The following document is the English translation of the German Program and Exam Regulations for the Bachelor in International Business. It serves the purpose of giving international students the opportunity to read important regulations in the language of the study program.
Legally binding for all questions of dispute is the German version.
[LOGO] Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm
Issue / Year Number of Pages Ref. No.
35.2013 1–9 6032.04
Student Office
12.12.2013
Official Gazette of the
Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm
Issued on behalf of the President by Department 4 of the Central University Administration, Prinzregentenufer 41, 90489 Nürnberg, Phone +49-(0)911-58 80-43 29
Postal Address: Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm Student Office / Studienbüro
Postfach, 90121 Nuremberg E-Mail: [email protected]
Program and Examination Regulations for the International Business Bachelor’s Degree Program
at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (SPO-IB) Dated: December 10, 2013
Pursuant to Section 13(1)(2), Section 58(1), Section 61(2), Section 61(8)(2) and Section 66(1)(1) of the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHSchG) of May 23, 2006 (Law and Ordinance Gazette [GVBI] p. 245) last amended on May 7, 2013 (Law and Ordinance Gazette [GVBI] p. 251), the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm adopts the following regulations:
Section 1
Purpose of the Program and Examination Regulations
The present Program and Examination Regulations (SPO) are intended to implement and supplement the respective versions of the General Examination Regulation Guidelines for Universities of Applied Sciences in Bavaria of October 17, 2001 (Law and Ordinance Gazette [GVBI] p. 686) and the General Examination Regulations of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm of October 23, 2010 (Official Gazette of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm 2010, Issue 35; www.th-nuernberg.de), last amended on August 5, 2013 (Official Gazette of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, Issue 23; www.th-nuernberg.de) .
Section 2
Objectives of the Program
(1) The objective of the degree program is to impart academically founded, application-oriented business administrative knowledge—focused on international contexts—and to prepare students to assume management tasks and responsibilities in globally-oriented companies and organizations both domestically and abroad or to work as entrepreneurs in internationally-oriented fields or environments.
(2) Based on the principle concepts of business administration, the degree program’s areas of specialization allow graduates to gain in-depth and intensive knowledge of certain business fields without limiting them to specific professional positions in the future.
(3) In addition to imparting specialized knowledge, the degree program fosters personal development in particular, intercultural management and methodological competences as well as key skills for the market. Graduates of the program are able to meet the special demands found in international and intercultural settings. At the same time, they are able to critically assess the effects of globalization.
(4) The study program leads to a professional qualification as a business administrator.
Section 3
Requirements for Admission to the Degree Program, Admission to Advanced Semesters
(1) In addition to the general qualifications, the University requires proof of specific skills as an entrance requirement. This proof must be provided in accordance with the Aptitude Assessment Regulations for the International Business Degree Program of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm from June 25, 1998 (Official Gazette of the Bavarian State Ministries of Education & Culture and Science, Research & Art [KWMBl] II p. 1075; Bavarian Compilation of Laws [BayRS] 221041.0551-K).
(2) Admission to the bachelor’s degree program shall be denied, if a student or potential student has failed to meet the requirements or obtain a Bachelor’s degree in the same or an equivalent degree program.
(3) If the admission must be denied, this decision must be made promptly, reasons and legal information must be provided, and the student must be informed.
Section 4
Standard Duration and Structure of the Program
(1) The standard duration of the study program is seven semesters including the internship semester and the semester abroad. The internship semester is conducted during the fourth semester and the semester abroad during the fifth semester. The language of instruction (with the exception of the Business Language courses) is English.
(2) The program has a modular structure and consists of three parts: The first part comprises Modules 1 – 10; the second part, modules 11 and 12; and the third part, modules 13 – 26. Each module consists of various courses whose contents and timetables are specifically designed around each other.
(3) Students may specialize in a particular area by earning a minimum of 14 credits from elective courses, by spending their internship semester in the respective field, and by examining a topic from the chosen area of specialization in their Bachelor’s Thesis. If these requirements are
fulfilled, students may choose to have their area of specialization (“career focus”) listed on their final official transcript upon request (see Section 13(3) of the current Regulations). Courses carried out in English language must be given priority when selecting electives for an area of specialization.
Section 5 Internship Semester
(1) The internship semester has a practical part and supplemental courses.
(2) The practical part comprises at least 20 weeks (full time) and must be completed in a company or organization abroad. The Academic Internship Coordinator shall decide on exceptions upon request.
