Studying Economics, Business Administration and Sociology at … · 2013-08-18 · • Campus I and II are only about 10 minutes walk away from each other • On- and off-campus housing

Studying Economics, Business Administration

and Sociology at Trier University

A Guide for Exchange Students

ERASMUS Information Brochure 2 __________________________________________________________________

Contents

1. Introduction ...................................................................... 3

2. Trier ................................................................................. 3

2.1 Short history of Germany’s oldest city ................................................ 3

2.2 Trier today ........................................................................................... 4

3. Trier University.................................................................. 4

3.1 History & today .................................................................................... 4

3.2 Studying in the economic department ................................................ 5

3.2.1 Business Administration (Betriebswirtschaftslehre, BWL) .............. 6

3.2.2 Economics (Volkswirtschaftslehre, VWL) ......................................... 6

3.2.3 Sociology (Soziologie) ...................................................................... 6

4. How to organise your studies ............................................. 7

4.1 Academic year ...................................................................................... 7

4.2 Responsibilities .................................................................................... 7

4.3 Courses ................................................................................................ 7

4.4 Course forms ........................................................................................ 8

4.5 Exams ................................................................................................... 8

4.6 Transcript of records............................................................................ 9

5 Further information and contacts ....................................... 10


1. Introduction

This brochure offers an overview of the ERASMUS program at the department of

economics, business administration and sociology at Trier University. It is aimed to

provide important information for incoming students on how to organise their studies

in Trier. We hope that this brochure will help to plan your stay at Trier University and

to make it an unforgettable one!

2. Trier

2.1 Short history of Germany’s oldest city

Ante romam treveris stetit annis mille trecentis - "Trier

existed 1,300 years before Rome." This inscription can be

found at the Red House on the “Hauptmarkt” (main mar-

ket place). Although this is medieval fiction, it has histori-

cal relevance. Human settlements from as early as 3rd

Millennium B.C. are known to have existed in the Trier valley and Trier was the first

place north of the Alps to be called a "town".

About 16 B.C., when Augustus was Emperor, the Romans founded AUGUSTA

TREVERORUM - later named TRIER. By the end of the 3rd Century A.D. the Emperor

Diokletian made Trier both the capital of the western part of the Roman Empire and

an imperial residence. Trier also became a centre of early Christianity at that time. In

the 5th century A.D. the Germanic tribes, called Franks, conquered Trier, and when

the Carolingian Empire was divided in 870, Trier became part of the East Frankish-

German Empire.

The Market Cross dating from 958 marks the market place

and the centre of medieval Trier. In the 13th century, the

Archbishop of Trier became one of the electors of the

German Kings. From this time until the 19th century, Trier

experienced periods of great prosperity and also great de-

cline. In the time of Napoleon, Trier was a part of France,

but after 1815 it became part of Prussia. Since 1945, Trier has been in the Federal

State of "Rheinland-Pfalz" in the Federal Republic of Germany.


2.2 Trier today

Trier is capital of the “Regierungsbezirk” (administrative district) of Trier, and a Di-

ocesan city. It is also the centre of culture, trade and economics for the larger Trier

region. It has a harbour at the river Moselle and accommodates important industries

such as wine-growing. There are also ample opportunities for shopping, conferences,

and touristic activities. Trier has about 100,000 inhabitants.

The city lies only 10 km from the Luxembourg border, 50

km from the French border and 65 km from the Belgian

border. As for recreational facilities, it offers stadiums,

sports grounds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools,

saunas, squash-, badminton- and tennis courts, riding

stables, jogging tracks, and an ice-skating rink among other things. There are also

music societies and choirs, concerts ranging from classical to modern music, local

festivities and wine festivals, museums, numerous wineries, markets and fairs, and

last but not least, Trier is a region with parks, woods, rivers and lakes and great hik-

ing paths.

The city offers some wonderful leisure activities and is convenient for other daily af-

fairs/undertakings.

• Foods can be bought in every part of town. There are also many specialized

shops, e.g. for Asian or organic food.

• In the city centre there are plenty of opportunities to go (window-) shopping.

• There are concerts, theatre plays, exhibitions and two cinemas in town.

• There are lots of banks, post offices, many doctors and pharmacies in town.

• The city hall is also there, important in terms of your registration, fees for TV,

your visa etc.

3. Trier University

3.1 History & today

Trier has a long university tradition. From 275 - 390 A.D. when the city was the im-

perial seat of the Western Roman Empire, there was a university for Rhetoric,

Grammar, Latin and Greek.

In 1454, Pope Nicholas V granted the establishment of a university in Trier. In 1473

the new university was opened. It offered subjects in accordance with the tradition


of that time: theology, philosophy, law and medicine. After the occupation of Trier in

the Napoleonic Wars, the University was closed in 1798. Almost 170 years later, in

1970, Trier University was reopened and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010.

