I would like to graduate my Bachelor's program. What do I have to do?

To complete your Bachelor’s program (180 ECTS), as well as your Masters’s program (120 ECTS), you have to register for your graduation at the faculty of Arts and Social sciences. It is required that you have achieved the required amount of ECTS for each study program at the appropriate level by the end of the finishing semester. Starting 1 November 2022 you can track and review your progress at any time in the «Study Progress & Graduation» app. If you have fulfilled your program requirements, you can register for graduation via this app.

Study guide (available in German only) Chapter 6

Further information about completing Bachelor's studies

What is the composition of the grade in the Bachelor's diploma?

The degree is assessed with a weighted overall grade. The graded modules flow into the respective study program with the weight of their ECTS. The study programs flow into the weighted overall grade with the weight of the given study program size. Both the study program grades, and the weighted overall grade are calculated with unrounded initial values.

Framework ordinance governing study in the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs offered by the University of Zurich's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (available in German only) §51

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Is it possible to book lectures for the module group 'Anwendungen in kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Kernbereichen'?

No lectures are offered in this module group. Only seminars or research seminars from old study programs can be credited in this group.

Course catalogue

Can I have modules from my earlier studies credited?

Modules can only be credited if they have not been credited to another degree before. If a module is already listed in a certificate, it can no longer be credited for another degree.
In some cases modules can be recognized. The respective ECTS, however, will have to be compensated (cf. question compensation).

Recognition of academic achievements (available in German only)

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Can I compensate modules I already completed in my earlier studies?

Externally completed courses, as well as proven language skills, can be compensated if these competencies are taught as core modules in your study program at the UZH. The core module will be recognized as completed with 0 ECTS. The core module is then considered as fulfilled. The ECTS of the core modules must be earned with other modules.

Study regulations §37

Recognition of academic achievements (available in German only)

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What is the scope of the Bachelor Thesis and what should be taken into account when booking the thesis module?

As a BA major student, you will have to write a BA Thesis with a scope of 15 ECTS. For more information regarding the required length and other formal guidelines, please ask your supervisor.
The theoretical and empirical approach will be developed in the research seminar. Therefore, the research seminar is generally linked to the BA thesis. You will be informed about support and procedure in the research seminar. Important: You have to book the BA thesis separately from the research seminar!

Important: You have to book the Bachelor Thesis separately from the research seminar!

Study regulations §25-28

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I missed a deadline. Can I still book a module?
The deadlines are binding!
After these dates, bookings or cancellations are generally no longer possible.
For questions concerning bookings and cancellations please contact: modulbuchung@phil.uzh.ch

Booking and Cancellation Deadlines

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I am soon starting my Bachelor studies in communication science and media research. What should I book in my first year? 

In the first two semesters you should book the core modules from the study entry phase. These are mostly modules from the module groups 'Einführung in die Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung', as well as 'Grundlagen Methoden und Statistik'. Additionally you can choose lectures from the module groups 'Gegenstandsbereiche der Kommunikationswissenschaft' and 'Weitere Themenfelder der Kommunikationswissenschaft'. Make sure to consider the conditions of eligibility before booking a module.

Sample curriculum BA 120 (available in German only)

Sample curriculum BA 60 (available in German only)

What is a core module?

Core modules (also referred to as compulsory modules) are offered regularly (each semester or each spring or autumn semester) and are obligatory for all students of the given study program. A failed core module can be repeated once. No substitution is possible. A module failed twice will lead to a definite rejection from the program.

Module definitions

Study guide (available in German only) Chapter 3.3

What to do if having problems with module bookings or cancellations of modules?

With problems concerning bookings or cancellations of modules, the student services of the faculty of arts and social sciences can help: modulbuchung@phil.uzh.ch

How do I know what module group a given module belongs to? 

There is two ways to determine into which module group a module belongs:

1. All core elective and core modules, as well as many of the elective modules, can be found in the module catalogue of the study program. In this document, the module group is mentioned for every module. You can find the module catalogue in the legal bases of the faculty of arts and social sciences.
2. In the digital course catalogue of the UZH, all modules can be arranged according to their module groups. To do so, start with your study program then go to the modules. With the small arrow in the top center right of the program name, you can display the modules by module group.

