FAQs: Current Students

General Information about the Master's Program

General Questions

1. How can I improve my knowledge of German?
2. Where can I find general information about writing my Master's thesis?
3. Can I take a semester of study abroad?
4. What happens if I have not achieved the required 120 ECTS-credits after the 4th semester?
5. What documents do I receive upon successful completion of the Master’s program?
6. How do I get accommodations for my disability?
7. Can I suspend my studies if I need to?
8. Can I retake an exam even if I passed it the first time?
9. How do I view my exam after it has been graded?
10. What do I do if I get sick?
11. How often are courses repeated?
12. What rules apply regarding internships?
13. What calculators are allowed in exams?
14. Where can I find a semester calendar?

Administrative/Technical Questions:

top

1. How can I improve my knowledge of German?

Different institutions offer language courses at LMU Munich in cooperation with the International Office. Please refer to this information from the Interantional Student Guide about Learning German.

2. Where can I find general information about writing my Master's thesis?

Information can be found here.

3. Can I take a semester of study abroad?

In the Master’s Program in Economics there is no compulsory semester of study abroad. However, Master’s students have the option to spend a semester abroad at one of our partner universities within the framework of our exchange program. 

Here you can find information from the Department of Economics Exchange Office regarding study abroad.

Here you can find more information from the International Office regarding study abroad (PDF 71 KB).

4. What happens if I haven't achieved the required 120 ECTS-credits after the 4th semester?

The regular period of study consists of 4 semesters. The maximum study period is 6 semester, within this time the 120 ECTS points have to be achieved.

5. What documents do I receive upon successful completion of the Master’s program?

Following successful completion of the Master’s examinations you will receive:

• The Master’s Diploma in German and in English showing that you have obtained the academic qualification Master of Science (M.Sc.).
• The Master’s Certificate in German and English, which includes the title of your Master’s Thesis and the overall grade achieved.
• A Transcript of Records in German, which lists all the modules you have successfully completed and the courses contained in them, including the ECTS points awarded.
• A Diploma Supplement in English, which gives detailed information about the form and level of the Master’s qualification, the status of the LMU Munich as well as a description of the Master’s Program in Economics.

6. How do I get accommodations for my disability? 

• Those with severe disabilities may be granted accommodations according to the Examination Regulations, for example in the form of test time extensions, etc.
• To whom this may apply, please come to the Examination Office during our office hours for consultation.
• Evidence of disability (e.g. identification card which indicates handicap) must be included with the request for accommodation.
• The examination board will review the request and determine an appropriate accommodation depending on the type of disability.
• For those minoring in economics: Disability accommodations can be acquired through the Examination Office of your major degree program. A copy of the accommodation confirmation must be handed in, together with a list of the exams to be taken, to the Economics Examination Office before the final exam registration period is over.

 7. Can I take a leave of absence / suspend my studies?

Students who are prevented from properly completing their studies due to significant and unavoidable reasons can usually be granted a leave of absence (=suspension of studies) for a maximum of two semesters.

A leave of absence doesn’t count towards your total number of semesters – it essentially puts a pause on your studies – which is why courses completed during a leave of absence can’t be counted towards your degree (with the exception of maternity/paternity leave and caregiver leave).

The semester fees must nevertheless be paid for the requested semester and a punctual and proper re-registration (Rückmeldung) for the respective semester must be completed. You can see the current status of your account with the LMU’s online self-service functions.

Please be aware:

A leave of absence (e.g. for a year-long study abroad or long term absence due to parental leave) must be requested for each semester separately.

A semester-long leave of absence must be requested before the respective deadline:

• October 30th for the winter semester
• April 30th for the summer semester

If an unforeseeable and significant reason for a leave of absence arises during the semester, a leave of absence can be requested until:

• December 5th for the winter semester
• June 5th for the summer semester

Leaves of absence during the 1st or after the 16th semester of study cannot be guaranteed. A retroactive leave of absence will not be granted for any reason.

Reasons for leave of absence (links are unfortunately at this point only available in German!):

• Sickness
• Study Abroad
• Time Abroad as an Assistant Teacher
• Mandatory Internship
• Voluntary Internship
• Maternity Leave / Parental Leave
• Caring for / Raising Family Members
• other reasons

8. Can I retake an exam even if I passed it the first time?

Passed Exams:

• Exams taken first within the standard study period (6 semesters) which were passed during the first attempt can be taken again for an improved grade one time and only during the next regular offered exam date according to the regulations regarding voluntary exam retakes.

Failed Exams:

• Failed exams (with the exception of a master’s thesis) can be retaken as many times as you like before the end of your sixth semester.