In recent years Trier University has seen a considerable increase in the number of

students. Nevertheless, compared with present-day large universities, Trier is still a

small campus university with short distances. Trier University has around 14,000 stu-

dents. The wide selection of disciplines and the opportunities for combining subjects

prevent excessive specialization and provide a professionally orientated course of

study. At present more than 40 different subjects are available in 6 areas of study.

Accordingly, Trier University is organized in six departments (“Fachbereiche”). The

department of economics, business administration and sociology is hence called

“Fachbereich IV”. Other departments include fields such as Languages, Psychol-

ogy, History, Political Science, Geography and others. The economic department has

about 3,350 students.

Further information on Trier University at a glance:

• 10 min from the city centre with very good transport links

• All buildings in the immediate vicinity

• Campus I and II are only about 10 minutes walk away from each other

• On- and off-campus housing

• Park and lakes

• Various sports and leisure facilities and shops. Cafeterias on campus

3.2 Studying in the economic department

Studying business administration, economics and/or sociol-

ogy at Trier University is characterized by an emphasis on a

method-orientated as well as a project-orientated, interdis-

ciplinary and practical-orientated education. Moreover, the

department is structured by central specializations which

can be found in each of the three main subjects. Those

specializations are Management, Culture and International

Studies, Labour Organization and Social Studies, Finance,

Community and Public Economics and Marketing, Media and

Markets.


Specialisation Business Economics Sociology

Management, Culture & International Studies

Strategic Manage-ment & Entrepre-neurship

International Economic Rela-tions

Cultures & So-cieties

Labour, Organization & Social Studies

Human Resources Labour & Social Security

Social Policy & Economy

Finance, Community & Public Economics

Finance & Corporate Accounting

Regional Inequal-ity & Zone Pricing

Finance & Mu-nicipal Science

Marketing, Media & Mar-kets

Marketing, Retailing & Innovation

Consumption & Communication

Market & Con-sumption

3.2.1 Business Administration (Betriebswirtschaftslehre, BWL)

Business Administration is concerned with economic issues and problems related to

business organization, management and strategy. Issues and problems such as the

following: why and how firms expand horizontally; the role of entrepreneurs and en-

trepreneurship; the significance of organizational structure; the role of marketing;

the significance of finance; the relationship of firms with employees, the providers of

capital, the customers, the government; the interactions between firms and the busi-

ness environment.

3.2.2 Economics (Volkswirtschaftslehre, VWL)

Economics analyze the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and ser-

vices. Economics aims to explain how economies work and how economic agents

interact. Economic analysis is applied throughout society, in business, finance and

government. A common distinction is between microeconomics, which examines the

behaviour of basic elements in the economy, including individual markets and agents

(such as consumers and firms, buyers and sellers), and macroeconomics, which ad-

dresses issues affecting an entire economy, including unemployment, inflation, eco-

nomic growth, and monetary and fiscal policy.

3.2.3 Sociology (Soziologie)

In a society, every day millions of people take a variety of decisions - what they buy,

how many children they have, what job they choose, and many more. Sociology has

the task to analyze this diversity of choices as well as the resulting actions and their

consequences. And that also includes the social and cultural determinants of these

acts. Thus, Sociology is not so much interested in individual features, but in what is

beyond individual actions. Sociology tries to make generalizations about the actions

of people in social structures and sees itself as an empirical science.


4. How to organise your studies

4.1 Academic year

The academic year is divided up into two semesters: the winter (October 1st –

March 31st) and summer semester (April 1st – September 30th). In the winter se-

mester, lectures usually start in the last week of October and end in February. In the

summer semester classes usually begin in mid-April and last until mid July. The re-

spective year’s dates are included in the information accompanying the application

form.

Generally, admission of new students is possible in both the winter and the summer

semester. Some subjects, however, offer certain lectures only every two semesters,

so some lectures (especially introductory ones) are only offered as part II (a more

advanced level) or not at all during the summer term. Customarily, students can only

partake in these subjects during the winter semester. However, students participat-

ing in exchange programmes may be admitted to these subjects both in the summer

and in the winter term.

4.2 Responsibilities

The Academic International Office is in charge of handling the administrative ques-

tions of a temporary stay at Trier University. Thus, should you have questions con-

cerning enrolment, accommodation, introductory seminars or language courses etc.,

please refer to Mr. Carsten Kluger, who is responsible for the support of incoming

students (Building V, Office . Additional information can be acquired on the home-

page of the International Office (www.incomings.uni-trier.de).

If you have study or course related questions please refer to Ms. Edith Olejnik,

who is responsible for ERASMUS students support in the economic department.

4.3 Courses

The combination of the study program at the eco-

nomic department should be coordinated with the

home university before the stay in Trier. Additional

information about the lectures and courses are

available on the university homepage. If you need

assistance in finding courses, please contact Ms

Edith Olejnik.


