FAQs for students
Communication
Always use your BUW address for e-mail communication. Choose a subject that includes your request and, if applicable, the relevant course. Start with a polite form of address ("Dear Ms ...", "Dear Mr ...", "Hello Ms ..."). Formulate your request clearly and concisely. Also mention the relevant seminar, lecture or thesis. Use an appropriate greeting ("Yours sincerely") and your full name. Avoid slang, smileys or abbreviations.
Wait at least 5 working days. If you haven't heard back by then, you can ask politely - preferably directly in the same email conversation.
Cancellation is not compulsory for lectures. For seminars or courses where attendance is compulsory, please cancel your attendance in advance by emailing your teacher. You do not need to send a reason for your absence or a medical certificate, unless otherwise agreed.
Feedback is an offer for further development. Read it at your leisure and ask questions if you don't understand something.
Keep the design simple, use a clear structure, as little text as possible per slide and make sure that simple animations emphasise what is being said. Pay attention to accessibility (e.g. contrast, font size), use references and page numbers. Practise your presentation out loud beforehand.
The BUW thrives on its diversity of subjects and people. To ensure that this diversity is also reflected in language, the rectorate decided to introduce the gender star* in October 2019. You can find information here: https://www.gleichstellung.uni-wuppertal.de/de/beratung-service/geschlechtergerechte-sprache/.
Scientific work
Use library catalogues (Katalog Plus of the BUW), databases such as Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed or Google Scholar. Pay attention to the quality of your sources (peer-reviewed papers). If you have any questions, please contact the library, which also offers a wide range of courses on literature research.
The BUW offers access to most publications from the university network or via VPN. Otherwise you may find what you are looking for on Researchgate(https://www.researchgate.net) or you can request the full text from the authors.
In psychology, APA style usually applies (observe the current version). Literal quotations are given in inverted commas with the page number, analogous quotations without. A bibliography always belongs at the end.
We recommend Citavi, Zotero or EndNote, for example. They organise literature sources and automatically insert citations into your document.
Plagiarism is the adoption of someone else's ideas without correct citation. Avoid it by quoting properly, formulating your own thoughts and refraining from copy-pasting. If you are unsure, use plagiarism checking tools or ask your supervisor.
Personal and social matters
Talk to fellow students, teachers or the student counselling service. Take advantage of services such as the Psychosocial Counselling for Students (PSB) at the Studierendenwerk Wuppertal or workshops offered by the Central Student Guidance and Counselling Services (ZSB).
There are many contact points that you can turn to, such as the central student guidance and counselling services, the AStA, the Psychology Student Council or the central complaints office for students. You can also contact the Equal Opportunities Officer or lodge a formal complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Committee. You can find more information here: https://www.uni-wuppertal.de/de/universitaet/organisation/beschwerdestellen-ombudsleute/.
Attend student council events, study groups or initiatives. Many students are in the same boat - dare to speak to others.
In addition to the classic options such as BAföG/student finance services, a job as a working student or student assistant at the university, there are several scholarships that can support you financially. These include, for example, the Deutschlandstipendium or the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. You can find more information here: https://www.stipendien.uni-wuppertal.de/de/.
