Index

Illness and examinations

In addition, you can withdraw before every examination after the three-day deadline has passed if you have a legitimate reason. These reasons include illness, which must be confirmed by submitting a doctors certificate and the relevant form. Please check the websites of the Examinations Office on this matters:
In this case, you must without delay
  • inform the competent examination board/responsible professor.
  • inform the MAP Office.
  • visit a GP and submit a medical certificate (as per FAU regulations) to central Examinations Office (Ms. Fischer-Willmanns)
Candidates may also withdraw before examinations in justified exceptional circumstances. If on the day of the examination you cannot attend an examination or are unable to sit an examination for reasons out of your control (e.g. traffic , accident or disruption to public transport), you must report this immediately to the Examination Office, otherwise the examination will be graded as unsatisfactory. The reasons for withdrawal must be explained credibly in writing to the Examinations Office (with supporting documents etc.).
If you fall ill during an examination, you may leave the examination. In this case, you must visit an official FAU medical examiner without delay. The Examinations Office provides an information sheet and a list of official FAU medical examiners.
Important: if you complete the examination as normal, you confirm that you are in good health and are able to sit the examination – you cannot submit an application for special consideration retrospectively (even with medical certificates).
Be sure to inform the MAP Office about longer sicknesses or leave.
Contact the MAP Office in case of doubt!

Exam preparations

  • The ratio Work Load / ECTS is about 30 h / 1 ECTS, i.e. for a 5 ECTS course you will spend about 42h in lectures, so it is expected that you spend about 100h revisiting lectures and preparing for the exam – start early and take it seriously!
  • Do not only study based on handouts or information available on the internet – books provide structured information and knowledge.
  • Understanding is crucial. You will not succeed by simply “parroting” terms and definitions.
  • Ask higher semester students regarding exam experience and typical questions.
  • Prepare oral exams by staging mock exams – it is not only important what you know but also that you are able to present your knowledge.
  • In written exams:
    • Read the questions carefully – do not answer the question you would like to answer but rather the question that was written down on the exam paper!
    • Balance your answers appropriately – The marks you can achieve with every question will be indicated. Use this as a guide, since often times, each aspect or keypoint you answer with will achieve 0.5 to 1 marks. Therefore, there is no need to write an excessively long answer for a question with a maximum of 2 points, in order to not run out of time!
    • Be clear in your answers – Try to clearly and concisely express your answers. Keep your answers short and to the point, instead of writing down everything you know which might be somehow related to the question. “Writing around” the topic without adding much clear content will not help you achieve a better grade. Instead, the grader will have a hard time establishing whether you actually understand the topic. Additionally, please do not try to write too complex sentence structures in the pressure of an exam, to avoid making the sentence unintelligible by making grammatical mistakes. Either use short bullet points or as a continuous text with short, concise, grammatically correct sentences.
    • Write down all steps in a calculation.
    • Never use any form of shorthands, other than latin abbreviations such as “e.g.”, “i.e.”, “etc” in your answers – examiners have often noticed students using abbreviations like “txtspk” in exam answers in previous years and find it incredibly sloppy and undecipherable for anyone who does not use abbreviations for text messages.
    • Define the terms in the expression if you write algebraic expressions – with an exception of perhaps the most common terms, such as Boltzmann constant k, temperature T.
    • Always correctly label your axes and define all symbols and labels, especially if it is a not well known one.
  • Prepare oral exams by staging mock exams – it is not only important what you know but also that you are able to present your knowledge.
  • Be aware of the differences between oral and written exams: in an oral exam 2.3 is generally considered much less satisfactory than in a written exam.
  • Use the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and check your reached points during the official post‐exam reviews.
  • Video in German language on getting well through your exam phase offered by FAU, English subtitles can be set.

Exam dates

MAP lecturers are responsible for exam organization (date and time) and grade registration via campo.
Exception: MAP Office organizes the dates for the Basics exams due to the involvement of several lecturers.

Within one week and even within one day, several exams might be scheduled. Inform the MAP lecturer about other exams to avoid overlap.

Disabled and chronically ill students

Disabled and chronically ill students (i.e. physical or psychical disturbance for longer than 6 months or illnesses over more than one year which are needed to be treated by a doctor at least once in three months) have the possibility of a disadvantage compensation (e.g. longer exam times). The cases will be dealt with on an individual basis. For the disadvantage compensation, a card/certificate which officially proves the disability is not necessary. The disadvantage compensation is not indicated in the transcript of records. Further information is provided under “Compensation for disadvantages during examinations”

Failure regulations – program failure

The MAP Office does not have information on the failure of students.
Students who are subject to the failure rule will be exmatriculated (=deregistered from the university) at the end of the semester .
It is the student’s responsibility to assess whether he/she is in danger of failing the MAP program.

No warning will be issued by the MAP office!

