Frequently Asked Questions

The required forms can be found in the respective descriptions of the measures in the continuous text and linked on the side as an overview. Click here for an overview of the procedure descriptions.

The idea sketch provides "informal" information about the planned measures. Please describe your project in your own, generally understandable words. The outline of ideas should be understood as a brief overview for categorisation and incorporation into the timetable for the development of the study programme.

The study plan (SVP) ensures that the planned degree programme can also be accredited. For accreditation, the workload of the degree programme must be evenly distributed over the six minimum semesters and must be successfully completed within this period. The SVP is also the basis for the feasibility analysis of the institution.

The degree programme concept is the framework of your institution and should ensure from the outset that the new degree programme is legally compliant and accreditable. In addition, the degree programme concept contains all the parameters that need to be worked out during the course of the institution's establishment and are specified, for example, in the FSB.

The outline of ideas provides an initial overview of the planned measures; the degree programme concept provides detailed information, particularly with regard to qualification objectives and strategic fit with the university profile.

The Chairperson of the Degree Programme Committee (usually the Head of Studies) signs the decision of the Degree Programme Committee.

Yes, the forms of the degree programme development department are required for committee route 1 and the forms of the staff unit for degree programme-related legal matters are required for committee route 2. You can find the forms in the respective procedural descriptions of the degree programme development or the document repository of the SBR.

Establishment of an admission-free Bachelor's degree programme: approx. 1 calendar year

Establishment of a Master's degree programme with an application period from mid-May to 15 July: approx. 1 calendar year

Establishment of a Master's degree programme with an application period from the end of January to 15 July: approx. 1.25 calendar years

The exemplary timetable for setting up a national Master's degree programme can be found here.

Change to a mononational, admission-free Bachelor's degree programme: approx. 1 calendar year

Change to a mononational Master's degree programme with an application period from mid-May to 15 July:

Change to a mononational Master's degree programme with an application period from the end of January to 15 July:

Cancellation of a degree programme: approx. 6 months

However, please note the transition period for cancellation. See the information on the page describing the procedure.

Changes to a study programme that are made during an accreditation period must be examined to determine whether the change is covered by the existing accreditation. This involves assessing (1) whether the change is so far-reaching that it is a substantial change and, if this is the case, (2) whether the criteria of the Study Accreditation Ordinance are still fulfilled.

Assessment of materiality

Proposed changes to degree programmes are communicated to the Office of Degree Programme Development via an outline of ideas (see also Changes to degree programmes - Quality Management). The following criteria are then used to check whether the proposed change meets the threshold of materiality. Most changes are not "essential" in the accreditation sense, even if they are important (= "essential") for the further development of the study programme.

A typical example of a change that is important but not essential in the sense of accreditation is the replacement of compulsory elective areas/specialisations/focus areas, triggered for example by the desire for modernisation or by a change in professorships. As long as the overall framework in terms of qualification objectives and resources remains largely unchanged, this does not constitute a significant change.

Changes in terms of the internationalisation of degree programmes, such as changes to application periods or the addition of teaching and examination languages (multilingual degree programme), are also not significant in terms of accreditation. However, the conversion of a purely German-language degree programme into a purely foreign-language degree programme, usually an English-language degree programme, is significant, as this changes the profile and also the qualification objectives of the degree programme.

The following changes in particular are substantial changes:

- Change in the name of the degree programme (renaming)

- Change in the type of degree programme (e.g. full-time/part-time) or a new type of degree programme is introduced (as an additional variant).

newly introduced (as an additional variant)

- Change in the qualification objectives of the degree programme

- Change to the profile of the degree programme: Profile characteristics (consecutive/continuing education,

dual, international) are changed

- Change to the content of the degree programme: the curriculum is fundamentally changed,

for example by

o the cancellation of compulsory modules without replacement

o the introduction of new specialisations/focus areas

- the establishment of specialisations that lead to substantially different competencies among graduates

- Changing the standard period of study of the degree programme or the credit points of the degree programme

- Changing the degree level of the degree programme

- ...

For more details on the assessment basis for materiality, see also

https://www.akkreditierungsrat.de/de/faq/thema/18-wesentliche-aenderungen

If the proposed change is characterised as substantial according to the above criteria, the following procedure applies at JMU:

If it is a renaming, change of degree, change of credit points, most comprehensive structural/content reorientation/updating, change of profile, change of study form:

1. Initial discussion with the Study Programme Development Office
2. Cancellation of the degree programme to be significantly changed (i.e. the degree programme expires, no more enrolments are made, see also Cancellation of degree programmes - Quality Management)
3. Establishment of the substantially changed degree programme as a new degree programme
   (see also Establishment of degree programmes - Quality management)
4. Accreditation of the degree programme (as concept accreditation or as part of an imminent subject audit).

On the one hand, this procedure results from the requirements of the State Office for Statistics, as the named case groups are statistically relevant variables and lead to a change in the data set; from a higher education law perspective, this is a new degree programme; on the other hand, this is the only way to correctly address the question of whether there is a change of subject or only a change of examination regulations in terms of enrolment.

2. If an identical curriculum is offered in different forms (part-time, distance learning, part-time...):

1. Initial discussion with the Study Programme Development Office
2. Establishment of the significantly changed degree programme as a new degree programme
   (see also Establishment of degree programmes - Quality management)
3. Accreditation of the established degree programme (as concept accreditation or as part of an imminent subject audit)

It is possible to add modules in the compulsory elective area and in the FSQ area before the start of a semester and in anticipation of a future amendment to the statutes.

However, only additional modules can be added to existing modules; it is not possible to cancel existing modules . It is also not possible to change the structure of the (partial) degree programme in the area of compulsory electives and the area of key qualifications (e.g. no change to the total number of ECTS points for the individual areas or sub-areas, no change to the overall grade calculation by adding the newly included modules). The additional modules will be included in the SFB for the coming semester without any changes to the statutes .

At the latest one year after the module has been "activated" in the examination system, an amendment record must come into force with the new module. This amendment statute follows the normal workflow of an amendment and only affects the confirmation of modules added via fast track. No further changes are possiblewithin the framework of the same statutes; this requires a further change with its own statutes.

The feasibility analysis (which is prepared in collaboration with Unit A.1) ensures that the planned degree programme or change can be implemented with the available resources.

This concerns not only spatial and material resources, but above all human resources.

As a rule, capacity utilisation is 100% - an establishment or change is therefore generally only possible by recombining existing teaching if no new teaching load is created by new permanent positions. In addition, teaching in the compulsory area must be secured in the long term, i.e. not covered by teaching assignments in the longer term.