Information for first-year students at the department for media informatics
General information
Academic Year
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters: The winter semester (October 1 to March 31) summer semester (April 1 to September 30). There's an academic calender with the lecture periods and corresponding lecture-free periods.
Orientation Phase
For newly enrolled students, useful information is provided on the pages of the student representatives (Gruppe Aktiver Fachschafter). Among other things, an orientation phase takes place a few days before the start of the semester. During this event, new students learn to find their way around the university. It is a good opportunity to get to know the buildings and other students. Furthermore, older students give numerous tips and answer questions.
Planning the studies
An overview over all courses offered in a certain semester can be found here. Besides information on this website, important information is published on the page of the course coordinator. Amongst other things it provides an overview over possible modules.
We offer a timetable suggestion that differs based on the applied subject here. You do not need to stick with this suggestion.
In general, it is benefitial to:- Plan lectures according to the recommendations on this website
- Read the information on the individual lecture pages
- Visit the first courses (Tutorials being in the second week of the semester. You only need to visit one of the tutorials.)
- Ask fellow students
- Not panic
Courses
Lectures
Lectures (Vorlesungen, often accompanied by exercises sessions or Übungen) are the most common type of teaching. The aim of a lecture is mainly to give the students a theoretical knowledge of the subject. Registration to attend is not required most of the time, the number of participants is not limited. Credit points will be obtained in written examinations (Klausur). The number of credits depends on the number of academic hours (academic hour = 45 min.) per week (Semesterwochenstunden, SWS) of which the lecture consists. Normally a lecture consists of two to four SWS.
Tutorials
Lectures can be supported by tutorials (Tutorium, plural Tutorien). Tutorials will help the student to deepen the topics taught in a lecture under supervision. There are no assessments.
Seminars
Seminars (Proseminare or Seminare) will train the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to problem solving. Normally, registration to attend a seminar is required, the number of participants is limited. Deadlines for application are indicated in course descriptions. Assessment is based on different kinds of assessments, like essays, class presentations and written exams.
Practical Cousres
A practical course (Praktikum) is a course, often in a specialized field of study, that is designed to offer students a supervised practical application of a previously studied theory. It consists of two parts, general meetings and practical training. During the meetings, the knowledge necessary to solve the assignements is presented. During the practical training, groups of three to five students will work on complex problems. An example of this would be the development of an app with Android.
Moodle
Moodle is a platform to facilitate e.g. handing in solutions for exercise sheets or signing up for exams. Whether a specific course uses this system can be looked up on the course website.
Commented list of courses (LSF)
The LSF-Portal (Lehre-Studium-Forschung en.: teaching-studies-research) provides a commented list of courses. Especially signing up for courses of applied subjects from different departments may be necessary via this portal. Usually, this is announced. The information on the specific course pages of the faculties have priority.
CIP-identifyer
In order to use the computers in the CIP-Pools (e.g. Amalienstraße 17, Theresienstraße 39) or sign in to Uni2Work, students need a CIP-identifyer. These are distributed by the computer operation group (RBG). It is highly recommended to get a CIP-identifyer as soon as possible, as it is needed for many organizational purposes like signing up for exams.
Internet access - LRZ identifyer for students of the LMU
Information on how to get internet access to the Munich science-network of the Leibniz-Rechenzentrums (LRZ) can be found here.
CIP-Pool Amalienstraße 17
The CIP-Pool in the Amalienstraße can be used by media informatics and biology informatics students. In order to register, download this form, fill it in and hand it and a coloured passport photograph in (Amalienstr. 17, room A 405 (Franziska Schneider) or room 301 (Frank Steiner)).
Cafeteria
An overview over all student cafeterias in Munich can be found here. Payment happens with the LMUcard (student id). You can load money on the card at the cafeteria-buildings.
Specific information for Bachelorstudents
Here, students who begin doing their Bachelors' degree in Media Informatics at the LMU can find additional information.
Signing up for applied subjects
You do not need to specifically sign up for applied subjects. (Exception: Applied subject Media Design). "Signing up" works implicitly by visiting the courses that correspond to an applied subject. During the O-phase you can get further information on the applied subjects.
Late arrivals
Some students are forced to start their studies several weeks into the semester e.g. as a result of the ZVS-Lottery. This page contains some tips on how to orient yourself at the university if you begin your studies later than your fellow students.
Please feel free to contact us directly or stop by for help! secretary, professors
Some content is available online as a podcast or video, so that it is possible to catch up on lectures. These can be found on the individual course pages or at the Unterrichtsmitschau.
Please contact the specific exercise instructor to belatedly sign up for tutorials. Oftentimes it is possible and welcome to solve exercises as a team. Sometimes bonus points for the exams are given for successfully solving exercise sheets. Try to get in direct contact with fellow students and join a team, possibly by asking the exercise instructor for help. It is recommended to take part in tutorials in all cases!
Bachelor specific:
Make it a priority to catch up in the three big lectures (Digital Media, Analysis, Introduction to Programming).
Attention! According to the examination regulations the lecture Introduction to Programming ('Einführung in die Programmierung'; timetable suggestion: first semester - only during the winter semester) or Programming and Modelling ('Programmierung und Modellierung'; timetable suggestion: second semester - only during the summer semester) has to be passed after the third semester at the latest in order to continue the studies.
Important links
- Contact persons:
http://www.medien.ifi.lmu.de/studierende/ansprechpartner/ -
Matriculation certificate / study progress certificate / contribution account:
https://www.uni-muenchen.de/studium/studium_aktuell/neuigkeiten/studkanz/system.html (can be found unter 'Online-Selbstbedienungsfunktionen für Studierende der LMU') - Kontoauszug - Transcript of Records:
https://pvineu.ifi.lmu.de/ - Medieninformatik - Blog:
http://mediainformatics.wordpress.com - Medieninformatik - Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mimuc/ - Medieinformatik - Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mimuc
