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	s.t. (sine tempore) Of Latin origin, literally translated means “without time” and can often be found in the lecture timetable added to the time a course is supposed to begin. 10.00 s. t. means that the course begins at exactly the time given, i. e. at 10.00. (Cf. cum tempore (c.t.)).

	Schein Document certifying attendance and satisfactory participation in a course. There are different types of Scheine: a Teilnahmeschein (Sitzschein/Hörerschein), which certifies that a student has simply attended a course and a Leistungsschein, e.g. for completing a Referat, taking a Klausur or writing a Hausarbeit.

	Semester Word used to denote an academic half-year period. In Germany, the academic year is divided up into two Semesters, the Winter Semester (WS) from October to March and the Sommer Semester (SoSe) from April to the middle of October.

	Semesterbeitrag See Einschreibungsgebühr.

	Semesterticket Travel pass for the public transport system which is valid for one Semester. Normally, the Studentenausweis also serves as a Semesterticket. The fees for the ticket are included in the Semesterbeitrag.

	Semesterwochenstunde (SWS) The duration of a university course: one Semesterwochenstunde lasts 45 minutes. A normal lecture of 90 minutes thus amounts to 2 SWS. In order to be admitted to the Hauptstudium and later to the final exams each student must be able to certify a certain number of Semesterwochenstunden.

	Seminar Has two meanings: 1) a course given by a Dozent or Professor; 2) the rooms of a Fachbereich together with the department library. This is often where the offices of the Dozenten and Professorenare situated, where they prepare for their classes and hold office hours for students.

	sine tempore (s. t.) Of Latin origin, literally translated means “without time” and can often be found in the lecture timetable added to the time a course is supposed to begin. 10.00 s. t. means that the course begins at exactly the time given, i. e. at 10.00. (Cf. cum tempore (c.t.)).

	Skript Written transcript of a lecture - very useful in helping to prepare for a test.

	Sozialbeitrag Fees included in the Einschreibegebühren and in the Rückmeldung with which the Studentenwerk finances services which are not or only partly paid for by the government (university day care centers, psychotherapeutic counseling, etc.). These fees also cover part of the costs of student self-government organizations. The exact amount of the Sozialbeitrag varies among universities and German federal states.

	Staatsexamen Academic degree awarded to lawyers, doctors, and teachers after taking final state exams which have been prepared according to criteria set down by the government.

	Straßenverkehrsamt Government authority for the registration of motor vehicles. After buying a car or motorcycle the owner of the vehicle is registered with an official license plate number.

	Studentenparlament Decision-making body of the students at a university. The Studentenparlament is elected annually by the student body. Its responsibilities include the yearly election of the AStA (or similar organization), the approval of the AStA budget, as well as control over the AStA.

	Studentenverbindung Also called Burschenschaft, Landsmannschaft oder Corps and broadly similar to an American fraternity. As a general rule they are only open to male students, who can rent a room in the house of a Studentenverbindung for the duration of their studies. Participation in such a fraternity includes common celebrations, which are designated to strengthen bonds between the students and the Verbindung. In some Studentenverbindungen the young men have to take part in fencing duels to fight “for their honor”. The idea of a “bond for life” is also held in high esteem: Members of a Studentenverbindung often feel that they belong to such an organization for the rest of their lives.

	Studentenwerk Administrative department at a university which is responsible for running the Mensen and Cafeterien on the university campus as well as the distribution of rooms in the student dormitories and their maintenance. In addition, the Studentenwerk offers psychological counseling to students in need.

	Studentische Mitbestimmung The possibility for students to have an active influence on university politics. The elected bodies of the Studentische Mitbestimmung are the Fachschaften, Studentenparlamente, the Allgemeinen Studierenden Ausschüsse (AStA), and the Senate.

	Studienordnung Officially published document regulating the curriculum of classes to be studied in order to acquire a degree in a particular academic major.

	StuPo Combined abbreviation from Studienordnung and Prüfungsordnung.

	SWS (Semesterwochenstunde) The duration of a university course: one Semesterwochenstunde lasts 45 minutes. A normal lecture of 90 minutes thus amounts to 2 SWS. In order to be admitted to the Hauptstudium and later to the final exams each student must be able to certify a certain number of Semesterwochenstunden.

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