Exams

Be responsible and do not miss any important deadlines

What to do? In order to sit an exam and receive credits for a class, you always need to register for each exam during the registration period towards the end of the respective semester.

Register via the CAU-Portal. Please take a look at the information on examination procedures and the frequently asked questions.

Note: Exams are generally scheduled only for the semester that the modules were taught in. This may differ for blocked courses that are held after the first examination phase. Please consider carefully: Failed exams in the second exam period will likely result in a long waiting time until the exam is offered again.

Dates and Deadlines? Download an overview over the important semester dates here.

Issues with the registration? Please take a look at the instructions on using the online tool (German version only). If you have any further questions, reach out to the examination office of Biology at Kiel University.

Exam period? There are two exam periods each semester: Two weeks after the end of classes and two weeks before the beginning of classes of the following semester. There may be different schedules for blocked courses or summer courses. Oral presentations are mostly held during the semester. Always register for all exams that you have completed before the application period (presentations, home work etc.) or that you are going to take and hand in during the examination period.

Note: For examinations taken before the registration period, examination attendance is considered as binding registration. However, you must also technically register for these examinations during the registration period, so that your grades can be recorded in the system. 

Withdrawing from an exam? It is possible to withdraw from an exam up to two weeks before the examination period (extended period for written exams) → “Dates and Deadlines” above and examination cancellation.

! If you need to withdraw due to sickness of you or your child, you and your doctor need to provide the respective forms to the examination office of Biology.

! If you need to withdraw due to other valid reasons, you need to provide the respective form as well as a written justification.

Failing an exam? If you did not pass an exam in the first examination period, please register for the retake option in the second exam phase.

Student duties? Check your admission status two days before the start of the exam period.

Results? Results are available via the campus management system. Lecturers are required to enter the grades into the system until a given deadline (see “Dates and Deadlines” above).

Master Thesis

Master theses at GEOMAR

Towards the end of the third semester when you are preparing your thesis proposal, consult your future supervisor (and second reviewer) and the Examination Board Office regarding the procedure connected to your master's thesis (the master thesis is comprised of the written master thesis and an oral defense).

As your proposal is your "detailed roadmap" for your thesis, most issues like exact title, supervisor, second reviewer etc. are solved this way before you start your thesis work.

 

Further information concerning master's theses

Additional procedures (consult Examination Board Office and study advisor)

A list of master's theses prepared at GEOMAR (list) you can find within OceanRep. OceanRep is an open access digital collection containing the research output of GEOMAR staff and students. Included are journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, theses and more.

  • Exam registration: If you encounter exam registration problems please contact exam office biology (Office Examination Board (web)).

    Generally: for imported courses and courses outside of M. Sc. Biological Oceanography please always contact the person in charge of the module you are attending and the corresponding exam office.

    Campusmanagementsystem

  • OLAT is the central online learning platform of CAU. On OLAT you always find recent material for lectures, seminars etc. 

  • Prof. Dr. Frank Melzner
    Curriculum Coordinator
    Wischhofstraße 1-3
    Room 5-1.311
    Phone: +49 (0)431 600-4274
    E-mail: fmelzner(at)geomar.de

    N.N.

  • Next application period: March 1 to April 15, 2026

    More information at "how to aply"