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Graduate School of the KIT

FAQ Relating to COVID-19

The Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics is aware of the current situation and prepared to react appropriately.

These updates are only valid during the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Last updated on May 5, 2020.

 

Applicants

Concerning TOEFL:

Applicants to the M.Sc. Optics & Photonics program for the Fall 2020 semester may apply with their TOEFL Take Home Edition scores. 

 

Students

Information on how the lectures will be taught is provided via ILIAS. This is the primary source of information.

On ILIAS, you can find all letters from the KIT and KSOP on the issue (careful, they are being uploaded by date and not updated) as well as useful links for staying informed, grocery deliveries and things to do while in quarantine.

 

 

Information concerning financial aid:

 

Students that have been hit financially by the current COVID-19 crisis may also apply to an interest-free loan (“Studienkredit”) by the KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau). The loan of up to 650€ per month is available for national and international students, the duration of support is determined individually.

 

IMPORTANT for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:

The application for international students is only possible within the period May 16th, 2020 – February 15th, 2021! The funding period begins at the earliest on July 1st, 2020 and at the latest on March 1st, 2021. If funding has not started in March 2021 at the latest, no further funding is possible. For this purpose the application must be received in full by KfW on February 15th, 2021 at the latest.

 

Further information can be found in German and partly in English.

 

The toll-free service number (0800-539-9003, Monday – Friday: 8 am – 6 pm) will help you if necessary in English. First there is a tape announcement, after which you have to enter "eins" (one) by pressing the telephone-button “1” or by language, after that you will be connected to an employee.

 

Concerning internships:

  • Internships are postponed for the moment.
  • Instead of an industrial internship, a research internship at an institute of the KIT faculty is possible.
  • An industrial internship will be recognized if it has been completed to at least 2/3.
  • If you have planned to start your internship soon, get in touch with your future supervisors to check what the local regulations are.

 

Concerning deadlines:

  • The maximum study duration will be extended if necessary.*

* Only applicable to students in the current corona situation if the end of the course is outside of the maximum duration of the study through no fault of their own.

 

Concerning exams:

  • As of April 20, 2020, oral examinations will be permitted again, provided that not more than five persons are present.
  • In special cases, oral examinations by video conferencing will continue to be possible after April 19, 2020.
  • There is no information yet on new dates for postponed or cancelled exams.
  • Oral online examinations will be the absolute exception.

 

Concerning Master's Thesis:

  • An extra prolongation of the Master's thesis submission deadline is possible upon request directed to the KSOP examination office (jurana.hetterich@kit.edu)
  • If you have planned to start your masters’s thesis soon, get in touch with your future supervisors to check what the local regulations are.

 

Kindly inform yourself regularly on the websites of KIT about potential short-term changes of academic education operations, in particular on the FAQ website of the Crisis Unit.

 

General

 

Did you stay in a risk area in the past two weeks?

List of risk areas.

Irrespective of potential symptoms, persons, who stayed in a risk area identified by the Robert Koch Institute in the past two weeks, should avoid unnecessary contacts for a period of two weeks after their return from the risk area and, if possible, work at home in agreement with their superior.

In this case, do not enter the premises of KIT and do not contact fellow students / colleagues personally e.g. to hand over work documents. Observe the rules of self-isolation at home. The paramount objective of this preventative measure is to interrupt the potential chain of infections. For more information please visit the KIT website.

 

Feeling ill?

Please call your general practitioner (Hausarzt) or the health department by phone in case:

  • you feel ill and you are unsure about the symptoms,
  • you are returning from holiday and have been in a high risk area,
  • or you have had contact with suspected corona cases.

 

Don’t go to the hospital directly without prior notice. Corona tests are done e.g. as “drive-in”, for which you need to have an appointment organized by your general practitioner or the health department. Thereby long waiting times are prevented.

 

COVID-19 Hotline Phone Numbers (also English speaking)

  • 116 117 any time day and night
  • Health department: Monday to Sunday 9 am to 6 pm: 0711 904 39555
  • City of Karlsruhe: 0721 133 3333, Mondays to Fridays 8 am to 6 pm, weekends 9 am to 4 pm

 

Further important information: