Information for students and faculty

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Please also note the general information, the page Sommersemester2020#digital (for students)and the portal page Digital Education (for faculty and lecturers)!

Please also note the general information, the page Sommersemester2020#digital (for students) and the Digital Education portal page (for faculty)! In addition, the Faculties provide information on their websites, please note here in particular the instructions issued by the respective Examination Offices [https://portal.uni-koeln.de/en/coronavirus/information-of-the-faculties].

Overview

Examinations in the 2020 summer semester
Teaching in the 2020/21 winter semester
Applications and enrolment for the 2020/21 winter semester
Libraries
Reconciliation of family and studies

The 2020 summer semester is taking place using online teaching methods. In this way, the University of Cologne is creating conditions that allow students to continue and complete their studies without any time delay. Constructive solutions have also been found for examinations.
Practical courses which require special laboratories or work rooms and cannot be replaced by digital formats may take place with personal attendance if the hygiene and infection protection rules can be observed. This applies in particular to practical laboratory courses at the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. It is imperative that the hygiene and infection protection measures for courses and working on campus are observed.

Examinations in the 2020 summer semester

Examinations at the University of Cologne are conducted in various formats, among others as online exams via ILIAS and – in well-justified and exceptional cases – as attendance exams. Students are notified of the times and dates of exams at least two weeks in advance.

Attendance examinations

Exams are only carried out with personal attendance if no alternatives are possible.
When conducting attendance examinations, the guidelines for hygiene and infection protection measures for courses and working on campus must be observed. Responsible behaviour by each individual and adherence by all to important rules are urgently required in order to protect your health and that of everyone else present.
A mouth-and-nose cover must be worn in all rooms used by the University of Cologne. This applies for the entire duration of the examination both for students as well as invigilators. It may only be raised or removed briefly for the purpose of eating or drinking; this must be restricted to the shortest time period possible.
Please bring your own mouth-and-nose cover with you to the exam.

If students are unable to wear a mouth-and-nose cover during an attendance examination for medical reasons and can substantiate this with a medical certificate, they must please contact the Examination Office responsible immediately and in good time so that an individual solution can be found.

The hygiene and infection protection measures of the University of Cologne must also be observed in cases where an individual solution is found, and everybody’s health must be protected. For example, when an exam is taken in a separate room, students must also wear a mask to protect the other people present. We ask for your understanding that arranging solutions for individual cases is complex and can require some time.
All participants must maintain a minimum distance of between 1.5 and 2 metres. This is ensured during the exam itself by removing chairs and tables. The seats that students may occupy are marked. All students are requested to occupy only the designated seats in the lecture theatres/seminar rooms and to make sure they always maintain the minimum safety distance before, during and after the examination.
All students participating in attendance examinations at the University of Cologne are urgently requested to inform the university immediately if they test positive for the coronavirus within two weeks after participating in such an examination. They are obliged to provide this information both to the Examination Office responsible for their exam as well as the information office of the university’s Crisis Management Team (info-praeventionverw.uni-koeln.de).
Presence examinations after entry from high-risk areas:
Students who want to come to the university in the 14 days after entry from an international high-risk area as defined by the Robert Koch Institute have to observe two things: firstly, the regulations of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for persons entering from high-risk areas and, secondly, the regulations of the University regarding the house ban after entering from high-risk areas.

Regulations of the State of NRW
In accordance with the Corona Entry Regulation of the State of NRW, persons entering from high-risk areas as defined by the Robert Koch Institute are obliged to a 14-day domestic quarantine, from which only the responsible health authorities can release them after proof of a negative coronavirus test.

There is, however, one exception to this rule for students: They are not subject to these obligations if they enter Germany daily or for up to five days for compelling and unpostponable reasons related to their studies, or if they entered from a high-risk area and exhibit no symptoms indicative of a COVID-19 infection as defined by the Robert Koch Institute. In these cases, the house ban of the University nevertheless applies.

