FernUniversität Glossary
Photo: aga7ta/iStock/GettyImagesAn English-language guide for the FernUniversität: The University Board would like to support all members of the FernUniversität in Hagen who write English texts by providing the following glossary. It contains the most important university terms clearly arranged thematically. It is designed to assist everyone in their English-language communications while standardizing recurring terminology, such as office, faculty, and administrative designations.
Please remember that the official name of the FernUniversität is always “FernUniversität in Hagen” – even in English-language texts. For the sake of clear international visibility, the University Board asks that all university members use this designation exclusively.
You can search through the terms on this web page by using the key combination CTRL+F (note: if you have a German layout keyboard, this will be STRG+F). In cases where more than one alternative translation is provided, the preferred translation is listed first. The university uses American English in word selection and spelling. General terms are written in lower case, proper names in upper case: e.g., a faculty (general) vs. the Faculty of Law (the name of a specific faculty). This collection of terms is what we call a “living document.” That means it is updated continuously, but makes no claims to completeness. Feel free to make suggestions if you would like a term to be added!
For other questions relating to good style in English writing, please take a look at our FernUniversität style guide.
FernUniversität
| German | English |
|---|---|
| FernUniversität in Hagen | FernUniversität in Hagen (abbreviation: FeU) |
Note: The German spelling is used in all English-language texts.
University management
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Hochschulleitung | University Management |
| Rektorat | University Board |
| Rektor/in | President |
| Prorektor/in | Vice-President |
| Prorektor/in für Weiterbildung, Transfer und Internationalisierung | Vice-President for Continuing Education, Knowledge Transfer and International Affairs |
| Prorektor/in für Forschung und Digitalisierung | Vice-President for Research and Digitization |
| Prorektor/in für Lehre und Studium | Vice-President for Teaching and Studies |
| Kanzler/in | Head of Administration |
| Senat | Senate |
| Hochschulrat | University Council |
Faculties
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Fakultät | faculty |
| Fakultät für Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Fakultät für Mathematik und Informatik | Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science |
| Fakultät für Psychologie | Faculty of Psychology |
| Fakultät für Wirtschaftswissenschaft | Faculty of Business Administration and Economics |
| Rechtswissenschaftliche Fakultät | Faculty of Law |
| Institut | institute |
| Lehrgebiet, Lehrstuhl | chair (of) |
| Stiftungslehrstuhl | endowed chair |
| Lehrstuhlvertretung | acting chair |
| Dekanat | dean’s office |
| Prüfungsamt | examination office |
| Dekan/in | dean |
| Prodekan/in | vice-dean |
| Professor/in | professor |
| Juniorprofessor/in | junior professor(ship) |
| außerordentliche Professur | adjunct professor |
| Privatdozent | Privatdozent (provide explanation, if necessary: senior lecturer) |
| Lehrbeauftragte/r | contract lecturer |
Central Services, Commissioners and Representatives
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Zentrale Einrichtungen | central services |
| Zentrum für Digitalisierung und IT (ZDI) | Center for Digitalization and IT |
| Zentrum für Lernen und Innovation (ZLI) | Center for Learning and Innovation |
| Universitätsbibliothek (UB) | University Library |
| Zentrale Betriebseinheit für Campusstandorte | Central Operating Unit for Campus Locations |
| Personalrat | staff council |
| Datenschutzbeauftragte/r | data protection officer |
| Gleichstellungsbeauftragte/r | equal opportunities commissioner |
| Fakultätsgleichstellungsbeauftragte/r | faculty equal opportunities commissioner |
