Information for students with regard to the corona virus / COVID-19
Due to the uncertain circumstances we would like to inform our current but also future students about how we deal with the current situation. Please make sure to also keep yourself updated on the University’s Homepage, other media and the RKI (Robert-Koch Institute, which is the authoritative health institution that also advises the federal government in Germany). Furthermore, the Institute of Political Science will inform you via its landing page.
General information:
The entire summer term 2020 takes place online. And also in the winter term 2020/2021 there will be no physical seminars or lectures.
We will inform you about any possible further postponements or cancellations as soon as we are informed ourselves.
At the moment, the access to all libraries as well as the Institute of Political Science is restricted. For general and current information please take a look at the website of the library and the library of the Institute of Political Science.
General Measures and Protection
Staff and students are asked to stick to the general hygienic security advice (wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, keep a distance to others of at least 1.50 m or 6 ft, etc.). The following link provides extensive information on individual behavior and non-pharmaceutical protection measures issued by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC):
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/online-micro-learning-activities-on-COVID-19
FAQ regarding CoViD-19 and Tübingen University / CEMPS:
- Should I /Can I still apply for the CMEPS Master’s Program?
Yes, the winter term starts in September but teaching will take place online. The application deadline remains 15th May. If you cannot complete your documents due to problems caused by the Corona Crisis in your country and some of your documents are still lacking, please make sure to note this accordingly and explain what is missing and why. We will work out feasible solutions.
At any rate, please do submit your online application form before the deadline – the sooner the better! – and try to also submit your hard copies in time to the extent that you can complete them. Rather submit something than nothing, provided you make the above mentioned statements.
- Can I finish my Master’s degree, and if so: how?
Theses submission: Until now, your Master’s thesis still has to be submitted through the School of Economics and Social Sciences’ Examination office (German: “Prüfungsamt”; person in charge: Mr. Löser; at least 2 hard copies must be submitted by the deadline, along with an electronic version).
The office has been asked to immediately provide instructions on how to submit theses electronically and via regular post, and to communicate these avenues on their own website. Additionally (though not alternatively!), and in particular if you have a tight schedule for graduation, you may also submit an electronic copy to Ms. Wagner (mena@ifp.uni-tuebingen.de), but do make sure that the Examinations Office receives your thesis no later than us at the institute.
Oral exams: Since we always hold oral exams online, nothing will change here categorically, and thus no delays should occur. The only difference now is that each person (candidate, examiner 1, examiner 2/reader) needs to be at different locations. Oral exams are, as usual, held via skype/DFN/zoom.
- Are office hours taking place?
Yes, but physical meetings are prohibited. Thus, if you wish to consult with your instructors and/or supervisors, please note the online office hours. Office hours take place either via phone, skype, zoom or e-mail and should be scheduled with your instructor.
Professor Schlumberger’s online office hours take place fridays from 14:00 to 15:30. He will be available by telephone and via skype/zoom, etc.
For Professor Schlumberger, please contact, and register with, Ms. Stephanie Wagner at mena@ifp.uni-tuebingen.de.
Also, do make use of e-mail correspondence if you have concrete questions. We will answer these as quickly as possible under current conditions.
- Will the exchange term in Cairo take place (and what if not)?
As of now, a physical exchange with african countires is prohibited. This applies also to the exchange term with cairo which was scheduled to start in September.
Since the exchange with our partners at AUC can not take place, there are various alternative ways how the program can still be completed, even under those restricted conditions. We will inform those concerned asap.
- How can I register at the students’ secretariat (registrar) when the rules are that I have to so that in person?
The student secretariat has moved all its services to online. The number of central telephone services has been increased to cater to the increasing number of queries, but you are advised to only use them in cases where personal counselling is necessary, otherwise rely on e-mail correspondence.
We are currently in negotiations with the student secretariat (registrar) and working on finding a solution in case travel bans or other impediments should remain in place until the time you need to register. We will communicate any such solution on this page as soon as possible.
In case your questions cannot be answered by staff there, let us know by getting in touch with your CMEPS contact persons (Mr. Tobias Axmann; Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad; Ms. Stephanie Wagner).
Please let us know if you feel this list is incomplete and further Q&A should be added – we will do our best to keep you abreast and inform you as comprehensively as possible at all times, as well as to keep transparency at a maximum.
Useful Links:
Tübingen University’s Medical Service’s information and news in relation to the effects the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has on activities at Tübingen University:
Information for incoming students to Tübingen on the situation in town and on campus:
Information for outgoing Tübingen students who are planning to spend time abroad (unfortunately, this site is in German only – we have made the respective unit aware of this):
General news from Tübingen, including on Corona, is provided in Arabic, Dari, English and German here:
http://tunewsinternational.com
Info on how many patients infected with the SARS CoV-2 virus are currently treated at Tübingen’s University Hospital:
https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/en-de/hinweise-corona-virus/corona-live-ticker