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Figuring out the many new terms confronting international students at German-language universities can be difficult. Even if the degree program is in English, most administrative work has to be done in German, and the bureaucratic university jargon is a language in and of itself. This guide aims to help international students and researchers understand the structures and organization of German universities by providing in-depth descriptions of terms and their origins, allowing for easier integration into the host university and its culture.
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Table of Contents
Foreword
Everyday life at German universities is characterized by a particular jargon that does not always make it easy for newcomers to quickly and reliably find their way around. This language has developed over time and is primarily a mix of Greek-Latin words such asDekan, Doktor,orSeminar, of German bureaucratic words such asHochschulrektorenkonferenzand, finally, of vocabulary drawn from European educational policies with terms likeKredit,Master, Bologna,orModul.
This dictionaryis designed to aid foreign students in orienting themselves at German universities; it is meant to provide practical assistance in completing academic tasks and give insights into academic terms and ways of thinking. Both those who are familiar with the German academic world and those who are looking back can also draw nearer to the time they spent abroad.
The entries in this lexicon have been collected such that they mostly fall into one of the following six main areas:
1.Studying and learning(e.g.Bibliographie, Hausarbeit, Prüfungsangst, Recherche)
2.Institutions(e.g.CHE, DFG, DSW, Erasmus-Programm, Kölner Runde)
3.University politics(e.g.Bund-Länder-Kommission,ECTS, Präsidialverfassung)
4.Academic operations and administration(e.g.Drittmittel, Ranking, Sokal-Affäre, Venia Legendi)
5.University history(e.g.Augenwischerei, Pedell, Rektorkette, Siegel)
6.Academic ways of thinking(e.g.Falsifikation, Versuch und Irrtum, Weltbild)
Because academic abbreviations are so prevalent, special lists of abbreviations have been included in the annexes (one for those found in academic publications and one for those related to matters of university life such as university institutions or the search for accommodations).
Since a collection of general university terms does not allowfora clear separation ofterminology in individual subject jargons or in the various regions or universities, or in the German-language countries of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, it is unfortunately next to impossible to avoid omissions and ambivalences in the catalog.
Suggestionsand comments from readers aboutentries that should be taken into consideration in the future are therefore always most welcome.
The authors,
Freudenstadt im Schwarzwald, 2012
Kirchentellinsfurt, 2016
Tips for readers
Because this reference work is intended for foreign students to better understand the German university terms, all entries are given first in German.All words are in alphabetical order, whereby umlauts are not split in the word.Possible English translations are given in parentheses directly after the German entry. There is often not an exact corresponding term in English, and in these cases several English terms giving similar meanings may be listed or simply a literal translation of the German word (e.g. Abendstudium (evening studies)).Ifthereis no equivalent in Englishfor the term in English, then"nodirecttranslation"is writtenin place of the translation.In these cases, the entry describes the term.Multiple meanings of a term are marked and separated by Arabic numerals.
In order to understand the context, important references to additional articles are marked with an arrow if the content will give more information. The references with arrows noted inparenthesesat the end of some entries usually do not mark synonyms but related areas. Synonyms are marked with a preceding"Also:".They have been left in German so that the reader knows what alternative terms might be used.
The tilde (~)stands for the entry word in all of its forms.
Entriesfrom languages other than German are put in italics, especially when their pronunciation isdifferent from the German orif it is a relatively new term, for examplePaper. The following abbreviations are used depending on the language of origin:Lat., GreekGreek, FrenchFrench, IItalian.A brief etymological explanation is given for terms with Latin or Greek origin if these are of interest (e.g. Gremium. Lat.gremiumlap, bosom).If the German pronunciation differs from English or French (e.g.Senat)or in the case of uncommon words(e.g.Rara), the emphasized syllable is underlinedto assistpronunciation. When listing contentsof legal documents, if the sectionis missing, then that part of the law has since been removed.
Terminological differences inGermany, Austria, and Switzerland are taken into account. In some casesnotes are also made onAmerican words or Anglicisms, e.g."senior,"if the German word has an entirelydifferent meaning.Some entries are supported with current figures from the German Federal Statistics Office (www.destatis.de)or an internet address is given.
A
Abbildungsnachweis(picture credits)àBildnachweis
Abendstudium(evening studies, evening classes)Continuing education offer from universities, usually for professionals to obtain an academic degree while continuing their career(àStudium Generale).