University regulations regarding the house ban:
Persons who enter Germany from international high-risk areas as defined by the Robert Koch Institute are not allowed to enter the University of Cologne for 14 days after entry, regardless of the duration of their stay and whether they exhibit any symptoms. They are banned from the University of Cologne (grounds and buildings).
For students there is an exceoption, but only to take exams: Students who have been in a high-risk area during the 14 days prior to an attendance examination date and wish to take a study-related attendance examination are exempted from the house ban – exclusively and only once for these purposes – if they submit proof of a negative coronavirus test in English or German language, issued in their name and no older than 48 hours at the time of entry from the high-risk area into the Federal Republic of Germany to the responsible examination office. The test must meet the requirements for recognition as a molecular biological test for SARS-CoV-2b (in particular: PCR procedure from an EU country or country listed on the RKI site).

Students who have stayed in a risk area listed by the Robert Koch Institute during the 14 days prior to an attendance examination are not subject to the house ban and may take that exam if they notify the Examination Office responsible early on that they have stayed in a risk area and present in good time before the examination a negative coronavirus test result in English or German that is no older than 48 hours at the time of the examination to the Examination Office responsible or at the latest to the invigilators when entering the exam room.
The Robert Koch Institute is responsible for identifying risk areas. The list is regularly updated. Please stay informed!

Students who have stayed in a risk area during the 14 days prior to the date of an attendance examination and who wish to take that exam must contact the Examination Office responsible for their exam as early as possible. The Examination Office then checks first of all whether the forthcoming exam can be taken in a digital format.

If this is not possible, the attendance examination applies and in order to be able to participate in it the students concerned must present a negative coronavirus test result in English or German that is no older than 48 hours at the latest when entering the exam room. It is also possible to send the negative test result by email to the Examination Office in good time before the start of the examination. In any case, we recommend that you have proof of your negative test result with you when you come to the exam.

The University of Cologne does not bear the costs for testing. If students are unable to present a negative test result, the house ban continues to apply for them, and they will not be able to participate in the examination.

The high-risk areas are identified by the Robert Koch Institute. The list is regularly updated. Please get the latest information!
In consultation with the Faculties, the Rectorate has adopted regulations on the legal status of students and the legal aspects of examinations. These are based on the Corona Epidemic University Ordinance of the Ministry of Science and Culture of North Rhine-Westphalia, which allows universities to establish rules that deviate from their regular examination regulations. The regulations can be found here (PDF, German only), here(PDF), here (PDF), here (PDF) and here (PDF).
The above-mentioned regulations concerning the legal aspects of examinations stipulate, among others, that examinations taken and failed between 1.4.2020 and 30.09.2020 are considered not to have been taken. This does not, however, apply for theses, including the specialisation seminars in the first examination in accordance with the Legal Training Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (DRiG/JAG NRW). In addition, this does not represent an opportunity to repeat an exam already passed in order to improve the grade.

Furthermore, the following continues to apply:

Cancelled examinations

Theses (Bachelor’s and Master’s)

As far as possible, theses (Bachelor’s and Master’s) should be completed from home.

For theses which were started before 16.03.2020 and where the deadline is after 20.04.2020, students should please contact the Examination Office responsible for any matters concerning the submission deadline. Due to restrictions as a result of the coronavirus, the Examination Committee responsible can also extend the deadlines for the submission of theses beyond the maximum deadlines set down in the examination regulations.

By way of deviation from the rules in the respective examination regulations, the submission of a read-only electronic version to the office responsible is sufficient for the punctual submission of the thesis. If their examiner requests, students must provide a printed version. In addition, the Examination Office responsible may demand that the number of printed copies stipulated in the examination regulations be submitted afterwards, as well as a personally signed statement in lieu of oath, as soon as this is possible.

Students who, as a result of the measures implemented, also have problems completing their thesis, should contact the Examination Office/Examination Committee responsible in order to find a solution.

