Studienplan

A Studienplan is the formal outline of a degree program in many German-speaking universities. It specifies the arrangement and required content of the coursework needed to obtain the degree, including compulsory and elective modules, credit points (ECTS), and typical sequencing across semesters. The goal is to ensure a coherent, achievable path to graduation.

Typically, a Studienplan lists modules and courses, their ECTS values, prerequisites, and whether they are compulsory or elective. It may also indicate practical elements such as internships or project work, and the requirements for the final examination or thesis. In many institutions it is complemented by a Modulhandbuch (module handbook) that details each module’s learning outcomes, assessments, and workload.

Relation to other documents: The Studienplan is part of the program’s official documentation but is distinct from the Studienordnung, which governs admission, general rules for degree progression, and examination regulations. Some universities publish a Studienverlaufsplan, a semester-by-semester schedule that translates the Studienplan into a recommended sequence.

Practice: Students use the Studienplan to register for courses, plan electives, and manage workload. Plans are periodically updated to reflect changes in curricula, with deviations sometimes permitted upon approval. Accessibility varies, but most universities provide the Studienplan online as part of the study program information.

Country variations: The term is widely used in Austria and Germany; in Switzerland the equivalent term Lehrplan or Studienplan may be used depending on the institution. While terminology varies, the core function remains to outline the structure and requirements of a degree program.