Abgabetermin(deadline, submission deadline)Thelatestpoint in time by which the manuscript (àManuskript) of an academic work must be delivered to the examiner, examinations office, editor, or publisher (àPrüfer,àPrüfungsamt,àKorrektor, orVerlagslektor).The~for a seminar paper or final thesis is relevant for obtaining adegree and is either set individually by the instructor (àDozent) or in general by the examination regulations.
Abitur(German upper-level secondary school diploma)Lat.abiredepart.Highest possible secondary school leaving certificate in Germany. The~ isthe same as a higher education entrance qualification, which allows a person to study at a higher education institution. In earlier times, in all German-speaking areas the~was called the Matura, but today this is only the case in Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland, where it is called the Maturität. Due to the cultural sovereignty of theBundesländer, there are certain regional differences in terms of how the individual ~ examinations are carried out and their quality. Originally, the universities could decide on their own whether the applicants were eligible for admission, but in 1788, university entrance qualification was regulated by the Abitur – first in Prussia – and the competency for making this decision was thus transferred from the universities to the upper-level secondary schools (Gymnasien).
Abiturient(person with an Abitur)Person who haspassed theàAbitur and is therefore qualified to start studying at a university(àHochschule), usually used as a term for a graduate from an upper-level secondary school (Gymnasium) before starting university, vocational training, or military service.
Abkürzungsverzeichnis(List of abbreviations)Part of the annex (àAnhang) of academic works in which all abbreviations used are listed. Typically, works differentiatebetween abbreviations for academic journals as sources and the linguistic-terminological abbreviationswithin texts.
Abschluss(degree)Successful completion of studies in contrast to dropping out (àStudienabbruch).The following types of degrees exist: (University)àBachelor's,àMaster's,àDiplom,andàMagister,doctorate (àPromotion),teaching degree (àLehramt),artistic degrees,degrees from universities ofapplied science,and religious degrees.Students who have passed their final examinations are called graduates (àAbsolventen).
Each year at German universities, more than 200,000 successful degree examinations are completed. Most are completed in the subjects of social sciences, law, business, and economics (34% total), while only around 9% of degrees are in medicine.
Abschlussarbeit(final thesis, dissertation)State examination (àExamen),àDiplom,àMagister,àBachelor's, oràMaster's thesis.A longer academic text of up to 100 pages. Its submission to the examinations office typically also marks the end of studies. In combination with an oral examination, the academic degree can then be awarded. In terms of content, and in contrast to aàdissertation, a ~must not present unique research but must satisfy scientific requirements. The ~ are thus more challenging and longer than seminar papers (àHausarbeiten).
Abschlussprüfung(literally: final examination)Theaccumulationof all examinations that a degree candidate must complete to obtain his academic degree. This term is often used to describe only the final oral examination, as it is often the last examination completed(àPrüfungsordnung).Depending on the type of university(àHochschulart), the ~ can be cumulative, that is, it isnot a separate examination but is considered passed when all requirements for the degree have been met, or it can bea specific examination held once at the end of the studies.
Abschlussprüfung,kommissionelle(final examination before a committee)The typical Austrian term for theoraldefense (àDisputation).
Absolvent(graduate)Lat.absolvereset free, acquit.Candidates are called ~ after they have successfully obtained their degree (àAbschlussprüfung). A part of the ~ stay at the university to start a second, consecutive, orcomplementarycourse of studies or to start a doctorate(àNachwuchswissenschaftler).
Absolventenalter(age of graduates)Between 1993 and 2002, the ~ in Germanyslowly increased and graduates werealmost 29 years old after an average study time of 12 semesters. In the debate on higher education reform, various approaches for lowering the ~weresuggested. The main points are: demands for shorter standard periods of study, tuition fees for long-time students, re-structuring of the curriculum and examination regulations, teaching evaluations, introduction of new degree programs(àBachelor's),and the shortening of the time at primary and secondary school to 12 years (instead of the 13 years typical in many Bundesländer).Since 2003, the average
age of graduates decreased to just over 26 years in 2013. This development is attributed to several factors, including the shortening of time in primary and secondary school in some Bundesländer, the introduction of the Bachelor's/Master's system, the repeal of the requirement for males to perform military service for one year, and more strict regulations on maximum periods of study in examination regulations.
Absolventenverbleib(literally:where graduates remain)Study to evaluate the professional paths of university graduates, their career choices, continuing education, or whether they stayed in the university system for an academic career.
Absolventenzahlen(number of graduates)The ~ does not develop at the same rate as the enrollment numbers. In 2013, 408,713 students completed their degrees (not including doctorates (àPromotion)) in Germany. 41,349 of these were foreign students.