| Schwerbehindertenvertretung | representative for persons with disabilities |
| Koordination Gleichstellung (Gleichstellungsbüro) | Equal Opportunities Coordination Office |
Administration
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Verwaltung | administration |
| Dezernat | division |
| Abteilung | department |
| Arbeitsteam | team |
| Stabsstelle | office |
| Referat | office |
| Rektoratsstab | University Board’s Strategic Office |
| Stabsstelle Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit | (Office for) Communications and Public Relations |
| Stabsstelle Marketing und Veranstaltungsmanagement | (Office for) Marketing and Event Management |
| Stabsstelle Datenschutz | (Office for) Data Protection |
| Stabsstelle Arbeits- und Umweltschutz | (Office for) Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection |
| Stabsstelle Gremienbetreuung und Wissenschaftsorganisationen | (Office for) University Governing Body Support and Academic Organizations |
| Stabsstelle Koordinierungsstelle für hochschulübergreifende Fortbildung (HÜF-NRW) | (Office for the) Coordination of Universities’ Staff Training |
| Referat Organisations- und Personalentwicklung | (Office for) Organization and Staff Development |
| Referat Chancengerechtigkeit | (Office for) Equal Opportunities |
| Referat Forschungs- und Graduiertenservice | Research and Graduate Services |
| Referat für Transfer | (Office for) Knowledge Transfer |
| Referat International Office | International Office |
| Dezernat 1 – Hochschulmonitoring und Qualitätssicherung | Division 1 – University Planning and Quality Assurance |
| Abteilung 1.1 – Akademisches Berichtswesen und Monitoring | Department 1.1 – Academic Reporting and Monitoring |
| Abteilung 1.2 – Lehre und Akkreditierung | Department 1.2 – Academic Affairs and Accreditation |
| Abteilung 1.3 – Qualitätssicherung und Evaluation | Department 1.3 – Quality Assurance and Evaluation |
| Dezernat 2 – Studierendenservice | Division 2 – Student Services |
| Abteilung 2.1 – Studierendensekretariat | Department 2.1 – Student Registration |
| Abteilung 2.3 – Zentrale Studienberatung/Service-Center | Department 2.3 – Student Advice Center/Service Center |
| Abteilung 2.4 – Justitiariat | Department 2.4 – Legal Affairs |
| Dezernat 3 – Personal | Division 3 – Human Resources |
| Abteilung 3.1 – Wissenschaftliches Tarifpersonal und nebenberuflich Beschäftigte | Department 3.1 – Academic and Part-Time Staff |
| Abteilung 3.2 – Tarifpersonal in Technik und Verwaltung, Reisekosten und Recht | Department 3.2 – Administrative and Technical Staff, Travel Expenses and Staff Law |
| Abteilung 3.4 – Personalwirtschaft | Department 3.4 – Personnel Budget |
| Abteilung 3.5 – Berufungsmanagement, Professuren, Beamtinnen und Beamte | Department 3.5 – Appointments, Professorships and Civil Servant Affairs |
| Dezernat 4 – Haushalt und Finanzen | Division 4 – Budget and Finance |
| Abteilung 4.1 – Haushalt/Berichtswesen | Department 4.1 – Budget and Financial Reporting |
| Abteilung 4.2 – Buchhaltung/Steuern | Department 4.2 – Accounting and Taxes |
| Abteilung 4.3 – Beschaffung | Department 4.3 – Procurement |
| Abteilung 4.4 – Drittmittel | Department 4.4 – Third-Party Funds |
| Dezernat 5 – Technische Medienadministration | Division 5 – Technical Media Administration |
| Abteilung 5.1 – Medienmanagement | Department 5.1 – Media Management |
| Abteilung 5.2 – Medienproduktion | Department 5.2 – Media Production |
| Abteilung 5.3 – Medienvertrieb | Department 5.3 – Media Distribution |
| Dezernat 6 – Gebäudemanagement und Nachhaltigkeit | Division 6 – Facility Management and Sustainability |
| Abteilung 6.1 – Gebäudemanagement und Bau | Department 6.1 – Facility Management and Construction |
| Mitarbeiter/innen in Verwaltung und Technik | administrative and technical staff |
Research
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Forschung | research |
| (akademisches) Personal | (academic) staff |