Cases of hardship

State examinations

Teaching in the 2020/21 winter semester

Due to the hygiene and infection protection rules that currently apply, the University of Cologne anticipates that teaching in the 2020/21 winter semester will be “hybrid”. This means that some courses will be held face-to-face, while observing hygiene and infection protection measures, but at the same time many courses, now as before, will take place in online formats.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s current hygiene and infection protection regulations allow face-to-face teaching in the 2020/21 winter semester with no more than 50 persons, provided that the hygiene and infection protection regulations are respected. In addition, further protection measures must be adhered to – among others the wearing of a mouth-and-nose cover, track and trace for all courses with personal attendance, keeping to the minimum safety distances. Distance rules mean that especially the room capacity available for exams will be reduced. Together with the Faculties, the headship and central administration of the University of Cologne are developing a concept for room allocation and organisation.
All plans for the 2020/21 winter semester depend on how the pandemic progresses and are subject to actual developments. The need to switch completely to solely online teaching operations must be expected at any time. Faculty are therefore requested to plan their courses in such a way that a changeover is possible at any time. In addition, not all students will be able to participate in the face-to-face courses offered (e.g. international students, students who belong to a risk group). So that they too can follow courses and take exams, all faculty are requested to make the course material for face-to-face courses available online too.

Carrying out excursions

Only excursions that are obligatory according to the examination regulations are permitted. For all phases of an excursion, the corona rules according to the laws of the federal states visited apply. This concerns, for example, the permitted group size in public places, the rules in public transport, in museums, restaurants, hostels, etc. Excursions require authorization by the dean on the basis of a hygiene concept and a corona risk assessment; the decision must be documented and cannot be delegated. Contact tracing (simple traceability according to Section 2a CoronaSchVO NRW) must be ensured. Further details can be found in the Recommendations for excursions/field trips (PDF).

Applications and enrolment for the 2020/21 winter semester

Applications

Please note the detailed instructions on application and admission procedures for the 2020/21 winter semester as well as the applicable deadlines on the Student Application and Registration Office’s website.

Online enrolment in the 2020/21 winter semester

Enrolment for the first course-related semester will start – in electronic form only – from 31 August onwards. This means that you – once you have been accepted – must send all the documents required for enrolment electronically: Please send all certificates and supporting documents online via your KLIPS applicant account and then send your application for enrolment or change of degree programme by email. Please do not forget that you must pay your social contribution fee beforehand in order to successfully enrol.Please also note the further instructions on the Student Application and Registration Office’s website.

Enrolment and change of degree programme, leave of absence

In consultation with the Faculties, the Rectorate has adopted regulations on the legal status of students. These are based on the Corona Epidemic University Ordinance of the Ministry of Science and Culture of North Rhine-Westphalia, which allows universities to establish rules that deviate from their normal regulations. The regulations can be found here (PDF, German only) and here (PDF; German only).

Changing from Bachelor to Master in the winter semester

If you are unable to complete your Bachelor’s degree until the start of the winter semester due to the postponement of the date of your last exam, but would like to apply for a Master’s degree at the university in the winter semester: Please contact the Student Application and Registration Office and let the staff there know that you have to remain registered on the Bachelor’s programme during the winter. We will then enrol you for your current Bachelor’s degree and your new Master’s degree at the same time. In this case, please inform the Student Application and Registration Office after you have taken your last exams so that your Bachelor’s programme can end.
The Student Application and Registration Office can help with all questions and problems concerning enrolment and change of degree programme, leave of absence and re-registration.

Attendance counselling is cancelled until further notice

All counselling services by university institutions are provided by email or, if necessary, by phone. Information is available on the websites of the counselling institutions.

Libraries

The University and City Library of Cologne (UCL) as well as some specialised libraries offer a restricted borrowing service, while adhering to the applicable hygiene and infection protection rules. In addition, the UCL is currently preparing to re-open workstations in the reading rooms step by step.

The borrowing service of the University and City Library of Cologne operates in line with strict hygiene measures. It is possible to borrow and return media at the UCL from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00. The hygiene concept stipulates the following: Visitors are obliged to wear a mouth-and-nose cover, no more than 50 persons are allowed in the building at the same time, rules concerning safety distances must be observed.
For further information about opening modalities at the departmental and faculty libraries on the campus of the University of Cologne, please consult the UCL’s website.
In addition, the UCL is opening up the workstations in the library step by step. Visitors must comply with strict hygiene and infection protection measures here too. This necessitates limiting the number of workstations available.

