Faculty VII - Economics and Management

Examinations at Faculty VII - legal issues, hints and tips

Information for students

Principle

Please always include your namematriculation number, and study program in all inquiries to us!

The examination office at the TU Berlin

The examination office responsible for the degree programmes of Faculty VII is examination team 5

Here 

  • apply for a module examination to be replaced.
  • submit proof of illness, e.g. if you miss an examination date.
  • request performance overviews.
  • register for the final dissertation.
  • receive your degree certificate.
  • etc.

The examination committees of Faculty VII

The examination committees of the faculty's own degree programmes NaMa, VWL, IMES and MInE are responsible, among other things, for: 

  • the recognition of modules/examinations
  • Applications for compensation for disadvantages
  • Deciding on an application for a change of examination form
  • the decision on a non-faculty examiner for the final thesis
  • a possible extension of the deadline for submitting the thesis

You can find all application forms here

The disadvantage compensation

The disadvantage compensation is an instrument to compensate for individual disadvantages (e.g. disability, chronic illnesses, raising children, caring for close relatives, top athletes, etc.) and is intended to ensure equal opportunities in studies. The use of the disadvantage compensation is not stated in the certificate and is voluntary. An approved application for disadvantage compensation does not have to be claimed.

Information can be found here. Faculty VII has a separate application form for this. Please submit your application for disadvantage compensation to the relevant examination committee, enclosing all the necessary evidence (e.g. medical certificate, child's birth certificate, notifications) for a decision. Do not forget to state your matriculation number and your degree programme.

 

Module examinations: registration / cancellation / withdrawal / repetition

On this website of the examination office you will find information on: 

  • Registration for the module examination
  • Registration periods
  • Deregistration and withdrawal from a module examination
  • Repeating module examinations

 

Change of examination form

For an important reason, you cannot complete the form of examination specified in the module and would like to apply for a different form of examination (e.g. change from written to oral examination). To do this, submit an application for a change of examination form to your responsible examination committee in good time. You can find the application form here under no. 06).

Please note that you must submit the application with the statement of the examiner on page 2 of the application. This means that you must obtain these statements and can only then submit the application to the examination board! 

 

Grade Key for portfolio examinations

Grade Key of Faculty VII

according to the resolution of the Faculty Council of 28.05.2014 - FKR VII-4/8-28.05.2014:

The Faculty Council decides that from summer semester 2014 onwards all portfolio examinations within Faculty VII will be assessed on the basis of the 100-point scheme using the following uniform grading system. It is recommended that this grading system also be used for written examinations.

Grade:   starting from points:

1,0       90
1,3       85
1,7       80
2,0       76
2,3       72
2,7       67
3,0       63
3,3       59
3,7       54
4,0       50

(The information is provided without guarantee!)

What is plagiarism?

  • Plagiarism occurs when a not insignificant amount of someone else's thoughts, ideas and works are passed off as one's own.
  • Incomplete or incorrect references can also lead to suspicion of plagiarism. 
  • In addition to plagiarism, scientific misconduct also includes inventing and falsifying data, as well as interfering with the research work of others.

 

In order to legally protect intellectual property, Germany has the Copyright Act (UrhG). It stipulates under which circumstances quotations (§ 51) may be used and what must be observed when citing sources (§ 63). When taking over text passages from other authors, the source must always be clearly indicated (UrhG, 2017, §§ 51 and 63). If the author draws on the ideas of others without adopting specific passages of text, the source must also be cited.

The General Study an Examination Regulations (AllgStPO) of the TU Berlin regulate the handling of plagiarism and attempted cheating. Teachers of Faculty VII also use special plagiarism software in suspected cases. Proof of plagiarism leads to an examination performance being graded as "not sufficient".

Further information on the topics of "plagiarism" and "correct citation" can be found in the DBWM guide.

Final thesis: registration / Processing time / Submission

On the website of the examination office you can find general information on: 

  • Thesis registration
  • Processing time (general information!)
  • Submission of the thesis

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Further subject-specific information on the final thesis - e.g. the exact processing time, requirements for registration - can be found on the respective programme pages, e.g. in the study and examination regulations and under the FAQ:

 

Final thesis: non-faculty reviewer

You would like to choose a first or second examiner for your thesis who is not an authorised examiner at Faculty VII? Then please apply to the examination committee in good time (ideally BEFORE registering your thesis with the examination office).

