Current information on handling the coronavirus

For all those entering or returning from international risk areas (according to the current RKI list) is valid by official order:

•    A 14-day quarantine is mandatory. 
•    It is mandatory to report to the responsible health authority.

This regulation currently applies until 10.11.2020 in accordance with the "Quarantine Ordinance MV". 

For this purpose, the Rostock Health Office asks for the name, date of birth, address, a callback number as well as day and country of entry via e-mail to corona@rostock.de. Please refer to the information leaflet and the website of the public health department of Rostock. 

A negative test result does not automatically release you from quarantine. Only the public health department can lift or shorten the 14-day quarantine.

Irrespective of these official regulations, the University of Rostock has the rule that persons who show symptoms indicating a Covid-19 disease are not allowed to participate in attendance courses.
► Framework for the implementation of courses in attendance

On October 22, 2020, the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern adapted the previous regulations for returnees from risk areas in Germany.

Returnees without symptoms indicating Covid-19 disease from risk areas in Germany are no longer bound by testing and quarantine obligations.

However, if returnees show symptoms, they are obliged to go into quarantine immediately.
The most frequently recorded symptoms of a Covid-19 disease are cough, fever, rhinitis, as well as loss of smell and taste (as of 16.10.2020, source RKI).
It is therefore important to seek medical advice if symptoms are unclear or if you are uncertain.
Further information can be found on the website of the Robert Koch Institute. 

In the course of the new quarantine rules, the Rectorate has agreed that the obligatory period of leave before attending a course in attendance is no longer necessary.

The previous rules at the University of Rostock said that returnees from risk areas in Germany had to take a mandatory leave of absence in accordance with the quarantine periods before they were allowed to attend a course.
This obligation is no longer applicable with immediate effect. At the same time, it is still recommended to observe a waiting period. Students and lecturers decide on their own responsibility whether and to what extent a waiting period is observed.

The Rostock International House provides detailed information on travel and general COVID-19 news for international students.

► COVID-19-News

The upcoming winter term (20/21) will start as originally planned on October 1, 2020. However, the start of lectures for the winter term will take place one month later on November 2, 2020.

Exception: The Faculty of Medicine starts with the courses of the higher terms already on 12.10.2020.

The University of Rostock started work in necessary areas considering health recommendations on March 30, 2020.On-site consultation do not take place. However, the university administration, the central institutions and the faculties, especially the study offices and examination offices (Studienbüros und Prüfungsämter) can usually be reached via e-mail and to a limited extent via telephone. Please understand that in this situation not all requests can be dealt with exhaustively and/or promptly. 

Here you can find an overview of contact details for the study and examination offices.

The university buildings are closed to students and visitors.The buildings are only open to employees with access authorization. Access authorization is regulated for each building by the heads of the facilities. The examination offices work without public access and can be reached via e-mail and telephone.

With an amendment to the State Higher Education Act, students who were enrolled (and not on leave of absence) in the 2020 summer semester will benefit from an extended "individual standard period of study" and thus longer BAföG support.

► Sonderregelung zur Berücksichtigung des Sommersemesters 2020 für die BAföG Förderungsdauer

The Studentenwerk Rostock-Wismar has compiled some FAQs on the subject of BAFöG and Corona. The Corona-FAQ are only available in German.

► Corona-FAQ

Provided there are no objections in terms of examination law, students can apply for a semester's leave of absence in order to secure their livelihood, to look after children or relatives, or for other comprehensible impairments caused by the current corona situation.

► Information to temporary absence

Before your visit, please inform yourself online about the opening hours and the applicable rules, such as the obligation to wear a mask. Further information on opening hours and services can be found on the websites of the respective locations.

► here you can find the FAQ-page of the library

A visit to the Patent and Standards Centre, the Special Collections Department and the University Archives is only possible with an appointment.

A large part of the language centre's services are offered as courses online. Currently, concepts are being adapted and various video conferencing options are being tested. You can find further information on the
 ► Websites of the Language Centre.

Starting June 26, 2020  up to six people are allowed to sit together at one table. One of the guests has to fill out a formula with his/her contact details and the names of the companions.  

Information regarding the menu can be found here:

► Mensa-News 

The Studierendenwerk has prepared dormitory FAQs on the current corona situation. The questions concern moving in and out, the correct behaviour in the dormitory during the crisis and what options are available if the rent cannot be paid on time. The FAQs are available bilingually.

► dormitory-FAQ (english) 

Anyone who has gotten into a financial emergency due to the Corona pandemic through no fault of their own can apply for financial support from the Studierendenwerk. Monthly allowances (no repayment necessary) are spent to bridge the financial emergency. For further information, visit the website of the Studierendenwerk.

Moreover, the federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern gave money to the International Houses of the universities, so that they can give financial support to international students. As an international student you can apply for up to additional 300,00 Euro per month. For more information, contact the Rostock International House.

