Independent Studies

Independent Studies are research-based and/or academically grounded independent learning opportunities, which give major and minor students the option to gain ECTS towards their required optional credits within the department (Wahlleistungen). Independent Study projects can only be supervised, meaning designed with and agreed to, by senior or advanced research staff (professor, lecturers, or postdocs).

BA and MA students can undertake projects for up to a maximum of 5 ECTS points.

MA students studying their major and minor in English can get up to 5 ECTS in both programs of study. However, they cannot undertake two projects in the same specialisation. 

1 ECTS equals 25-30 hours of work.

If you have any questions, please contact your Study Counsellor.

How to organise an Independent Studies project:

  1. Contact the senior or advanced member of research staff that you want to work with to explain the project you have in mind.
  2. Fill in and sign the Independent Studies Form (PDF, 57KB) / (as Word document, 24.5 KB) with your supervisor.
  3. Get your project and ECTS allotment approved and the form signed by your Study Counsellor (Helen Shepherd or Sabine von Rütte). You are responsible for the safekeeping of your Independent Studies Form for the duration of your project.
     

How to complete an Independent Studies project:

  1. Ask your supervisor to confirm the ECTS allotment for your project and sign the last part of the Independent Studies Form.
  2. Return the completed Independent Studies Form to your Study Counsellor.
  3. On approval, the ECTS will be entered in the system. 
     

Suggested Projects

Some staff advertise Research Internship positions, which can be completed as Independent Study projects:

Other possible projects include: 

  • Independent academic written work, i.e. a research paper, report, or annotated bibliography. 1500 words is the minimum word count for 1 ECTS.
  • Attendance or organisation of an academic conference, with a written report.
  • Fieldwork, including data collection or archival and library research, with a written report.

Any other proposals or questions should be addressed to your Study Counsellor in advance of contacting an academic supervisor.