FAQ - frequently asked questions

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the study of Ethnology at the University of Tübingen.

Bachelor study organization

When can which courses be taken in the BA major or minor?

Here you will find all important information about the Bachelor's program in Ethnology
Under the above link you will find, among other things, module tables for the minor subject and for the major subject, from which you can see which courses can be taken at which point in the study program.
Please note that some courses are only offered in the winter semester and others only in the summer semester!

Is it possible to shorten my studies in the minor "BA Ethnology"?

If you would like to shorten your Ethnology minor by 2 semesters, you can use the module table for the major (HF) or the major curriculum as a guide, since all courses that minor students take in 6 semesters are completed in only 4 semesters in the major.
Please keep in mind here that even in the first four semesters, major students take more courses than minor students. This is for example the case for module: 7-1 (examination regulations of 2012) and module: VOR (examination regulations of 2020). These modules serve as preparation for the mobility semester and therefore do not have to be taken in the minor subject.
The module tables and study plans can be found here.
Please note that some courses are offered exclusively in the winter semester and others exclusively in the summer semester!

What do I have to consider if I want to take up parallel studies?

If you have any questions regarding parallel studies, please contact the examination office directly. There you will find further information and the necessary forms.

Parallel studies

Does the standard period of study have to be maintained?

Exceeding the 6th semester is generally not problematic for students, as this is the standard period of study and not a maximum period..
It is important to note that the orientation examination must be taken after completion of the 3rd semester at the latest and the intermediate examination after completion of the 6th semester at the latest, otherwise the examination entitlement for the subject Ethnology expires. If these deadlines are missed, an application for an extension must be submitted! (See examination regulations and FAQs on the "Orientation and Intermediate Examination").
Please be sure to additionally inform yourself directly at the examination office about the current regulations regarding the duration of studies and the maximum values if you wish to study longer than 6 semesters.
Homepage of the Examination Office of the Faculty of Humanities

How do I register for courses (seminars and lectures)?

To register for a course, go to the ALMA homepage, log in with your ZDV login ID and password, click on "Studies offered" and then on "Show university course catalog" and you will be taken to the course catalogue, which is divided into the different faculties.

Now click on „5 Philosophische Fakultät“ (this is the faculty in which Ethnology is located) and you will see a list of subjects.

If you go to the field "Ethnologie", another page opens where you can choose between B.A. and M.A. studies. Bachelor is divided in major (HF) and minor (NF) version 2020 and major (HF) and minor (NF) version 2012 and the Master (version 2012 or version 2020).

Is the course registration in Alma automatically the exam registration?

No, registering with Alma at the beginning of a semester only means that you have registered for the course. At the end of the semester, you will be asked by your lecturers to register again in the ALMA portal, but this time for the exam. Please note that exam registration or deregistration is only possible within a certain time window.

How do I receive my performance records?

Once you have registered for the exam and completed all the necessary performance requirements for the respective course, your ECTS points with the grade are usually entered directly into the ALMA portal.

You can also find more information about Alma and about performance records on the website about the introductory study phase of the Ethnology Department.

and also on the ALMA-website.

What subjects can be taken as a minor?

Recommended minors include subjects in the Institute of Asian and Oriantal Studies and subjects in language, cultural studies, social sciences, and economics.
Attendance at a student advising session is recommended.

Can I hand in my BA thesis even though I haven't finished my minor yet?

Yes, it is possible to hand in your bachelor thesis even though you have not yet finished your minor subject. Please ask the examination office of the Faculty of Humanities for more information.

Bachelor's program content (examination regulations from 2012)

How many seminars from modules 3, 5, and 8 must be taken in the program?

The following applies with regard to modules 3, 5 and 8: To complete your minor, you must successfully complete a total of: 2 seminars from Module 3, 2 seminars from Module 5, and 2 seminars from Module 8.
Here you will find, among other things, module tables for the minor subject and for the major subject, from which you can see which courses must be taken in the degree program
Please note that some courses are offered exclusively in the winter semester and others exclusively in the summer semester!

Do the seminars from modules 3 and 8 all have to have the same region as their topic?

Do the introductions (3) have to match the specialization (8)?

The introductions (Module 3) and the specializations (Module 8) do not have to cover the same regional focus.
Any seminar listed on ALMA under Module 3 may be taken as an introduction, and any seminar listed on ALMA under Module 8 may be taken as a specialization.

What does the double coding of some seminars mean?

Sometimes courses are double coded, which means that you can choose whether you want to take these courses as introduction (module 3) or as a specialization (module 8).