We recommend turning to the mentioned authorities, if you are in an economic need due to the corona crisis.

In the winter term 20/21 some lectures are held in presence. The rules of distance and hygiene must be observed and the necessary follow-up of all participants must be ensured. The registration of the participants will mostly be done via StudIP. If courses are not organized in StudIP, data protection-compliant alternatives must be used. Non-registered students are not allowed to participate in the course. Also persons with corresponding symptoms or returnees from risk areas are not allowed to participate in courses.

The university buildings will be reopened for teaching purposes. However, students should not spend unnecessary time in the buildings outside of lectures. Students are required to wear a mouth and nose cover (MNB) inside the buildings. The MNB can be waived in the classroom on the square, provided that a minimum distance of 1.50m is maintained. 

The detailed regulations can be found in the corresponding framework for action:
► Handlungsrahmen für die Durchführung von Lehrveranstaltungen in Präsenz

Field trips and internships are only possible when the classroom teaching starts again. Teachers are still looking for alternatives, such as presenting experiments on the internet or starting with theoretical parts, so that there is time for the internships or field trips at the end of the semester, as long as there is no longer a health risk. The relevant information will be provided by the respective examination offices or study offices as soon as the planning is completed. If attendance teaching is not possible by the end of the summer semester 2020, internships may be postponed until the next semester.

Please also read the information on "Exceptions which are carried out as classroom teaching".

The individual lecturers decide how the courses are to be held. The faculties will clarify attendance and will be announced by the respective lecturer before the start of the course. 

Lecturers and students are unexpectedly facing new challenges during the implementation of digital teaching in the summer semester 2020. For those students who can only participate in digital teaching to a limited extent, please contact the central coordination office lehre.digitaluni-rostockde regarding your concerns.

For the processing of your requests, please provide the following information:

• First name, last name
• E-mail address, telephone number if applicable, address if applicable
• Faculty, study program, semester
• Technical problem
• Mobility

To ensure that examinations can be carried out even during the period of the physical-distancing there is the possibility of holding colloquia for final theses (Bachelor‘s/ Master‘s thesis) as well as final presentations of project work via video conference. This applies in particular to the still uncompleted exams from the exam period from March 16 to March 31, 2020, and the exams of the following semesters until the resumption of presence. To ensure valid quality standards are upheld, the Rectorate defined the following general guidelines for the realisation of online colloquia on April 15, 2020.

Guidelines for the realisation of online colloquia

Status:  24.04.2020

To ensure that examinations can be carried out even during the period of the physical-distancing there is the possibility of holding oral examinations via video conference. This applies in particular to the still uncompleted exams from the examination period from March 16 to March 31, 2020, and the exams of the following semesters until the resumption of presence. To ensure valid quality standards are upheld, the Rectorate defined the following general guidelines for the realisation of online oral examinations on April 15, 2020.

Guidelines for the realisation of online oral examinations

Status:  29.06.2020

The organisation of the test shall be such that unnecessary contacts between persons are avoided and necessary contacts are minimised and conducted in accordance with hygiene rules. The basis for this is the decree of the Ministry of Education and the implementation of the University of Rostock to start studying and teaching on 20.4.2020. The procedure has been agreed with the Health Department of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock.

Description of procedure for a written presence examination with more than 10 students and fixed seating within the period

Status:  29.04.2020

The organisation of the test shall be such that unnecessary contacts between persons are avoided and necessary contacts are minimised and conducted in accordance with hygiene rules. The basis for this is the decree of the Ministry of Education and the implementation of the University of Rostock to start studying and teaching on 20.4.2020. The procedure has been agreed with the Health Department of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock.

Description of procedure for a written presence examination with less than 11 students

Status:  15.06.2020

The organisation of the test shall be such that unnecessary contacts between persons are avoided and necessary contacts are minimised and conducted in accordance with hygiene rules. The candidates must be informed about the video examination option and the chosen form must be confirmed in writing. The example is designed for a test with one examinee, one assessor and one examiner, duration approx. 30 min. The basis is the decree of the Ministry of Education and the implementation of the University of Rostock to start studying and teaching on 20.4.2020. The procedure is coordinated with the Health Department of the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock.

Description of procedure for a small presence check within the period of restricted operation

Status: 29.04.2020

To ensure that examinations can be carried out even during the period of the physicaldistancing there is the possibility of holding, written examinations as at-home-exam. This applies in particular to the still uncompleted exams from the exam period from March 16 to March 31, 2020, and the exams of the following semesters until the resumption of presence. To ensure valid quality standards are upheld, the Rectorate defined the following general guidelines for the realisation of online colloquia on June 15, 2020.

Guidelines for the realisation of written online examinations

Status: 19.06.2020