Submission of Documents

At its meeting on June 21, 2017, the Mechanical Engineering Examination Committee decided that all written documents must be submitted in duplicate. 
One copy—stamped and marked with the student’s initials—will be given to the student as a reference copy.

Documents sent by students to the Examination Office by mail must be sent via “registered mail with return receipt.” 
Any other method of submission is at your own risk!

Email Correspondence

In accordance with the University of Siegen’s information security guidelines, internal inquiries are answered only via the official email address; student inquiries are handled only via xxx.yyy@student.uni-siegen.de.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Are there any prerequisites for switching to the new examination regulations for your degree program?

No, there are no specific prerequisites.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: If you want to switch to the new examination regulations, what is the procedure?

Go to the Student Affairs Office and simply have your enrollment transferred to the new 2022 examination regulations. Please refer to the information on the following unisono website:

Application for Transfer: “My Studies” -> “Transfer/Change of Major”

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Is it also possible to switch from the new 2022 examination regulations back to the old 2010/2013 examination regulations?

No, this transfer is not possible.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: By when do you have to switch to the new examination regulations? Is there a deadline?

There is no deadline; you can switch at any time during the semester.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: There are courses that are the same in both the old (2010/2013) and new examination regulations (2022). However, there is a difference in the number of ECTS credits. For example, the course “Thermodynamics” is worth 5 credits under the old regulations, but is worth 6 credits under the new regulations. Can a course passed under the old regulations be transferred to the new regulations, and will it be fully recognized?

Yes, in such cases, recognition will always be granted with 6 ECTS credits or with the ECTS credit value specified in the new subject examination regulations.

New Examination Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Under the previous examination regulations, students normally had three attempts to pass an exam. Has this rule changed?

The limit of three attempts remains in place. What no longer applies is the supplementary oral exam after the first or second written attempt, as well as the attempt to improve one’s grade.

Procedure for Handling Enrollment in the Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering

If a student enrolls in one of the above-mentioned degree programs, the new examination regulations (2022) generally apply to them. An exception to this rule—such that the old examination regulations (2010) apply to the candidate—is possible only upon the candidate’s request and in consultation with the Examination Office and the chair of the relevant examination committee.

Procedure for determining the academic semester when changing examination regulations in the Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering programs:

If a student changes examination regulations during the course of study, the counting of academic semesters generally continues. An exception to this rule in individual cases is possible only upon request by the candidate and in consultation with the Examinations Office and the chair of the relevant examination committee.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: When will the module handbook and the module element handbook be published?

The bad news: There will no longer be a module handbook or a module element handbook. Everything is now included in the departmental examination regulations, which is why they are so extensive. The structure is prescribed by the university administration. Please use the overviews posted on the Examinations Office’s website, which are available online in addition to the subject examination regulations. These are also constantly updated. The Examinations Office will make these overview tables available as a customer service outside of the official documents. Otherwise, getting started will be very, very difficult—for everyone.

FPO for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: May proof of completion of the departmental internship be submitted at any time (but before registering for the thesis), as was the case under the old examination regulations?

That is correct. The specialized internship must be approved before registering for the Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Are further changes to the FPO to be expected, since this is a draft version?

According to the Legal Department, the draft version published on the Examinations Office’s website is intended to correspond to the final version. There are still a few administrative procedures to be completed before this version becomes legally binding as an “Official Notice.” The Examinations Office is working with this version, and all students may do so as well.

FPO for the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering: Do the two specialized labs count exclusively toward Alternative 1, and does the 8-week development project count exclusively toward Alternative 2 (see also the study plan)?

Yes.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering: So, do the two labs essentially not apply if I choose Option 2, and conversely, does the development project not apply if I choose Option 1?

Yes.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering: Assumption: I choose Option 1 and have selected 36 LP from the MA-TEC catalog (4 modules of 9 LP each). Can I also choose the remaining 24 LP from the MA-TEC catalog, or do I have to select at least one or more modules from the MA-QES catalog?

You may select all 24 LP from the MA-TEC catalog, but you also have the option to choose courses from the MA-QES catalog (though you are not required to do so). Alternatively, you may select all 24 LP from the MA-QES catalog.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Vehicle Engineering Specialization: With Specialization VII (Vehicle Engineering), are the FEM Lab and the Materials Science Lab the only options left from the entire lab catalog?

That is indeed the case for the start of the 2022/23 winter semester. However, the selection is expected to expand over time.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering: Why can’t module titles such as “Materials for Automobiles I and II,” “Material Fatigue,” “Product Ergonomics,” etc., be found in the new catalog anymore?

For example, everything is still available for the Vehicle Engineering specialization, but it has been reorganized. This was decided by the module coordinators and the program director. Please refer to the overviews available on the Examinations Office website, which are posted online in addition to the subject-specific examination regulations. These are also updated regularly.

Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Examination Regulations: I started the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering this summer semester and was assigned the course “Numerical Methods” as a prerequisite. I’m assuming that this prerequisite will remain in effect even with the transition to the new examination regulations?

Yes, the prerequisite will remain in effect.

Exam Regulations for the Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering: I’m currently considering switching my degree program. Right now, I’m enrolled in the Mechanical Engineering program. I’m thinking of switching from there to the Industrial Engineering program, but under the new exam regulations. Would this switch even be possible?

Yes, of course the switch is possible. You generally have the option to change your degree program. What is not possible is switching back to an old set of examination regulations. So, once you’ve chosen one of the new sets of examination regulations, you’ll remain in that new set permanently.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Example: Can I switch from my current Master’s in Mechanical Engineering to the Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Production Engineering without any problems or restrictions?

Yes, no problem.

FPO Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering: Could I have credits I’ve already earned in Mechanical Engineering transferred to the new Industrial Engineering curriculum, even though, for example, Mathematics 1 is worth more credit points in the new Industrial Engineering curriculum than in the old one for Mechanical Engineering?

Anything that is identical in both degree programs can be transferred. The adjustment of credit points relates to an increase in the number of exercises; the content remains the same, so courses with lower ECTS credits will still be recognized under the new examination regulations.

Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering Specialization: I have already enrolled in the new Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Production Engineering. Here, I would like to take the Master’s modules “Smart Production” and “Operational Management Systems.” I took the module “Quality and Measurement Technology in Manufacturing” during my bachelor’s program. However, the module components “Quality Assurance” and “Production-Accompanying Measurement Technology in Industry 4.0” that I completed there are now part of the two Master’s modules mentioned above in the new curriculum. Is it possible to transfer credit for these two modules from the old Bachelor’s program toward the new Master’s module?

Yes, credit transfer is possible.

Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: I am currently enrolled in the M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering/Industrial Engineering under the old curriculum. Since I haven’t taken any exams yet, I would like to switch to the new curriculum. Do I simply use the document “Change Request – Application for Transfer”?

Yes, that’s exactly right; please use the form mentioned (Examinations Office website). The transfer will then be processed by the Student Affairs Office, not the Examinations Office.

After the transfer, you’ll need to have your previously passed exams recognized. To do this, use the “Application for Recognition of Exam and Academic Achievements” (available on the Examinations Office website). However, you do not need to obtain new approval from the individual instructors. You can leave that column blank.

Study Program Guidelines (FPO) for Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: I have a question about changing my specialization under the new FPO. I have now transferred into the “General Mechanical Engineering” specialization. If I want to change my specialization during my studies, does the new FPO allow me to make this change or not?

The choice of specialization may be changed once by submitting a written request to the chair of the Examination Board. Coursework and exams already completed in the previous specialization will be transferred, provided that the corresponding modules are available in the new specialization.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Example: I am in the first semester of the Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering and have chosen the “Product Development” specialization, but I would like to change my decision. If possible, can I choose the “VT IV Energy and Process Engineering” specialization?

Go to the Student Affairs Office and change your specialization. You have not yet taken any exams. I approve the change without you losing the right to make another change in the future.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to transfer to the new FPO (VT VIII General Mechanical Engineering). Who should I contact about this? How can I have my passed exams credited toward the new FPO?

Step 1: Go to the Student Affairs Office and change your program. Use the PDF form “Application for Change …” (Examination Office website).

Step 2: After transferring, schedule an appointment with me (Chair of the Examination Board). Print out your academic transcript and fill out the PDF form “Recognition …” (Examinations Office website) as completely as possible. We’ll take care of the rest during our in-person meeting—be sure to bring your academic transcript and the “Recognition …” form with you.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: There are courses that were required under the old examination regulations and are now mandatory electives under the new examination regulations. If you did not take compulsory courses from the old examination regulations as elective-compulsory courses in the new examination regulations, will these courses be transferred or not? Which courses from the old examination regulations will be transferred and which will not?

Only the courses you apply for will be transferred! To do so, use the PDF form “Recognition …” (Examination Office website).

Example:

1. You have successfully passed a course under the old examination regulations and would like to use it under the new examination regulations (PO): If this course also exists in the new PO, it will be carried over; if the course does not exist in the new PO, it may be recognized as an additional course.

2. You did NOT successfully pass a course under the old PO. If you’d like to use this course under the new PO, your failed attempts will also count toward it. If you don’t want to use the course under the new PO, it will simply be dropped.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Can you select a different elective-required module if you failed an elective-required module on your first, second, or final attempt?

