The individual subsidiary subjects
What do I study in the individual subsidiary subjects?
In principle, the entire Bachelor's degree programme (see restrictions above) at Bielefeld University is open to you for the individual subsidiary subjects and you can choose what suits you best and/or corresponds to your interests. In the following, we present various ways in which you can use the individual subsidiary subjects.
There are also other possible ways of organising the individual subsidiary subjects. If you have any questions or special requests, the academic advisors of the individual faculties will be happy to help.
- Recommendations of the faculties
Below you will find the recommendations of the respective faculties for individual subsidiary subjects. By clicking on the respective faculty name, you will be taken to the corresponding faculty page:
- Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology, Department of Philosophy: Recommendation follows
- Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology, Department of History: Recommendation follows
- Recommendations by subject area
If you are interested in a specific topic rather than a specific subject, you can find a selection of courses and modules in the electronic course catalogue (ekvv) that relate to a specific subject area.
Looking at sustainability from the perspective of different subjects? Want to take a closer look at gender aspects? You will find corresponding recommendations in the electronic course catalogue (ekvv) under the heading "Individual subsidiary subjects - subject areas". The subject areas of professional field, digitalisation, diversity/inclusion, gender, social commitment/sustainability, internationalisation and interdisciplinarity are based on the mission statement for teaching. They are structured according to further subcategories to help you organise your individual subsidiary subjects. If you click on a subject area or sub-category, you will see modules and courses that fit the theme. Are you looking for something else? You can use the module search to find suitable modules. In the module search, you enter a search term and can view the results. All modules matching the search term will be displayed. It may be the case that the modules displayed cannot be used for individual subsidiary subjects without further ado - see restrictions above.
- Disciplinary specialisation in your own subject
You can use the individual subsidiary subjects to do more of what you are already studying. Is there a module in your own subject that interests you, but which you no longer need for your regular degree programme? Do you have the impression that you could acquire further methodological knowledge in your subject, but that this is not included in the standard degree programme but is offered by your faculty? Use the individual subsidiary subjects for this. Here you can include everything that would interest you in your degree programme, but for which there is no more room.
Another option is to have extended internships recognised as part of the individual subsidiary subjects , i.e. an internship that goes beyond the regular time required in the degree programme.
- Interdisciplinary specialisation (interdisciplinary)
You can use the individual subsidiary subjects to supplement your studies in your subject(s) with courses offered by other subjects/faculties. Do you think it is important to better understand the historical background of the theories you are studying? Look for relevant courses and/or modules across the university's curriculum. Do you have the impression that you should look again at other aspects of the topics you are currently interested in, which are primarily dealt with in another subject but complement your own well? Select the relevant modules and/or courses and study them for the individual subsidiary subjects. Here you can bring in anything that complements your regular studies from other disciplines.
You can use the module search to find the relevant modules. In the module search, you enter a search term and can view the results. All modules matching the search term are displayed. It may happen that the modules displayed cannot be used for the individual subsidiary subjects without further ado - see restrictions above.
- Taster and familiarisation (multidisciplinarity)
You can use the individual subsidiary subjects to get to know other subjects and get a taste of them. Have you always wanted to know what Chemistry at university feels like compared to school? Just go there. Is there something in law that really interests you? Have a taster there. You can look at and try out everything. Of course, you should make sure to check whether there are any courses and/or modules that require special prior knowledge. If in doubt, please ask module coordinators and/or teaching staff whether a course is also suitable for non-specialists.
You can use the module search to find the relevant modules. In the module search, you enter a search term and can view the results. All modules matching the search term are displayed. It may be the case that the modules displayed cannot be used for individual subsidiary subjects without further ado - see restrictions above.
- Methodological training
You can use the individual subsidiary subjects to further your knowledge of scientific methods in general. Do you have the impression that it would be important for your degree programme to have some knowledge of statistics, but this is not offered in your subject area? Have a look at the methods courses offered in other subjects to see if you can find a suitable course there. Or do you think that your presentation skills could be improved, but there are no courses in your subject area? Search the courses offered by the entire university to see if you can find something suitable.
In addition to the courses offered by individual subjects, there are also interdisciplinary courses offered by central centres that you can use to improve your academic writing skills. You can also take courses from this area in the individual subsidiary subjects. The Skills Team (ZLL) offers two modules. In addition to "Study and career-relevant skills" , there is also the module "Skills for student activities in studying and teaching", which can be used in particular to qualify for work as a tutor or student advisor.
