Coronavirus: information for students

Last Update: October 14^th 2021:

• Winter semester 2021/2022
• "3G-rule" at Viadrina
• Vaccinations for students

On this page you will find all important information about studies, teaching and university life in the current situation. Please check this website regularly.

Content:

• Winter semester 2021/2022
• "3G-rule" at Viadrina
• Vaccinations for students
• Examinations, term papers and theses
• Cross-border study 
• Information for newly arriving international students
• Events, consultation hours and committee meetings on site
• Access to university buildings
• University library
• Extension of the standard period of study
• Financial support
• Information and advice centres
• Hygiene measures at the Viadrina
• Correct behaviour in case of disease symptoms and suspected cases
  
  

In the winter semester, courses are again offered in attendance and university life returns to the campus.

We adhere to the current pandemic regulations of the state of Brandenburg when teaching in attendance: Where a distance of one metre or more can be maintained, you may sit without a mask. If the distance is less than one metre, a medical mask must also be worn at the seat.

Partly there is also teaching in the "alternating model", i.e. alternating between digital and face-to-face. In large on-site lectures, those who are temporarily unable to attend in presence receive a compensatory online offer.

In addition, there will still be courses that take place exclusively online. In the course catalogue, you will find a note for all courses stating whether they are planned to be held in attendance or in digital form.

You can always find the current information on the format and procedure of a course in the respective Moodle course. Questions about the courses offered in specific degree programmes are best addressed directly to the respective contact persons, who can be found on the following websites: 

• Faculty of Cultural Studies,
• Faculty of Economic Sciences,
• Faculty of Law (in German),
• European New School of Digital Studies.

The "3G rule" (short for German “geimpft, getestet, genesen" – "vaccinated, tested, recovered") applies to participants as well as teaching and supervisory staff at courses and examinations in attendance. According to this rule, only those who have recovered, been vaccinated or tested negative may take part in attendance courses. Proof of compliance with the 3G rule is checked across the board at the central teaching buildings, the Audimax and the Gräfin Dönhoff Building. In addition, lecturers may require participants in their courses and examinations to present one of the certificates. For more information on what evidence is recognised to fulfil the 3G rule at Viadrina, please see the section on the 3G rule.

At the beginning of the winter semester, all faculties offer kick-off events for the return to classroom teaching as part of the programme “WelcomeBack@Viadrina“.

In the winter semester 2021/22, you can also complete online teaching in the university buildings. Here you will find an overview of all rooms that can be used for online lectures (in German).

The 3G rule applies to courses, examinations, use of the library and visits to the refectory and public events in accordance with the house rules (in German).

Proof:
In order to fulfil the 3G rule, the following proofs on paper or in digital form are recognised in accordance with the house rules in conjunction with the applicable contact regulation of the state of Brandenburg:

• A proof of complete Corona vaccination in accordance with the COVID 19 protective measures exemption regulation, i.e. the vaccination must have been carried out with a vaccine approved in the EU and at least 14 days must have passed since the last vaccination date.
  
  
• A proof of recovery in accordance with the COVID 19 Protective Measures Exemption Regulation.
  
  
• A proof of a negative Corona test:
• certified rapid tests (citizen tests),
• certificates issued by the Viadrina Test Centre confirming the completion of a self-test under supervision.
• Self-certification of the completion of a self-test without supervision. For self-tests without supervision, it is mandatory to use the form provided by Viadrina. This proof is only valid for students and teachers and not for public events.
• The test result may not be older than 72 hours in the case of visiting the Mensa, taking part in a course or examination and using the library, and not older than 24 hours in the case of public events.

Corona test centres in Frankfurt (Oder), Słubice, Brandenburg and Berlin
Since 11 October, citizenship tests in public testing centres have been subject to a fee. However, international students who have been vaccinated with a vaccine not approved in the EU are still entitled to at least one free test per week until 31 December 2021. For this purpose, a certificate of enrolment and proof of vaccination must be presented at the test centre. Under the following links you will find an overview of the respective test centres:

• Frankfurt (Oder)
• Słubice
• Brandenburg
• Berlin
  
  

Vaccinations are the best way to contain the pandemic and achieve as much attendance as possible in the winter semester. Viadrina arranges vaccination offers for employees and students. The next vaccination appointment is scheduled for November. Current information and vaccination dates are published on this website.

In Frankfurt (Oder), various medical practices offer vaccinations with different vaccines. Please contact the medical practices directly to book an appointment.

