Civil Engineering and Civil Systems Engineering Examination Boards

Study achievements obtained at other universities can be recognized for the civil engineering program at TU Berlin if these achievements are equivalent to the Berlin modules in terms of content and level of requirements. The recognition of the equivalence of a module must be confirmed by the respective Berlin professor responsible for the module by signature. For universities, this is usually easier than for universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen), as the teaching content and level of requirements are similar among universities.

To apply for recognition, you must first read the module catalog of the civil engineering program and then enter in the form "Application for Recognition of Previously Obtained Credits, Part B" which of your passed modules should be recognized as equivalent to a Berlin module. The form must then be signed by all relevant Berlin professors. The professors will need more detailed information about the content of the modules to be recognized, the ECTS credits, and the grade that you as a student need to provide.

You are responsible for managing the procedure yourself, for example by identifying the module coordinators and contacting them in person or sending them your inquiry and the necessary information via email. The professors may want to talk to you beforehand about the module. Finally, the chairman of the examination board for the civil engineering program signs the form on the back.

Recognition of "Elective" modules is easier. These can be recognized directly by the chairman of the examination board for the Civil Engineering program if the corresponding evidence (usually a grade transcript is sufficient) is provided.

Required form: Application for Recognition of Previously Obtained Credits, Part B

Study achievements obtained at other universities can be recognized for the civil engineering program at TU Berlin if these achievements are equivalent to the Berlin modules in terms of content and level of requirements. The recognition can, in principle, also be carried out before starting the studies as part of the application for a study program. In that case, the forms "Application for Recognition of Previously Obtained Credits, Part A and Part B" need to be filled out. The procedure for recognition is described above.

Starting the studies directly in a higher semester is theoretically possible. However, in practice, it is only feasible if there are available study spots in a higher semester. This availability varies from semester to semester. Historically, it has been rare because the restricted-admission Bachelor's program in Civil Engineering usually does not have vacant study spots in higher semesters.

The recognition procedure described above can be time-consuming for someone who does not reside in Berlin. Therefore, the regular practice is for students to enroll in the first semester (if their grades are good enough) and initiate the recognition process after starting their studies in Berlin. This is easily possible by initiating the recognition procedure shortly after the start of studies. In that case, the form "Evaluation of Previous Achievements, Part B" is sufficient. This allows students to switch to a higher semester shortly after starting their studies (30 ECTS credits are required for one semester) or have one or more modules recognized.

Required forms: Application for Recognition of Previously Obtained Credits, Part A and Part B

Recognition of study achievements

Please use the following designations in the "Formular Teil B" instead of the listed module group names:
(WP) Wahlpflicht
(W) Wahlmodul
(FW) Freie Wahl
(ZM) Zusatzmodul

Pursuant to Section 9 (2) Examination Regulations 2017, the submission deadline can be extended for a maximum of 20 weeks upon justified application to the examination board.
Should the request be due to reasons of health, you must submit a sick note directly to the Examination Office.

For all other reasons you can submit a request (no specific format required) with the following information:

• Name, matriculation number, email address
• The reason for your request
• The new submission date
• Approval from one thesis reviewer

Generally acceptable reasons are extenuating circumstances outside of the student’s control. The chair of the examination board reviews and, as a rule, approves the request. The student then submits the approved request to the Examination Office.

You are not required to make an appointment with the chair of the examination board. You can submit your request to the office of the examination board or the Chair of Water Resources Management and Modeling of Hydrosystems.

The explanations are supplementary to FAQ 1. If you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture and are interested in studying civil engineering, you must apply for the bachelor’s program. The civil engineering and architecture programs differ significantly with regards to the math, mechanics, and building technology components. As such, you do not fulfill the prerequisites for the master’s in Civil Engineering.

If you choose to pursue a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, it is possible to have 30 credit points from your architecture studies transfered (e.g. 21 credit points for electives, other individual subjects may also be possible). It is possible that you will be placed in the second degree semester. For information about credit transfer, please see Recognition of Earned Credits.

Credits can be recognized by the Examination Office without an assessment from the examination board, if:

• they are for an elective (FÜS, Freie Wahl) and there is a comparable grading system at TU Berlin for the credit points/grade.

• the credits come from the TU Civil Engineering Master's module catalog and were accomplished at TU Berlin. This also applies to credits/grades from a completed degree. However, these credits/grades cannot be recognized for the module group FÜS (free choice), they must be assigned to the module group compulsory electives.

If a module was recognized as an additional module in the Civil Engineering, M.Sc. program, the examination board can transfer the module to another group (compulsory elective or elective). Please submit a corresponding request (“formloser Antrag”).

If the module was registered and taken as an additional module for the master’s program, it is not possible to transfer the module to a different module group.

Please use this request form template and send the completed form by email to pa.master@wahyd.tu-berlin.de.

Cf. Section 60 AllgStuPO 2020

5) Following consultation with the candidate, the first examiner forwards the application together with a recommendation for a topic and a second examiner to the responsible examination board for approval. The board then specifies the second examiner with consideration for the candidate’s recommendations and forwards the application to the TU Berlin unit responsible for examinations, which issues the topic to the candidate and places the issue date on file. Subsequent amendments to the topic require a joint declaration from the candidate and first and second examiners to be submitted to the responsible body at TU Berlin via the examination board before the submission deadline.

Additional modules cannot be added to the regular course. The exception is additional modules from the bachelor's degree, which are to be recognized for the master's degree.

• The thesis must be written at TU Berlin; recognition from an external institution is not possible. AllgStuPO §61(3)
• The thesis must address a problem within the field of Civil Engineering. BerlHG §30(2)
• The first examiner must be a university professor. AllgStuPO §51(3)
  If an external university professor is to be appointed as an examiner, a formal request accompanied by a brief justification and CV must be submitted to the Chairman of the Examination Committee in advance.
• Second examiner:
  a) Can be an individual with professional experience and training. StuPO Master Bauing. §9(7)
  In this case, a formal request with a brief justification and CV must be submitted to the Chairman of the Examination Committee in advance.
  b) Must be qualified to examine.
• At least one examiner must be a member of TU Berlin. StuPO Master Bauing. §9(7)
• Examination evaluations may only be carried out by individuals possessing at least the qualification determined by the examination or an equivalent qualification. BerlHG §32(2)

It is recommended to seek a professor closely related to the subject matter of the master's thesis within TU Berlin, who can act as the primary assessor.

The admission requirements must be fulfilled at the time of application without exception.

Yes, this is possible. Please note that the examination period generally is after the application deadline, which results in your application being postponed for an additional semester.
Note: The Student Advisory Service may provide further tips regarding this matter.

Definitive information on this matter can only be provided by Prof. Hinkelmann (Mathematics, Mechanics) and Prof. Huhnt (Bauinformatik).