Frequently asked questions
The first resource for literature research should be the University Library (SLUB). It offers an extensive stock of sociological specialist literature (including specialist journals) and a growing range of literature available online (specialist journals and e-books).
The central texts for the courses (especially seminars) can usually be found on OPAL. More information on this will provided in the courses.
Literature recommendations are given in the courses. Which of these you purchase for your private library is up to you.
These timetables are based on the study schedules and both of them serve as a guideline for you. If you follow them and pass your exams, you will be able to complete your studies within the standard period of study. You may deviate from those and combine your modules independently.
Please note, however, that the courses and examinations offered each semester are based on the study schedule. Therefore, it may happen that courses or examinations you have planned will not be offered in a particular semester.
Credits are time equivalents. With the help of these time equivalents, university studies are standardised nationally and internationally. Studies thus consist of a total amount of these time equivalents, which must be proven by the students. One credit corresponds to 30 working hours. Converted to the total duration of your studies, this results in a weekly work load of 40 hours with 7 weeks vacation per year - if you adhere to the standard period of study.
However, these credits will only be awarded once the modules have been passed. The examined assessments listed in the module descriptions are the only criteria that count for this (with the exception of the AQUA modules in all degree programmes and the elective compulsory area I in the Diplom programme).
The Institute of Sociology offers a consecutive Master's programme. This means that the admission requirement is a completed Bachelor's degree in Sociology or a related Bachelor's degree. Admission is regulated by a selection procedure in which the grade of the Bachelor's degree is a central selection criterion. The better the final grade, the greater the chance of being enrolled in the Master's programme.
You may do so in principle. You will have to submit an informal application to the examination board and explain why you have to study a second elective compulsory area or supplementary area. Furthermore, you have to indicate which of the two should be included in your final grade and which should be shown as an extra achievement on your certificate.
In the course of modularisation, the Bachelor's and Diplom programmes have been structurally standardised. Both degree programmes are divided into modules, which makes it possible and easy to switch between the different forms of study. For a change of the programme, you have to apply to the university within the regular application deadlines for the winter or summer semester. You will then receive a place corresponding to your respective semester if capacity is available. Exmatriculation is not necessary.
Further information can be found on the website of the Admissions Office.
The Act on the Autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education in the Free State of Saxony (SächsHG) provides for the possibility of leave of absence during studies. As a rule, leave of absence needs to be applied for at the Admissions Office during the re-registration period in the winter or summer semester. Please note: A (possibly reduced) semester contribution must be paid even during the semester of leave of absence. The maximum duration is 2 semesters, except in the case of taking maternity or parental leave. Reasons for a leave of absence include: Doing an internship in Germany or abroad, studying abroad or general study-related stays abroad, maternity or parental leave, work experience or preparation for an examination. The application for a leave of absence must be supported by appropriate evidence.
Please note any changes that may apply during your leave of absence regarding child benefit entitlement or health insurance status! Further information can be found on the website of the Admissions Office.
The Sociology degree qualifies you to take up a wide range of activities after graduation. Due to your sound theoretical and methodological training, you will be able to work in a variety of professional fields. Sociologists can be found in particular at universities and research institutions, in public administration and non-profit organisations (churches, associations, societies), but also in the private sector (human resources, public relations, market research). In order to more easily enter the job market later on, it is important for you to find a niche, or to already have a specialisation in mind during your studies which you might be able to pursue in the future. The compulsory internship can be both an entry and an inspiration for your later career.
For good career prospects it is essential to have very good results in your studies and on your final degree certificate.
In the Bachelor's programme the following subjects are available in the supplementary area:
- Education/Social Pedagogy,
- History,
- Political Science,
- Media and Communication,
- Art/Music and Philosophy/Ethics/Theology.
More detailed information on the supplementary areas can be found in the Handbook of Supplementary Areas.
In the Diplom degree course Sociology, there are two elective compulsory areas (Wahlpflichtbereiche - WFP). WPF 1 must be completed during undergraduate studies; WPF 2 is chosen during the fourth semester (registration required!) and studied from the fifth semester onwards.
The elective compulsory area 1 consists of the following lectures:
- Einführung in das Öffentliche Recht
- Einführung in das Privatrecht
- Grundlagen der Volkswirtschaftslehre
- Zwei frei wählbare Vorlesungen aus dem Angebot der Geschichtswissenschaft
Attendance at the lectures is documented on this form.
The elective compulsory area 2 comprises of the following subjects:
- History
- Media and Communication
- Political Science
- Education/Social Pedagogy
- History of Art/Musicology
- Philosophy/Ethics/Religion
- Psychology
- Economics (VWL)
More detailed information on the supplementary areas can be found in the Handbook of Supplementary Areas.
The compulsory internship is part of the module Soz-Aqua 1 and has a minimum duration of 6-8 weeks. In the Institute of Sociology you will regularly find advertisements announcing current internship offers. Furthermore, it is generally recommended to use the internet with its relevant internship pools (for example praktikum.de, praktika.de, praktikum.info etc.).
You may also obtain information from political institutions of the city of Dresden, non-profit organisations, associations or municipal/state institutions.
As a TU student, you automatically receive a language quota of 10 SWS (hours per week) at the beginning of your studies, which you can use as you wish.
Information on language enrolment can be found here:
Please note: The starting date for the registration varies from language to language. In general, however, the following applies: Registering in good time (usually to the second) secures the course places.
Therefore, inform yourself in advance about the deadlines and dates.
In particular on the website of TU Dresden's International Office.
For questions regarding the study of Sociology, please contact the Academic Advisory Service of the Institute.
You will find the necessary information on the website of the Academic Advisory Service.
As a general rule, registration is only necessary for seminars, exercises, tutorials - but not for lectures (unless otherwise stated).
Core area Sociology (Diplom or Bachelor)
In the core area of Sociology (Diploma or B.A.), students in their first semester only need to register for exercises and tutorials. This registration takes place via the Saxon Educational Portal (OPAL) and is usually done in the first week of lectures. You will find your log-in data on the semester form (TU-Hochschul-Login, Semesterbogen).
First-year students receive information on these registrations in the welcome event of the Institute of Sociology, which takes place at the beginning of each winter semester (events). Information on registration for the statistics exercises (PC exercises) will be provided in the first lecture Statistics I.
Students in advanced semesters can register for the seminars of the advanced and specialisation modules and for the research project. These registrations are also usually done via OPAL. In some courses registration must be done directly with the lecturers. Information on courses and registrations can be found in the announcements of the courses in OPAL.
Supplementary and Elective Compulsory Areas
Registration for the courses of the supplementary areas (B.A.) or elective compulsory areas (Diplom-Soziologie) is necessary depending on the chosen subject. You can find more information on the website of the Academic Advisory Service. No responsibility can be taken for this information. To be on the safe side, you should regularly check the relevant information of the individual departments.