Significant Amendment and Closure of Existing Study Programmes

Significant amendment and closure of existing degree programmes also requires agreement with the Federal State and inclusion in the study programme target agreement. A significant amendment or closure is usually the result of incorporating the findings from the above-mentioned quality assurance tools. The subject and motives are also recorded in brief summaries in the event of significant amendments and closure.

A significant amendment in this sense is in particular a change of name, academic title, degree awarded and standard course length as well as the abolition or introduction of fields of study or specialisation, study focuses or (international) co-operations. A modification, addition or omission of modules is not a significant amendment and therefore does not require the involvement of the Federal State.

The significant amendment must be notified to the Ministry of Science and Culture by December 1st of the year preceding the planned amendment for review; confirmation from the responsible Ac- creditation Council that the planned amendment does not reduce the quality of the relevant degree programme and is therefore covered by the accreditation must be submitted by March 1st of the following year.

Closure of a degree programme results in no further registration taking place in the first semester. Transfers into later semesters during the standard course length remain possible provided there are cohorts available. Registered students continue to receive supervision until graduation in accordance with the provisions made in the relevant examination and study regulations.

The Presidential Board decides on the closure of degree programmes as well as their introduction in accordance with the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act, again on the basis of the opinions of the Faculty Councils and the Senate.