The UCL is currently developing a concept for the re-opening of workstations in further reading rooms. Due to the cyber attack on the UCL, preparations for this have been slightly delayed. The UCL currently expects that about 150 places will be able to be used as workstations, under consideration of hygiene and infection protection measures. These workstations are likely to re-open in the first half of August.

Since 13.07.2020, you can view ordered media in reading room I and the Historical Collections Reading Room (ground floor). We ask for your understanding that this option applies only for media intended exclusively for use in the reading rooms. To view ordered media, users must please reserve a workstation by phone. Strict hygiene and infection protection rules apply in the reading rooms: Wearing a mouth-and-nose cover during your entire stay is compulsory and you must keep to the marked routes. Please also note the further information on the UCL’s website.

It is imperative that the guidelines for infection protection measures and their implementation are observed. They are described in detail here.

Reconciliation of family and studies

Please note the information for parents and carers.

Teaching and study

How are events organized in which physical presence is necessary, for example laboratory training?

In which formats are examinations conducted in the summer semester?

Examinations will be held in various formats in the summer semester 2020. Since there is only a very limited number of rooms available for the performance of examinations in attendance (as supervisory work), examinations should be conducted in alternative formats if possible. In addition, there is the possibility to design examinations with ILIAS. These are organised and supported by the CCE.

In addition to these alternatives, some examinations must still be conducted in attendance. Due to the strict hygiene and infection protection standards to be observed, the capacity of the available rooms is very limited.

The dates of all examinations are announced at least 2 weeks in advance. The faculties may decide to announce the exams further in advance. The faculties will inform you of the respective deadlines. In the case of oral or practical module examinations, shorter deadlines may also be chosen with the agreement of all parties involved

Will the remonstration deadline be postponed for written exams because it is currently not possible to inspect them?

How is teaching guaranteed for students with a high health risk? When classroom teaching starts again, these students will still have to avoid the large groups in lectures and the public transport to the university.

Teaching will take place online throughout the summer semester. Even if the general health situation should allow a return to classroom teaching during the summer semester, it will also be made available online for the entire semester. Students will thus still be able to avoid large groups.
In addition, we have added belonging to a high-risk group to the list for possible compensation for disadvantages. In this case, an application must be submitted to the examination committee, which then makes the decision.

What happens if I forget to upload a completed assignment on time because I have too many things to upload on different platforms?

Please make an effort to obtain clear information early on, i.e. in the first two weeks of the semester, so that you can ask in good time if you do not feel sufficiently informed or have not yet received any information on examinations. Take part in online courses so that you can obtain important information about the course schedule and the examination modalities that are announced there.

If something is unclear to you, please contact your lecturer, but please also understand that the rapid transition to online teaching is also challenging for lecturers. The entire university community should take into account the special circumstances caused by the coronavirus epidemic this semester. Your cooperation and personal responsibility as a student are irreplaceable.

What should I do if I can only attend online seminars, lectures, or exams to a limited extent due to technical problems (weak Internet, lack of digital equipment)?

The special circumstances caused by the coronavirus epidemic will be taken into account appropriately in all matters this semester, including the technical aspects of online teaching. If you have technical problems (no Internet, lack of work equipment) when attending courses and especially when taking exams, please inform your lecturer immediately.

If you encounter technical problems in an examination for which you are not responsible and which prevent you from taking the examination, please inform your examiner and the responsible examination office immediately.

Please make every effort, as far as you can, to create the necessary technical conditions to take part in online teaching.

Even in this special situation, why are lecturers not allowed to upload and make available entire books on platforms for legal reasons?

Copyright remains unaffected even in this situation and must be observed by the lecturers when providing material for the courses. The USB provides many textbooks as eBooks and has reacted immediately to the closure with a large investment into eBooks. From 27 April 2020 the loan and return service of the USB have started again. You can find more information on the homepage of the USB.

Where can I find information on assistance with stress?

How is privacy protection guaranteed when using Zoom for teaching events?