Please note:

• Only the highest grade of the two will be recorded. In case you receive the same grade both times, the second one will be recorded.
• During a leave of absence you cannot retake an exam for a better grade.
• In courses with limited capacities (e.g. specialized seminars), students who are taking the exam for the first time have priority.
• To retake an exam for a grade improvement, simply register through LSF for the next available exam date in the respective module.
• Optional modules are worth 6-12 ECTS credits, and are considered complete when the exam for the corresponding module course has been passed. If you register to take more than one exam in a single module, the regulations regarding grade improvement for a voluntary exam retake come into effect, and you lose ECTS-Credits because only one exam can be evaluated in the case of a voluntary exam retake.
• Please note, therefore, that you should normally only apply for one exam per module!
• In case you have taken an exam in an Optional Module course without registering for it via LSF, then the grade will be recorded temporarily in the account "VWL-Prüfungen ohne LSF-Anmeldung" (Economics exams without registration) and then transferred over to an appropriate Optional Module.

9. How do I view my exam after it has been graded?

You are allowed to view every completed final exam after correction and grading. The dates during which you may do this will be determined and announced by the respective department chair or responsible lecturer.

Viewings cannot be guaranteed outside the given timeframe!

10. What do I do in case of illness?
 

1. During Final Exams
   
   If you come down with a prolonged sickness during the final exam period, please contact student guidance ("Studienberatung").
    
2. While Working on Your Master’s Thesis
   
   Students who fall ill while working on their Master’s Thesis must provide evidence of their illness as soon as possible! This must be completed at the very latest before the thesis deadline. Along with the proof of illness, you must provide a written request for a deadline extension, which will be granted depending on the appropriate examination regulations.
   
   Proof of illness can be obtained by going to a doctor and having them verify the duration of your illness and your inability to complete your thesis. Simply provide them with this form (pdf 92KB) and have them fill it out. You must then bring the completed form and a written request for a deadline extension as soon as possible to the examination office: ISC, Ludwigstraße 28, front building ground floor or room 020.
   
   If you are required to stay in a hospital as an inpatient (i.e. you had to remain in the hospital for treatment), a confirmation from the hospital will suffice as proof.
   
   Credible proof of inability to complete your thesis, plus a written request for a deadline extension (a request via email is not sufficient), must be provided to the examination office (address above) as soon as possible.
   
   If you are unsure about anything, please come visit us at the examination office (ISC) during our office hours.

11. How often are courses repeated?

For Compulsory Module courses which are only offered once per year, there will be a repeat tutorial as well as a repeat final exam in the following semester.

12. What rules apply regarding internships?

You may be granted a leave of absence for an internship if the following two conditions are met:

• The internship overlaps with at least two thirds of the semester, and
• The internship is somehow related to your studies (to be determined by the ISC).

The Studentenkanzlei (Student Record Office) can only grant you a leave of absence for an internship if you present to them a corresponding confirmation from the Studienberatung (Student Guidance).
Please be sure to also refer to the information found on the faculty’s website (German).

13. What calculators are allowed in exams?

Conforming to the guidelines regarding allowed calculators in the Abitur test in Bavaria, only calculators satisfying the following conditions are allowed in exams at the LMU:

• The only calculators allowed in final exams are non-programmable and are unable to connect to the internet.
• A calculator is considered programmable if functions, programs or text can be entered, saved or used which were not originally included with the calculator.
• Calculators with graphing functions or with the typical functions of a computer algebra system (CAS) are not allowed on exams.

14. Where can I find a semester calendar?

Need to know when the semester starts and ends? You can find a link to the semester schedule here.

Questions Regarding Administrative/Technical Matters

1. How do I change my address?

A change of address can be completed online with the Student Record Office (Studentenkanzlei) (in German). Please also make sure to provide a current phone number as well.

In urgent cases, you may also notify the ISC of your change of address. 

2. How can I transfer credits completed at a different university?

Whether you need to transfer credits taken in a different subject area within the LMU, or from a completely different university, information on how to proceed may be found under Credit Transfers.

3. How do I complete the matriculation/enrollment process?

Enrollment/matriculation can be completed through Student Record Office (Studentenkanzlei) (German).

4. How do I register for / withdraw from final exams? 

• Be sure to register for final exams within the given time period!

• Registration can be completed during the appropriate time period via LSF using your usual login info.

• Details about the registration period can be found on the following website, under “Klausuran- und abmeldung”: "Prüfungsorganisation"

• Please be aware that irregular final exams (e.g. ones taking place during the middle of the semester) have separate registration periods. More information can be found in LSF or on the MSc Economics Homepage.

 5. How do I view / print out my Transcript of Records?

Should you need a copy of your completed courses or a transcript, you can find it available for download via LSF under the tab “Transcript” (“Notenspiegel”).

6. When do I receive my final Grade Report?

Final grade reports are printed every month for those who have completed their degree in that time. The deadline for grades to be reported to the ISC is always the last Wednesday of the month.