Abstract(abstract)Lat.abstractusdrawn away.Short, summary text at the beginning of a monograph or article in which the most important ideas of an academic argument are clearly described. The word ~ can be pronounced as in German or English.
Academic record(academic record)Complete overview of the course of a student's progress in a study program and all creditsobtained in connection with the modules as foreseen by the Bologna Process (àBologna-Prozess). In particular, all creditsare shown whether they count toward the degree program or not.
Academy(academy)In the English-speaking regions, a term used very broadly and inconsistently for all types of private and publiceducational institutions from sportsschools to academic societies(àAkademie).
Achtundsechziger-Revolte(Revolt of 1968)Term for the student movement (àStudentenbewegung) in Western Europe towards the end of the 1960s. It wasinspired by Californian universities thenthose inParis, primarily in May 1968. It first had the goal of comprehensive university reform but then developed into a fundamental opposition(àSDS)calling for social reforms. The hot spots in Germany were Frankfurt am Main and Berlin.The key points were:the demand for more participation at universities; anti-Vietnam War; pacifism;the call for freelove;critique of their parents'generation, that is,of traditional structures; legalized drug use;ageneral attitude of resistance;and anti-authoritarian upbringing. While a large part of the so-called"68ers"went on a"march through the institutions,"a much smaller group went underground as terrorists, for example the Red Army Faction. At the same time, but with a completely different character,in China and Czechoslovakia protests and mass movements took placethat had fundamental effects on the university structures there.
Achtundsechziger-Revolte, Diskussion(Discussion of the Revolt of 1968)The effects of the year 1968on the modern universityare controversial. The following are considered problematic: the general loss of traditions, manners, and values; a lack of respect for the rooms and property of the universities; graffiti and an excess of posters on the bulletin boards and walls;reduction of work discipline and worsening of student's orientation on achievement; too much tolerance of poor student and instructor performance; discrimination of the terms"excellence"and"elite";lack of significance of grades; the ideologization and trivialization of academic contents by the political scientific-psychological jargon of the 68ers; uncritical perspective of dictators such as Mao or Pol Pot; and the introduction of supposedly proletarian manners or actions at the university (àBusenattacke).
The emancipatory consequencesthat were at the time seen as progressagainst the traditional roles and authoritarian behavior of instructors seem rather minimal from today's perspective and in light of the later careers of many former 68ers.
Addenda(addenda)Lat.addendaadditional contents. Listof new entries that are to be taken into consideration for planned new editions of reference works.
Admission(admission)Also:àZulassung
Adress-Reader studentischer Adressen(student address database)An online database of e-mail and web addresses for university members, student representatives, student organizations, unions, political organizations, and university and study-relevant institutions.www.adressreader.de
Aeskulapstab(staff of Asclepius)Symbol of pharmacists, named after Asclepius, one of the demi-gods instructed in healing by the centaur Chiron and capable of healing all illnesses so that the gods of the underworld began tocomplain about him.Zeus then killed Asclepius so that balance was restored to nature and normal mortality resumed.
Affirmative Action(affirmative action)In German alsocalled"positive Diskriminierung."Controversial measure to select applicants by giving preferential treatment to minorities or otherwise discriminated groups in order to create equal opportunity. One speaks of ~ in the context of university spots (àStudienplätzen),jobs, or scholarships(àStipendien);those affected are primarily women, ethnic and religious minorities, the disabled, immigrants, and members of other groups that are often discriminated against.
AGAbbreviation for working group (àArbeitsgruppe)
Ägide(aegis)Greekaigisgoatskin.Traditional term for a patronage,
including of a non-academicorganizationor personfor an academic initiative. In classical symbolism, the goatskin is an attribute of the Greek goddess Athena (àAthene),protector of scholars.
Ahnengalerie(ancestral portrait gallery)Representatively displayed or presented paintings or photographs of famous university members oràalumnioccupying a prominent place in a building, often in a stairway or hallway.
AIESECAbbreviation for:Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales;an international student organizationfounded in 1948 for internships abroad. The focus lies primarily on business and economics (àWirtschaftswissenschaften) and computer science,and secondarily on the humanities(àGeisteswissenschaften) and social sciences (àGesellschaftswissenschaften).www.aiesec.org
AiPAbbreviation foradoctor in the first year of residency(àArzt im Praktikum)
Akademie(academy)GreekakademiaGrove of Akademos.From the temple dedicated to the Greek hero of Troy, Akademos. The students of the philosopher Plato, who had purchased the property after a trip to Sicily in 387 BCE, gathered here and were thus called academics. The ~ has thereafter been considered the term for schools of philosophy.
