Application to extend the deadline for graduation

Basis

The examination regulations for business and economics degree programs limit the maximum time to degree completion to 9 semesters (Bachelor's degree programs) and 7 semesters (Master's degree programs). Please note: Corona special regulations. Currently up to 3 semesters more for affected year groups. Students who do not provide proof of graduation within this period lose their right to take examinations in the degree program and thus their admission.

The examination board can conditionally*) restore the right to take examinations by extending the deadline. For this purpose, the student must submit a reasoned application to the Examination Board and submit it via the Faculty's Examinations Office. The deadline for submitting the application is the last semester before the maximum duration of study expires. Deadline: The application must be submitted at the latest before the end of the re-registration period for the semester that is blocked for re-registration. In justified exceptional cases (e.g. if an examination with which the degree course was to be completed is unexpectedly not passed), this deadline can also be exceeded.

However, it is strongly recommended that you seek advice from the Examinations Office as early as possible. This can be early on in your studies, namely when it becomes apparent that it will no longer be possible to complete your degree within the specified time. This can be easily recognized on the basis of the average semester performance measured in LP/ECTS.

*) Usually, especially if it is foreseeable that more than one semester will be needed to complete the degree, approval is granted conditionally. In such cases, the extension of the deadline is linked to the fulfillment of a condition on a semester-by-semester basis, e.g. proof of a minimum number of LPs from examinations in the current semester.

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Procedure:

If the information on this page is sufficient, the application can be prepared immediately and submitted as shown below. However, if there is still a need for clarification or special aspects play a role that are not covered by the information here, a telephone consultation appointment can be arranged. This can be done via an online reservation during the personal consultation hours at the Examinations Office. It is assumed that you are familiar with the information on this page.

Form of the application

The application is submitted via the Examinations Office in letter form (until further notice, we recommend: as a PDF attachment in an e-mail, but also possible by post or by direct deposit in the mailbox in the PS-WiWi building) and is submitted to the Examination Board for a decision.

Structure of the application

In the address field "To the Examination Board [your degree program]", in the subject line: "Application for extension of the deadline for graduation for the xx. Subject semester"

At the beginning of the application, briefly mention whether a counseling interview was attended and when this was. Or explicitly that it was waived because the information on this page was sufficient.

Then it goes straight on to the contents. Start with a semester-by-semester list of the achievements that are still missing for graduation, stating the corresponding CP. If there are several achievements that are also to be spread over several semesters, it is clearer to attach this list as an appendix and make a reference to it at the beginning of the application. (Examinations that have already been completed but are not yet graded on the transcript of records are also included in this overview.

Care should be taken to plan realistically. If you have hardly performed at all over the course of 9 semesters, it will be difficult for you to complete the required number of credits in the coming semesters. However, a minimum of 20 LP/ECTS per semester is assumed.

Next, explain the reasons why you felt you were unable to complete your studies on time.

Reasons such as impairment of health over a longer period of time must be documented with a medical certificate. Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that they will be taken into consideration. However. If a certificate is not immediately available, the application can also be submitted without it. No valuable time should be wasted in obtaining a certificate. Where such a reason is deemed relevant by the Examination Board and proof is required for it to be considered, we will always get in touch.

Processing time
The decision of the Examination Board on the application for an extension of the deadline will be sent to the applicant in writing within 4 weeks of submission if a current address is available. It cannot be ruled out that the processing time will extend beyond the re-registration period for the semester applied for. In the event of approval, re-registration will be possible at a later date. It is important that you contact SLE/Studierendenservice and transfer the re-registration amount (keyword "Verwendungszweck").

Follow-up application

A deadline extension is only granted for one semester at a time. If the degree cannot be obtained in this semester, a new application must be submitted for re-registration for the next semester. This is marked as a follow-up application in the subject line and only the aspects that require a further deadline extension are listed in the application. This may have been foreseeable at the time of the initial application or may have arisen unexpectedly due to new circumstances. Ideally, it is sufficient to state that the performance shown corresponds to the planning from the initial application. In any case, a copy of the decision on the previous application must always be submitted.

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Please note:

It is essential to observe the above-mentioned deadline. If applications are submitted too late, SLE/Student Services may refuse to extend the deadline due to formal deficiencies.

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