While You Study

Welcome to your studies at the University of Bonn! You certainly have many questions, especially at the beginning of your studies at our faculty. In order to support you in the best possible way throughout your studies, we have compiled information on how to borrow books from the university's various libraries, how to register for courses and exams, and much more.

Studying in the Digital Age

As soon as you are enrolled you will receive your University ID, which gives you access to the University‘s online systems. The only other ID you will need is a user number for borrowing books from the University and State Library.

Your University ID will be send to you by mail after you have paid the semester fee. There will also be a password for your first registration. If you have any questions, you can contact the "Hochschulrechenzentrum (HRZ)" any time.

Studying in the Heart of the City

As a student of Protestant theology, you will find everything you need for your studies within walking distance. Our Faculty's seminar rooms are located in the new building at Rabinstraße 8 and the University's main building at Am Hof 1, not far from the main train station of Bonn.

There are two libraries for your research – one theological library, right next to the main building (address An der Schlosskirche 2-4), and the University and State Library, which you will find just across the Hofgarten lawn.

Studying at the Faculty

As a student at the Faculty of Protestant Theology, you can choose between different work spaces – depending on whether you want to study in larger groups or prefer more peace and quiet.

The reading room in the ULB offers a breathtaking view of the Rhine, while in Café Unique you work directly in the main building.

You also have the opportunity to work in the Theological Library – with your own laptop and free Wi-Fi in the reading rooms or at computer workstations on the ground floor. Finally, on the ground floor you will also find printing/copying and scanning stations.

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International Students

Community

Libraries

As a student of Proestant theology, you not only have access to the University and State Library of the University of Bonn, but also to the Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology.

Both libraries are within walking distance of the University's main building and offer working spaces, Wi-Fi, and of course, a great stock of books!

Library of Theology

The Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology offers a stock of approximately 190,000 titles, including over 650 journal subscriptions.

As a reference library, almost the entire collection is kept available within the library, thus allowing direct access at all times without needing to wait for titles to be returned.

For opening hours please visit the Library's website.

University and State Library

The University and State Library (ULB) provides more than 2.25 million volumes, including more than 5,500 current print journals, to faculty and students at the university.

The central library building is located within walking distance of the main building of the University of Bonn, right next to the Rhine river.

For opening hours please visit the library's website.

FAQs

In the following you will find some frequently asked questions – for example, how to borrow books from the libraries or how to find what you need.

Who can use the Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology?

The Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology can be used by anyone in possession of a valid ID, passport, student identity card, or ULB Bonn library card. There are no fees charged for the use of the library.

The Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology respects Bonn University and State Library (ULB) policies.

Can I borrow books, journals, or other materials from the library?

Materials from the Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology may be used only on site, since this is a reference library.

What can I take into the library?

Coats and bags may not be taken into the reading rooms or stacks. Coin-operated lockers are available for your use.

You may take water in transparent, re-closable plastic bottles into the Library. No other beverages or food are permitted.

Can I print, copy, or scan in the Library?

Print and copy stations are located at the ground floor of the library.

Copy cards can be purchased from the card vending machines in the Main Library, the MNL Branch Library, Juridicum, and the main university building.

Saving to a USB memory stick at the self-service scanning station is free of charge.

Where can I find what I need?

The library is an open stack library, meaning that holdings are distributed throughout the entire building. They can be freely taken from the shelves and used in the library. Materials must be duly returned to their proper place after use. The reading room is located on first floor.

The first room on the right after passing through the entrance is equipped with PCs for searches in the online library catalogues. The second and third rooms from the entrance have computers with unlimited internet access within the university network for members of the University of Bonn. A student ID number and password is required in order to log in.

Do I have wifi connection in the library?

Yes. The Library of Protestant and Catholic Theology offers wifi internet access for members of the University of Bonn and Eduroam for students and researchers from other universities.

The Relevance of Theology

Theology students discuss how and why theology is relevant in today's changing world (in German).

The Relevance of Theology

Bild © Ev Theol / YouTube

Courses

During your studies you will have to attend various courses. You can often choose between different options. An overview of the current and upcoming courses can be found in the BASIS electronic course catalogue. Additional teaching material will be provided via the eCampus online student portal.