Today the term is sometimes used as a synonym for university(àHochschule) or as a description ofan association of researchers such as the Academy of Sciences and the Humanities (àAkademie der Wissenschaften) or for private institutions offering any form of teaching, evenif they arenon-scientific. In the area of sports, for example, there are golf academies. There are also independent professional academies, art academies, and academies for continuing education for teachers (especially in Austria). ~ can be state-funded, recognized by the state, religious, or private.
Akademie der Wissenschaften(Academy of the Sciences and Humanities)National institution to promote academic research either in private or state form. In contrast to universities, no teaching is offered. In Germany, there are seven such institutions: Berlin, Dusseldorf, Göttingen, Heidelberg, Leipzig, Mainz, and Munich, joined together in the Union of the German~.
Akademiker(academic(noun))In Germany, usually a general term for holders of a university degree, more seldom usedlikein France or Russia as a term for a member of an Academy of the Sciences and Humanities (àAkademie der Wissenschaften),and thus a much smaller, more elite group.
Akademikerarbeitslosigkeit(unemployment for academics)In 2002, 223,600 academics (àAkademiker) with a degree from a university or university of applied sciences wereunemployed,25,600 more thanin 1993.
Akademikermangel(lack of academics)Economic location disadvantage due to too few university graduates in a region or an economic area, in Germany primarily in engineering subjects. The disproportion of the ~ to the academic unemployment rate (àAkademikerarbeitslosigkeit) can be explained by the choice of subjects(àStudentenzahlen).
Akademisch(academic(adjective))Besides the meaning of"belonging to the university,"this term can also describe a certain way of thinking and working, for exampleconsistentlygivingevidence from the expert literature(àFachliteratur) and a certain kind of factual, scientific argumentation (àwissenschaftlichen Argumentation).A so-called"~ question"is one without any practical relevance in reality(ivory tower,àElfenbeinturm).
Akademischer Kalender(academic calendar)Timetable in which all relevant data and dates for the ongoing semester are set down, in particular this includes: module periods, registration periods for modules, length of the lecture period, length of the academic year, and the academic holidays.
Akademische Ferien(academic holidays)See semester holidays (àSemesterferien)
Akademische Freiheit(academic freedom)See research and teaching (àForschung und Lehre)
Akademische Gerichtsbarkeit(academic jurisdiction)Privilege of the early universities to regulate internal matters without interference from outside (churches, rulers). This included legal and penal jurisdiction,àRechts- und Strafgewalt.In the baroque period, this privilege was continually restricted in favor of the sovereign power. In the 17thcentury, the ~ developed into an expression of state authority. External symbols of ~ were: the university scepter, the keeping of a seal(àSiegelführung), the privilege of the sword, andthe right to wear robes(àTalarrecht) as well as other insignia(àInsignien).In administration: setting of its own budget, self-determination according to the basic order, privilege of admission, and disciplinary rights. Today, it only exists to a relatively small degree, for example in cases of plagiarism(àBetrugsfällen) that can lead to a revocation of an academic degree.
Akademisches Jahr(academic year)Also:Studienjahr.The entirety of both semesters in a year, whereby the lecture-free period is included. An ~ is not identical with the calendar year(àdies academicus) because it starts with the start of the semester.
Akademische Karriere(academic career)The career path of an academic at a university. The typical stations are called degrees(àGrad):
Abitur/Matura/Secondary school diploma; Pre-Diplom/Bachelor's; Diplom/Master's or comparable degrees; Doctorate or more than one doctoral degree; and the Habilitation (post-doctoral lecturing qualification); appointment to a professorship; offices and honors; and finally the emeritus status. It also includes various functions at a university, tasks in committees(àGremien) and meetings, etc. Key aspects of an ~ are also publications and appearances in professional circles.
Akademische Laufbahn(academic career)Seeàakademische Karriere
Akademisches Bürgerrecht(academic rights)Traditional expression for the status of enrolled students and university members at the university. The term is related to the special social status of students and instructors and earlier universities that led to certain privileges vis-à-vis non-academics.
