Interim status of planning for the winter semester 2021/22

Dear Students,

The start of the winter semester is around the corner. That´s why we would like to let you know about the current regulations and our plans for teaching and studies in the winter semester 2021/22.

As has already been announced, we are committed to realise as much face-to-face teaching as possible in the coming winter semester. The current Hochschulen-Coronaverordnung (coronavirus regulation for universities), which applies initially until the beginning of October, and the Bekämpfungsverordnung (containment regulations), give us a guideline for planning face-to-face teaching. These regulations pave the way for our return to more face-to-face teaching.

Taking into account the current regulations for the winter semester 2021/22, lectures may take place on site. In addition, we will implement hybrid teaching concepts, alternating lectures or, in some cases, purely conduct online courses. In addition to the respective legal requirements, our current course planning considers the topology of the different teaching rooms and content-related requirements. In the end you will probably be offered a mix of different course formats. We are looking forward to a colourful and diverse semester with more on-site lectures than in the past three semesters.

According to the regulations, events which are similar to meetings (which include lectures and seminars, for example) may deviate from the generally applicable 1.5m social distancing rules. In this case, a room may be occupied to a maximum of 50% capacity in a chessboard pattern (seats directly next to, in front of and behind each participant remain empty) and a certified mask (surgical masks, FFP2 masks) must be worn the entire time. In justified exceptional cases, individual lectures can also deviate from this regulation. 

We will inform you in good time about how the respective lectures will be implemented and the requirements to be adhered.

For access to lectures, field trips, and examinations held indoors through October 02 (the effective date of the current coronavirus regulations for universities), the coronavirus regulations for universities specifies the “3G” regulation; this means, participants are required to prove that they are fully vaccinated, present a certificate of recovery or a negative COVID test result (3G stands for geimpft/vaccinated, genesen/recovered or getestet/tested). The negative test result must be no older than 72 hours. If the proof is not provided, access cannot be granted.

Persons, who are neither vaccinated nor recovered, are required to present a negative COVID test. The certificate can only be issued by a body approved for this purpose (test centre), self-tests do not meet this requirement.

We assume that the 3G regulation will also apply in the next regulation period. Please prepare yourselves for the fact that the 3G regulation will probably also apply for examinations in BA/MA degree programmes in the second examination period (04.10. – 23.10.) of the current summer semester as well as presumably for the winter semester 2021/22.

Concepts are currently in preparation on how the 3G regulation can be implemented at Kiel University in the winter semester 2021/22, e.g. with technical support via the OLAT tool. We will inform you about this in due time before lecturing will start.

For our international students: Please find out beforehand which vaccines are approved in Germany and applicable to meet the regulations of the 3G scheme.

Recording participants’ contact details remains mandatory. This will be done via an OLAT tool, as before. You can find more information here.

Members of risk groups still have the opportunity to apply for disadvantage compensation measures, provided this is possible in terms of organisation and that the learning objectives enable such measures. These people have the option to present their restrictions in a plausible manner in an application for disadvantage compensation submitted two weeks before the start of lectures at the latest, and provide the corresponding documentation in support of their claim to the lecturers or Examination Office. If possible, a suitable disadvantage compensation measure shall be offered.

International students also have the option to submit a request for compensation for disadvantages if they can plausibly describe and prove that they are prevented from participating in face-to-face lectures due to circumstances beyond their control. This may be the case, for example, if the people in question have been vaccinated but the vaccine is not authorised in Europe. Until the revaccination will be carried out, those students can apply for disadvantage compensation as described above.

Please be prepared that the 3G-regulation will most likely be applied to the examinations of the BA/MA courses in the second examination period (04.10. - 23.10.) of the current summer semester.

We are currently identifying alternative rooms for exams, which initially were expected to take place at the exams tent and scheduled for the second examination period of the current summer semester; in doing so, we are taking into account the new requirements of the amended regulations. Therefore, please note especially for these exams sites and times might may shift. We are going to announce the changes as soon as possible via the examination administration system and UnivIS.

Students who will provisionally enrol in a Master's programme in the winter semester 2021/22 can benefit from an extended deadline to submit their proof of Bachelor´s degree. Documentations can be handed in until March 31, 2022.

As previously communicated, students who provisionally enrolled in a Master´s program in the summer semester 2021, benefit from an extended deadline; they can submit their proof of Bachelor´s degree until September 30, 2021.

Further information can be found on the pages of the Student Services (German only).

Yours sincerely
Markus Hundt
Vice President