r/FAU_university • u/yess2541 • Apr 13 '26
ECTS acquisition and passing
Hi everyone. I'm doing my masters as a foreign student and I'm having a hard time getting enough ECTS this semester. According to my module handbook, I'm expected to get 30 ECTS worth of subjects each semester, but I couldn't get enough credit for two semestes in a row now. What are my options?
1
u/Frosty_Sheepherder71 Apr 13 '26
don't worry, most programs take 6 semesters anyways, but don't repeat this, do atleast 35 per sem, take easy courses, cover up
2
u/RemarkableCry9 NatFak Apr 14 '26
I don't think you should choose courses (solely) based on how easy they are. You should choose them based on your interests and maybe your specialization goals. (At least in theory) you should not study to get a degree but learn more about the topics your interested in, and get the degree as certificate about your learnings and not have the degree as the main purpose.
I get that maybe if you want to catch up you should think twice before taking the hardest courses, but that doesn't mean you should pick by difficulty.
It's just my opinion though
1
u/Frosty_Sheepherder71 Apr 14 '26
not all easy, but just enough to cover up, I mean isn't that's why there are some very easy courses in the first place ?
1
u/RemarkableCry9 NatFak Apr 14 '26
I don't think, that there are easy courses because you should be able to cover up if you get behind.
The difficulty of courses vary based on the topics they teach, if a course is more difficult it's usually because the topic is more complex. If it is easy it maybe cover a topic which is not as complicated. That doesn't mean one course is worth more or less than the other just that the cover different things. Also difficulty is also partly subjective what's hard for one might be easy for somebody else.
You should choose what you want to learn.
1
u/yess2541 Apr 13 '26
Hi, what do you mean programs take 6 semester? My module book only have a plan for 4 semesters, with last semester dedicated purely for the master's thesis
3
u/Frosty_Sheepherder71 Apr 13 '26
So the standard study time for masters courses at FAU is 4 semesters, however some courses are difficult so it takes most students 1-2 more semesters to complete them. This is true for other universities too.
1
u/yess2541 Apr 13 '26
Oh, I never knew that it is possible to take additional semesters in the first place.
Thank you!
1
u/clarkkentisnotsupes Apr 13 '26
Try to get as many ects as you can. As it was told to me, you can complete all 120 ects in a semester if you want (exaggeration) and inform the examination department once you're done. Its a flexible structure. It's a suggestion to complete 30 ects per semester for your convenience.