(3) The form and organization of the supplemental course(s) to the internship semester are based on the attached Module Overview and from the Module Handbook.
(4) The internship semester is considered successfully completed, if the practical part • results in proof of the required length of the internship from the organization or
company that provided the internship; this proof must be in the form of a certificate that is in accordance with the template provided by the Technische Hochschule Georg Simon Ohm, and
• receives a rating of “passed” from the Academic Internship Coordinator on the internship report,
and if all performance evaluations that were required from the supplemental course(s) were passed.
Section 6 Semester Abroad
(1) The semester abroad should be completed at a foreign university, preferably at one of the partner universities of the Technische Hochschule Georg Simon Ohm. The Examinations Board decides on any exceptions.
(2) At least 21 credits or 12 SWS—if the ECTS system is not applicable—of degree-specific electives as well as four credits or 4 SWS—if the ECTS system is not applicable—of required general electives must be completed. Only under exceptional circumstances (e.g. failure of a course taken abroad) may the Examinations Board decide upon request that degree-specific courses with an equivalent number of credits or SWS may be completed at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm.
(3) The courses from the semester abroad (Module 11.2 and 11.3) are included in the transcript, but the exam grades from these courses are not included in the calculation of the final grade point average.
(4) Courses that are elements of Module 20 + 21 (International Business Administration I and II) or Module 24 (Management) and that are completed at a foreign university, may be calculated towards a semester abroad, but may not replace the courses in Modules 20, 21, and 24. These courses must be completed at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm.
Section 7 Bachelor’s Thesis
(1) Registration for the Bachelor’s Thesis requires that the practical part of the internship semester has been completed successfully and a minimum of 140 credits has been earned. Notwithstanding the pre-conditions defined in Line 1, the Examinations Board may accept registration for the Bachelor’s Thesis upon request, if there are special circumstances that are beyond the control of the student.
(2) The Bachelor’s Thesis must address an international economic topic and be in English language. The normal time period for preparing and writing a Bachelor’s Thesis is 5 months. (3) Only a professor from the Department of Business Administration may be appointed as first
examiner.
(4) The Bachelor’s Thesis must be submitted to the Student Office in two bound copies in addition to a digital version.
Section 8
Curriculum, Module Handbook, and Course Catalogue
(1) The course sequence within the degree program follows the curriculum. The curriculum includes information about the scheduling of the courses and modules. It is published by the University and intended as a recommendation for students.
(2) The Module Handbook, which is also published by the University, contains, in particular, regulations and information about
– the objectives and contents of the courses and modules the sequential order of the compulsory and elective modules,
– the course type,
– the objectives and contents of the internship semester and the supplementary courses as well as their type and organization,
– detailed provisions for the modules to be completed during the semester abroad, – the type of academic assessment,
– the language of instruction in the courses and for exams.
(3) To ensure the availability and quality of the courses and to inform students, the Faculty Council prepares a Course Catalogue, which is not part of the Program and Examination Regulations. The Course Catalogue shall be adopted by the Faculty Council and must be publicly
announced to the University community. New regulations must be published at the latest by the beginning of the lecture period of the semester in which they first enter into effect.
(4) The University is not obligated to offer any and all of the required elective modules. Likewise, the University is not obligated to offer such courses—with the exception of required
(compulsory) courses, if the minimum number of participants is not reached.
Section 9
Types of Modules and Assessments
(1) Based on the nature, content, and level of training, a distinction is made between basic and advanced modules, modules completed abroad, internship modules, and the Bachelor’s Thesis module. Basic modules are the modules 1-10 and modules completed abroad and the internship module are modules 11-12. The advanced modules are modules 13-25. The Bachelor’s Thesis module is module 26.
(2) All modules are either required (compulsory), elective, or facultative modules:
• Required (compulsory) modules are program modules that are mandatory for all students. • Elective modules are program modules that are offered individually or in groups from which
students may to choose. Each student must select modules from the elective modules in accordance with the regulations in these Program and Examination Regulations. The chosen modules are subsequently treated like required (compulsory) modules.
• Facultative modules are completely voluntary modules that are not mandatory for reaching the objectives of the program and are not included in the curriculum.
(3) The compulsory and elective modules, their respective number of hours and credits as well as the course and assessment types, as well as any possible weights associated with parts of the final grade/mark for each course are specified in the Appendix. Supplementary information on the elective modules is provided in the Curriculum.