​​​​​​​You can find the application form here.

Final thesis: group work

The final paper can have a topic worked on jointly by several students (group paper), if the contribution of each student to be assessed as an examination performance can be clearly demarcated on the basis of objective criteria such as sections or page numbers.

A group paper must be applied for jointly by the students as an informal application to the examination board in advance. At least the full name, matriculation number and degree programme of all students involved must be stated. A joint statement by both examiners must be attached to the application!

When submitting the thesis, each candidate must submit a written declaration that the thesis was written independently and without unauthorised outside help and that no sources or aids other than those specified were used.

 

Final thesis: with/in the company

You would like to write your thesis together with a company? This is possible in principle, but writing a thesis in cooperation with a company is an exception and not the rule. In this case, the following requirements on the part of the faculty must be adhered to: 

  • As a rule, the company cannot provide the two reviewers, but only supervise or accompany the work. This means that both reviewers must be authorised to conduct examinations for your degree programme, i.e. they must usually work at Faculty VII.
  • If an external reviewer is appointed, an application must be submitted before the thesis is registered - see chapter "Thesis: external examiner".
  • Blocking notes and non-disclosure agreements on the part of the companies are usually not permitted at Faculty VII.
    However, if the company with which you want to write your thesis insists on a non-disclosure agreement (GHV), only the GHV of the TU Berlin can be used! In this case, you and your thesis supervisor should contact our legal department. The appropriate contact person can be found under the following link: https://www.tu.berlin/personalabteilung/services/recht/ 

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Background to the ban on non-disclosure agreements*:

Non-disclosure agreements entail considerable disadvantages or risks for students, reviewers and other university employees. In addition to liability risks, the following aspects in particular led to the decision not to accept blocking notices:

  • Graduates cannot present their theses in applications to other companies if they are marked with a blocking notice. They must expect that their application will not even be considered by the advertising company if the thesis cannot be viewed due to a blocking notice. 
  • Students cannot exploit their own work commercially themselves or continue to work on the findings and results gained from the thesis scientifically, e.g. as part of a dissertation. 
  • Graduates are not allowed to apply for prizes for the best thesis or to be nominated for such a prize.
  • Reviewers must bear in mind that the knowledge gained from the thesis is not available for teaching and research under conditions of secrecy.

*Source: Handout of Faculty V from 02 September 2016

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Final thesis: extension of deadline

You cannot submit your thesis to the examination office on time? Then submit an application for an extension of the deadline to the examination committee as soon as possible and in good time. You can find the application form here.

Please refer to your course-specific study and examination regulations for the deadlines to be observed and possible durations for an extension.

Final thesis: Form of submission

According to AllgStuPO the completed thesis must be submitted to the examinations office IB (the responsible examination department) in due time, in duplicate and additionally in digital form.

However, it is also possible to submit the thesis in digital form. For this purpose, the consent of both reviewers must be obtained and the examination office IB must be informed of the agreement before the thesis is submitted. The examination board does not have to be involved.  

Further information on submitting the thesis can be found here

Final thesis: repetition in case of "failed"

According to the Berliner Hochschulgesetz § 30 para. 4, failed theses may be repeated twice.

Each repetition is registered with a newly selected topic. Re-registration of a topic from a failed or aborted attempt is not permitted.

Modul examinations: 4th examination attempt

According to BerlHG § 30 para. 4, students are granted an additional examination attempt per module beyond the regulations of the AllgStuPO by participating in a subject advising session. 
This means that in addition to the existing three attempts to successfully pass a module examination, a further fourth attempt can be added if one undergoes a study subject consultation. This subject consultation only takes place after three examinations in a module have not been passed - free attempts are not counted. 

The proof of the course guidance should be received by the Examinations Department - Team 5 within 6 weeks after the failed third examination attempt in a module. In the case of difficulties in scheduling an appointment, it is sufficient in exceptional cases to notify the advisor of an appointment within the deadline. If the consultation is not proven within 6 weeks or the appointment proven within 6 weeks is not attended, the entitlement to a further examination attempt expires. The module is then considered to have been definitively failed. 

