Dear students,

Due to the corona crisis, the university is currently operating in emergency mode. Neither in-person teaching nor in-person exams are taking place. The start of courses in the summer semester 2020 has been postponed to 20 April 2020.

The teaching staff of the Marine Sciences teaching unit are making great efforts to ensure that all degree programmes can be studied in the 2020 summer semester. In particular, we are making intensive preparations to replace classroom teaching with equivalent online programmes. Particular attention is being paid to ensuring that compulsory modules can be completed without any loss of time. If necessary, we will check whether module components that cannot be covered by online courses can be replaced by other teaching formats. In individual cases, however, this will not be possible if the basic qualification and competence objectives of a module cannot be achieved as a result. This may apply in particular to modules in which internships are prominent module components. In such cases, we will ensure that alternative dates for the relevant module components are offered as soon as possible once the university reopens. Information about the current schedule of courses will be made available to students as soon as possible via StudIP. Replacement dates for examinations that have been cancelled due to the current situation will also be announced in good time so that all students have sufficient preparation time. If a passed examination is a prerequisite for continuing or taking a module, this regulation will be temporarily suspended if the corresponding examination has not taken place due to the Corona crisis.

We are aware that this may cause problems for individual students with regard to the regular course of study and timely completion of their degree. The course counsellors in the degree programmes will provide affected students with the best possible support in solving such problems. If necessary, the course counsellors should be contacted by email. Questions about individual courses or modules should be clarified with the respective lecturers or module coordinators. In the case of overarching problems, the study committees/degree programme coordinators of the respective degree programmes can also be contacted directly. If necessary, the student bodies should also be involved in solving any problems that arise.

The effects of the corona crisis on studying can cause considerable stress for students. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the Psychological Counselling Service(uol.de/pbs, https://studentenwerk-oldenburg.beranet.info/), which offers support in such cases.

Please also refer to the information for students provided by the University of Oldenburg(uol.de/info-coronavirus), which is updated regularly.

Thorsten Dittmar
Heinz Wilkes
Oliver Zielinski