(4) In the field of languages, students must take the “Business Language I” module plus another language listed in the Curriculum as “Business Language II”. Students from abroad whose native language is English may choose any language offered as “Business
Language I” with the exception of “Business English”, provided that they can furnish proof of at least A1 level of proficiency in the chosen language at the time of enrollment. Students from abroad must take German as their second foreign language. If they have advanced German language skills (at least B2 level of proficiency upon enrollment), they must select a language other than German. In this situation, the same regulations apply as for native English-speaking foreign students. For all business languages, with the exception of English, an entrance examination is required. Any exceptions are subject to approval by the
Examinations Board. Credits will be awarded only for foreign language courses passed at B1 level or higher.
(5) Generally, students are required to attend courses conducted in English and to write their examinations in English. Only in exceptional cases and with prior approval by the Examinations Board, may an equivalent course held in German language be attended and the examination be written in German.
(6) For successfully completed modules, students will be awarded the credits specified in the Appendix hereto. Credits are awarded based on the European Credit Transfer and
Accumulation System (ECTS). No credits are awarded towards the degree for facultative modules.
Section 10 Deadlines
(1) The examination for module 1 must be taken by the end of the first semester. If a student fails to comply with this deadline due to reasons within the student’s control, then the examination will be recorded as having been taken once and failed.
(2) The examinations for modules 2 to 7 must be taken by the end of the second semester. The examinations for modules 8 to 10 must be taken by the end of the third semester. If a student fails to comply with these deadlines due to reasons within the student’s control, then the examinations will be recorded as having been taken once and failed.
(3) The internship semester and the semester abroad may not occur prior to the fourth semester. Upon request, the Examinations Board may permit exceptions in cases of serious personal circumstances.
(4) Students will only be permitted to take the examinations for modules 20, 21, and 24, if they have successfully passed the elective subjects from the semester abroad and the practical part of the internship semester.
Section 11
Examination Registration, Binding Character, Withdrawal from Examinations (1) Admissions to examinations require a registration in correct form and in a timely manner. (2) Examination registrations for required (compulsory) and elective subjects are binding.
(3) Withdrawals are possible without stating a reason within the deadlines set by the Examinations Board and published on the University’s bulletin board. After the deadline has expired,
Section 12
Composition of Module Grades and Overall Examination Result
(1) If a module examination is composed of multiple assessment types, the module grade is calculated from the weighted average of the grades awarded for each respective assessment part (see Appendix). Finally, the grade is weighted according to the number of credits for the module/course.
(2) A minimum grade of “sufficient” (ausreichend) must be achieved on each assessment within a module.
(3) To allow for a differentiated assessment of the students’ academic achievements, full marks may be decreased or increased by 0.3, whereby the marks 0.7, 4.3, 4.7 and 5.3 are not admissible. (4) Certain modules are not included in the calculation of the final grade point average (see
Appendix). Other modules and the Bachelor’s Thesis contribute to the final grade point average for the degree. In this calculation, the modules are weighted according to their respective number of credits. Thereafter, the arithmetic mean is calculated and the result is rounded to one decimal place.
(5) On the final official transcript, the final grades obtained in the modules and the Bachelor’s Thesis will be detailed by indicating the respective underlying marks with one decimal place in
parentheses.
Section 13
Bachelor Certificate, Diploma Supplement, and Academic Degree
(1) For the successful completion of the Bachelor examination, the University will issue Bachelor Certificates in German and English corresponding to the samples exhibited at the Student Office. In addition to the final official transcript, a Diploma Supplement will be issued.
(2) Business-related elective courses or modules that have been completed abroad will appear under their original course title with German translation and indication of the foreign university’s name on the final official transcript.
(3) Students may choose to have their particular area of specialization (“career focus”) mentioned on their Bachelor Certificate upon request. Such a mention requires that the student has earned a minimum of 14 credits from specialty-related courses, has spent the internship semester in the respective field and has addressed a topic from the chosen area of specialization in his or her Bachelor’s Thesis.
(4) Upon successful completion of the degree program, graduates will be awarded the academic degree of “Bachelor of Arts” (abbreviated “B.A.”).
(5) For the award of the academic degree, the University will issue Diplomas in German and English corresponding to the samples exhibited at the Student Office.
Section 14 Examinations Board
(1) A joint Examinations Board will be established for the International Business Bachelor’s Degree Program and the Master’s Degree Programs in International Finance and Economics and in International Marketing.