We therefore strongly advise to:

  • Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the examination rules of the program
  • Regularly check all your examination results on campo 
  • In case you have failed an examination:
    • go to the official post-exam review date offered by the examiners and check for possible mistakes in grading or grade calculation as well as to learn from your mistakes.
    • in case of miniproject reports or literature reviews, schedule an appointment to discuss the comments of the examiner.
  • Ask the MAP Office in case of doubt regarding your individual situation.

What happens in case you are subject to the failure rule and have failed the program:

  • Any official information is provided through the central examinations office (“Prüfungsamt”).
  • Notifications about exmatriculation are sent after the end of the respective examination period (November/December for SS; May/June for WS).
  • An objection to such notification can be filed within four weeks.
  • After four weeks the exmatriculation becomes legally binding.

You are welcome to schedule an appointment with the MAP Chairs to discuss alternative career or study plans.

Scholarships

The StudOn section https://www.studon.fau.de/cat1511428.html (access only possible with login) provides a collection of information on different scholarship programs that might be of interest to you. Remember that this is only a very small selection. There are various (changing) scholarship programs by FAU and other, for example ERASMUS & going abroad
We would also like to draw your attention to the FAU website on scholarship organizations with a wide range of scholarships available for outstanding students.

Educational grants

What money is available?

Within the MAP budget there is a limited amount of money available to support students who wish to undertake additional educational activities during the course. The exact amount received will depend on the type of planned activity and the available funds. No student is automatically entitled to the money – it will only be granted if a clear need is demonstrated. The MAP speakers and administrators will decide fairly on a case-by-case basis on receiving a written application from the students.

What is the money for?

The grants are provided in order to support academic activities not already supported by MAP. These should be outside of the lecture period of the semester, apart from in exceptional cases. Preferably, such events should involve active participation and development of personal skills and for events meeting these criteria all students will be supported at suitable levels if they wish to attend. On the other hand, for seminars and conferences where the attendees are essentially passive, funds for only a small number of attendees will be granted. This is particularly the case for international research conferences as these have a limited value for a Masters-level student and in terms of the huge travel and registration costs are not efficient uses of the money. There are of course exceptions, for instance when the international conference has a session or workshop for undergraduates or masters students or if the MAP student has submitted an abstract to the conference e.g. from their Masters work.

Who can get it?

All current MAP students will be considered for a grant, based on the type of activity proposed (active or passive involvement) and its academic and professional relevance.

You may apply for a MAP educational grant also as MAP alumni if you:
1) Intend to present the results of your MAP Master’s Thesis
2) If the conference takes place within 6 months after handing in your Master’s Thesis

How to apply for it?

Support can only be granted after formal application to the MAP Office. A full written application is required at least 2 months before the event. The application form (including information on required supporting documents) is available on the StudOn template section: https://www.studon.fau.de/studon/goto.php?target=cat_1511543

What happens next?

The MAP Chairs and administrative team will consider each application fairly and if necessary discuss with the student for clarification. The student will be told how much of the applied-for funds will be granted. Students should be aware that until this written information is received by them, no money is guaranteed. Hence, where international flights are involved, an early application is encouraged.
If support is granted, the student must sign a declaration stating that he/she:

  • will provide pictures and a short report (200-250 words) of the event in return for the financial support
  • agrees that these pictures and the report can be published by MAP for the purpose of promotion
  • will use the MAP logo on power point presentations, posters etc.
  • is aware that it is his/her responsibility to provide all required documents for the refunding within 4 weeks after his/her return at the latest

campo

campo is the virtual counterpart to the Student Records Office and the Examinations Office. You can

  • manage your personal account
  • register for exams
  • get your transcript
  • print out your official documents and certificate of enrolment
  • register for / deregister from exams

Important:

  • Deregistration is not allowed for miniprojects and literature reviews after topic allocation!
  • Registration is needed for exams but not for the participation in the lectures
  • Registration periods (1/semester) are to be met
  • Registration period differs from lecture period!

Support by MAP staff

Academic Support

Chairs:

  • Prof. Nicolas Vogel – Chair
  • Prof. Peter Felfer – Chair
Focal Subject Heads
  • Prof. Marco Haumann- Advanced Processes
  • Prof. Aldo Boccaccini – Biomaterials & Bioprocessing
  • Prof. Michael Engel – Computational Materials Science & Process Simulation
  • Prof. Mathias Göken – Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology
Responsibilities:
  • Responsible for overall strategy & program structure
  • Promotion of academic excellence, quality control
  • Strategic collaborations, networking, external & internal communication
  • Responsible for selection of lectures
  • Selection of students
  • Establish personalized curriculum
  • Student counseling