Akademisches Auslandsamt(Office of International Affairs)Abbreviation also:AA orAAA.An organization at nearly all universities and highereducation institutions that deal withstudents or instructors going abroad. At most universities, it is alsoresponsible for organizing manyof the programs for incoming international students.Important topics are often: scholarships (àStipendium),the recognition of credits obtained at foreign universities, and advising for foreign students.(àDAAD)
akademisches Fehlverhalten(academic misconduct)Violation of the principles of scientific integrity (àRedlichkeit) as set down by the German Research Foundation (àDeutschen Forschungsgesellschaft) in the form of guidelines. They primarily relate to dealing with intellectual property of third parties and to violations of customs of correct publication (àRecherche).Financially, this often pertains to the procurement of external funding (àDrittmitteln),research funding, or subsidies(àjunk-science).
akademischer Grad(academic degree)A title obtained by completing several examinations at a university, or a name affix such as Doctor(àDoktor, see alsoàMagister,àDiplom).In contrast to Austria, in Germany it is not typical to include a Master's degree title on business cards or when introducing someone in person.
akademisches Jahr(academic year)Separation of a year into a summer semester (àSommersemester) and a winter semester(àWintersemester) with the semester holidays(àSemesterferien) in between.The start of an ~ is often celebrated with a ceremonial act.
akademisches Viertel(academic quarter-hour)The start of university courses with a 15-minute delaycum tempore(abbreviated c.t.). There are doubts as to how this practice began. One explanation is that until theEarly Modern era, courses started with the ringing of thechurch bells. A quarter-hour delay was allowed to give the students time to get to the lecture hall. Another explanation states that the ~ is related to the church tradition: The courses were not to begin until after the (short) hourly prayer. The German expression ~ is relatively new and likely arose in the first decade of the 1900s.
At technical universities, this tradition is not common. There, the courses startàsine tempore(abbreviated s.t.),that is, on time. Only very seldom used today ismagna cum tempore,with a 30-minute delay.
Akkreditierung(accreditation)This refers to the evaluation process for quality assurance that ends with the acceptanceof a degree program at a university by state authorities as well as by a committee of the affected university. This is often linked to the evaluation(àEvaluation),which looks atexisting degree programs and the instructors.
Akkreditierungsrat(Accreditation Council)Committee with eight members to accredit degree programs or private universities in Austria.
Akklamation(acclamation)Lat.acclamatioapproval, applause. Approval or recognition of a contribution, e.g. a presentation, by knocking on the table with a closed fist(àauf den Tisch). The ~ can replace a vote if there is unanimity and a counting of the votes thus seems unnecessary. The ~ was originally animportant element of coronation ceremonies in the Middle Ages.
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung(Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)The ~promotes scientists with outstanding achievements or potential who come to Germany from abroad and thus make a contribution to the internationalization of the sciences and to cultural exchange. Primarily financed by tax money, the budget of the Foreign Office, and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.www.avh.de
ALFA-Programm(ALFA program)Abbreviation for:América Latina Formación Académica.Cooperation among universities in the EU and Latin America. The focus is on projects in the areas of social, business, economic, and engineering sciences as well as medicine, natural sciences, and technical subjects.
Allgemeinbildung(general knowledge, general education)The entirety ofeducational contents that belongto a canon of cultural heritage and are relatively accessible. At universities, these contents are usually conveyed in the framework of theàStudium Generale.For daily scientific work, the ~ is constantly relevant, as all information that goes beyond ~ must be cited with footnotes(àFußnoten). Example: The information that Johann Gregor Mendel is considered one of the"fathers of genetics"is a matter of general knowledge, but
in words and numbers. It is controversial whether language and numbers are able to give correct depictions of non-linguistic concepts. There is also the difficultythat especially figures are notalwayscompletely clear. That iswhy,regardless of the subject area, one didactic task is to present results clearly and to visualize them. Particular problems are: finding or developing correct terms, exact descriptions, and good explanations; using clear language;the correct use of pictures and symbols; and the right balance between simplification and complexity.One primary way to achieve greater ~ is to use graphics and other ways of showing numbers or words (àStatistik).A key method is the development of scientific models (àModelle).
Anthologie(anthology)Greekanthologiacollection of flowers.A collection of texts from one or more genres and possibly of varying lengths on a more or lessnarrowly defined topic (àThema) usually used in connection with poetic texts. One of the most famous ~ in Germany is the so-called Freiburger ~, a collection of German-language poems from 1720 to 1900.
www.freiburger-anthologie.de
Antrittsvorlesung(first lecture)An instructor's first lecture at a new universityor at a new position at the sameuniversity, for example after theàHabilitation orreceiving a professorship(àBerufung),often followed with great attention by university members.
Anwesenheitspflicht(attendance requirement)Insome subjects, students are required to attend the course sessions to obtain credit. The more school-like (àverschult) a degree program is, the more probable it is that there is an ~. Also: Requirement for foreign students to participate in the lectures of a preparatory course (àStudienkolleg).
