhe.de/en/io/exchange-students/student-life/events-excursions.html.