Legal bases Bachelor (available in German only)

Legal bases Master (available in German only)

Course catalogue

How do I find a module in the course catalogue?

The modules of our BA programs are listed under Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (RVO19) – 120 (Major) or 60 (Minor) Communication Science and Media research. With the search function modules, courses and lecturers can be found directly.

Study guide (available in German only)

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Plagiarism is the complete or partial adoption of another's work without indicating the source and the author. Plagiarism is basically a violation of copyright.

If a work or part of it is a plagiarism, the performance record will be graded as unsatisfactory and disciplinary action may be taken. Literal quotations that are not marked as such with quotation marks and are only referenced like a paraphrase with a (cf. source citation) are also considered plagiarism.

Factsheet plagiarism UZH [German]

Self-plagiarism is also plagiarism. This applies to whole papers or parts if the latter have already been submitted as part of another paper. Therefore, you are not allowed to use your achievements twice. In case of double utilization of a work or even only parts of it, both performance records will be graded as insufficient (because the double utilization affects both works). Since you are informed of this, such an attempt will be considered cheating and may also result in further disciplinary action.

If you take over text passages from your own work, these must also be marked with quotation marks or, in the case of content takeovers, marked as paraphrases. In the bibliography, your work will then be listed as gray literature.

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Core modules can be repeated once. If a core module is failed twice, this leads to a subject ban. Other modules can be substituted. The type of repetition is listed in the module catalogue.

Framework Regulation on the Bachelor and Master programmes at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University Zurich (RVO PhF) (available in German only) Repetition of modules, §28, §29

The booking or registration of the module is at the same time also the booking or registration of the examination.

Framework Regulation on the Bachelor and Master programmes at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University Zurich (RVO PhF) (available in German only) §20

How can I register for a retake in a compulsory module? (valid from fall semester 2022)

If you have not passed the exam of a compulsory module on the first date or were unable to take it, you will receive a request in the module booking tool to register for the retake. You can then register yourself within a defined period. 
Study guide(available in German only) Chapter 3.5

What do I have to do if I failed an exam? (valid from fall semester 2022)

For core modules there is a retake offered in the same semester. If you did not pass the exam on the first date or were unable to take it, you will receive a request in the module booking tool to register for the retake. You can register within an indicated time period. If you do not want to take the repeat exam, you can book the module again in a subsequent semester. For elective modules no possibilities for repetition are offered. In that case you need to book another module in a following semester. Take the opportunity to inspect the examination! 

Study guide (available in German only) Chapter 3.4 and 3.5
Study regulations §23
Framework Regulation on the Bachelor and Master programmes at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University Zurich (RVO PhF) (available in German only) §28, §29

Study guide (available in German only) Chapter 7.4

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Generally, this is always possible. All our Major and Minor Study programs have the same amount of ECTS in the assessment phase of two semesters. Therefore, you can switch your Major and Minor Study Program without prolonging your studies.

Changing Degree and/or Study Program

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I would like to start the Bachelor at IKMZ in spring semester. Is this possible?

In general, it is possible to start in the spring semester. However, a start in spring takes one semester longer compared to a start in the fall semester. This is due to the different prerequisites of the individual modules and module groups, as well as the rhythms in which they are offered. If you start in the spring semester, you can already book the two compulsory modules "Basistheorien der Kommunikationswissenschaft" and "Statistik und Datenanalyse: Einführung". In addition, you can book elective and compulsory elective modules from the groups "Gegenstandsbereiche der Kommunikationswissenschaft" and "Weitere Themenfelder der Kommunikationswissenschaft".

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Who do the transitional rules concern? 

The transitional rules apply to all students who:
a) began their studies before the fall semester 2019 (August 1, 2019) in one of the old programs and
b) resume or continue their studies in the major study program of communication science and media research up to and including 2023. If conditions a. and b. are not met, the appendix to the study regulations valid at the time of the change will be applied.