In order to successfully complete the course advising appointment, the following items must be observed submitted by the student: 

  1. the completed and signed registration form is to be sent by mail to: pruefungsausschuss@wm.tu-berlin.de
  2. a complete performance overview, which must also show the failed 3rd examination attempt.
  3. an independently written short statement showing the planned further course of studies until graduation.  

Important notes:

This consultation is not a content or module-specific examination consultation, but a general subject consultation for the 4th examination attempt according to the BerlHG. If you wish to have an exam-specific consultation, you must also visit the respective examiner. However, a discussion with the examiner does not replace the required subject advising according to the BerlHG!

After the consultation, a confirmation will be issued, without which the 4th examination attempt may not be taken. This confirmation must be submitted to the Examinations Department, Team 5, but also to the examiner.

Information for examiners

Principle

In order to be allowed to conduct an examination, the examiner must
1. be authorized to examine and
2. be assigned as an examiner for a module examination.

Based on the KMK structural guidelines, "study-accompanying examinations" includes all module examinations with the exception of intermediate and final examinations (Bachelor's, Master's and diploma theses, including colloquium if applicable). 

Exam authorization

Examinations may only be taken by the group of persons authorized to do so. The BerlHG § 32 defines this group of persons:

(2) Examination performances may only be evaluated by persons who possess at least the qualification to be determined by the examination or an equivalent qualification.

(3) University lecturers and other full-time teaching staffwho are authorized to teach independently, as well as lecturers on secondment, are entitled to take examinations. Examinations should primarily be taken by university lecturers. Study-accompanying examination may also be taken by the respective teaching staff.

(4) The examination regulations may provide that persons experienced in professional practice and training may be appointed as examiners even if they do not teach.

AllgStuPO adopts this wording in the framework regulations of the TUB.

According to § 33 (1) BerlHG and § 51 (2) AllgStuPO, last possible examination attempts must be taken by at least two persons authorized to examine.

University lecturers

University lecturers (professors, junior professors, emeriti, retired professors) have unrestricted examination rights in their subject or appointment.

Legal basis: 

BerlHG § 36

Other full-time teaching staff

Other full-time teaching staff, i.e. university lecturers and teaching staff for special tasks whose job description provides for the independent teaching of courses, as well as visiting professors are entitled to take examinations in their field.

Legal basis: 
BerlHG § 92
BerlHG § 113

Lecturers

According to § 32 (3) S. 1 BerlHG, lecturers are entitled to take examinations limited to the area of the teaching assignment (§ 51 (1) AllgStuPO), as it is incumbent on lecturers to perform teaching duties independently.

Legal basis: 
BerlHG § 32
BerlHG § 120

Scientific employees

According to § 32 (3) BerlHG, the respective teaching staff may also take examinations during the course of study. Thus, Scientific employees who perform teaching duties are entitled to take examinations. However, the examination must be directly related to the course being taught. This connection must also exist if the student is appointed as an examiner in a second repeat examination.

In justified individual cases, academic staff members may be assigned the independent performance of tasks in research and teaching in accordance with § 110 (3) BerlHG. This requires a faculty council resolution. 

Legal basis: 

BerlHG § 32
BerlHG § 110

Honorary professors, non-scheduled professors, private lecturers

Members of these groups are entitled to take examinations within the framework of the courses they teach according to § 32 (3) S. 2 BerlHG.

Legal basis: 
BerlHG § 32

Practice representatives

§ Section 32 (4) BerlHG allows persons experienced in professional practice and training to be appointed as examiners, even if they do not teach, if the examination regulations provide for this.

§ Section 51 (3) AllgStuPO refers here to the subject-specific regulations exclusively for theses. At Faculty VII, this is regulated differently in the various StuPO. 

Legal Basis: 
BerlHG § 32

Examiner order

AllgStuPO § 51 (1): As a rule, the lecturers who have held courses in the module are appointed as examiners in module examinations. If there are not enough university lecturers available to conduct these examinations, other full-time lecturers who are authorized to teach independently or lecturers on secondment may also be appointed.

