In the module "Zoological-Botanical Basic Practical Course (ZBG)" (hereinafter referred to as ZBG for short) we offer several parallel exercises (A, B, C, etc.) in addition to the lecture. As every year, we have to agree on who will take part in which exercise before the exercises begin, i.e. during the orientation week. - For quite a few students, individual exercises may conflict with other courses. In order to accommodate you here, we are implementing a special allocation procedure to minimise potential conflicts. It is important that you put together your timetable during the orientation week and know when you have which courses, as it can be difficult or even impossible to switch to a different course after the final allocation.

The Biology student body will help you put together your timetable in the tutor groups during the orientation week. They are also your most important point of contact when it comes to the organisation of teaching in biology.

In order to make the allocation of places to the individual tutorials as efficient and fair as possible, we use an allocation procedure that has proved very successful so far.

The places in the tutorials are allocated on the basis of a grading scale:

All interested parties give a personal assessment of all! (see below) exercises in relation to the exercise date. The most favourably located exercise is given the lowest ranking number (1), the least favourable the highest ranking number (5). We endeavour to give everyone the exercise date chosen with the rank number 1.

If there are overlaps with other courses, it must be indicated with which courses there are conflicts, otherwise this will not be taken into account in the allocation. Cases of hardship (e.g. childcare, nursing care, etc.) will be given special consideration, but I must be informed before the final allocation. Travelling home does not fall under hardship cases.

All first-semester students can hand in their ranking during the orientation week in the individual tutor groups or send it to me directly. All others (third-semester students, etc.) must send me their ranking by email before the orientation week.

The ranking for the tutorial dates will be evaluated by me on Wednesday of the orientation week from 6.00 pm. All those interested must have submitted their ranking by then. We try to take all interests into account, but in case of doubt the lot decides. For practical reasons, we must try to achieve an even distribution across all courses.

Note 1: All! exercise dates must be given a rank number. In the past, it has happened time and again that quite a few participants have not given a ranking to some exercise dates, which has led to confusion in the further distribution. We therefore sort and fill the preferences of each participant from the less favourable to the more favourable exercise date. To give an example of our procedure: Assuming that a ranking is only given for exercise B (1) and E (2), then the less favourable one is given the ranking number 5 (exercise E), the better one the ranking number 4 (exercise B) and I randomly fill up the rest according to unpopularity. This gives a clear advantage to those participants who have entered a ranking number for all exercise dates, as they will be considered first in the distribution.

Note 2: All course participants must register as participants for the lecture in StudIP before the final distribution. (This is best done in the groups with the help of the tutors.) The entry is important for at least two reasons: (1) with the entry it is clear that you are registered in StudIP and can therefore also be entered in the exercises by me later, (2) I only provide learning material via the lecture. If it is not possible to register for any reason, please send me an email It would also be a good idea to register provisionally for the exercises. This registration is not binding and can be changed after the final distribution, but it makes my work a lot easier.

The final distribution will usually take place on Thursday of the orientation week in lecture theatre W32-0-005 (experimental lecture theatre). The exact date can be obtained from the Biology student body. Everyone who would like to participate in the module "Zoological-Botanical Basic Practical Course (ZBG)" should be present at this joint meeting or send a representative. This also applies in particular to third-semester students, for whom there can be no preferential treatment.

I will then announce the allocation to the individual exercises. Should any problems arise, these will be resolved on the spot. Only those who are present or represented can still influence the distribution. It is still possible to swap an exercise date if you can find a swap partner. The distribution is then finalised and I update the lists of exercises in StudIP.

After the distribution, there will be information about the course of the lecture, the exercises (preparation kit, drawing utensils) and the written exam.

See you then,

Your Wilko Ahlrichs

Download Excel table ranking for courses
(Please send this file with completed ranking to wilko.ahlrichs@uol.de)