Study contents Bachelor (Examination regulations of 2020), as of 19.11.2020

How many courses do I need to take in the ANT-Gr 1-7 and ANT-Ver 1-7 modules?

During the course of your studies, you must choose one elective module from each of ANT-GR 1-7 (Fundamentals) and one from ANT-VER 1-7 (Specialization).
The modules ANT-Gr 1-7 and ANT-Ver 1-7 give 9 credit points each (together therefore 18 LP) and consist again in each case of 2 seminars with once 4 credit points, if you do not furnish an examination achievement, and once 5 credit points, if you furnish an examination achievement (in the form of a term paper).
Please note that courses are not offered in every basic or advanced area every semester.

Can I take two different courses over 2 semesters instead of one introduction + one specialization?

Do the introductions (3) have to match the specialization (8)?

As a major student, you should attend 2 seminars in the Ant-Gr 1-7 module over the first two semesters (see Module Handbook and Module Tables).
You can decide if you want to choose one of the subfields already and put a focus on that, or choose 2 courses from different areas.
Similarly, the two seminars for the module ANT-Ver 1-7, which are recommended in the major in the 3rd and 4th semesters. It can only happen here that prior knowledge is desired.
Students who do not wish to specialize may also take ANT-GR courses in the 3rd and 4th semesters as an alternative to ANT-VER modules, which can be credited as ANT-VER equivalent
Details and further information on the modules ANT-Gr. 1-7 and ANT-Ver. 1-7 can be found in the module manual and the module tables in the download area of the department homepage and in the curriculum.

Can surplus ECTS earned in ANT-Gr 1-7 courses be credited in the QUALI module?

(E.g. because I am very interested in a topic and I have already achieved the required points in the two modules).

Yes, seminars from Ethnology can be credited here.

Performance records and gradings

Information on the orientation and intermediate examination

In addition to the Bachelor's examination, there are two further examinations in the BA program, firstly the orientation examination and secondly the intermediate examination. These are not exams per se, but certain seminars must be taken and successfully completed by a certain date and the performance records must be submitted to the examination office of the Faculty of Humanities (Keplerstraße 2). The system of the Examination Office automatically generates the receipts for the successfully completed examinations after the certificates of achievement have been received.
The orientation exam should be taken after the 2nd semester/ 1st year of study.
- This means that in the major subject, according to the examination regulations of 2012, the examination results of modules 1, 2, 3 and 4 must be proven (see examination regulations of 2012).
- According to the new examination regulations of 2020, the modules EIN, LES-1 and METH 1 must be proven in the major subject for the orientation examination and the modules EIN and LES-1 must be proven for the minor subject (see examination regulations of 2020).
- The orientation exam must be proven no later than the completion of the 3rd semester.
The intermediate examination should be taken after the 4th semester/ 2nd year of study. This means that in the major subject according to the examination regulations of 2012, the examination achievements of modules 5, 6, 7 and 8 must be proven in addition to the courses for the orientation examination (see examination regulations of 2012).
- According to the new examination regulations of 2020, the intermediate examination in the major subject consists of the orientation examination and the modules METH 2, ANT-AKT and KRITIK and in the minor subject of the modules METH 1and KLA (see examination regulations of 2020)..
- The intermediate examination must be taken after completion of the 6th semester at the latest, otherwise the examination entitlement for the subject Ethnology expires.
If this deadline is missed, a request for extension must be made!
If you are blocked from re-registration due to missing transcripts: please report to the student advisor's office and to the examination office.

Office hours

Where can I find the office hours of the lecturers?

The office hours of the lecturers can be found on their profile pages on our homepage under Members.

How do I book an office hour consultation?

Depending on the respective lecturer, office hours are booked differently (online via the system booked, doodle, via list posting in the institute or via e-mail). Please also check the profile pages of the lecturers on our homepage!

Organising your MA studies

How long is the programme?

The duration of the programme is 4 semesters - two years

Do I have to finish within two years?

Müssen die Einführungen (3) zu den Vertiefungen (8) passen?

If your studies get delayed you can take extra time, but you should consult with us

How do I register for courses (seminars and lectures)?

Now click on „5 Philosophische Fakultät“ (this is the faculty in which Ethnology is located) and you will see a list of subjects.

The years 2012 and 2020 stand for the respective examination regulations according to which you are studying. If you started your Ethnology studies in the winter semester 2020/2021, you will study according to the new examination regulations from 2020 and choose your courses from the corresponding course offer.

Is the course registration in Alma automatically the exam registration?

Is it a taught programme?

Yes, it is a taught programme, you have to attend courses. In the third semester you conduct a study project - inside or outside of Germany.