Grade reports are printed automatically; they must not be requested.

The finalization of the grade reports is completed subsequently and is estimated to be completed by the middle of the following month. Grade reports with print date May 2016 are now ready and can be picked up at the Examination Office (ISC; room 020).

Delivering transcripts through the mail is not possible.

Transcripts may also be picked up by someone properly authorized by the recipient.

• Authorization Form (English) (PDF 71,3KB)
• Vollmacht Vorlage (Deutsch) (PDF 175 KB)

Please be aware that you or the authorized person must be able to provide some form of photo identification.

Every semester there is a graduation ceremony for those who graduated in that semester. Invitations will be distributed personally.

Special rules for grade reports, which are to be presented during the graduation ceremony:

All grades (including the final assessment of your thesis) must be submitted to the ISC at least 14 days before the graduation ceremony.

Grades which are submitted after this can no longer be considered.

7. How do I get my LMU Login information?

The examination office (ISC) communicates with students via their campus email addresses. Thus we suggest checking your campus email regularly or setting it up to automatically forward mail to your primary email address.

To find out your login information or to get help with any issues regarding your LMU Login, please contact the IT Service Desk.

8. What about the Learning Agreement?

In several exchange programs, particularly ERASMUS+, a Learning Agreement is necessary. Please use the information found on the websites for the Faculty of Economics to inform yourself about the various programs and their requirements. The Academic Counselling Office (Fachstudienberatung) responsible for study abroad inquiries would gladly answer any individual questions.

The appropriate forms for the Learning Agreement for ERASMUS+ can be obtained from the LMU International Office. (Please acknowledge the form guidelines; in addition: please enter courses in Table B in the form “Original Course Title -> Module at the LMU”.) In case of uncertainty please contact the Examination Office (ISC).

The ERASMUS+ Learning Agreement will be signed at the ISC.

Important: For ERASMUS+, only courses in the Learning Agreement can be transferred to the LMU! Deviations from the courses agreed upon in the Learning Agreement will not be considered for transfer.

9. How are grades calculated?

• In some courses, grades will be based on multiple forms of evaluation (e.g. a final exam and presentation), called “partial evaluations”
• For such courses, the final grade is the arithmetic mean of the grades earned in each partial evaluation.
• Final grades are calculated exactly up to two decimal places.
• Grades equal to or less than a 4,00 are passing, grades greater than 4,00 (meaning 4,01+) result in the grade 5,0 (fail).
• A 5,0 in a single partial evaluation can thus be compensated for by getting better grades in the other partial evaluations, so that the average is above a 4,0.
• This opportunity, however, no longer applies if the student failed to make a reasonable attempt for a partial evaluation (e.g. by not showing up to an exam) for reasons within their control. In this case, the final grade is a 5,0.
  

 10. What are Compulsory Modules?

Compulsory Modules are courses which must be taken by every Master's student. They are:

• Mathematics for Economists (6 ECTS)
• Microeconomics (6 ECTS)
• Macroeconomics (6 ECTS)
• Econometrics (6 ECTS)
• Public Economics (6 ECTS)

• Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)

11. What are Optional Modules? 

Optional Modules are elective courses and you must earn a total of 60 ECTS in optional modules in order to successfully complete your Master's Degree. 

6 ECTS-Elective Modules

• Topics in Economic Theory - Methods (6 ECTS)
• Topics in Economic Theory - Applications (6 ECTS)
• Topics in Economic Analysis and Empirical Economics - Methods (6 ECTS)
• Topics in Economic Analysis and Empirical Economics - Applications (6 ECTS)
• Topics in Economic Policy - Methods (6 ECTS)
• Topics in Economic Policy - Applications (6 ECTS)
• Advanced Economic Research - Methods (6 ECTS)
• Advanced Economic Research - Applications (6 ECTS)

12 ECTS-Elective Modules

• Studies in Economic Theory (12 ECTS)
• Studies in Economic Analysis and Empirical Economics (12 ECTS)
• Studies in Public Economics (12 ECTS)
• Studies in Economic Research (12 ECTS)

Of the 60 ECTS obtained in Optional Modules, at least one must be chosen from the 12 ECTS modules.

A maximum of 3 electives may be chosen from the 12 ECTS modules.

Please note that several general course offerings (=place holders) are listed in the study and examination regulations, which aren’t offered under these general names.

The specific elective economics courses which will be offered each semester can be found in the online course catalogue (LSF). The desired module classification for a concrete course/examination can be determined by viewing the module-tree at the bottom of the examination registration page in LSF.

If you register to take more than one exam in a single module, the regulations regarding grade improvement for a voluntary exam retake come into effect, and you lose ECTS-Credits because only one exam can be evaluated (see here).

Please note that you should normally only apply for one exam per module!