Apollon(Apollo)Greek god of music, poetry, and fine arts, but also of medicine and sudden death. The principle embodied by~ is that of a clear spirit:analytical, passionless rationality in contrast to emotions as well as a personified model(àLeitbild) of scientific character (àWissenschaftlichkeit).
Aporie(aporia)Greekaporiaperplexity.Term from philosophical history to describe a researcher's motivation. Basedon puzzlement about a connection or observation, a logical discussion of a topic begins. Finding an ~ andthus a worthwhile research topicrequires basic knowledgeof the field(àLogik).
ApparatLat.parare.
1.(annex)The~of a scientific text in which the sources, literature (àLiteraturverzeichnis),timelines, and other supplementary texts are printed.
2.(seminar collection)A seminar ~ is the main collection of information sources provided to participants in a course, usually in a separate sectionof the library. There it can be found as a binder with copies of bibliographies, sources, articles, and other relevant texts.
Appendix(appendix)Lat.adpendereattach(àAnhang).
Applikationsverantwortlicher(application manager)Staff member in an institute, department, or university who is the contact person for computer-supported aids, for example SAP applications within the university administration or also technical and research-related tasks: support, training sessions, contact to manufacturers and operators.
Approbation(license)Lat.approbatiopermission.Official permission for vocational training, mostly in medical professions, comparable with a license. The details aredescribedin thelicense regulationsfor the profession(àApprobationsordnungen).
Approbationsordnungen(license regulations, medical practice regulations)Regulations onaccess to the following professions: doctor, dentist, veterinarian, psychologist, child and adolescent psychologist, and pharmacist. The~ regulate the contentsof degreeprograms and the examination parameters of the individual subjects. ~ are valid nationwide.
Arbeitsgruppe(working group)Abbreviation: AG.Usually an interdisciplinary, research-related, and project-like cooperation of instructors and students with a clear timeframeand content goals, often supported by sponsor funds. ~ do not have to have scientific goals but can also be related to PR measures such as the unification of university websites in terms of graphics and structure.
Arbeitsroutine(work routine)Individual working habits developed over a longer period of time for studying, writing, and publishing,whereby certain stages are selected so that the least amount of effort is necessary for the greatest effect. There are no generally valid instructions for ~, each individual must develop them personally. Aspects of ~ include: working hours, workstation, workload, organization of working conditions, definition of goals, variation between challenging and less challenging working phases, quieter periods, and breaks as well as rewards.
Arboretum(arboretum)Lat.arbortree.Part of a botanical garden or an entire botanical garden with a focus on trees, forests, or tree-like plants. The term was coined in 1838 by John Claudius Loudon in its current meaning.
Archaeoraptor liaoningensis-Affäre(Archaeoraptor liaoningensis hoax)àHoax witha very skillful fossil forgery in Liaoning, China, in 1999 that was supposed to"prove"the relationship between birds and dinosaurs. After extensivetests, the find was shown to have beenconstructed from various fossils of differing ages.
Archiv(archive)A topical or otherwise conceptualized collection of media (àMedien) documents, books, journals, or other types of mediafunded bya state authority(such as the ~ of the Federal Republic of Germany) or a private institution such as a newspaper, a foundation, or a private person, usually under the supervision of an archivist, who typicallyhas an academic education. Entire libraries(àBibliotheken) and museums can be part of an archive and be represented at multiple locations.
www.bundesarchiv.de
Archiv-Benutzungsantrag(request for use of archive)Before the first use of archival and finding aids, archive visitors must submit this ~ to the archive and enter their name, address, and purpose of use. The length of time until the request is granted for using the archive must be calculated into a research plan.
Archiv-Benutzungsordnung(archive user regulations)Publiclegal ordinance passed on the basis of the archive laws that regulates the use of an archive. The ~ are accepted when the user signsthe request for use.
Archivsprengel(archival area)Geographic range of an archive's or an archive consortium's area of responsibility.A ~ is a historical area that has an important influence on the organization and collection of the archive.
Archivar(archivist)àArchiv
Argumentation(line of argument)The link between claims and theses(àThesen) and facts to supporttheclaims. A factual or objective ~ is a basic element of scientific discussion, whereby one typically differentiates between inductive (àinduktive) and deductive (àdeduktive) arguments.