You can change elective-required modules at any time as often as you like, as long as you have not failed them on your first or second attempt. You may change an elective-required module only once if you have failed it permanently. You must not fail a second module permanently, otherwise you will be dismissed from the program. Required modules must always be passed and cannot be substituted.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: The module handbook states that a specialized lab must be selected from the chosen specialization. Can we choose the second lab from a different specialization?

Correct. One specialized lab must be taken in the chosen specialization; the second specialized lab may be chosen freely.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Is it possible to take the exam for only one course within a required-elective module that includes multiple courses? And if we take the exams for all courses in a required-elective module, do we have to take them all in a single semester?

Example: A module consists of two subjects, one in the winter semester and one in the summer semester. There is no uniform rule; it’s possible that there is only one final module exam at the end of the summer semester, in which both subjects are tested simultaneously. Another possibility is an exam for Subject 1 in the winter semester and a second exam for Subject 2 in the summer semester; at the end, the average of the two exams is calculated, and that becomes the final grade for the module. However, there will often be a single exam at the end of the module. The rule is: the instructors will announce the details at the beginning of the semester.

How can students tell whether the module consists of individual exams or a final module exam?

If the module description lists the exam format as “overall exam performance,” then the module consists of individual exams for each module component. Otherwise, it is a final module exam.

FPO Master’s in Mechanical Engineering (also applies accordingly to WIW): Must students select courses in the required-elective modules that add up to the exact number of ECTS credits?

Example: Mechanical Engineering. Unfortunately, you must select your modules so that the first block totals exactly 36 ECTS credits from the MA-TEC catalog alone, and the second block totals exactly 24 ECTS credits. The “controlling factor” here is the second block, since modules can be selected from both the MA-TEC and/or MA-QES catalogs—that is, only MA-TEC modules, only MA-QES modules, or modules from both catalogs. Since the MA-TEC modules can be accommodated in both blocks, it should (hopefully) work out.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s in Industrial Engineering: School III has a “free attempt” policy. Is this one free attempt per course or per degree program?

You are allowed a maximum of one free attempt. Not per course, but only one free attempt in the entire degree program.

FPO Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: The FAQ states that the date on which the old study regulations will be repealed is currently still under review. Is there any new information on this yet?

Valid until 2027. Please refer to official university announcements (university website).

Study Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: To what extent can one be certain that all elective-required modules from the old study regulations will still be offered until they are repealed? Some elective-required modules from the old curriculum will phase out in the coming semesters and will therefore likely see very few students or fail to meet minimum enrollment requirements in 3–4 semesters.

There is no certainty, and this risk always exists with elective-required modules, regardless of the new FPO. In such cases, alternative courses will be arranged individually with the students. We always find solutions.

Master’s Study Regulations for Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: A transfer to the new Master’s study regulations is only possible for the winter semester, correct?

For legal reasons, that is what the examination regulations state. However, it has been agreed with the Student Affairs Office that enrollment is possible for both the winter and summer semesters.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Study Programs in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: Does the new study program require that students always complete all elements of a module, or is there still some flexibility within the modules? The study plan, which students fill out individually, seems to imply the latter.

In the description of a module (all of which can be found in the examination regulations), there is a line labeled “LP” (credit points). The number listed here (usually 6 or 9) represents the credit points for the module, which must be completed in the amount of credit points specified. In many cases, the LP number corresponds exactly to the total number of module courses offered, but sometimes there are more courses than are required for the module (Example: A module requires 6 LP, but there are 4 module courses, each worth 3 LP; in this case, you may choose 2 courses from the 4 available options). Only then do you have a choice, which is also reflected in unisono.

Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: I am currently still studying under the old curriculum for my bachelor’s degree. Can I take early master’s exams under the new curriculum?

You are currently still enrolled in the Bachelor’s program under the old curriculum, which means you are fully eligible to take early Master’s exams. Exam registration is done using the written form available on the Examinations Office website; this form must then be submitted to the Examinations Office. All standard deadlines for registration and withdrawal apply.

When does de-registration take place—after submitting the thesis (Bachelor’s/Master’s) or after a final failure on an exam?

All students who do not apply for early withdrawal themselves generally remain enrolled until the end of the semester, including those who complete their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree during the semester or who definitively fail an exam.

Deregistration then takes place at the end of the semester (September 30/March 31). However, if the results are not announced until the following semester, the Student Affairs Office will deregister the student retroactively.

FPO Bachelor’s/Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering: I am successfully completing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Siegen and would also like to pursue my master’s degree there. How do I enroll?

Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Siegen that corresponds to the desired Master’s program and can demonstrate special aptitude based on a grade of “3.0” must apply for the Master’s program via unisono and, once admitted, can then apply for enrollment in unisono as well. To do so, they must submit a transfer request in unisono: “My Studies” -> “Transfer/Change of Major/Online Application.”