The University of Oldenburg is committed to the objectives of European higher education reform (the Bologna Process). High expectations are attached to the introduction of the two-cycle degree structure in terms of improving the quality of study and teaching. Against this background, one of the tasks of the university’s resource planning is to make the range of degree programmes available to as many students as possible, whilst optimising the framework conditions for study and teaching. To ensure better student-tutor ratios in teaching modules, the University of Oldenburg has defined quantitative teaching standards based on the recommendations of the HRK, which set group sizes for different types of teaching modules. The curricular standard values (CNW) specified by the MWK for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes support the provision of more intensive supervision, particularly at undergraduate level. Tuition fees are also to be used, in accordance with the Presidential Board’s guidelines, to improve study conditions, whilst taking into account capacity-related requirements.

The allocation of teaching staff to teaching units is set out in the Schools’ structural plans (teaching section) and forms part of the target agreements between the Presidential Board and the Schools. In addition to the programme-specific CNWs, the total number of teaching hours available to a teaching unit is a decisive factor in programme planning. The teaching obligations of academic staff are regulated by the Teaching Obligations Regulation (LVVO). A teaching unit is considered to be at full capacity when the balance between the teaching provision (total number of teaching hours) and teaching demand is equal. If the demand for teaching for a teaching unit exceeds the supply, this results in an overload, which is reflected in the utilisation calculation. A persistent overload must be addressed through restricted admission.