Tips and tricks for every term

At least 2 lab coats!!!

For zoology: 

- a pair of pointed nail scissors, pins and a pair of tweezers

For anatomy:

-Dissection kits are provided by the Department of Anatomy; you can also buy scalpel blades from the AStA once you’ve used them all up

- a combination lock for anatomy

-Disposable gloves for anatomy (from dm or Rossmann – as long as they’re nitrile gloves)

First of all: Welcome to TiHo! It’s great to have you here! Don’t let yourself be daunted at the start by all the modules and the sheer volume of material. You’ll manage it all! TiHo is a small, lovely and very close-knit university, as you’ll no doubt soon realise for yourselves. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the AStA or even students in higher years. Everyone will be happy to help you!

First of all, some organisational information: if you’re ill and can’t attend compulsory classes, you’ll usually need to get a doctor’s note and submit a copy to the relevant department. The exact rules for each department are always gone over again at the start of the course. It’s best to always give them a call if you can’t attend, to avoid any misunderstandings. You’ll find the departments’ telephone numbers on the website. If you’re unwell on the day of an exam, a doctor’s certificate must be received by the Examinations Office within three days.

During your degree, you must complete a certain number of compulsory elective hours. From the second semester onwards, you can always select these via StudIS. There, you can also view a ‘statement’ showing how many hours you still need. In the online course catalogue, you can view all compulsory elective modules and, if necessary, withdraw from them using the contact details provided there if you are unable to attend. By the way: you can enter your compulsory elective hours yourself via StudIS. You must then submit the certificate to the Student Registry; otherwise, it will not be recognised.

You may already have seen the timetable in the freshers’ booklet. If not, you can also find it in the downloads section of StudIS. As you can see, it’s quite packed. It’s definitely a good idea to attend all the lectures in the first few weeks and then decide for yourself whether it’s worth attending them regularly.

On the subject of textbooks: lecturers are always very keen to recommend books in their first lectures. Often, however, you don’t need a book at all to prepare well for exams – for example, if the lecture notes posted online are very good, or if there’s a useful set of lecture notes available from the AStA. You can also borrow many books from the library or buy them second-hand more cheaply via Discord.

On the subject of lecture notes: it often makes little sense to print out absolutely everything. Sometimes they contain lots of images and tables that you’ll never look at again afterwards. What’s more, your printer cartridge will thank you if you’re a bit selective about what you really need to print out.

Regarding your TiHo email account: it’s very sensible to regularly sort through your inbox and, above all, to clear it out (including the bin!). Sometimes important emails arrive from the AStA or the Examinations Office that you shouldn’t miss just because your inbox is overflowing. You can also set up your email account on your mobile; you’ll find instructions for this on StudIS.

A few details about individual subjects: In Anatomy, the dissection session takes place every week. Under supervision, you’ll prepare a specimen, which means: you’ll be cutting away at a goat’s leg and, later on, a cat. The anatomy lecturers place great importance on appropriate clothing, which means: at least a knee-length white lab coat, sleeves rolled up past the elbows, no clothing visible beneath the sleeves, no long scarves, no arm jewellery, long hair tied back and closed shoes; long trousers are required even in summer. Furthermore, there should be a suitable textbook available at every table during each dissection session. In anatomy, there are weekly tests throughout the semester, in which you’ll be tested on the current topic at your respective tables. You’ll be awarded a ‘+’ or a ‘-’ for these, and by the end of the semester you must have achieved a minimum number of ‘+’ marks to pass the course. The sheer volume of material will probably overwhelm you at first, but everyone has managed it so far, so don’t lose heart!

In Zoology, you’ll also be dissecting, though a different animal each week. You’ll start with worms and then work your way ‘up’ to rats. They say you’ll need a dissection kit, but a pair of sharp nail scissors, ordinary pins and a pair of tweezers will do just fine. Every week you’ll also be given three multiple-choice questions to answer.

In Physics, a lecture is always uploaded, and on the other day of the week, ‘Who Wants to Be a Vet?’ takes place as a knowledge quiz. There are also practical sessions where you have to write reports. It’s still unclear what form this will take in the next academic year. This semester, one session was in person and the rest were online.

In Chemistry, you’ll also have to give a group presentation on a specific topic.

The written exams at TiHo are usually taken on a computer. There are often catalogues of past exam questions from higher semesters – it’s definitely worth having a look at them!

Many first-year students take private tuition in chemistry right from the start. If you’re completely lost and already know that this subject is going to cause you problems, it certainly makes sense to seek support early on. However, that’s not to say you can’t manage without private tuition.

