The practical stage is designed to enable students to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during their course outline within a company. The aim of the practical stage is for students to familiarise themselves with the tasks of a Computer Scientist through their own practical, engineering sciences-related activities. This includes, among other things

• Necessary framework conditions for project initiation (budget, resources, deadlines, legal requirements)
• Gaining an overview of the technical, organisational and economic context of the company and its social structures
• Acquisition of personal experience in a professional field characterised by technical, organisational and economic issues and the typical work processes and contexts there
• Specialisations in modern working methods for solving tasks (e.g. project management, team and group work, moderation)

In addition, key skills such as the ability to cooperate and work in a team, presentation and moderation skills and strategies for acquiring knowledge are practised and specialisations are developed. General transfer and social skills (rhetoric, conflict management) are also trained in a practical way through the organisation of the project in a team, preparing students for their future professional experience in industry.

Further organisational and formal information, including a sample contract for the practical stage, can be found in the practical regulations.

The practical stage usually takes place at the start of the 6th semester and normally precedes the Bachelor’s thesis. It is often beneficial to combine these two elements and to begin preparing the topic of the Bachelor’s thesis during the practical stage:

the practical stage comprises at least 360 hours spent at the company, alongside further related coursework at the university. The topic or project for the internship must be agreed in advance with the supervisor. The practical stage is supervised by a lecturer from the faculty of Computer Science. 

SPO 2014: Both components – the practical stage and the Bachelor’s thesis – generally begin with the module ‘Academic Work in Computer Science 2’ (WAI-2). This module must be completed before the practical stage can begin. The lecturer for the WAI-2 module is usually also the supervisor for the practical stage and the first examiner for the Bachelor’s thesis. Within the scope of the module, you therefore have the opportunity to discuss the topics for the practical stage and the Bachelor’s thesis with the lecturer and to formalise them. In addition, during the WAI-2 module, you will have time to find a suitable company with which you can undertake your practical stage – and, ideally, your Bachelor’s thesis as well. Finding and selecting suitable companies often proves to be a critical step. You should definitely allow sufficient time for this. 

SPO 2021: Students independently find a company for the practical stage and select a lecturer from the university to supervise them. There is also the option of taking a practical module. These courses are usually supervised by a pair of lecturers and start on a specified date. As a rule, the university supervisor is also the primary supervisor for the Bachelor’s thesis. If you are currently interested in supervision for a practical stage or Bachelor’s thesis, please contact suitable lecturers directly or join a supervision team (see section ‘Registering with a supervision team’). 

Official registration for the practical stage takes place at the Examinations Office.

All Bachelor students of the SPO 2021 (general Bachelor / KMI) have the opportunity to arrange individual supervision for their practical stage and the subsequent Bachelor thesis directly with the lecturer. Contact suitable lecturers for this, for example by email.

There is also the option of joining a fixed supervision tandem. This tandem will then take over the supervision of your practical stage and the subsequent Bachelor's thesis. In this way, you do not have to arrange practical phase supervision with a lecturer yourself, but you have no influence on the subsequent supervision of your Bachelor's thesis. There is no restriction on the possible subject areas of your Bachelor's thesis.

*For students of the SPO2014, the lecturers of the module "Scientific Work 2" will usually also supervise the practical stage. In rare exceptional cases, students must seek individual supervision.

ALL of the following binding requirements apply for registration for a practical stage with a support team:

• Co-operation with a company: You have already contacted a company and agreed on an assignment in the field of computer science.
• Suitable start date: Your practical stage should start promptly (maximum in 2 months) and will last about 3 months.
• Bachelor's thesis follow-up: You are planning to start your Bachelor's thesis immediately after the practical stage and would like to be supervised by the tandem's lecturers.
• Practical stage as preparation: Your practical stage serves as targeted preparation for the Bachelor's thesis.
• Fulfilment of the requirements: You fulfil the evidence requirements for both the practical module (30.7608) and the Bachelor's thesis (30.8920).

Confirm fulfilment of the above requirements on this form and send it to your degree programme director.

Towards the end of the practical stage (or shortly afterwards), you present your results to your practical stage supervisor and, if applicable, to company representatives. This final presentation serves, among other things, to prepare you for the later defence of your Bachelor's thesis and should last approx. 15-20 minutes.

After the practical stage, the company must confirm the hours worked in the form of an internship certificate. This certificate must include information on the type and duration of the work. There are no other formal requirements.

Following the practical stage, a practical report must be prepared. This report should address the key points of the competences required in the module handbook and also contain an overview of the work completed and the overall project. The report can also serve as the basis for the Bachelor's thesis. To this end, it should be written in a neutral, scientific style and in accordance with scientific principles.