Section 15
Entry Into Force, Transitional Regulations
(1) The present Program and Examination Regulations entered into force on October 1st, 2013. They apply to all students who enroll for this program after the 2013 summer semester. (2) They will also apply to all students who enrolled in this program prior to the 2013/14 winter
semester, but have been granted a leave of absence or have interrupted their studies and, upon resuming their studies are confronted with a curriculum that differs from their original program curriculum.
(3) Students of the International Business Bachelor’s Degree Program at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm to whom the present regulations do not apply may submit a request within the first four weeks of a semester to be admitted to study under the present Program and Examination Regulations. This process is only valid provided that the student has not been dismissed from the University on the grounds of a conclusively failed final examination under the previous Program and Examination Regulations.
(4) Students to whom the present Program and Examination Regulations are not applicable pursuant to subsections 1 to 3 above will continue their studies under the previous Program and
Examination Regulations for the International Business Bachelor’s Degree Program at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm of August 20, 2010 (Official Gazette of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm 2010, Issue 29; www.th-nuernberg.de); in all other cases, the previous Regulations cease to be in force.
Issued on the grounds of the resolution adopted by the Senate of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm on November 19, 2013 and the authorization granted by the President of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simonn Ohm as legal supervisor on December 10, 2013.
Nuremberg, December 10, 2013
Prof. Dr. Michael Braun President
The present Regulations were published in the Official Gazette of the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm 2013, Issue 35, www.th-nuernberg.de. Their publication was announced on the University’s bulletin board on December 12, 2013.
Appendix: Overview of Modules in the International Business Bachelor’s Degree Program at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Nr. Module Ty pe 1) Cour se Nr.
Course Title Cour
se Type
SW S
Course Assessments 2), 3) ECTS Additional
Regulations
1
Wirtschaftsmathematik/
Business Mathematics B 1
Wirtschaftsmathematik / Business
Mathematics SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5
2
Grundlagen der Betriebswirt- schaftslehre / Foundations of Business Administration
B 2
Grundlagen der Betriebswirtschaftslehre/
Foundations of Business Administration SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5
3
Buchführung und Bilanzierung
/ Financial Accounting
B 3
Buchführung und Bilanzierung / Financial
Accounting SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5
4
Kosten- und Leistungsrech-
nung / Cost Accounting B 4
Kosten- und Leistungsrechnung /
Cost Accounting SU 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2)
5 5 Statistik / Statistics B 5 Betriebsstatistik / Business Statistics SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3)
5 6 Informatik /Informatics B 6
Einführung in die Wirtschaftsinformatik /
Introduction to Business Informatics SU/Ü 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3)
5 7
Wirtschaftsprivatrecht /
Business Law B 7
Wirtschaftsprivatrecht / Business Law
SU 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3)
5
8
Grundlagen des wissenschaft- lichen Arbeitens/ Basic Study Techniques
B
8.1
Präsentations- und Kommunikationstech- niken / Presentation and Communication Techniques Ü 2 LN 2) 5 Not included in final grade, TN 8.2
Technik des wissenschaftlichen Arbei-
tens/ Scientific Methods and Research S 2
9 Wirtschaftssprache I/ Business Language I B 9.1 Wirtschaftssprache / Business Language Ia S/Ü 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3) 5)
4 9.2
Wirtschaftssprache /
Business Language Ib S/Ü 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3)
4
10
Wirtschaftssprache II/
Business Language II B
10.1
Wirtschaftssprache / Business Language
IIa S/Ü 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3) 5)
4 10.2
Wirtschaftssprache /
Business Language IIb S/Ü 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2)
4
11
Auslandssemester/ Study
Abroad A
11.1
Interkulturelle Kommunikation / Intercul-
tural Communication S/Ü 2
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2)
3 11.2
Fachwissenschaftliche Wahlpflichtfächer im Ausland / Business Electives Abroad