Towards the end of the semester, there’s a Chemistry test covering the material from the semester (on a computer (Moodle), 20 questions). There’s also the ERKO I in Histology (on a computer, 30 questions). 

During the lecture-free period, there will be the pre-physics exams in Zoology (on a computer, multiple-choice, 60 questions) and Physics (on a computer, multiple-choice, 60 questions).

The most important thing, as far as organisational matters are concerned, is re-enrolment. You can re-enrol for the next semester from the end of this semester (the exact date is on the StudIS homepage). To do this, you must transfer the specified amount to the specified account. Make sure you enter your correct student number, otherwise your payment may not be allocated correctly!

The second most important thing: if you move house, update your address yourself via StudIS so that your documents (e.g. regarding exams) reach you.

You’ve already completed half a year of your degree – we’re proud of you. 
Now you’re about to start what’s probably the most relaxed semester before the Physikum. 

As for compulsory modules, this semester you’ll still have dissection, histology and the odd chemistry seminar; you won’t have to go back to botany – the signature from last semester still counts

In addition, there are the physiology practicals and, at the end of the semester, the biochemistry practical – and perhaps even Ruthe. 

Don’t stress about the physiology course – you’ll be tested in a relaxed group setting and the lecturers are laid-back; there’ll also be two written tests over the course of the semester. 

For Ruthe, you should start thinking about green steel-toed rubber boots and a green apron. If you order them as a group, it’s usually cheaper. 

During the semester break (as if there were such a thing (; )), you’ll sit the preliminary medical exam in Botany and Chemistry. 

You’ll also have embryology, where you’ll learn all sorts about the development of animal organisms – it can be really fascinating if you can still muster the energy to pay attention. 

Here’s another little fun fact: the large groups for histology and dissection won’t be changed, but you’re welcome to sit in a different arrangement to before; for dissection, though, it’s better to just stay in your usual seats. 

You’ve already completed your first year of study! Here’s everything you need to know for the third semester:

Your compulsory modules this semester continue to be the anatomy dissection course (and Siten – more on that later), physiotherapy practicals and histology/embryology.
In Physiology, there’ll be practical sessions again, but this semester they’ll mostly take place in the stables.
For these, as well as a lab coat, you’ll need steel-toed rubber boots and a rubber apron. 

At the end of the semester, there’ll be another practical assessment, which also serves as good preparation for the Physikum exam in February or March.
In anatomy, the dissection sessions are added to the standard dissection course in the third semester. During a ‘Situs’ session, you’ll have the chance to examine the organs of the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities on a horse specimen. Even though there’s no weekly test here – you just need to hand in a worksheet you’ve completed beforehand – it’s worth coming well prepared, as a ‘Situs’ will also be a topic in the Physikum. Remember to bring rubber boots, an apron and a lab coat 

here too! 

If you don’t want to be lugging all your protective clothing back and forth all the time, you can find a locker on campus, e.g. in the old boiler house.

At the start of the semester, you’ll sit a multiple-choice exam in biochemistry covering the biochemistry practical, which counts for half your final mark in biochemistry. This is a great opportunity to pick up some marks!

In January, you’ll sit the ERKO II exam in Histology/Embryology covering the material from the 2nd and 3rd semesters (on a computer, 30 questions).

After this semester, the first Physikum exams are due: Biochemistry (on a computer, 60 questions) and Physiology (oral). 

For Biochemistry, the fill-in-the-blank exercises from the lectures provide a very good foundation. 

The physiology exam is held orally in groups of 3–4 people. As there’s a lot of material to cover, it’s worth keeping on top of things during the semester and preparing well for the tutorials. 

Even though it’s your first oral exam: don’t panic – the examiners are really friendly and the exam atmosphere is relatively relaxed :)

During the semester break, the Ruthe placement for the second half of the semester is also due to take place.

Just one more semester, and you’ll have completed the pre-clinical part of your degree! So, after this semester, you’ll have your final exams in Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, as well as in Animal Breeding and Genetics. 

For anatomy in particular, make sure you start revising during the semester.
There will be weekly quizzes in anatomy again. 

In Animal Nutrition, you’ll have a written assessment in the form of an essay. You’ll choose the topic and question from a list of suggested topics on Moodle.

For the Radiology lecture, there are short weekly attendance tests on Moodle which you must complete in order to be admitted to the exam in the 5th semester – and once you’ve passed that, you’ll also have your radiation protection certificate! There is also a radiology practical course. This consists of two sessions, for which you must also complete reports.