Transitional Rules BA 120 (available in German only)
Transitional Rules BA 60 (available in German only)

How many ECTS from the Studium Generale can I get credited to my Bachelor's degree?

Studium Generale is only available in the transitional rules. If all the requirements of the module groups are met, 4 ECTS points for minor students and 10 ECTS points for major students can be credited as Studium Generale.
The new programs starting from fall semester 2019 do not contain Studium Generale anymore!

Transitional Rules BA 120 (available in German only)
Transitional Rules BA 60 (available in German only)

If a module from an old study program does not have the same amount of ECTS as the equivalent module in the new program, how many ECTS are credited to me?

The amount of ECTS of the module you passed will be credited. If, for example, you have successfully completed an old core lecture to the extent of 4 ECTS, 4 ECTS will be credited to the corresponding module group.

Transitional Rules BA 120 (available in German only)
Transitional Rules BA 60 (available in German only)

Should I choose the Bachelor Thesis for 6 or 15 ECTS?

The 6 ECTS Bachelor Thesis is normally only chosen by students who have already successfully completed an old two-semester research seminar (12 ECTS). In these old research seminars, a large part of the workload was already used as a preparation for the thesis, which was then only awarded 6 ECTS.
You are free to choose the 6 or 15 ECTS version. If you, however, choose a new research seminar and the old Bachelor Thesis, you have practically no support for the thesis and, of course, you have to acquire the missing points from other areas.

How do I know what achievements I will be credited after changing into a new study program and what modules I still have to book?

With the requirements lists from the different modulegroups and the equivalence tables in the transitional rules. The tranisitional rules contain how many ECTS are required for a modulegroups and what core modules are required.
The new document called “Studienstand”can be found on your student portal where it can also be ordered online. There is an option to order a simulation before chaning into another study program. The 'Studienstand' shows which ECTS are credited to which modulegroup.

Studienstand

Transitional Rules BA 120(available in German only)
Transitional Rules BA 60 (available in German only)

How many core elective modules do I have to complete if I started my BA major (120) before fall semester 2019?

According to the transitional rules for major students, at least 3 ECTS have to be gained in the module group “Gegenstandsbereich der Kommunikationswissenschaften”This means you have to complete at least one core elective module.

If a module of a new study program gives more ECTS than the old equivalent, do I have to gain extra ECTS in order to pass the modul?

No, you completed the module group if you successfully completed all the modules from the equivalent table, even if you reached less ECTS than you would with the new modules. In total you do obviously need 120 resp. 60 ECTS in order to complete your studies. If you, however, met all the requirements of the modulegroups, you can then choose any modules to reach the full amount of ECTS.

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I just started my studies and realized that some of the modules from my major and my minor overlap. What should I do?

This is a problem many students have to deal with. Considering the large number of subjects and possible combinations it is unfortunately not possible to prevent this.
First make sure whether you can complete one of the modules later in your studies without prolonging them. If this is not possible, you can think about starting your minor only in your second study year. Do not forget, however, to make sure your minor can be completed in only four semesters if you do not want to prolong your studies.

Study guide Chapter 2.5 (available in German only)

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Can I book Master's modules while still being in my Bachelor's program?

If your summary of credits shows that you have earned at least 120 ECTS credits in a Bachelor's degree program at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (PhF), you may complete pre-Master's modules from the PhF worth a maximum of 30 ECTS credits (overall & including all semesters) in the following semester. You can book these modules yourself via the module booking tool.

Study guide Chapter 3.8 (available in German only)

Which modules can I book as pre-Master's modules?

The module catalog indicates whether the module is suitable as a pre-Master’s module. For us, this includes the P-modules "Multivariate Statistics" and "Science theory and Research Logic", but also all optional lectures from the group "Research Areas of Communication Science".

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Who can I contact if my question was not answered here?

General questions about the studies at the faculty of arts and social sciences: studium@phil.uzh.ch

Module bookings and cancellations: modulbuchung@phil.uzh.ch

Informations about graduating: abschluss@phil.uzh.ch

Specific questions about IKMZ study programs: programmkoordination@ikmz.uzh.ch

Student Services