University and Studies: During the Semester
Exams
Exam Registration
Registration is required for all exams that you would like to take either during or at the end of each semester. This is also the case for term papers (“Hausarbeiten”) or oral exams.
The exam registration must be completed online in the student portal (“Studierendenportal”) within a fixed time period.
Portal² → Exams → Exam Registration
Some exams allow for late registration or a change in registration. If the registration deadline for an exam is over and you would like to take advantage of this option, you can do this free of charge via the student portal. Please make sure to meet the applicable deadlines:
- Late registration for an exam (for the regular or alternate examination date) is possible up to three days before the regular examination date via the portal.
- Students can change their registration for written exams from the regular to the alternate examination date or vice versa up to three days prior to the respective regular examination date via the portal. In general, you may withdraw from an exam via the student portal (Step-by-step instructions change in registration). A change in registration can only be made by first withdrawling from an exam and then re-registering directly on the desired date.
- For examinations that are not written exams, the deadline for late registration and a change in registration generally expires on 3 December 2021.
Double Degree students: A change of registration for written exams from the regular to the alternate examination date is only possible if you deregister from your exam first and immediately register for the alternative exam date. This only applies if a registration for an alternative exam date is possible.
Exam Dates
The exams generally take place in the first two weeks following the end of the lecture period. Exact exam dates can be found here or in your profile in the student portal under “exams” → “registered exams.”
However, because exam dates and locations may change even after the end of the registration period, you should regularly check the location and times of your exams online after registering. Additionally, you should book your flight home only after the exam dates have been finalized!
Term Papers: Guidelines
Guidelines by the Departments
Please note that this is an incomplete list. Some departments do not provide guidelines for term papers or these guidelines are not available online. Please talk to your course instructor for guidance.
School of Humanities:
- Romance Studies: Guidelines for writing academic texts (in German only)
- English/
American Studies: ABCs of style | Writing a term paper - German Studies: Guidelines for writing term papars in Neuere deutsche Literaturwissenschaft (in German only)
- Media and Communication Studies: Handbook for Bachelor studies (in German only)
- Philosophy: Tips for writing term papers (in German only)
School of Social Sciences:
- Political Sciences: Study guide for students of political sciences (in German only) | Quotation guidelines (in German only)
School of Law and Economics:
Academic Writing Consultancy
The Academic Writing Consultancy of the University Library can help you with questions such as:
- How do I organize my writing task in order to hand it in in due time?
- How do I start writing?
- How do I narrow down my topic or what do I do, if my topic seems to be too limited for 20 pages?
- How do I cite sources and how do I refer to them?
- What do I do if I do not come to terms with my project?
- How do I rewrite my text?
The counselling sessions are open to students of all disciplines and all levels and are held in German or English. If possible, please bring a printout of your texts to the counselling session.
We are currently offering advice by e-mail or in a personal meeting via videoconference. Please write us your query: schreibberatung.ubuni-mannheim.de.
Plagiarism
What is plagiarism?
Statements and thoughts by others that are presented as your own achievements in an academic paper are plagiarism. Without exceptions: statements, ideas, data and thoughts etc. from other originators must ALWAYS be marked through a reference. No reference means a violation of the copyright law, i.e. plagiarism. Not only literal quotes but also paraphrases must be proved by the indication of source. Plagiarism is not a trivial offense. It is considering as cheating.
How to avoid plagiarism:
The best strategy to avoid plagiarism is to insert the reference to the text immediately. It is not advisable to include the references into your text at the end of paper since it will be difficult to retrieve all quotations and paraphrases again within 25 pages of continuous text.
Besides, it always makes sense to put the bibliographical reference on handwritten summaries. This helps not to mix up summaries with your own chain of thoughts and the summaries of other originators.
Please, find the list with the instructions to write a paper from different departments here. Unfortunately not all departments provide these guidelines. Consequently, you have to talk to your instructor to get the information how you have to write the paper.
What are the consequences?
In general, plagiarism is a violation of the copyright law and the responsible person can be prosecuted.
At the University of Mannheim, you can expect the following consequences: exclusion from the course, no re-writing of the paper, remark in your student file and your home university will be informed.
If you feel unsure during writing your paper, please contact your instructor.
Communicating with Instructors or Lecturers
Would you like to speak with a professor about a term paper or presentation? Communicating with instructors or lecturers here in Germany is no problem at all if you simply keep the following things in mind:
Office hours (“Sprechstunden”): At your home university, it may be normal that professors keep their doors open and that students can simply stop by. In Germany, professors usually have specific office hours during which they are available for questions. Students are usually required to register for a meeting with a professor or have to add their names to a list.
E-mail: Most professors are also available by e-mail. They often share their e-mail address (or their assistant’s e-mail address) with students at the beginning of the semester so that students can send drafts of presentations or term papers and receive feedback.
Titles: It is important to address your professors with the formal German “Sie” instead of “du”.
Team International Exchange Students
Division II – Student Affairs
International Office
L 1, 1
68161 Mannheim