In the propaedeutic module, you’ll learn general and specialised examination procedures on animals. This semester, you’ll be working either with cloven-hoofed animals and cattle, or with companion and small animals, fish and horses. This rotates after one semester, so that by the end of the 5th semester you’ll have worked with all of them. For the equine section, there is a certificate card which you must not lose. The swap system varies from clinic to clinic. Required equipment: stethoscope = phonendoscope

In the cattle clinic, you may be assigned to a group for valid reasons. For small cloven-hoofed animals and small animals, you’ll be paired with a partner; for horses, you can join a different group; and for the
companion animal practicals, you’re allowed to miss one session.
You can also shadow staff in all departments to familiarise yourself with day-to-day clinic life. In the cattle clinic, however, this is only possible after the propaedeutic course.

In Pathology, you have weekly seminars with compulsory attendance. In addition, you are divided into small groups, in which 1–2 people give a short presentation each week.

During the lecture-free period, you’ll sit the Physikum exams: 

Animal Breeding consists of a written multiple-choice section on the computer and a second, oral section with three questions and an animal assessment. 

Anatomy is assessed orally.

Histology/Embryology is also assessed as a multiple-choice exam on a computer.

There is also an exam in general pathology comprising 90 questions on a computer (this is already part of the state examination). However, this does not take place until shortly before the start of the fifth semester.

Materials required: 

-    at least 3 lab coats, preferably more 

-    possibly a locker lock for Mibi  

Well done, you’ve passed the Physikum! Now you can finally get stuck in at the hospital! 

This term, you’ll be doing the part of the propaedeutics course that you didn’t cover in the 4th term. 

For the microbiology course, you’ll also need a lab coat, which must remain at the department. You can lock your belongings away during the course, so bring a padlock with you. You may take your iPad into the course, provided it’s secured in a plastic bag. Alternatively, you can take notes on the sheets of paper already laid out for you.  

It makes sense to attend the pharmacology lectures. But of course, you can manage without them too. 

In Mibi (Infectious Disease Diagnostics course), there’s a practical exam at the end of the semester. For the lab course, there are eight case studies on Moodle throughout the semester which must be completed in place of a written assessment. So there’s a bit of time during the semester to catch your breath! 

In Immunology, you also have to sit a short exam. This is a written exam via Moodle, but it’s really no big deal and nothing to get stressed about. 

During the lecture-free period, the first exams for the state examination are due: in Microbiology, a written exam with 60 questions; in Radiology, a written exam with 70 questions; in Animal Husbandry/Animal Hygiene, a written exam with 60 questions; and an exam in Propaedeutics, which is oral and practical – although you won’t find out which animal species you’ll be working with until the day of the exam itself. 

In Biomathematics, you’ll need to sit a certificate exam (multiple-choice, 40 questions, 50 per cent to pass; a calculator will be provided). This means you’ll need the certificate by the 8th semester and can sit the exam as many times as you like. Always turn up – every attempt is worth it! 

Before the start of the semester, you can sign up to write a reproduction report. (It is advisable to write the report in the 6th semester; that way, you won’t have to do it in the 7th, as there will be several other reports due by then.) 

Clinical placements begin in the 6th semester. These involve practising how to examine and treat patients. They also take place in the 7th and 8th semesters. Attendance is compulsory for all clinical placements. The lists can be found on the noticeboard or in the relevant Moodle courses. The clinical rotations take place every day except Friday. Each student is assigned one patient per clinic, and you must write a report for each (one for small animals and small cloven-hoofed animals, one for the cattle clinic, and one for a virtual patient in the equine clinic). Please note: in the Small Hoofed Animals Clinic, you will be allocated your patient one day before you may need to present them in person during the clinical session. Therefore, check the list in the clinic to see when you will be allocated your patient and whether you may need to swap your appointment. 

Reproduction: There is a main and a supplementary session. The main session is listed in the timetable and takes place in the lecture theatre; students rotate between the clinics according to the lists. You must bring protective clothing for this (full protective clothing for the Bovine and Small Hoofed Animals clinics, and just a lab coat for the Equine and Small Animal clinics). One or two patients are presented and discussed per session. Those who have registered online must assist with the examination. In the small animal clinic, patients are sometimes presented, but mainly ‘just’ lectures are held. 

The supplementary module is not included in the timetable and runs alongside the main module. Two to six students then accompany the assistants around the clinic and are assigned a patient there, whom they examine together for the reproduction report. 

