There are a few things to bear in mind when taking your first steps at KIT. To help you find your way around, here are some important steps and useful sources of information.
 

• Application
   

  1. KIT’s International Affairs Office is your first point of contact for submitting your application and for information on the required documents and deadlines. On the Temporary Students (Exchange Students) page, you will find general information about starting your studies at KIT and about the different pathways to studying at KIT as an exchange or temporary student.

     Further information on the different exchange programs can be found on the respective pages:

     • Erasmus+ & SEMP
     • Eucor
     • EPICUR
     • Freemover
     • Practicums and Research Stays at KIT
     • Overseas Exchange at KIT
        

  2. Course Selection and Study Planning

     To plan your studies at KIT, you will need the Module Handbook(s) and the Course Catalogue (VVZ) in Campus Management.

     We recommend starting with the Module Handbook in English or Module Handbook in German. The Module Handbook provides information about the individual modules. You can then use the link provided in each module to find the corresponding course in the Course Catalogue.
      

  3. German Language Courses

     Even if you plan to take only modules offered in English, taking a German language course can be beneficial. It can help you connect with other students and navigate everyday life in Karlsruhe.  Also, if you pass the course, it will be included in your Transcript of Records (ToR).

     Further information can be found on the KIT exchange program website.
      

  4. Learning Agreement

     Many exchange students need to prepare a Learning Agreement (LA) as part of their application process.

     Please read the Learning Agreement section, in particular “The Learning Agreement (LA) – Before the Mobility.”

     LAs will only be processed and signed once the complete application has been submitted and the student has been granted admission.
      

• After Admission

  After your admission, there are further steps to consider before and at the beginning of your stay at KIT.
   

  1. KIT Department of Informatics
     • We recommend attending the International Student Roundtables (ISRT). They are intended for international students within our department and provide orientation and workshops on topics such as enrollment, modules, exams, Transcript of Records, life in Karlsruhe, and other relevant topics throughout your studies.
     • On the page Living and studying in Karlsruhe, you can find useful information and additional links for your time in Karlsruhe.
     • The Info and Support page provides links to important information, support, and resources at KIT, including:
       • Services and offers within the KIT Faculty of Informatics
       • Central services and offers at KIT
       • Offers for international students
       • Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe
       • Support, advising, and wellbeing resources
          
  2. International Students Office (IStO)
     • The Temporary Students (Exchange Students) page provides general information about your stay at KIT as well as information on the specific program through which you were admitted.
     • You can also find general information for starting your studies at KIT on the Before your Studies pages of the Service Unit for Student Affairs (SLE).
        
  3. Service Unit for International Affairs
     • The First Steps at KIT page provides a useful list of things to do when preparing for your arrival in Karlsruhe.
        

  4. Language Courses

     German courses are a good way to practice German in everyday life and to get to know other students.
      

     • Before the semester: A pre-semester German course gives you the opportunity to improve your German language skills, connect with other students, and settle into life in Karlsruhe before your other modules start. Visit the KIT exchange program website for further information. Depending on the exchange program, this information can be found under “Prior to Studies” or “During Studies.”
        
     • During the semester: Students can take one language course for free during the semester, including German. The course can also be included in your Learning Agreement and Transcript of Records. Registration is typically required before the start of the lecture period.

 

To make your stay a success, we recommend that you take part in the events on offer. Here you can receive suitable support and also have the opportunity to get to know other students. Further information on offers for international students can be found here. You can view current events here.

After your arrival in Karlsruhe, you must have this confirmed promptly by the International Students Office (IStO). The same applies before you leave KIT. Please take this into account in your planning and try to make an appointment with the IStO as soon as possible. Please note that the ISS cannot sign this document.

Incoming students can generally choose Bachelor's and Master's modules offered by the KIT Department of Informatics, provided they meet the respective requirements.

To select your modules, first check the Module Handbook for the current modules, including their requirements, semester/turnus, and ECTS. Then check the Course Catalogue (VVZ) to see whether the selected modules are actually offered in the current semester and to find the current schedule and other details.