In order for the respective examination board to be able to appoint the examiners for a module, they must be assigned as examiners in advance by the person responsible for the module in question. A detailed description is available here: Module processing at Faculty VII; item "Entering module examiners" After checking the information, the examination board then only confirms the assignment, which corresponds to a final assignment and thus an appointment as an examiner.

Assessors

Assessors are not to be appointed as examiners. They must have a university degree and be knowledgeable in the field of the examination. They ensure that the examination is conducted properly and have no decision-making authority (§ 51 (4) AllgStuPO).

Assessment of examination performance

According to § 33 BerlHG - Assessment of examination examinations during the course of study can be taken by only one examiner. The last possible examination attempts must be taken by at least two examiners.

According to § 32 (5) BerlHG group work may only be admitted if the individual performances of the examination candidates can be clearly distinguished and assessed.

Written examinations

Written examinations - as examinations during the course of study - can be taken by only one examiner.

Student employees may take part in the examination supervision, provided that the applicable examination regulations do not conflict with this, as long as it is ensured that an examiner is present who can answer specialist questions that arise and who has the authority to decide on the exclusion of examinees. Student employees are not allowed to answer technical questions or decide on the exclusion from the examination.

Student employees* may not correct examinations. Student employees are only allowed to assist in the organization of an exam correction. All work that amounts to the evaluation of a performance is excluded. However, student employees are allowed to assist in correcting exams under supervision (e.g. in the case of exercise sheets, written tests, etc.). In this case, concrete instructions with regard to the correction must be given by the respective authorized examiners, since the authorized examiners bear the responsibility. The authorized examiners must be present during the correction.

Student employees are not allowed to offer examinations on their own responsibility. Here, too, they can only provide organizational support if an examiner is present. For example, student employees may hand out exams for inspection. However, changes to assessment decisions may not be made by student employees, but only by authorized examiners.

All requirements for the proper execution of this form of examination can be found in § 52 and § 53 AllgStuPO.

Oral examinations

According to § 33 BerlHG - Assessment of Examination Performance, oral examinations are to be conducted by several examiners or by one examiner in the presence of an expert assessor and to be recorded.

An oral examination is conducted by at least one examiner in the presence of one assessor. It can be conducted in groups or as an individual examination (§ 52 (3) AllgStuPO).

All requirements for the proper execution of this form of examination can be found in § 52 and § 54 AllgStuPO.

Portfolio examinations

Portfolio examinations, i.e. also individual elements (e.g. oral discussions) can - as examinations during the course of study - be taken by only one examiner.

All requirements for the proper execution of this form of examination can be found in § 52 and § 55 AllgStuPO.

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The grading key of Faculty VII for portfolio examinations was determined as follows according to the resolution of the Faculty Council of 28.05.2014 - FKR VII-4/8-28.05.2014:

The FKR resolves that starting with the summer semester 2014, all portfolio examinations within Faculty VII shall be graded based on the 100-point scheme using the following uniform grading key. It is recommended that this grading scale also be used for written exams.

Grade: from Points:
1,0       90
1,3       85
1,7       80
2,0       76
2,3       72
2,7       67
3,0       63
3,3       59
3,7       54
4,0       50

(The data is provided without guarantee!)

Final Theses

According to § 33 BerlHG - Assessment of Examination Performance, written examination performance in Bachelor's and Master's theses as well as in final and intermediate examinations must generally be assessed by at least two examiners.

§ 51 (3) AllgStuPO requires that the final thesis must be evaluated by two reviewers. These must also be authorized to conduct examinations. As a rule, research assistants are not authorized to conduct examinations, since they are not authorized to teach independently. The exception is the transfer of the independent performance of tasks in research and teaching by the faculty council (see point above "Scientific employees" under "Examination authorization").

All requirements for the proper execution of this form of examination can be found in § 60 AllgStuPO.

Lists of examiners

For each course of study of Faculty VII, lists of examiners are created at the beginning of each semester according to the data supplied via the Module Transfer System (MOSES). A distinction is to be made between:

  • Module examinations: For this, the respective examiners are to be entered into the module in advance by the person responsible for the module (see point above "Appointment of examiners").  
  • Final examinations: For this purpose, all persons authorized to conduct examinations (e.g. university teachers, lecturers, etc.) are registered.

The lists are then confirmed and published by the respective examination board.