Ars legendi – Preis für exzellente Hochschullehre(Ars legendi – prize for excellent university teaching)An annual prize awarded alternately to various teams or instructors of different disciplines, in2014 for an interdisciplinary project on"research-oriented learning.""The prize is to make the particular importance for the education of young academics visible and create a career-relevant incentive to work on university teaching and promoteteachingbeyond one's own area of influence. At the same time, the quality of teaching is to be established as a key criterion of excellence (àExzellenzkriterium) for top universities and as a strategic goal of quality management at universities."
artes liberales(liberal arts)Lat.artes liberalesliberal arts.Classical division of sciences atMiddle Age universities. The ~ wasdivided into the so-calledtrivium(grammar, rhetoric, and dialectics), and thequadrivium(mathematics, geometry, music, and astronomy).Knowledge of the first three disciplines was considered a basic prerequisite for studying allother subjects, which is where the term"triviality"arises. This type of general basic educationis no longer typical at modern universities. After completing the artistic faculty (àArtistenfakultät), studies ofthe higher subjects could begin, that is,"theology law, and medicine,"as Faust's monologuecorrectly states(àUniversitätsgeschichte;àWegestreit).
Artikel(article)Lat.articuluselement, part. Essay in a scientific journal, often as an excerpt of a longer monograph (àMonographie) or a report of current research, or another contribution to a controversy (àKontroverse) in written form (àPaper).Articles are usually several pages in print,include a scientific annex (àAnhang) and discuss a relatively narrow topic with a title that oftenattracts attention but does not reveal much of the contents. The subtitle usually goes into more detail. An abstract (àAbstract) is placed before longer articles.
Artistenfakultät(artistic faculty)Old term for the lower faculty (àFakultät,Also: Lat.facultas inferior),at which the liberal arts (àartes liberales) were taught that served as an entrance to the three higher faculties:law, medicine, and theology. The ~ was therefore not equivalent to today's basic study period(àGrundstudium) in terms of content, as all students had to go through the same basic education no matter which subject they studied later(àPhilosophicum).
Arzt im Praktikum(first-year resident doctor)Abbreviated:AiP.With the changesto the Federal Physician's Regulations in May 2004, this was discontinued. Those who successfully complete their studies have received theirlicenseto practice medicineimmediately since October 2004.
Assessment Center(assessment center)Inthe private sector, this method of applicant selection is doneby observing group work and the evaluation of individual behavior and social competencies in a group.
Assi(no direct translation)Student slang abbreviation for assistant (àAssistant) that has a negative connotation, as it is meant to sound similar to thepejorativeslang term for"asocial."
Assistent(assistant)Lat.assistereaid, help.Academic personnel in departments below the level of a professor. It is therefore a very imprecise term. Usually, however, it refers to scientists with a post-doctoral lecturing qualification (àHabilitation).
AStA(student steering committee, students'union)Abbreviation for: Allgemeiner Studierenden Ausschuss.A committee not recognized everywhere that is open for all students and represents student interestswithin a university.AStA is often the steering committee for the larger student parliament (àStudierendenparlament,àverfasste Studentenschaft).One func-
tion is advising students about financial assistance for education (àBafög),health insurance, or finding accommodations. The AStA costs are sometimes covered by a fee assessed to students together with the other semester fees. The ~ is the executive organ of the elected student body.
Athene(Athena)Lat.Minerva.The Greek goddess of wisdom and innovation, often represented as thegoddess of sciences and the arts, belongs to one of the most important allegorical figures of the spirit of research and humanist education (àBildung).
Atlas(Atlas)Greek mythological figure whose task was to carry the world on his shoulders.From this, the name for a collection of geographical maps arose, first published in the form of large books. Today they are increasingly published using multimedia. Theoretically, all material can be put into the form of an atlas.In particular, there arehistorical, political, medical, and geographical atlases.
Audimax(main auditorium)Lat.auditorium maximumlargest auditorium.Often used for conventions, large meetings, student parties(àPartys), or guest lectures by famous speakers. It may also be used for lectures(àVorlesungen) with a large number of attendees, for example inàStudium Generalelectures.
Aufbaustudium(postgraduate studies)Short academic education thatbuilds on another study program, usually lasting 4 semesters on a defined topic or subjectareaand often related to a profession.
Auf-den-Tisch-klopfen(rapping on the table)A tradition that started at German universities in the 1950s to show approval (àAkklamation).In earlier times, walking sticks were pounded on the ground or feet were scraped to show approval or disapproval. Rapping on the table with a closed fist may come fromfreemasonry or from the guilds in the Middle Ages.
Auflage(edition, print run)The number of copies of a medium produced at a certain time that are completely identical. If a book is being published for the first time, for example, then one speaks of a first edition.