In the current corona situation, the University of Cologne has decided to use Zoom in teaching, research, and administration – for a limited period. The decision to use Zoom was made by the Rectorate together with the Faculties, since Zoom has proven to be a very powerful video conference system. In addition to Zoom, numerous other tools are used in digital teaching.
The use of Zoom was evaluated in terms of data protection law before it was purchased. Data processing is carried out in accordance with and on the basis of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the NRW Data Protection Act and other applying data protection regulations.

In the media coverage of Zoom in recent weeks, various references have been made to security gaps, which do not, however, directly affect the UoC’s contract with Zoom. Some of the security loopholes can be avoided with the help of appropriate settings. Zoom has also responded to criticism, corrected technical errors, corrected individual statements, and adapted its data protection guidelines.

The DFNconf service is still available for particularly confidential occasions. Members of the university can also use this service to conduct video conferences free of charge and without additional registration.

On the homepage of the University of Cologne, there are also detailed notes on the terms of use, data usage instructions and data protection information for the use of Zoom available.

Will the standard period of study be extended due to the corona epidemic?

The individual standard period of study is increased by one semester for all students in NRW who are registered and are not on leave of absence in the summer semester 2020. In addition, the University of Cologne is also creating the conditions to enable students to continue and complete their studies without delay. To achieve this, all teaching is offered online this semester. Moreover, the UoC headship and the Faculties will find constructive solutions for taking examinations.

Can I get a document certifying my extended standard period of study?

For students enrolled in the summer semester 2020, the normal enrolment certificate for that semester suffices to prove the corona-related extended standard period of study. The enrolment certificates for future semesters are currently being revised to reflect different standard periods of study (depending on the study status in the summer semester 2020).

If the responsible ministries extend the corona regulation to students who started their studies in the winter semester 2020/21, these students will also receive proof of the (correspondingly) extended standard period of study.

If necessary, please use the enrolment certificate to supplement other documents (such as the Transcript of Records).

How do the special circumstances and challenges of the summer semester affect Bafög?

Why do students have to wear a mouth-and-nose cover throughout when taking attendance examinations?

As a university, it is our utmost concern to protect the health of all students when organising and conducting all face-to-face examinations. Not only when conducting examinations, but generally, as soon as two or more persons are present in a room used by the University of Cologne, it is obligatory for all those present to protect the health of the others by wearing a mouth-/nose cover.

The mouth-and-nose cover can be briefly taken off for eating or drinking if necessary, provided that the minimum safety distances are maintained. However, removing the mouth-and-nose cover should be limited to the necessary extent.

If, for health reasons, you are unable to wear mouth-and-nose cover during an examination, please submit a medical certificate to the responsible examination office. They will seek an individual solution with you.

I belong to a risk group and cannot take part in attendance tests. What can I do?

Students who belong to a risk group or live in a household with a person who belongs to a risk group and therefore cannot participate in attendance examinations are granted appropriate compensation for disadvantages. You can apply for this in good time by submitting a medical certificate and, if necessary, further evidence to the Examinations Office responsible for your examination.

What does it mean that in the summer semester 2020 examinations count as ‘free attempts’?

Exams taken between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020 that are not passed will be considered as not taken. This does not apply to final theses, including the specialization seminars in the first examination according to DRiG/JAG NRW. It is also not possible to repeat a passed examination to improve the grade.

The administration and processing of so-called ‘free attempts’ entails a great deal of additional work for lecturers and administrative staff. The University has decided to allow free attempts nevertheless in order to enable students to spend a semester without fear. However, we would ask you to handle this regulation responsibly and, if possible, to decide before the start of an examination whether you want to take it or to withdraw. This way, you will help to avoid unnecessary work for all parties involved.

I as a lecturer cannot conduct my courses this semester. Am I obliged to offer correspondingly more semester hours per week in the next semester?

In principle, if at all possible, all courses should take place in the semester planned for that purpose. Even in the case of laboratory practicals, online materials can be used in some cases.

If courses cannot be delivered digitally and attendance of a course is not permitted, the academic staff member is not obliged to perform this part of his/her service or work. This teaching will be "made up for" in the coming semesters and will be credited to the student's teaching load.