FLEX Modules in the Bachelor's Degree Programmes of the Department of Information Sciences

The FLEX area at the Department of Information Sciences serves as a free space for self-designed studies and enables students to choose courses or modules freely within the range offered by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam or other universities and to have these achievements recognised as FLEX modules.

What is the FLEX range?

The Study and Examination Regulations for the Bachelor's degree programmes in Archival Studies, Library Science and Information and Data Management in the Department of Information Sciences from 2023(ABK 454) states:

§ 8 FLEX area

(1) The FLEX area serves as a free space for self-designed studies and enables students to choose courses or modules freely within the range offered by the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam or other universities and to have these achievements recognised as FLEX modules.

(2) The degree programme includes two FLEX modules for which credits can be recognised in accordance with pragraph 1. One comprising 5 ECTS credit points and one comprising 6 ECTS credit points. A maximum of three credits can be submitted per FLEX module as proof of the workload achieved. At least one of the credits must be graded, unless evidence of predominantly practical or artistic-practical skills is to be recognised in the FLEX module.

(3) The graded achievements acquired in the FLEX modules are included in the overall grade. If several graded performances are submitted for a FLEX module, the module grade is arithmetically averaged from the individual grades.

This means for the FLEX modules in the bachelor's degree programmes of the Department of Information Sciences:

Students are completely free to decide which university courses they wish to have recognised for FLEX 1 (FL01) or FLEX 2 (FL02).

  • This could be any module at our department, at other departments of our university or at other universities.
  • From time to time, the lecturers in our department offer a FLEX module with a topic of their choice, provided they still have capacity for it. You can register the ECTS credits for FL01 or FL02.
  • In addition, there is a central FLEX programme at the FHP every semester central FLEX programme from which you can also choose.
  • You can also have modules from a previous degree programme recognised.
  • Knowledge and skills acquiredoutside of higher education can be recognised as FLEX credits in certain cases in accordance with Section 25 (5) of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act. This requires a review by the examination board of the faculty (see below for the procedure).

What are the specifications for FLEX modules?

  • The FLEX 1 module comprises 6 ECTS credits, the FLEX 2 module comprises 5 ECTS credits. You do not necessarily have to complete a FLEX module with a single course, but can bring in up to three credit points for a FLEX module, e.g. 3 credit points from one course and 2 credit points from another course to fill FLEX 2.
  • At least one credit must be graded in each of the two FLEX modules. If several graded assessments are completed for a FLEX module, the arithmetic mean of the assessments is recorded as the module grade.
  • The study plan(Appendix C of the study and examination regulations ABK 454) states that students can take an FL01 module in place of a compulsory elective course in the compulsory elective area in the 3rd semester. As FLEX 1 only appears at this point in the study plan, you do not need to take the FLEX 1 module if you have covered the compulsory elective area with a compulsory elective module from your degree programme (Archive and Information and Data Management degree programme) or with two compulsory elective modules from your degree programme (Library Science degree programme). In this case, you only need to earn 5 ECTS credits for FLEX 2 during the course of your degree programme.

What can I book as a FLEX service?

The students inform the lecturers whether the work should be recorded as FL01 or FL02. The lecturers inform the examination service informally about the work completed (with ECTS credit points).

It is not possible to create a Porg record or to register for the examination. The examinations are recorded by the examination service.

Students have their lecturers issue them with a transcript of records. They submit the transcript of records to the Examination Service and indicate whether it should be recorded as FL01 or FL02.

The examinations service is responsible for booking.

The website Recognition of academic achievements provides detailed information on the procedure, including the application form. Students submit the application to the Examination Service and indicate whether the credit should be recognised as FL01 or FL02.

The booking is carried out by the Examination Service.

The website Recognition of knowledge acquired outside the university provides detailed information on the procedure, including the application form. Crediting is carried out by the examination board.

For students training as media and information services specialists, the decision of the examination board of the faculty dated 03/09/2025 applies.

Additional services outside the FLEX range

In the case of additional courses attended at the Department of Information Sciences outside the FLEX modules, students must inform the lecturers that the corresponding coursework is to be recorded as "additional coursework". The lecturers inform the Examination Service informally about the coursework completed. The examination service is responsible for booking. The additional achievements appear as a supplement to the degree certificate upon graduation.

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Ines Borchert