- Languages
You can use the individual subsidiary subjects to learn languages. These may be languages that you need for your degree programme, for example if you have to prove that you have a Latinum or Graecum. They can also be languages that you would like to learn for the first time, for example because you are planning a stay in a country whose language you do not yet speak. Or languages in which you would like to deepen your knowledge for academic work. There is a wide range of language learning programmes on offer.
- Special offers in individual subsidiary subjects/structured offers
There are also programmes specially designed for individual subsidiary subjects. These can be specific modules that are designed to give students from other disciplines an insight into a discipline or a specific topic. Alternatively, there are modules that are specifically designed to complement your own degree programme. On this electronic course catalogue (ekvv) page you will find the range of modules specifically designated for the Individual Supplement. In individual cases, there may be modules that require the study of a specific subject (e.g. English for Chemistry students). Please refer to the respective module descriptions and/or contact the module coordinators.
There are also special modularised courses (students and commerce and industry; Europe Intensive) that offer you a programme for the full number of credits of your individual subsidiary subjects. Please note that a special application is sometimes required for these programmes.
- Vocational training
- Recognition of extended internships/other university programmes
Another option is to have extended internships recognised as part of the individual supplementary area, i.e. an internship that goes beyond the regular time required in the degree programme. You can also have credits from previous studies or a stay abroad recognised. Please contact the relevant "Recognition services".
Some faculties also offer internship modules specifically designed for the Individual Supplement. You can find out more about this from your respective faculty, for example from the internship officers.
The individual subsidiary subjects
The individual subsidiary subjects are a special feature of the Bielefeld model of studies. It offers you as a student the opportunity to supplement your studies in your subject(s) according to your interests. The organisation of this area is up to you, unless the relevant core subject faculty has made arrangements for the Structured Supplement (see below).
The following rules must be observed:
In the specialised Bachelor's degree , 30 credit points (LP) of your studies are studied as part of the Individual Supplement. Of these, you can study 20 CP in the form of modules (a combination of 5 CP and 10 CP modules is possible), and there are further options. The other 10 CP can be studied both in modules and as a free combination of individual courses or offerings; in the case of a free combination, there is no performance assessment. However, if the respective course is to appear on the transcript, at least one academic achievement must be completed.
In principle, all Bachelor's modules of the study model can be selected, provided that any necessary prerequisites of the modules are fulfilled (see module description of the respective modules). Modules may be subject to admission restrictions (see electronic course catalogue (eKVV) entry for the respective course). Students who must complete a module for their degree will be given priority when allocating places. Original Master's modules cannot be selected as these modules build on a first professional qualification.
See also: Examination regulations on access and admission to modules
As a general rule, the current subject-specific regulations (FsB) must always be read first to determine the number of credit points available for the individual subsidiary subjects. The quickest way to access all FsB in the Bachelor's programme is via the study information pages. Here you can check whether your faculty has specific regulations for individual subsidiary subjects.
Notes
- Structured supplement
Some subjects provide for a deviation from the regulations explained above in the form of a structured supplement. Specific modules or a specific selection of modules are provided for here. The exact structure can be found in the respective subject-specific regulations (FsB). The quickest way to access all FsB in the Bachelor's programme is via the study information pages. Here you can check whether your faculty has specific regulations for individual subsidiary subjects.
- Students in teaching degree programmes
The Academic Master Degree Programme does not provide for individual subsidiary subjects in all subjects. The regulations for individual subsidiary subjects are subject-specific. It is therefore necessary to consult the current FsB for your subject. The options listed below for structuring the individual subsidiary subjects (see drop-down boxes below) also apply to the Academic Master Degree Programme (see also Master's examination regulations (fw.)). The quickest way to access all FsB in the Master's programme is via the study information pages. Here you can see which specific regulations your faculty has made for the individual subsidiary subjects.
FAQs: The individual subsidiary subjects in the specialised Bachelor's degree programmes
This page summarises basic information on individual subsidiary subjects. Further offers can then be accessed via links.
- What are individual subsidiary subjects?
The individual subsidiary subjects (comprising 30 credit points) are intended to give students on the Bachelor's degree programme the opportunity to develop a distinctly individual profile and self-designed education. Students can, for example, also deal with issues and methods from other disciplines and familiarise themselves with and understand different perspectives. For this reason, the area can be organised relatively freely and can also be used in part for "study-related courses".
- How can the individual subsidiary subjects be used?
The use and organisation of this area is left to the students, unless the relevant core subject faculty has made arrangements for the Structured Supplement (see below).
The faculties are required to make recommendations and suggestions to their students regarding the organisation and use of the individual subsidiary subjects.
Possible options are
- the study of additional modules from the subjects studied (e.g. further offers for subject-related in-depth study and specialisation)
- Modules from other subjects (e.g. basic modules)
- Special, newly designed modules from the existing courses offered (e.g. overview and introductory courses on specific subject areas)
- Structured programmes (programmes such as Europe Intensive; Students and Commerce and Industry; Advice, Support, Collaboration; foreign language courses, etc.)
- Completion of internships relevant to the degree programme
- Achievements made abroad (study abroad)
Exception: The structured supplement
Faculties can stipulate content-related obligations of the individual subsidiary subjects in the respective subject-specific regulations of the core subject. These commitments may relate to a maximum of 20 credit points and must always be accompanied by a regulation on how to fulfil these requirements. In this way, it is possible to react flexibly to the individual needs of individual students.
- What else is there to consider and where can the offers be found?
Of the 30 credit points (CP) of the individual subsidiary subjects in Bachelor's degree programmes with a subject-specific (fw.) orientation, 20 CP must generally be proven in modules or in such a way that credit points are awarded in accordance with the relevant regulations. In this respect, the following options are available:
- Completion of modules for which there are official module descriptions from Bielefeld University
- Completion of structured programmes (e.g. students and commerce and industry, Europa Intensiv)
- Credit points for the individual extension of internships anchored in module descriptions
- Credit points acquired from other recognised universities or educational institutions
- Lump-sum recognition of training completed in accordance with the Vocational Training Act, which appears to be relevant to the degree programme; 30 credit points can be awarded for this in individual subsidiary subjects
The further 10 credit points may be studied both in modules and as a free combination of individual courses or programmes.
If modules are studied in the individual subsidiary subjects, the regulations of the respective module descriptions apply. There are no special regulations because the module is studied for the individual subsidiary subjects. If modules provide for graded module (partial) examinations, these must also be completed. The grades are documented in the transcript, but are not included in the grade calculation.
If individual courses amounting to 10 CP are studied, no formal module completion is required or possible. Individual coursework or (partial) module examinations can be recorded here without having to complete the other modules.
In principle, all modules of the Bachelor's programme offered by Bielefeld University may be selected. The only possible restrictions are the existence of necessary prerequisites (see module description) and possible allocation of places (see electronic course catalogue (ekvv) entry for the respective course). To simplify the search and to summarise courses that are not explicitly assigned to a degree programme, i.e. are only offered for individual subsidiary subjects, there is a special course page in the course information. In addition to a list of courses offered, a module search can also be found there. There is also an electronic course catalogue (ekvv) page with specialised courses.
- How are the entries posted in examination management and displayed in the transcript?
The modules completed in the individual subsidiary subjects are recorded in the same way as all other modules. These achievements are also shown in the transcript as usual. However, they are then allocated under the corresponding heading.
If 10 credit points are covered by a free selection of individual courses, the documentation in the transcript depends on the organisation of the attendance of these courses: If courses are selected to which no coursework or module (partial) examination is assigned, no course-specific mention is made in the transcript. In this case, this compilation is documented by a general note at the end of the transcript and at the end of the degree programme. If, on the other hand, coursework and/or examinations have been completed in one or more courses, these will be listed separately as usual and documented in the transcript.
Finally, a note on the assessment of the individual subsidiary subjects: The achievements and grades achieved in this area are not included in the calculation of the final grade. However, if the selected modules (must) be completed with a module examination, this examination is also the prerequisite for booking the module in the examination management system.
The examination office of the respective core subject faculty will be happy to answer any questions regarding booking. The best way to contact the responsible examination office is via the information pages of the respective core subject or via the list of all examination offices .
- Where can I get advice on individual subsidiary subjects?
As the individual subsidiary subjects comprise a whole semester - i.e. one sixth of the Bachelor's degree programme - it is advisable to consider the structure of this area carefully. The respective academic and student counselling services of the individual faculties will be happy to provide advice and support. Some faculties have also summarised their recommendations and suggestions on their own websites. This means that anyone can get an initial idea, regardless of counselling times.