V, S, SU min . 6) 21 Not included in final grade 11.3 Allgemeinwissensch. Wahlpflichtfächer im Ausland / General Electives Abroad
V, S, SU 4 6) 4 Not included in final grade
Nr. Module Type
1) Cour
se
Course Title Course
Type
SWS Course Assessments 2), 3) ECTS Additional
Regulations 12 Praxissemester /
Internship
P 12.1 Praktisches Studiensemester / Internship 29
12.2 Praxisbegleitende Lehrveranstaltungen /
Internship Seminar S 1 Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 1 Pass/fail, TN
13 Volkswirtschaftslehre I/
Economics I V 13 Makroökonomie / Macroeconomics SU 6 schrP, LN 8 3:1 4)
14 Volkswirtschaftslehre II/
Economics II V 14 Mikroökonomie / Microeconomics SU 6 schrP, LN 8 3:1 4)
15
Operations- und Umweltman- agement / Operations and Environmental Management
V
15.1 Fertigungswirtschaft /
Operations Management SU/S 2
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5 15.2 Umweltorientierte Unternehmensführung /
Environmental Management in Business SU/S 2 TN
16 Marketing / Marketing V 16 Marketing / Marketing SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5
17 Personalwirtschaft/
Personnel Management V 17
Personalwirtschaft /
Personnel Management SU 4 schrP, LN 5 1:1 4)
18 Finanz- und Investitionswirt- schaft/Finance, Investment and Capital Budgeting
V 18 Finanz- und Investitionswirtschaft /
Finance, Investment & Capital Budgeting SU/S 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 5
19 International Business Law V 19 Internationales Wirtschaftsrecht /
International Business Law SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA
2) 6
20
Internationale BWL I /
International Business Admin- istration I
V
20.1 Internationales Finanzmanagement /
International Financial Management SU/S 2
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 7 20.2 Internationales Marketing mit Fallstudien /
International Marketing with Cases SU 2
21
Internationale BWL II / International Business Admin- istration II
V
21.1
Internationale Rechnungslegung und Be- steuerung / International Accounting and Taxation
SU 2
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 7 21.2
Fallstudien in Internationaler Betriebswirt- schaft / Case Studies in International Bu- siness SU 2 22 Schwerpunktbezogene Wahl- pflichtmodul I/ Focus Electives I V 22 Schwerpunktbezogenes Wahlpflichtmodul I/
Focus Electives I SU 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 3) 7
23 Schwerpunktbezogene Wahl- pflichtmodul II/ Focus Electives II V 23 Schwerpunktbezogenes Wahlpflichtmodul II/ Focus Electives II
10 /
Nr. Module Type
1) Cour
se
Course Title Course
Type
SWS Course Assessments 2), 3) ECTS Additional
Regulations
24 Unternehmensführung /
Management V
24.1 Strategische Unternehmensführung /
Strategic Management SU 4
schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 7 24.2
Internationale Unternehmensführung mit Fallstudien / International Management with Cases
SU 2
25 Projektarbeit /
Project Work V 25 Projektarbeit / Project Work S 4 schrP,/ Ref,/ Kol,/ StA 2) 6 TN
26 Bachelorarbeit /
Bachelor’s Thesis BA
26.1 Bachelorarbeit / Bachelor’s Thesis 12
26.2 Bachelorseminar / Bachelor Seminar S 1 Ref (20-30),/ Kol 7) 1 Pass/fail, TN
Footnotes:
1 Module type: A = Modules during Study Abroad, B = Foundations Module, BA = Bachelor’s Thesis, P = Internship Module, V = Advanced Module
2 The type of examination assessment is defined by the Departmental Committee (Fakultätsrat) in the Module Handbook. If there are multiple types of assessment types listed,
each assessment much be passed, individually.
3 If a module is composed of multiple courses that are assessed separately, the grades/marks earned for each course are weighted according to the number of ECTS
associated with each respective course. The grade/mark for the module is the arithmetic mean of the weighted grades/marks that is rounded to one decimal place.
4 Grade/mark weight ratio: schrP : LN(Ref/Kol/StA)
5 The successful completion of language part ‘a’ is the prerequisite for the participation in the language part ‘b’. 6 Dependent on the types of examinations of the respective university.
7 The grade/mark is proportionally reflected in the grade/mark of the Bachelor’s Thesis according to the number of credits.
Abbreviations:
Kol Kolloquium (seminar)
LN studienbegleitender Leistungsnachweis (semester assessment)
LP Leistungspunkt (credit) Ref Referat (presentation)
S Seminar
schrP schriftliche Prüfung (written examination) StA Studienarbeit research project)
SWS Semesterwochenstunden (weekly hours per semester) SU Seminaristicher Unterricht (seminar-style lecture) TN Teilnahmeverpflichtung (mandatory attendance) Ü Übung (exercise/recitation)
V Vorlesung (lecture)