Important: You can only take examinations for the lectures you have attended if you have registered for the respective examination via Campus Management for Students (CAS). Module selection and registration usually take place after the start of the semester, so you do not need to register for examinations before the semester begins. Please note that the examination registration period and procedure may vary depending on the module.

 

We strongly recommend attending the International Student Roundtables (ISRT), where the course selection process, registration procedures, and other important aspects of studying at KIT are explained in more detail. Recordings and slides from previous sessions are available in the ISRT archive.

 

The current modules are published in the Module Handbook. Please also check the Course Catalogue (VVZ) after the start of the semester, as modules may be changed, cancelled, or otherwise modified.

Internships and seminars are often not included in the VVZ, but can be found on the websites of the individual institutes. For most courses, registration is done by sending an e-mail to the respective secretary's office of the supervising chair.

 

Language courses are offered by the KIT Language Center.

 

The KIT Department of Informatics distinguishes between courses which are permanently offered in English and those which can be offered in English in case of interest.

 

Some lectures can be offered in English if required. If you want to listen to one of these courses in English, please contact the corresponding lecturer in time and before the lecture!

• An overview of the courses offered in English at the KIT Department of Informatics can be found via the advanced event search (Search parameters: Language - English; Study program - Informatics Bachelor/Master).
• A list of the courses which are simultaneously translated can be obtained from the Lecture Translator of the KIT.
• The online glossary, which translates subject-specific terms from German into English and vice versa, can be found in the English-Glossary.

 

For the organization of studies, students at KIT can use the Campus Management for Students. Incoming students can do the following through it:

• Log in through the Campus Management Portal for Students.
• Register and deregister for exams online.
• Re-Register online.
  • Necessary if you study two semesters at the KIT.
  • Re-registration will then be for the second semester.
  • Pay attention to the Re-Registration-Periods.
• Change personal data.
• Self print grade transcript and certificates online.

 

For familiarization with the system, this video tutorial and this explanation video are recommended. You will also receive further information at our information events.

 

For questions on the use of the system

• please inform yourself first on the website of the Campus Management for Students,
• afterwards you can contact the SLE-Studierendenservice Welcome Desk Team.

 

 

• You can find an overview of the exams and their dates under exam dates.
  • To prepare for the exams, we recommend that you read the information in the module guide carefully. Here you will also find the conditions and prerequisites for the individual lectures/courses.
  • For international students, it is worth attending the International Student Roundtable regarding the exam period, as this event provides all the important information.
  • Please note (depending on the type of exam) the respective exam date so that it does not collide with your journey home.
     
• Participation in exams without registration is not allowed.
• Registration for examinations takes place via the Campus Management for Students.
  • First, you have to select in the system the brick (or course) in which you want to be examined.
  • On the FAQ pages you will find all the information about the Campus Management for Students.
  • On the SLE website you will find video tutorials on exam registration for ERASMUS students.
  • If registration for an exam is not available in the system, please contact the teaching staff responsible for the respective course.
  • For registration problems/deregistration problems for exams, the SLE- Studierendenservice is responsible. In case of problems, please contact the SLE- Studierendenservice Welcome Desk Team.
• Usually the registration for the respective examinations is released in the second half of the semester. However, this may not be the case until the end of the semester. Normally, it will be pointed out in the respective lecture as soon as the registration for the exam is possible.
   
• Please be aware that oral exams must be requested up to 2 months in advance.
• It is best to speak with the respective lecturer at the beginning of the course.
• The Fachschaft Mathematik / Informatik offers information for:
  • Exam preparation
  • Audit Protocols
     

Tip: Incoming students, who do not study in the informatics program are not supervised by the KIT Department of Informatics. Please contact the subject coordination (FK) in your department or the SLE-Studierendenservice for the issuance of exam admissions.

 

This is compulsory , if you wish to study here for further semesters after your first semester at KIT.
Timeframes for Re-registration:
Winter semester: 15.1 - 15.2
Summer semester: 15.7 - 15.8

Re-registration takes place via Campus Management for Students (CMS). Further information can be found here.

