University terms explained: matriculation, module, ECTS, SWS, lecture and seminar are words you will hear again and again in your first weeks. This student vocabulary explains them in plain English, sorted by topic. That way you can quickly see what a term means and where to find out more.
University terms explained at a glance
- Matriculation makes you a member of your university. After that you receive a matriculation number.
- A module bundles courses on one topic. Each module earns credit points (ECTS).
- SWS shows how many hours per week a course takes place during the semester.
- Lecture, seminar and tutorial differ mainly in how actively you take part.
- The binding documents for you are the study regulations, the examination regulations and the module handbook of your degree programme.
Enrolment and organisation
What is matriculation?
Matriculation is your enrolment at the university. Only then are you officially a student, can take courses and sit exams. The counterpart is de-registration (Exmatrikulation), your withdrawal, for example after graduating or when dropping out. Which documents and deadlines apply to enrolment is set by your university. An overview of tasks before the start is in the checklist for starting university (in German).
What is the matriculation number?
The matriculation number is your personal identifier at the university. You receive it during enrolment and need it for exam registrations, online portals and often for the library too.
What is the certificate of enrolment?
The certificate of enrolment, called a study certificate at some universities, proves that you are enrolled. You need it, for example, for the study start grant, an education loan (Bildungskredit) and as proof for child benefit. It also documents your study periods for the pension insurance. As a rule you download it from your university’s portal.
What are study regulations, examination regulations and the module handbook?
The study regulations describe the structure and content of your degree programme. The examination regulations set out how exams work, which deadlines apply and how often you may repeat an exam. The module handbook lists every module with its content, credit points and form of assessment. If you know these three documents, you can answer many questions yourself. How to plan dates and tasks around them is shown in the guide on organising your studies efficiently (in German).
What is the regular period of study?
The regular period of study is the number of semesters in which you can complete your degree according to the examination regulations. It is a guideline for planning and a reference point for funding. For BAföG the corresponding term is the maximum funding period (Förderungshöchstdauer).
What is the lecture-free period?
The lecture-free period lies between two teaching periods. You are not really free then: exams often take place in these weeks, along with internships, term papers and final theses.
Courses
What is the difference between a lecture and a seminar?
In a lecture, a lecturer presents the material, usually to many students at once. You listen, take notes and ask questions where needed. A seminar is smaller and depends on your participation: you give a presentation, discuss texts or hand in written work. The tutorial (Übung) supplements the lecture, as you solve tasks together. A tutorial led by more advanced students (Tutorium) helps you revise. Internships and labs apply the material in practice.
Whether attendance is compulsory depends on the type of course and your examination regulations. More tips for getting started are in the guide on the first weeks at university (in German).
What do c.t. and s.t. mean?
Behind a start time you may see c.t. (cum tempore) or s.t. (sine tempore). With c.t. the course begins only after the academic quarter hour, so fifteen minutes later. With s.t. it starts exactly on time. If nothing is noted, ask when in doubt or check the course catalogue entry.
What does SWS mean?
SWS stands for Semesterwochenstunden, weekly contact hours per semester. The figure shows how many teaching hours a course has per week during the teaching period. A course with 2 SWS takes place twice a week for one teaching hour each, or once a week as a double session. SWS say nothing about the total workload, because preparation and follow-up work come on top. That is what credit points are for.
Modules and credit points
What is a module in a degree programme?
A module is a self-contained building block of your degree programme. It bundles courses on one topic, for example a lecture with a matching tutorial, and usually ends with an exam. The module handbook shows which modules are compulsory and which you can choose.
What is ECTS?
ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System. The credit points, also known as ECTS points, measure the workload for a module, including attendance, self-study and exam preparation. Once you have passed a module, the points are credited to you. The total number needed for your degree and for each module is set by the examination regulations. Because the system applies across Europe, it makes changing universities and studying abroad easier.
Exams and qualification
Which types of exam are there?
Typical formats are written exams, oral exams, term papers, presentations and projects. Which format belongs to a module is listed in the module handbook. To prepare, it helps to start early and plan well. The topic improving concentration at university (in German) also pays off during exam season.
What is a colloquium?
A colloquium is an oral examination in the form of a discussion. You usually meet it at the end of your bachelor’s or master’s thesis: there you present your topic and answer the questions of the examiners. In some degree programmes colloquia also take the form of a research seminar, where final theses are presented.
What is the examination office?
The examination office manages your exam records. There you register or deregister for exams, clarify deadlines and receive your certificates. In special circumstances, such as illness, you also contact the examination office.
Money during your studies
What is BAföG?
BAföG stands for the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz). The state funding is half a grant and half an interest-free loan. You repay at most 10,010 euros. Whether you are entitled and in what amount is decided by the BAföG office after your application.
What is the semester fee?
You pay the semester fee every semester to your university. It is made up of contributions for the student body, the student services organisation (Studierendenwerk) and, where applicable, the semester ticket. It differs from university to university and has nothing to do with tuition fees. Some states also charge additional enrolment, administrative or re-registration fees. An overview is provided by the Studierendenwerk overview of study costs (in German).
What is the semester ticket?
The semester ticket is a pass for public local transport that students purchase through the semester fee. Where a Germany semester ticket is offered, it costs 37.80 euros per month in 2026, which is 226.80 euros per semester. For 2027, 40.08 euros per month has been agreed. What is included in your fee is shown in your university’s fee regulations.
Student life
Who are fellow students?
Fellow students are the people you sit beside in lectures, work with in groups and study with for exams.
What does the Fachschaft do?
The Fachschaft is the student representation of a subject. It often organises the orientation week, helps with questions about the course structure and knows the lecturers and procedures. Usually students in higher semesters volunteer for it.
What is the AStA?
The General Student Committee (Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss, AStA) represents the students of a university. Depending on the location it offers advice, cultural events and support with problems. The name of the body varies by federal state. In some places it is called the student parliament or student council.
What is the Audimax?
Audimax is short for Auditorium Maximum and refers to the largest lecture hall of a university. Big lectures and events take place there. For eating and meeting up, you are more likely to go to the canteen (in German).
Beyond all these terms, well-being is part of studying too. How to stay steady under pressure and stress is covered in the guide mental health during your studies (in German).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SWS and ECTS?
SWS measures teaching time per week. ECTS measures the total workload for a module, including self-study and exam preparation. Both figures are listed in the module handbook.
Where can I find binding definitions of these terms?
The binding documents are the study regulations, the examination regulations and the module handbook of your degree programme. Individual terms and procedures differ between universities. If anything is unclear, the student advisory service and the Fachschaft can help.
Do I have to re-register every semester?
Your matriculation applies to your whole degree. For each further semester you usually have to re-register, typically by paying the semester fee. Your university sets out the deadlines and the process.
What to do now
- Read through the study regulations, examination regulations and module handbook of your degree programme once and mark open questions.
- Download your certificate of enrolment and store it digitally.
- Enter the examination formats and credit points of your modules in your semester plan.
- Ask the Fachschaft or the student advisory service if a term is used differently at your university.
Related guides
- First-semester tips: how to start university smoothly (in German)
- Checklist for the start of your studies (in German)
- Organising your studies efficiently (in German)
- Improving concentration at university (in German)
- Mental health during your studies (in German)
- Health insurance glossary for students: terms from A to Z (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
