Examination regulations for the Joint Master’s Programme Environmental Policy and
Planning of the Department of Politics and Social Sciences at the Freie Universität Berlin
and the Faculty Planning Building Environment at the Technische Universität Berlin
Preamble
On the basis of Section 74 of the law regulating higher education institutions in Berlin (Berlin
Higher Education Act – BerlHG) in the version of the publication of the amended version of 26
July 2011 (Law and Ordinance Gazette [GVBl] p. 378) in conjunction with Section 14 paragraph
1 nor. 2 of the Partial University Constitution (Trial version) of the Freie Universität Berlin of 27
October 1998 (FU Mitteilungen [Gazette of the Freie Universität Berlin] 24/1998) and Section 18
paragraph 1 no. 1 of the University Constitution of the Technische Universität Berlin (Amtliches
Mitteilungsblatt [Official Gazette] of the Technical University Berlin 2/2006), the Joint Committee
for the Joint Master’s Programme Environmental Policy and Planning of the Department of
Politics and Social Sciences at the Freie Universität Berlin and the Faculty Planning Building
Environment at the Technische Universität Berlin issued the following study regulations for the
Joint Master’s Programme Environmental Policy and Planning on 27 May 2013:1
Contents
Section 1 Area of application
Section 2 Examination committee
Section 3 Usual study duration
Section 4 Scope of attainment
Section 5 Master’s thesis
Section 6 Final degree
Section 7 Coming into effect
Annex 1:
Attainments, admission requirements, attendance obligation and credit points
1
The executive board of the Freie Universität Berlin confirmed these regulations on 26 August 2013. The executive board of the
Technische Universität Berlin confirmed these regulations on 20 August 2013.
Section 1
Area of application
These regulations supplement the Framework study and examination regulations of the Freie
Universität Berlin (RSPO) and the regulations applying to the general examination procedure in
Bachelor and Master’s programmes at the Technische Universität Berlin (AllgPO) and apply to
the requirements and procedures for examination attainments in the Joint Master’s programme
Environmental Policy and Planning at the Freie Universität Berlin and the Faculty Planning
Building Environment at the Technische Universität Berlin (Master’s programme).
Section 2
Examination committee
The joint committee of the Department of Politics and Social Sciences at the Freie Universität
Berlin and the Faculty Planning Building Environment at the Technische Universität Berlin
appoints an examination committee. The examination committee is responsible for the
organisation of the examinations and other tasks listed in the RSPO for examination matters at
the Freie Universität Berlin and the organisation of the examinations and other tasks listed in
the AllgPO for examination matters at the Technische Universität Berlin. In the case of
contradictory regulations, the regulations at the university where the student is registered will
apply.
Section 3
Usual period of study
The usual period of study is four semesters.
Section 4
Scope of attainments
(1) A total of 120 credit points (CP) must be attained in the Master’s programme of which
(a) 90 CP for the modules – of which 50 CP in the compulsory area, 30 CP in the
compulsory elective area and 10 CP in the elective area in accordance with Section 4 of
the study regulations and
(b) 30 CP for the Master’s thesis and the accompanying colloquium.
(2) Information on the examination attainment to be achieved in the course of individual
modules, the admission requirements to the individual modules, information on the obligation to
attend the teaching and learning units regularly and the credit points allotted to each module
can be found in Annex 1. For the modules which may be selected in accordance with Section 4
paragraph 4 of the study regulations, students are referred to the relevant examination
regulations.
Section 5
Master’s thesis
(1) The Master’s thesis is intended to demonstrate that the student is capable of working
independently on an issue in the field of Environmental Policy and Planning using scientific
methods and to present the findings appropriately in writing.