 

• You can download a grade transcript online from the Campus Management for Students at any time.
• The SLE-Studierendenservice will not generate a Transcript of Records (ToR) for you until after you have exmatriculated yourself.
  • It is important that you leave an address on the exmatriculation application to which the document (ToR) should be sent.
• You can download the grade transcript via the CAS Portal up to 6 months after "exmatriculation". Simply click on certificate and then select "grade transcript".
• After 6 months, your transcript of records is no longer available in the CAS portal. Then you will only receive it by request to the Studierendenservice of the SLE.

Withdrawal:

• You will need to fill an exmatriculation form.
  Please consider: It is compulsory to withdraw. Otherwise you will not be able to access your Transcript of Records among other problems.
• If you do not withdraw in person, you must authorize a third-party to complete the process for you.
• The International Students Office (IStO) will need to stamp the second page and you have to hand in the form at the Studierendenservice.
• Further information is provided by the service unit Studium und Lehre on their page exmatriculation
   

Certificate of Departure: see above
 

You can find out what else you should consider before you go home (e.g. creating a Certificate of Departure) here:

• Erasmus - After your studies
• Guest studies overseas - After your studies

 

The central document of an ERASMUS exchange is the LA, and it is also required for many other exchange programs.
Check with your home university to see if you are required to have an LA. ERASMUS+ & SEMP students must submit a mandatory LA with their application (see below: Before the Mobility).

 

The LA forms the basis for:

• The recording of the intended study plan at the host university,
• confirmation of the extent of recognition by the examiners at the home university,
• the documentation towards the funders (e.g. European Union, scholarship providers, ...).

 

Incoming students should insert the following information in their LA:

Receiving Institution

Faculty/ Department	Erasmus Code	Contact person name; email; phone
Informatics	061	Christine Glaubitz, exchange ∂does-not-exist.informatik kit edu

 

The LA must always be signed.

Please keep all documents you have submitted and that we have signed, as you will need them again at a later date.

 

 

• Use the LA from your home university.
  • All terms and conditions of your home university apply.
  • Minimum number of ECTS credits: To be determined by your home university.
  • At least 70% of your chosen ECTS credits must come from the field of informatics.
     
• When applying to the KIT Department of Informatics, an LA with completed Before the Mobility section must be submitted.
  • For now, please sign only the Before the Mobility part!
  • Only LAs signed by the student will be accepted!
  • More about changes to your LA during your time at the KIT can be found in the section: The Learning Agreement (LA) - During the Mobility.
  • Please submit your full LA via: The Mobility Online Portal

 

• For each course, please make sure to use the information provided in the Module Handbook. In particular, check:
  • Module Number – e.g. M-INFO-101175
  • Brick Number – e.g. T-INFO-1011968 or T-INFO-101995
  • Semester/Turnus – whether the course is offered in the Winter Semester, Summer Semester, every semester, or irregularly
  • ECTS credits – the number of ECTS credits awarded for the course

• Please include all the information in your LA.
• You will also need the module and brick numbers when enrolling in courses and registering for exams in Campus Management (CAS).

 

• The turnaround time to review and sign the LA is approximately 14 days.
• You can either download your signed LA via the Mobility Online Portal or receive it by email.
   
• Answers to many questions about studying at KIT can be found in our FAQ.

 

 

• You may adjust your LA during your time at KIT (e.g. due to time conflicts or other study interests).
• Changes must first be approved by the home university.
• Changes are possible until mid-November for the winter semester and until the middle of May for the summer semester.
• Please always submit the complete, signed document to the Mobility Online Portal when making changes to your LA or to the online portal of your home university.
• Please submit your changed LA to the Informatics Study Program Service (ISS) at exchange∂informatik.kit.edu.
   
• The turnaround time to review and process the LA is approximately 14 days.

 

• Answers to many questions about studying at KIT can be found in our FAQ.

 

• Services and offers within the KIT Faculty of Informatics
• Central services and offers at KIT
• Services and offers for international students
• Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe
• Support, advising, and wellbeing resources
• Selected external resources

 

Info and Support (KIT Department of Informatics)

 

• KIT – Living in Karlsruhe
• KIT – Arriving at KIT
• Studierendenwerk – Housing

• International Affairs – Incoming Erasmus & SEMP
• International Affairs – Incoming Overseas Exchange
• International Affairs – Incoming Eucor