Support in administration and various personal matters

MAP Office

  • Dorothea Herget – Coordinator
  • Sandra Schindler – Coordinator
Responsibilities:
  • Timetabling of lectures, lab courses
  • Soft skills program
  • (Administration of exams)
  • Maintaining StudOn pages
  • Networking Events
  • Public relations & website
  • Organization of application process
  • Support before arrival: information on living in Erlangen, administration, orientation events, health insurance, transport etc.
  • Provision of support in various personal matters
  • Buddy System
Who to turn to for specific advice?
  • Lecturers: questions related to respective lecture and examinations
  • Focal subject heads: overarching questions on focal subject area and career-related advice
  • MAP Office: all questions regarding regulations, procedures and administrative aspects; soft skills program; educational grants
  • Chairs: any issue that cannot be dealt with on other levels, suggestions for program improvement, feedback
  • MAP Executive Board and Student Representatives: MAP student representatives have influence on important issues regarding the MAP program

Institutions and their support in various areas

For general advice on study related matters:

  • Student Records Office: helps you with enrolment, re-registration, de-registration, application for reimbursement of semester fees, leave and regulations on study leave, application to change degree program, studying for two degrees, guest students and mature students, health insurance for students, reporting accidents, issuing confirmation of duration of studies, change of name (e.g. after marriage or change of identity), semester tickets for public transportation
  • Student Advice and Career Service (ZSB): helps you with every step of the way before, during and after studying. They take the time to explore the various options open to you. However, we advise you to first consult the MAP Office with questions concerning your MAP studies, before contacting the ZSB.
  • Student Service Center at Technical Faculty: individual advice around issues pertaining to foreign matters
  • Faculty of Engineering for an overview of MAP’s host faculty
  • Library – Science and Technology Branch (TNZB)
  • Students’ councils of the Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering Departments
    Students’ councils (Fachschaften) are student organizations linked to departments or degree programs in which students represent their fellows’ interests, are contact persons for them and organize events. Although MAP students elect two students per year group to represent them, MAP does not (yet) have an own students’ council. MAP students are explicitly encouraged to get involved in the two mentioned students’ councils.
  • FAU Examinations Office: is responsible for examination matters and  recognition of studies and examinations when changing study programs
  • MAP section on StudOn for lecture material. It is encouraged to visit this site to download course material and carry out certain administrative activities relating to your course (registration of miniprojects, signing up for exams etc.)

For technical, electronic and IT support: 

  • Where? How? Why?
    background information on the electronic FAU support
  • Regionale Rechenzentrum Erlangen (RRZE): IT support
  • FAU FabLab: Open workshop geared towards computer-controlled production. They offer facilities to lasercut, make stickers, print or embroider textiles, fix a seam or two, make printed circuit boards, populate them and find any mistakes, 3D-Print, and mill, turn and work with wood and metals.

To help you navigate being an international student in Germany:

For personal advice and psychological support:

  • Career Service: advice for your professional life
  • Psychologisch – Psychotherapeutische Beratungsstelle: Students of the Faculty of Engineering are provided with on-site psychological services at the Counseling and Psychological Center for the Faculty of Engineering. Mental health services are provided to students in need of counseling, consultation and crisis intervention. The Counseling and Psychological Center helps with a wide-range of psychological problems including: exam and speaking anxiety, learning difficulties, procrastination and motivational problems, stress management, anger management, loneliness, low mood, feelings of guilt, anxiety, panic, self harm and suicidal thoughts, coping with a chronic illness or disability, relationship or family problems, identity problems; gender or sexual orientation issues, homesickness and problems in living away from family and friends, addiction and substance abuse, difficulties integrating into German university and society. Counseling is offered in both German and English.
  • FAU’s Office for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses: offers confidential consultations for students with disabilities and chronic diseases in all matters relating to studying at FAU (admission to the degree program, accessibility, examinations)
  • Office for Gender and Diversity: for any issue related to sexual harassment and discrimination
  • The Women’s Representative: supports women at FAU’s Faculty of Engineering and provides a variety of events and support services for women at all stages of their education and careers including ARIADNE techmentoring program, doctoral thesis award, guest lectures, funding for travel etc.
  • and additional video help for those in need of advice (IBZ)
  • Familienservice: The FAU Family Service supports in all questions related to work-family balance. In case of a pregnancy, contact the MAP Office for questions and referral to the responsible University institutions! If pregnant, you should get acquainted with relevant risk assessments (“Anlasslose Gefährdungsbeurteilung von Studiengängen im Rahmen des neuen Mutterschutzgesetzes“), find further information on the FAU Website.
  • Legal Advice for Students: The Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg provides numerous advice offers. For international students, the advice in legal issues might be very important.
  • Caritas Erlangen offers a service for psychiatric support (in German)
  • “Heimwegtelefon” – home phone: For the way home in the dark, there is the “Heimwegtelefon” in Germany, should you feel unsafe. Volunteers work here and take calls nationwide so that you have someone to talk to. Geodata can be used to identify where the caller is at the moment, so that help can be sent quickly in the event of an emergency.
    Number: 030/12074182 (Sunday-Thursday 6pm-0am, Friday-Saturday 6pm-3am)

For advice on leisure matters (culture, religion, sports):