(2) Students are admitted to the Master’s thesis on application when they
1. have been recently registered on the Master’s programme at the Freie Universität
Berlin or at the Technische Universität Berlin
and
2. have successfully completed all modules in the compulsory area comprising a total of
50 CP in accordance with Section 4 paragraph 2 of the study regulations.
(3) The application for admittance to the Master’s thesis must include proof of the fulfilment of
the conditions in accordance with paragraph 2 as well as written confirmation by an authorised
examiner in the Master’s programme of his/her willingness to take on the supervision of the
Master’s thesis. The relevant examination committee will decide on the application. Students
have the opportunity to suggest their own topic; the right to take this topic is not guaranteed.
(4) The Master’s thesis must be submitted within 23 weeks.
(5) The date for the beginning of work on the master’s thesis is the date on which the topic was
issued by the examination committee. The topic and scope of work must be such that the thesis
can be completed within the time permitted. Three bound copies of the master’s thesis are to be
submitted by the completion deadline. Issue of the topic and submission of the Master’s thesis
must be recorded. When they submit their thesis, students must also confirm in writing that they
have written the thesis personally and independently and have used no aids other than the
sources and aids listed.
(6) The master’s thesis should comprise approx. 60 to 80 pages with approx. 18,000 to 25,000
words including footnotes and bibliography.
(7) The master’s thesis is to be evaluated by two authorised examiners. The assessments
should be available to the examination committee within four weeks after the thesis was
submitted. The grade of the master’s thesis is the arithmetic average of the two individual
marks.
(8) If the master’s thesis has not reached at least the grade “sufficient” (4.0) it may be retaken
once. Retaking the thesis to improve the grade is not possible.
Section 6
Final degree
(1) The prerequisite for the award of the final degree is proof of the attainments required in
accordance with Section 4 paragraph 1 of these regulations in conjunction with Section 4 of the
study regulations. The award of the final degree is not possible if the student has irrevocably
failed to achieve the required attainment or has irrevocably failed the examination or is in a
pending examination procedure at another university in the same programme of studies, the
same subject or in a module which is identical to or comparable with a module to be taken in the
Master’s programme.
(2) The application for confirmation of the final degree must include proof of the fulfilment of the
requirements according to paragraph 1 clause 1 and a statement that none of the cases
according to paragraph 1 clause 2 applies to the applicant. The relevant examination committee
will decide on the application.
(3) Students who have passed the examinations receive a report and a certificate as well as a
diploma supplement (in English and German). English translations of the report and certificate
will also be issued on application. A further diploma supplement with information on individual
modules and their parts (transcript) will also be issued.
Section 7
Coming into effect
These regulations come into effect on the day after their publication in the FU Mitteilung
[Gazette of the Freie Universität Berlin] and the Amtliche Mitteilungsblatt [Official Gazette] of the
Technische Universität Berlin.
Annex 1:
Attainments, admission requirements, attendance obligation and credit points
Explanations:
The following gives information about each module for the Master’s programme, unless other
regulations are referred to:
-
Admission requirements for each module
-
The examination forms
-
Regular attendance obligation
-
Credit points allocated to each module.
Where obligatory regular attendance at the teaching and learning units is stipulated in the
following, it is a requirement for the attainment of the credit points for each module alongside
active participation in the learning and teaching units and successful completion of the
examination. Regular attendance entails at least 85% attendance at the learning and teaching
units in the module for which attendance is obligatory. If regular attendance at a module’s
learning and teaching units is not obligatory, it is nevertheless strongly recommended. Lecturers
may not specify obligatory attendance for learning and teaching units if participation in these is
merely recommended in the following.
The credit points allotted to a module are determined by the total number of study hours
estimated to be necessary to complete the module successfully. This includes both hours of
attendance and phases of individual study (preparation and follow-up, examination preparation
etc.). One credit point is equivalent to approximately 30 hours.
The module examination must be taken for each module where an examination is scheduled..
The module examination must be related to the module’s qualification aims and tests a sample
of these aims. The examination scope is limited to the amount necessary to do this. In modules
where alternative forms of examination are scheduled, the lecturer responsible for the module
must specify the examination form for each semester at the latest at the first teaching unit.