| Wissenschaftler/in | researcher, scholar, in certain cases, also: lecturer |
| wiss. Mitarbeiter/in | academic staff member, research assistant |
| Wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft (WHK) | academic assistant |
| Studentische Hilfskraft (SHK) | student assistant |
| Nachwuchswissenschaftler/in | early career researcher, early stage researcher, young researcher/scholar |
| Habilitand/in | postdoc, postdoctoral researcher |
| Doktorand/in, Promovend/in | doctoral candidate |
| Gastwissenschaftler/in | visiting scholar |
| Forschungskooperation | research cooperation |
| Forschung und Entwicklung (FuE) | Research and Development (R&D) |
| Drittmittel | third-party funds |
| Stipendium | scholarship, grant |
| Rektoratsausschuss Forschung und Nachwuchsförderung | University Committee for Research and Early Stage Scholars |
| Promotionsausschuss | doctoral committee |
| Forschungsschwerpunkt E/U/N Energie, Umwelt & Nachhaltigkeit | E/E/S Research Center Energy, Environment & Sustainability |
| CATALPA – Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics | CATALPA – Center of Advanced Technology for Assisted Learning and Predictive Analytics |
(Distance) Teaching
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Fernlehre | distance learning, distance education |
| Virtueller Studienplatz | virtual study environment |
| Blended Learning | blended learning |
| frei verfügbare, kostenlose Lehrmaterialien | Open Educational Resources (OER) |
| Studienbrief | printed study material |
| Präsenzveranstaltung | on-campus seminar, face-to-face session |
| Studienzentrum, Regionalzentrum | study center, regional center |
| Studienangebot | course offerings |
| Studiengang | degree program |
| Akademiestudium | Open Access Studies |
| Weiterbildung(sstudiengang) | continuing education, further education program |
| duales Studium | dual course of study (explain if necessary: a combination of study and on-the-job training) |
| Fach | subject, discipline |
| Pflichtmodul/-kurs | required module/course |
| Wahlpflichtmodul/-kurs | compulsory elective, required option |
| Anerkennung (von Studienleistungen) | recognition (of credits), transfer (of credits) |
| Note | grade |
| (Abschluss-)Zeugnis | degree certificate |
| (Abschluss-)Urkunde | diploma |
| Zertifikat (Weiterbildung) | certificate (of completion) |
| Hochschulzugangsberechtigung, Abitur(-zeugnis) | German higher education entrance qualification |
| Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache | German language skills |
| Zulassung | admission (to studies) |
| Einschreibung | enrollment, registration |
| zulassungsbeschränkt | restricted-entry program, restricted admission |
| Rückmeldung | re-registration |
| Studienmaterialbezugsgebühren | study material fees |
| Studiengebühren | tuition fees |
| BAföG | federal student loan |
| Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss (AStA) | General Student Committee |
| Studierende/r | student |
| Lehrende/r | lecturer, teacher |
| Hochschuldozent | lecturer, university lecturer |
| Betreuer/in | supervisor |
| Mentor/in, Tutor/in | advisor, mentor |
| Absolvent/in | graduate |
| Beruflich Qualifizierte/r (BQ) | professionals with non-academic vocational qualifications |
| Vollzeitstudierende/r | full-time student |
| Teilzeitstudierende/r | part-time student |
| berufsbegleitend | studying while working |
| berufstätig | working, employed |
| Semester | semester |
| Auslandsaufenthalt | stay abroad |
| Präsenzuniversität | on-campus university, traditional university |
| Universität, die Präsenz- und Fernlehre anbietet | dual mode university, mixed-mode university |
| Universität, die keinen höheren Schulabschluss als Voraussetzung für eine Einschreibung ins Studium verlangt (note: this does not include the FernUni) | open university (e.g., Open Universiteit Nederland; The Open University, UK) |
| Fernuniversität | distance-learning university |
If you have any suggestions for additions or corrections, please contact:
International
| 09.04.2024