In the afternoons, the Repro seminar takes place on certain dates; you can find the list on Moodle. There are six different sessions, and they are similar to the Repro module. Always bring protective clothing with you, as there are usually two people required to assist (white lab coat). The spermatology course takes place at the VMTA School, which is the grey building between the Tower and the library. You must also bring a white lab coat to this session. 

Throughout the semester, don’t forget your Pharma classes. The lectures are a huge help! 

Parasitology takes place on Fridays, and lab coats are compulsory for this course too. If you’ve forgotten yours, you can buy a disposable lab coat at the front. A little tip: there are plenty of free lockers down in the Pathology department where you can store a lab coat. 

You can also choose your clinical placement cycle now. It’s best to start looking around for other placements for your clinical year as well. But make sure you wait until you’ve been allocated your cycle! You’ll definitely get a place! 

During the break between terms, you’ll have the virology exam (on a computer, 50 questions), as well as in Pharmacology/Toxicology (computer-based, 90 questions), Animal Welfare/Ethology (computer-based, 60 questions) and Histology/Pathology (computer-based, 80 questions).

What do you need?
– White protective clothing for the meat inspection (helmet, apron, boots, lab coat)
- A locker key for the Pathology department –
You do NOT need a blue lab coat for Pathology; these are now 
provided – You will also need green clothing and white lab coats for the clinical rotations and outpatient visits –
White lab coats for the AVO and Parasitology courses

If you haven’t written a reproduction report yet in your 6th semester, now is your chance. The dates are usually available on Moodle before the start of the semester and you can sign up.

There are 
also quota sessions scheduled for this semester. You’ll need to write a report on horses, small cloven-hoofed animals, cattle and small animals again.
 

New this term are the post-mortem examinations in Pathology. These take place four times in total (every three weeks) and you must write a report for each one. You will receive instructions from the Institute of Pathology, and the content will be discussed with
the tutorial supervisor during the post-mortem.

The Outpatient Clinic organises compulsory field trips during the semester. Each student will be allocated ONE date for this. The field trips take place from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm, but may sometimes last a little longer. You are
excused from all your other modules during this time.

On one afternoon during the semester, you will undertake a practical exercise in small groups on obstetrics in cattle. Materials will be provided to help you prepare.

Another new addition is meat inspection. You will need to wear white clothing for this course. Over several sessions, you will learn how to carry out meat inspection on various animal species. There will be a practical examination on this at the end of the semester.
During the semester, there will also be an assessment in AVO. Prior to this, you will have two sessions in which you will learn how to mix ointments, powders and solutions, as well as how to write prescriptions. In the assessment, you will then have to prepare two medicinal products
and write two prescriptions.

In Animal Nutrition, weekly practical sessions will again take place in the Pathology lecture theatre. You will also need to write a short essay during the semester (as in the 4th
semester).

Furthermore, weekly practical sessions in Parasitology take place. It is worth taking photos whilst using the microscope to help you prepare for the practical part of
the exam.

During the lecture-free period, the Parasitology exam takes place. This consists of a written and a practical part. In the practical part, you must
identify parasites and eggs under the microscope against the clock.

A few weeks later, the written exam in animal nutrition follows.

What do you need?
– A locker lock for the pathology department –
You do NOT need a blue lab coat for the pathology department; these are now 
provided – You’ll also need green clothing and white lab coats for the clinical rotations and outpatient visits –
A white lab coat for the food science courses

If you haven’t written a reproduction report yet in your 6th or 7th semester, this is your last chance. The dates are usually available on Moodle before the start of the semester, and you can sign up. The other departments continue to organise clinical rotations, though here you only need to write a report on the horses and, if applicable, the small animals.

In Pathology, you no longer need to write any reports this semester. Instead, you’ll have a two-part session on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, during which, on the one hand, you’ll examine pathological specimens in small groups
and discuss them with the teaching staff (in the dissection theatre) and, secondly, listen to short presentations by the lecturers; once a term, you’ll need to present a pathological specimen in pairs or groups of three (in the Pathology demonstration theatre). (But don’t worry, all the information materials will be provided!)

Tip: These specimens are potential ones for the practical exam in the 11th semester, so you might as well take a few notes as a reminder.

The Outpatient Clinic is once again organising compulsory field trips during the semester. Each student will be allocated ONE slot. The field trips take place from 8.30 am to 1.00 pm, though they may sometimes run a little longer. You are
excused from all your other modules during this time (please report to the Poultry Clinic if you fail to meet the quota for poultry post-mortems, so that an animal does not have to be provided especially for you).