You can find more information on vaccinations against the Corona virus here:

• Vaccination offers in Brandenburg
• Vaccination offers in Berlin

• Information on corona vaccination with mRNA vaccines (Information in German)
• Information on Corona vaccination with vector vaccines (Information in German)
  
  

Written and oral examinations may be conducted face-to-face in compliance with the distance regulations and hygiene precautions as well as in compliance with the 3G rules anchored in the Viadrina house rules.

As long as a minimum distance of one metre is maintained, there is no obligation to wear a medical mask (surgical mask or FFP2 mask) at the fixed place.

On the following pages you will find the regulations on processing times and deadlines as well as information on the submission of written assignments and theses for your degree programme:

• Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences (in German)
• Faculty of Business Administration and Economics
• Master of European Studies (in German)
• Master of Mediation and Conflict Management (in German)
• Language Centre (in German)

Please inform yourself about the regulations for handing in written work at your faculty or at the responsible examination office. Written papers are usually handed in by post or by dropping them in the letterbox at the main building (Große Scharrnstraße 59).

Under certain conditions - for example for students commuting across the border - oral examinations may be held at the Collegium Polonicum in individual cases.

For students commuting across the border, quarantine is still mandatory according to Polish entry regulations. Cross-border students are all students who regularly have to cross the German-Polish border for compulsory study purposes. There is an exception to the quarantine requirement for the following groups of people:

• persons who have a certificate of a negative corona test that is not older than 48 hours at the time of entry,
• persons who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved in the EU and whose last vaccination is not older than 14 days,
• persons who can prove their recovery, if the quarantine, isolation or hospital treatment took place in the last six months before crossing the border.

Corresponding evidence must be carried in Polish or English and presented to the police or border guards upon request.

Please always carry your student ID and another proof (e.g. your exam registration/boarding pass, confirmation of registration for university library) with you.

Especially for students living Poland who have to travel to Germany for compelling study purposes (esp. presence exam) and for whom the test costs represent a financial burden can apply for financial support from the Viadrina Emergency Fund. For this purpose, a short, informal application must be sent by e-mail to stip@europa-uni.de, stating the financial hardship, the compelling necessity of crossing the border (e.g. confirmation of registration for the presence examination) as well as the place of residence in Poland. A decision on the applications will be made in the short term.

You are coming to Frankfurt (Oder) soon to start your studies or your semester abroad at Viadrina? Please note the important hints and information regarding the arrival from risk areas, quarantine regulations and support offers of the Studentenwerk and Viadrina.

If you have further questions, please contact the team of the International Office.

Public events can be held in the presence of the Viadrina in compliance with the guidelines of the contact regulation and the house rules. You can find further information on holding public events, for example on the 3G rule or the documentation of presence for contact tracing, in this handout (in German).

Working meetings, committee meetings and consultation hours with students and invited external participants are possible by prior individual appointment, subject to the hygiene and distance regulations on site. For events, please send a hygiene concept to praevention@europa-uni.de in advance.

If external guests are received for work meetings or committee meetings, the contact details must be recorded in a form and kept for 4 weeks for the purpose of tracing infection chains. 

The university buildings are once again open to the public. Access is prohibited for persons who are ill with Covid-19 or who are suspected of being infected. For courses, examinations, use of the library as well as visits to the refectory and public events, the 3G rule applies in accordance with the house rules.

The main building is open from Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m and Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m..

The Gräfin-Dönhoff building, the Audimax and the Viadrina-Building in August-Bebel-Straße are open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Logenhaus and the building at Große Scharrnstraße 23a are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The mensa in the GD as well as the coffee bar in the main building are also open for external guests. You can find the current opening hours on the pages of the Studentenwerk. Please note that the 3G rule applies to the use of the Mensa.

The University Library is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On-site registration is required to use the reading room and the 3G rule applies.

The Collegium Polonicum is accessible following special rules of residence (in German). Here you can find the opening hours of the Collegium Polonicum library.

The University Library is open Monday to Friday from 9. a. m. - 9. p. m., Saturday from 9. a. m. - 6. p. m. and Sunday from 11. a. m. - 6. p. m.

Use of the reading room
The number of users who may be in the reading room at the same time is limited. The 3G rule applies to the use of the reading room. In addition, on-site registration is required and there is attendance documentation for the purpose of contact tracking.

When visiting the library, the distance and hygiene rules (in German) must be followed. Wearing a medical mask (surgical mask or FFP2 mask) is compulsory outside the fixed workplace in the reading room. At the fixed workstation, the mask may be removed while maintaining the distances. The 3G rule does not apply to the use of the library.