Credit points are awarded for the successful completion of the whole module – after regular
active participation at learning and teaching units and successful completion of the module
examination. For modules where no examination is required, active participation and regular
attendance at the teaching and learning units are the prerequisites for the award of the credit
points allotted to the module.
Information on contents and qualification aims, module teaching and learning units, the student
workload estimated as necessary to complete the module successfully, forms of active
participation, the usual module duration and the frequency with which it is offered may be found
in the Study Regulations of the Master’s programme.
Compulsory area
Module: Introduction to Environmental Policy
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Attendance recommended
Lecture
Presentation (approx. 20 minutes)
Seminar
Attendance recommended
Credit points: 10 LP
Module: Introduction to Environmental Planning
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Attendance recommended
Lecture
Written examination (90 minutes)
Seminar
Attendance recommended
Credit points: 10 LP
Module: Environmental Policy: Theory, Methods and Projects
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Seminar
Attendance obligatory
yes
Seminar
Project report (approx. 8,000 words)
Project seminar
yes
yes
Credit points: 15 LP
Module: Project in Environmental Planning
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Project
Credit points: 15 LP
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Project report (approx. 6,000 words); the
module examination will not be graded in
detail
Attendance recommended
Compulsory elective area
Module: International Comparative Environment-, Climate- and Energy Policy
Admission requirements: successful completion of the modules: “Introduction to Environmental Policy”,
“Introduction to Environmental Planning”, “Environmental Policy: Theory, Methods and Projects” und
“Project in Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Seminar
Seminar
Term paper (approx. 6,000 words)
yes
yes
Credit points: 10 CP
Module: Environment, Climate and Energy Governance
Admission requirements: successful completion of the modules: “Introduction to Environmental Policy”,
“Introduction to Environmental Planning”, “Environmental Policy: Theory, Methods and Projects” und
“Project in Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Seminar
Seminar
Term paper (approx. 6,000 words)
yes
yes
Credit points: 10 CP
Module: Vulnerability, Resilience and Catastrophe
Admission requirements: successful completion of the modules: “Introduction to Environmental Policy”,
“Introduction to Environmental Planning”, “Environmental Policy: Theory, Methods and Projects” und
“Project in Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Seminar
Seminar
Term paper (approx. 6,000 words)
yes
yes
Credit points: 10 CP
Module: Internship in Environmental Policy and/or Planning
Admission requirements: successful completion of the modules: “Introduction to Environmental Policy”,
“Introduction to Environmental Planning”, “Environmental Policy: Theory, Methods and Projects” und
“Project in Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Internship
Colloquium
Credit points: 10 CP
Attendance recommended
Internship report (approx. 3,000 words)
Attendance recommended
Module: Environmental Assessment
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Oral examination (approx. 45 minutes)
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment
Admission requirements: successful completion of the module: “Introduction to Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Written report (approx. 3,000 words)
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: Landscape Planning
Admission requirements: successful completion of the module: “Introduction to Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Integrated unit
Oral examination (approx. 25 minutes)
Attendance recommended
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: Landscape Planning and Society
Admission requirements: successful completion of the module: “Introduction to Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Presentation (approx. 20 minutes) and term
paper (approx. 2,500 words)
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Attendance recommended
Module: Geoinformation Systems
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Poster presentation and presentation
(approx. 30 minutes)
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: Remote Sensing in Environmental Planning
Admission requirements: none
Teaching and learning
units
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Written examination (60 minutes) and written
report (approx. 3,000 words)
Attendance recommended
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: Economic Analysis of Environmental Policies
Admission requirements: successful completion of the module: “Introduction to Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Integrated unit
Oral examination (approx. 25 minutes)
Attendance recommended
Credit points: 5 CP
Module: International Environmental Policy Analysis
Admission requirements: successful completion of the module: “Introduction to Environmental Planning”
Teaching and learning
Module examination
Attendance obligatory
units
Integrated unit
Credit points: 5 CP
Presentation (approx. 30 minutes) and written
report (approx. 2,500 words)
Attendance recommended