In one academic year (two semesters) 60 ECTS are supposed to be achieved. Ac-

cordingly, in one semester 30 ETCS credits should be achieved. It is recommended to

achieve this total number on the basis of the following curriculum:

• 20-30 credits for lectures (usually 5 credits per lecture) of the main

study period, each to be completed by an exam

• 10 credits for the participation in a language course or other courses

("studium generale"; usually 3-5 credits each)

ECTS credits for the courses can be found on the ERASMUS

Homepage (www.erasmus-fb4.uni-trier.de).

There are also some lectures in English offered by the

economic department. They can also be found at

www.erasmus-fb4.uni-trier.de.

4.4 Course forms

Lectures (Vorlesung): Provides the content for which is later tested in a written

exam. It is held by a professor.

Exercises (Übung): Mostly offered in addition to lectures, held by research assis-

tants. Content from the lecture is repeated, discussed and deepened.

Tutorials (Tutorium): Mostly offered in addition to lectures, held by students. Con-

tent from the lecture is discussed and put into practice.

Seminar (Seminar): After an introduction, students have to work on their term

papers (15-20 pages), which also have to be presented in the class.

Practical project in economics and social sciences (PbSp/PbFp): Academic

reflection and handling of a problem in the fields of economics with an empirical fo-

cus and team concept. The aim is to gain and develop soft skills, including the ability

to work in a team and presentation skills.

4.5 Exams

Trier students usually write exams in the first weeks of holidays. In most cases pro-

fessors will offer an additional ERASMUS exam (written or oral) in the last two weeks

of the semester.

Each professor and his team are responsible for the organisation of their exam. You

usually need to register for each exam at the respective secretary of the professor.


After the exam is written, the grades are transmitted to Ms Edith Olejnik. She issues

your transcript of records (Zeugnis), which you have to request first.

4.6 Transcript of records

At the end of your studies at Trier University you can request a transcript of records.

The transcript contains all courses you attended at the economic department as well

as the respective ECTS credits and grades. For courses attended at other depart-

ments than the economic one (Fachbereich IV), please address the respective con-

tact (for example Fachbereich II for German Language courses).

To request a transcript of records you have to:

1. Fill out the Transcript of Records form available at the ERASMUS Homepage

(www.erasmus-fb4.uni-trier.de -> "Incoming Students -> Downloads")

2. Send the form to [email protected].

The professors will forward your grades (“Noten” or “Scheine”) to the ERASMUS of-

fice. Please be aware that only courses for which we have received a “Schein” can be

added to the transcript of records. Therefore, the transcript of records can be proc-

essed only after we have received all information.


5 Further information and contacts

We hope that this guide has not only been useful to you, but has also made you cu-rious about studying at Trier University. If you wish to obtain more information on current courses, please refer to the Uni-versity homepage www.uni-trier.de If you wish to get more information on the life as an exchange student at Trier Uni-versity, you may visit the ERASMUS Homepage of the department www.erasmus-fb4.uni-trier.de or the homepage of the International Office www.incomings.uni-trier.de. For further advice please feel free to contact:

Edith Olejnik (ERASMUS Coordinator) Trier University Department IV - Economics, Business Administration, Sociology Room C347 D-54286 Trier Phone: +49 (0)651/201-2665 Fax: +49 (0)651/201-4165 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.erasmus-fb4.uni-trier.de

ERASMUS Assistants Room C328 Phone: +49 (0) 0651/201-3496 Email: [email protected]

For questions regarding admission, registration or general support, please contact: Admission Office International Office (Studentensekretariat) (Akademisches Auslandsamt) Karin Raatz & Brigitte Meyer Carsten Kluger Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: +49-(0)651/201-2715 & 2814 Phone: +49-(0)651/201-2808 Fax: +49-(0)651/201-3855 Fax: +49-(0)651/201-3914 www.incomings.uni-trier.de


Erasmus Information Brochure 1st Edition October 2010 Editor Edith Olejnik Trier University

Department IV/Economics, Business Administration, Sociology

D-54286 Trier

Assistants Madeleine Boos, Irina Bayer

Pictures Heidi Neyses, Press Office, Trier University

Trier

Porto

Lissabon

Alcalá

Madrid

Córdoba

Zaragoza

Sevilla

Liège

Antwerpen

Aarhus

Kopenhagen

Mikkeli

Joensuu

Angers

Lyon

Montpellier

Strasbourg

Lille

Nizza

Metz

Nancy

Bristol

Glasgow

Birmingham

Wolverhampton Galway

Dublin

Bergamo

Trento

Lecce

Bologna

Oslo

Wien

Warschau

Kattowitz

Cluj-Napoca

Dalarna

Prag

Budapest

Pécs

Athen Izmir

Bukarest

Istanbul

Trier University

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Studying Economics, Business Administration and Sociology at … · 2013-08-18 · • Campus I and II are only about 10 minutes walk away from each other • On- and off-campus housing