Information:
For general requests please contact ub_ausk@europa-uni.de, for requests regarding interlibrary loan please contact ub_fernl@europa-uni.de.

The Collegium Polonicum Library is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 4pm, and on Wednesdays from 12 noon to 7pm.

In order to mitigate the negative consequences of the corona pandemic on the course of studies, the state of Brandenburg has decided to extend the individual standard period of study.

For students who were enrolled in the summer semester 2020, the winter semester 2020/2021 or the summer semester 2021, the individual standard period of study is extended by one semester for each of these semesters in which they were enrolled. The extension also applies to students who exceeded the standard period of study with the summer semester 2020, the winter semester 2020/21 or the summer semester 2021. 

BAföG recipients whose maximum funding period (standard period of study) ended with the summer semester 2020 or in the winter semester 2020/21 can receive support for a correspondingly longer period. Those who have not yet applied should do so immediately. 

Depending on your personal situation, you can take advantage of the following support:

• Students in acute financial need can apply for an interim financial aid funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) or a interest free hardship loan (information in German). 
• Longer-term support is provided by BAföG (information in German) or a student loan from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

In all cases please contact the Studentenwerk Frankfurt (Oder). Further information and your direct contact can be found at www.studentenwerkfrankfurt.de.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the service points by telephone or e-mail:

• The Service Point for students is open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 3pm (closed on Fridays) and can be reached by telephone on 0335 5534 4747 or e-mail. Assignments and theses can be handed in there during opening hours.
  
  
• Psychological counselling and pastoral care: Psychological counselling sessions currently take place during open consultation hours or by appointment via video conference or by telephone. Please contact psychberatung@europa-uni.de.
  
  
• The Studentenwerk also offers support with social, psychological or financial problems.
  
  
• Pandemic, BAföG, part-time job, rental contract: FAQs for students.
  
  

To reduce the risk of infection for employees or students in the Viadrina buildings, the following hygiene measures apply:

• Please keep a minimum distance of 1.5 metres or 1 metre at the fixed seat. 
  
  
• Wearing a medical mask (OP mask or FFP2 mask) is compulsory in all Viadrina buildings. This does not apply at the fixed seat if a minimum distance of 1 metre can be maintained.
  
  
• Regular hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds is one of the most important hygiene measures.
  
  
• The ventilation systems in all Viadrina buildings are operated in accordance with current infection protection standards
  
  
• In all offices and seminar rooms, lecture halls, sanitary areas and corridors, door handles and light switches are disinfected once a day, as are handrails in all stairways, lifts and public photocopiers.
  
  
• Separate rules (available in German) apply to the University Library. Outside the workplace, the obligation to wear a medical mask applies in the reading room.
  
  
• Separate cleaning of the rooms takes place before examinations. Students who write exams will receive detailed information about hygiene and behavioral measures in a confirmation e-mail before their exam.
  
  
• We kindly ask you to use the Corona Warning App of the Federal Government. The app helps to identify chains of infection and supports the health authorities in containing the pandemic.

Information on barrier-free implementation of infection control measures (in German).

We kindly ask you to observe the current instructions of the Federal Centre for Health Education (in German).

Please stay at home if symptoms of illness occur and contact your family doctor.

Primary contact:
In the case of direct contact with a person who has been proven to be infected with the corona virus (i.e. a positive test has been performed), the guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Health apply: You must stay at home and report immediately to the responsible health authority (Health Office Frankfurt (Oder), Health Authorities Berlin). The Health Office will inform you about all necessary steps.

If you, as a Viadrina student, are affected, please send a short message to praevention@europa-uni.de.

Secondary contact:
In the case of indirect contact, i.e. in cases where no direct contact has taken place but where, for example, a family member is the primary contact person or a suspected case due to acute symptoms, the public health department does not normally impose quarantine.

If there are no compelling reasons that require your presence on campus, e.g. an important meeting at a seminar or an examination, we recommend that you stay at home until a test result is available. If the primary and secondary contact person is symptom-free and no test is carried out, up to five days of precautionary staying at home can serve as a guideline.

If you have any questions or are looking for support, please do not hesitate to contact us: praevention@europa-uni.de.

Useful links:

• Federal Centre for Health Education
• Coronavirus information for International Students in Germany
• Answers of the Robert Koch Institute to FAQs (in German)
• News from the Federal Ministry of Health (in German)
• Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)
• Contact Ordinance of the State of Brandenburg ("Umgangsverordnung"; in German)
• Information about Corona from the State Ministry of Health (in German)
• Informationen about Corona from the Frankfurt (Oder) city administration (in German)

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