New and improved or revised editions can follow as soon as a book is reprinted. The number of editions of a book can allow for conclusions about its commercial success. The number of the edition used must always be mentioned in a bibliography (àBibliographie) in order to ensure clarity.
Aufsatz(article)Multiple-page scientific contributionona clearly defined topic that can be published as an article (àArtikel) in a journal (àZeitschrift) and must be structured according to a certain form. Key aspects are: placing the topic in a larger context, description of current research, innovative interpretation or new results, conclusion, and outlook as well as references.
Augenwischerei(eye washing, sham)A ritual at universities especially in the 17th century going back to the New Testament story of the healing of a deaf-mute. During the ritual, newly enrolled students'ears and eyes were symbolically cleaned and thus opened. Today it is used as an idiomatic expression that means exactly the opposite.
Aula(hall,auditorium)Greekaulecourtyard or other part of an antique residence that served as a gathering place. At modern universities, the ~ is also often a festively decorated gathering place for representative ceremonies or lectures, for example duringàdies academicus.The term ~ also serves to describeacademic culture as a whole.
Ausgabe(edition,issue)The specific publication type for a title(àTitel),for example as a paperback, study edition, or e-book.Individual types of publication can thus be formally differentiated from one another, also in terms of content, depending on the edition(àAuflage). For journals, the termindicates the number of the publication.
Ausgabe, kritische(critical edition)Usually in the context of old works that are printed in new form with commentary, for examplenovels of world literature or the Bible with explanations and cross-references, or also with publications of new sources. Commentary published on controversial passages within the manuscript(àPaginierung), often with references to other editions or contributions in academic literature.~take into consideration the state of research on the debate about a text and are thus always to be preferred over uncritical editions.
Aushang(posted notification)General information on a bulletin board (àschwarzen Brett) on various current topics at the university such as deadlines, office hours, exams, and events.
Ausländeranteil(proportion of foreigners)Term for the percentage of students who do not have a German education. In Germany, the totalnumber of international studentsat the universities is around 250,000 with an average age of about 26 years. This corresponds to the average age of those students who have a German education(àBildungsinländer).
Ausländerbeauftragter(representative for foreign students)Staff member at a university who is the contact person for issues, questions, and difficulties of international students. Important topics include: residency, language courses, scholarships, insurance, accommodation, integration, rights, and obligations.
Auslands-Bafög(education assistance abroad)Students eligible for financial assistance (àBafög) can also receive assistance abroad under certain conditions after studying for one academic year.www.auslandsbafoeg.de
Auslandsamt(Office of International Affairs)àAkademisches Auslandsamt
Auslandsstudium(study abroad)By taking advantage of partnership programs from universities for students or private initiatives, students can spend time at an international university for a certain amount of time,usually supported by a program and after showing proof of language proficiency.The largest program for international exchangewithin Europe is Erasmus+, inwhich 270,000 students took part in 2012-2013. The German Academic Exchange Service (àDAAD)alsooffers support for German students going abroad and for foreign students in Germany.
Ausleihbibliothek(lending library)Special form of library that allows media to be borrowed in contrast to a reference library (àPräsenzbibliothek).Specific lending periods and deadlines for reservations apply that are used to regulate the movement of media between readers and the location. Typical examples are: university libraries, city libraries, and state and national libraries. In order to use the library, a library card with an expiration date is needed. An application for the library card is necessary.
Austauschstudent(exchange student)A student studying at another university (host university) on the basis of international university agreements. Coursework and examinations done there are recognizedat the home university based on the agreements. Problems can arise if the recognition of coursework and examinations at the other university is not regulated by an agreement(àErasmus+).
Auswahlverfahren(selection procedure)Procedure at individual universities or theàStiftung für Hochschulzulassungto match the number of applicants to the number of existing places, for example by using acceptance tests, interviews, calculating waiting semesters, or using minimum grade requirements. At artistic universities, there is also the possibility to require an audition.
Auszeichnungen, akademische(academic honors)Besides various scientific awards (àWissenschaftspreisen), deserving persons can also be given ~ independent of their subject area, for example honorary academic members of the university (àDoctor honoris causa) or honorary senators.
Autonomie(autonomy)àHochschulautonomie
Autor(author)Creator or writer of a work(àWerk) whose intellectual property is protected by copyright laws (àUrheberrechtsgesetz) and whose texts have been published. Scientific authors are writers of monographs(àMonographien) and articles (àAufsätzen) or other text genres such as reviews or encyclopedia articles (àArtikeln).The modern differentiation among author, co-author, editor, copyist, commentator, and publisher wereunknownor atypical until the Early Modern era.