Visiting international student should complete a Learning Agreement between you, your home university, and the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Bonn before your stay. This agreement will specify the desired modules, the courses and examinations to be taken at our faculty, and their recognition at your home university.

Course Catalogue BASIS

BASIS is an electronic course catalogue which gives you an overview of the current and upcoming semester.

The course catalogue is divided into subjects, degree programs, and modules.

The degree programs of our faculty can be found in the course catalogue under the subject “Protestant Theology”.

Online Student Portal eCampus

eCampus, the online student portal, is an important part of many courses.

Teachers can provide you with downloadable documents for each session and the entire course. Sometimes you will also find surveys, self-tests, videos, or forums as a supplement to the contents of the course.

If you are registered for a course in BASIS and have been admitted by the Dean of Studies (registration alone is not enough), you will automatically be added to the corresponding eCampus course and will find it on your personal start page after logging in.

Teachers can also add students directly to courses eCampus, provided they have a university ID.

How to Find the Right Courses

First, find the study plan for your degree program in your study handbook.

The study plan describes which modules you should take in which semester.

You may be able to choose between different courses for a module. This can also be found in the study handbook.

In the electronic course catalogue BASIS you can then filter the courses offered by modules. That way you can easily see which options you might have.

Find out about the different types of courses

Lectures (Vorlesungen)

In lectures a teacher stands in front of the lectern, usually in a lecture hall, and presents the content. Lecturers often supplement their presentation with texts that are distributed, PowerPoint presentations, and/or other media. The task of the students is primarily to listen, think, and take notes.

Seminars (Seminare)

Proseminars (Proseminare)

In proseminars the students learn methodology. In contrast to lectures, the individual students are more challenged and usually have to work through texts or conduct certain tasks in preparation for each session. The focus is on conversation and discussion, and for this reason, the preparation and workload is more demanding.

Seminars (Seminare, Hauptseminare)

In seminars more complex questions are discussed based on the methods learned in the proseminars. As a rule, students take part in presentations in which they summarize research positions on a question and also take up a critical position in the subsequent discussion. In order to be able to attend a seminar, one must have already attended a proseminar in the respective sub-discipline.

Upper-level Seminars (Oberseminare)

The working style in upper-level seminars is similar to seminars, but the questions are even deeper and bring the participants up to date with the current research. Participants are expected to have a certain familiarity with the methods and research directions in the respective theological disciplines. Upper-level seminars are not compulsory, and, as a rule, they may only be visited after attending a seminar.

Exercises (Übungen)

Exercises are a kind of middle ground between seminars and lectures. It combines some lecture style teaching with independent work and projects outside of and during class. In many modules, exercises may be given as alternatives to seminars.

Exam-Prep Courses (Repetitorien)

Exam-prep courses serve to bundle and supplement the knowledge already acquired in a theological discipline in preparation for the final exam. They are only for the program “Evangelische Theologie” (Kirchl. Examen/Mag. Theol).

Time in class

As a rule, the courses extend over one semester, with a weekly session (Sitzung). Each session lasts 2x45=90 minutes, i.e. 2 hours per week (Semesterwochenstunden).

Some lectures last 4 hours each week, and a very few take up only 1 hour and are often combined so that there is one longer session every few weeks.

Workload

To successfully participate in a course, you not only have to attend the weekly sessions, but also prepare and reflect on what you have learned. This will take up more hours than the time you spend in class.

The average workload for each course can be found in the module plan of the examination regulations (Prüfungsordnung).

Download

Module plans, examination regulations, and other documents can be downloaded as PDF files.

Learn more about it

Examinations

To successfully complete your studies you have to receive a certain amount of credit points. For some of these you will have to take examinations. Details on the types of examinations can be found in your respective examination regulations.

There are usually two examination phases available in the semester in which the module is offered: the first is immediately following the lecture period; the second is at the end of the semester.

Registration

Please be sure to register for your examinations during the registration period. Otherwise you will not be able to take the exams in the desired semester.

For Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, the registration for examinations is always done electronically in BASIS via the function "Register exams / unsubscribe".

For the degree program “Evangelische Theologie” leading towards a church examination or the degree of Magister Theologiae registration is done via a special form found in the Examination Office:

if you need to indicate a field of special interest (philosophy, religious studies + intercultural theology)
if you need to choose from some options (intermediate examinations, early intermediate examination, final exam).

