KLIPS stands for "Kölner Lehr-, Informations- und Prüfungsservice" (Cologne Teaching, Information and Examination Service). KLIPS is used in particular to register for and deregister from courses and examinations. You can find out exactly how this works here.

Since you will be using KLIPS throughout your entire degree programme, you should attend the information event organised by the WiSo KLIPS team at the beginning of your degree programme. There, all the necessary functions will be explained to you and you can clarify your individual questions. It is important to understand the system and its functionalities already at the beginning of your studies. This will save you from potential study problems resulting from not having dealt with the system seriously and early on.

Please also remember to always store your current study address and telephone number in KLIPS and to update them as needed. Since the WiSo Examination Office is happy to contact you itself in the event of a written application and queries, it can reach you directly via this information in KLIPS so that you do not have to make a diversion via the WiSo Student Service Point.

ILIAS stands for "Integriertes Lern-, Informations- und Arbeitskooperations-System" (Integrated Learning, Information and Work Cooperation System) and is the central e-learning platform of the University of Cologne. Information on ILIAS can also be found here.

The chairs use ILIAS as an online platform for their courses. In addition to current information about the courses, the learning materials such as presentations, external sources, lecture slides or other files are available for download.

To access most of the courses in ILIAS, use your s-mail account. ILIAS is also linked to KLIPS. If you have enrolled in a course in KLIPS and have been allocated a place there after the end of the enrolment phase, your data will automatically be entered into the corresponding ILIAS course at the start of the lecture and you will be given access to the relevant materials.

In addition, ILIAS has also been used as an examination environment since online teaching was introduced at the UoC. Online examinations can therefore also take place via ILIAS. Therefore, please familiarise yourself with the system at the beginning of your studies.

You have to actively join other ILIAS courses yourself, including, for example, LOTSE, the self-test on maths school knowledge or the course "Learn how to learn".

Especially at the beginning of your studies, but of course also during the degree course, many questions arise, e.g. about the organisation of your studies, the focus of your studies, your final thesis, an internship or a semester abroad. We have already compiled a list of answers to your questions in our FAQ section.

Please always look there first, in the spirit of independent information search, which was formulated as an expectation for you during the first steps after enrolment.

If your question and the corresponding answer are not listed or if you have a more comprehensive advising request, our WiSo student advisors at the WiSo Student Service Point will be happy to help you.

At the beginning of each semester, you create your own timetable. To help you, you will find recommendations for your course of study that you can use as a guideline in your module catalogue.

If you would like to know what is actually taught in the individual modules, then take a look at the description of the modules. In addition to details on content, you can also see in which rotation a module is offered or which language of instruction applies. Information on the legal basis for your studies is provided by the examination regulations (ER) of your degree programme. It is essential that you familiarise yourself with them, as they will accompany you throughout your studies.

Please remember that the module descriptions are only valid for one academic year. However, outdated versions can still be found in the archive on the website. And examination regulations are also subject to change, which are published in the Official Notices (only in German language) of the UoC.

Have you already taken examinations in another degree programme or at another university and would like to have them checked to see if they are eligible for credit? Then submit an application for credit as follows:

• Make sure your s-mail account is activated and your degree programme is listed under the tab "study status" in KLIPS.
• Then access the credit transfer portal and create a final application for credit. You will also find instructions on the linked website.
• Read through the information on how to apply and follow the corresponding diagram, depending on which applies to you (credits earned at the UzK vs. credits earned at another university).
• Send the credit transfer application (printout of the generated pdf document, which will be sent to your e-mail address) by post to the WiSo Examination Office or use one of the mailboxes in front of the WiSo Student Service Point. Please address the application to the Examinations Office and not to the WiSo Student Service Point.

In the course of your studies, we often encounter the question in the student advisory service why you can no longer see and take certain modules or courses that were displayed in KLIPS at the beginning. This is often because you have already committed to another module. This usually happens when you register for an exam in KLIPS. Even if you de-register again in time, you are still committed to it. In this case, other options that you could have chosen are no longer displayed in KLIPS.

This often causes problems and can even delay your studies. To avoid this, you should definitely take a look at the change modalities of your degree programme at the beginning of your studies. The change options once they have been determined are usually also limited and vary depending on the degree programme and field of study. You can find an overview on the website of the Examinations Office or you can look in your examination regulations instead. You can apply for a change or cancellation of a determination online via the wisoapp portal.

At the beginning of 2019, the guideline for dealing with discrimination, sexualised violence and bullying at the University of Cologne (UoC) came into force. It represents an overarching, binding and transparent set of rules for the procedure with cases of discrimination at the UoC. In principle, the university - and thus also the WiSo Faculty - sees itself as fundamentally democratic and promotes free exchange and participation. However, should this not take place in a respectful manner, the UoC offers many contact points and counselling options that those affected can and should make use of. You can find more information here.

Campus & Cologne as an attractive study city

Cologne offers students and visitors an exciting mix of education, culture and entertainment. The diverse cultural scene includes museums, art exhibitions, theatre and cinema, as well as the famous Cologne Carnival and international music and sporting events.

With one million inhabitants, Cologne is not only the fourth largest city in Germany - due to its central location in Europe, the city is an important interface for transport and trade and thus also an attractive business location.

The University of Cologne is a city university in two senses - it was founded by the citizens and is located as a campus university in the middle of the city.

• You can find more information about student life in the city of Cologne as well as event tips on the website of "KölnTourismus" or the "City of Cologne".
• On the website of the University of Cologne you will also find further information on the topics of living in Cologne and leisure time, but also, for example, lecture hall and site plans.
• The free service brochure of the Cologne Student Union "Studying in Cologne" is also available in the Service House and all refectories of the Cologne Student Union. The brochure provides lots of helpful information, tips and addresses to make it easier for new Cologne students and first-year students to start their studies.

University Sports

• In cooperation with the German Sport University, the University of Cologne offers a wide range of sporting activities. You can find the sports programme here.

Student Initiatives

The WiSo Faculty has a very dynamic campus life and a variety of student initiatives, which are independently organised by the students. These initiatives have different orientations and objectives, but always relate to either the study programme or the faculty. For example, there are student groups such as AEGEE, a student organisation that is active throughout Europe. At the university level, there is also the student self-administration, the AStA. Internship placement, congress organisation or subject-related offers - student associations offer many opportunities to gain practical experience as well as to benefit from networks.

You can find a list of most student groups, Fachschaften and other student associations here.

The WiSo Student Council is the student body of the WiSo Faculty. Every day, numerous students volunteer on behalf of their fellow students to represent their interests to professors, institutions and the university. But the student council offers even more - namely service for students by students. Their service also includes offers such as the exam CD or the book market. In addition, there are numerous teams that deal with, for example, the orientation phase for first-semester students or the graduation celebration. The student council also includes the Mitschriften-AG (MAG), where students produce and sell lecture notes for almost all courses. In addition, the student council publishes the WiSo-Mitteilung (WM) - in the student council newspaper you can always read the latest information about studying. Everything important, such as contact details or the opening hours of the WiSo office, can be found at their website . Every student is cordially invited by the student council to contribute there!

The WiSo office is the seat of the student council. There, students help their fellow students with their concerns on a peer level, whereas the trained student advisors at the WiSo Student Service Point (WiSSPo) of the various WiSo service institutions provide objective information.

If you have enrolled in an English-language degree programme that does not require German language skills for application and enrolment, then you may be able to attend a German language course at the University of Cologne. German courses are organised by the International Office and the Department German as foreign language. Check their website and find out about the German course directly there.