Withdrawal

As a rule, you have the option to withdraw from the exam without giving any reasons up to a special withdrawal deadline.

Withdrawals after this special deadline are only possible with a special reason (e.g., illness), for which you need to provide sufficient evidence (e.g., a medical certificate).

Further details about withdrawal deadlines and acceptable grounds for withdrawal can be found in the examination regulations available at the Examination Office/Office of Student Affairs.

Exam Retakes

All exams may be taken again at least once if they are failed on the first attempt. Most tests offer a total of three attempts.

Individual examinations (especially language examinations) may be taken twice with the possibility to apply for a third attempt if there are extenuating or special circumstances.

As a rule, the retake must take place by a certain date (in the next exam phase or in the next semester).

In some cases the registration for the retake is done automatically by the Examination Office, but in some cases a separate re-registration by the candidate is required.

In principle, passed examinations cannot be repeated, with the exception of the final exam for the Magister Theologiae degree program if it is completed early in the context of a fast-track provision.

Exact information about the exam retakes can be found in your respective exam regulations.

Learn about the different types of examinations

Module Exams

Modules are units of courses that are related in content and are taken within a close time period to each other.

To complete a module and receive full credit, an exam must be passed.

A module examination may consist of several partial examinations or it may consist of non-graded assessments within courses.

It is important to note that all material covered within the modules may be included in the examinations.

Final Exams

As a rule, modularized degree programs are completed by successively passing module examinations during the course of study until all the modules prescribed for the study program have been completed, including the final thesis (bachelor's thesis / master's thesis) and the sum of credit points required for the degree has been achieved.

The final grade is the average of the grades of the individual modules weighted with the credit points.

In the “Evangelische Thelogie” (Kirchl. Examen/Mag. Theol.) course of study this applies only conditionally.

Here, the entire knowledge and skills acquired during the course will be assessed at the end within a very short period of time.

If they are not taken during the block examinations, module examinations taken during the course of study only count as intermediate achievements which, although mandatory for the completion of the study, are not included in the calculation of the overall grade.

Written Exams (Klausuren)

Written exams are supervised examinations that have to be completed within the time specified by the examination regulations (90 minutes to 4 hours depending on the examination).

As a rule, several topics / tasks are listed as options, of which the candidate may select one.

A task can consist of several subtasks, all of which must be completed (for example, the translation of a biblical text and an essay on a given topic).

When tools (e.g., a dictionary) are allowed, this is announced in advance.

Oral Exams (Mündliche Prüfungen)

Oral exams are exams in the form of a 20-30 minute interview.

Only a few high-level oral exams (for example, Biblical Basics, language examinations) will have dates set by the Examination Board.

As a rule, the dates for an oral examination must be individually agreed upon with the examiner within the scope of the days specified by the examination board.

If an oral examination concludes a module in which a guided self-study has also taken place, the contents of the guided self-study will be included in the examination. In this case, the candidate must bring the form which shows the agreed upon literature for the self-study and turn it over to the examiner prior to the exam.

This form will then become part of the examination documents.

Term Papers (Hausarbeiten)

Term papers are academic papers written within a specified time and using a specified method covering a topic from the module.

The allotted time is usually three months, but for some papers you have only six weeks (e.g., one of the two proseminar papers in the degree program “Evangelische Theologie” [Kirchl. Examen/Magister Theologiae]) or two months (the sermon paper and lesson plan also in the program "Evangelische Theologie").

Term papers may be registered at any time. The allotted time for writing the paper begins on the day the candidate receives the paper topic. The topic agreement is made on the form provided, which is available for download after registration in BASIS. Homework may be submitted directly to the examiner or to the Examinations Office.

For this form of examination there is a separate leaflet with further details.

Internship Reports (Praktikumsberichte)

Internship reports are practical training reflections of previously acquired knowledge and study of theories and their applications. For the church internship in “Evangelische Theologie”, further details are discussed in the companion course.

Formally, internship reports are subject to the same regulations as term papers, unless otherwise stipulated by the examination regulations.

Registration can take place at any time.

The beginning of the allotted time for writing the report, however, is always the day after the last day of the internship, or, if there is a companion course meeting after the end of the internship, the last meeting day for the companion course.

Together with the internship report and the paperwork form, you must also submit a certificate of internship completion.