Otherwise, in the 8th semester you will have many modules in the field of food
science. During the semester, practical sessions on the topics of food science and dairy science will take place. There will also be corresponding theory sessions at the start of the semester.

In the food science module, there are three practical sessions during the semester, and two in the dairy science module. In the last two weeks of the semester, there is a practical examination in each module, in which you will be given a food item and must write a report on it.

The food science overview session takes place 
once a week. Attendance is compulsory on only two of these sessions (see Moodle!). However, the content is relevant to the exam, and the sessions usually finish after just two to three hours.
A session on laboratory animal science takes place every 14 days. This is not compulsory, but if you attend all the sessions, you can obtain your laboratory animal science certificate.

During the exam period, examinations in Internal Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction, AVO and Clinical Pharmacology, as well as Animal Disease Control, take place.

How to – PJ
Regulation on the Licensing of Vets (TAppV) (for reference)
Section 3: The practical training
component §54 Placements
The university recommends waiting until you have completed your cycle placements (placement at one of the university’s veterinary clinics) before planning placements in the public veterinary sector (slaughterhouse & veterinary authority), the food industry and curative veterinary practices or clinics, or elective placements at a
university institute, research institute, etc.

At the 
start of the 6th semester (April/May/June), there is an information session at which all the university’s clinics introduce themselves; following this, students are given access to select and prioritise clinics and groups (time slots).

As part of the Europe-wide accreditation of our degree programme, placement providers are required to register on the online portal (VMFT Service Centre www.vmft.de/praktika/index.htm), enter their details and, in future, use it to conclude a sort of placement contract with the veterinary faculties for all placements within the practical year.

(Registration takes approx. 3 working days, so don’t wait until the last week of your placement to mention this 놰놫놬놭놱놮놯)

Otherwise, the forms to be completed for the respective placements are available on StudIS:
Download area/Forms and information, relating to the examination period, clinic (from the 5th semester)/Certificates and evaluation questionnaires

Work 
placements:
Subsection 1: Training in control activities, methods and techniques for the food sector, including the inspection of fresh meat

Training in control methods and techniques: - The
training lasts 75 hours and must span at least two consecutive weeks.
-It takes place at authorities or institutions that carry out food inspections (e.g. in abattoirs, food processing establishments or universities).
-Content: Learning how to check the hygiene and quality of food, in particular fresh meat.
=> Application to the Veterinary and Food Authorities

Practical training in ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection:

This lasts 100 hours and must be completed over at least three consecutive weeks.

-In exceptional cases, it may be split into two periods, but these must follow directly one after the other.-If
the training takes place at a poultry slaughterhouse, a maximum of 30 hours may be counted towards the total. This means that if only poultry is slaughtered, at least 70 hours of the training must be undertaken at
a slaughterhouse handling cattle or pigs. – Important
: The training must take place at approved establishments where official vets are employed. 
– Training involving only pigs or only cattle for 100 hours over at least three weeks is acceptable

- The training may be split across several abattoirs. 
- Applications should be made to the veterinary authorities
. - The BVVD has an online list of abattoirs featuring most (but not all) abattoirs

Subsection 2: Training in a curative veterinary practice or at a veterinary clinic

First section (short clinical placement)
:- This part of the training lasts 150 hours and must span at least four weeks.
- It may be undertaken in a veterinary practice, in a veterinary hospital, or split equally between the two
.- Important: This section may only be undertaken after passing the preliminary veterinary examination (Physikum).
 

Second section (extended clinical placement)
:- This part lasts 700 hours.
- It may also be completed in a veterinary practice, a veterinary hospital or a combination of up to four such establishments
.- It must span at least 16 weeks in accordance with the university’s guidelines
.- Certain special provisions set out in Section 60 remain unaffected.

*Wildcard for ‘Bremser’*:
o Executive Committee resolution to ensure uniform regulations regarding the recognition of ‘Bremser’ work for part of the practical year (parts of the major clinical placement/elective placement) (as at 2 April 2024)
1. Recognition of 8 weeks: Employment for at least 70 hours per month + 1 year’s work at the institution
2. Recognition of 7 weeks: Employment for at least 61 hours per month + 1 year’s work at the institution
3. Recognition for 6 weeks: Employment for at least 52 hours per month + 1 year’s work at the institution
4. Recognition for 5 weeks: Employment for at least 43 hours per month + 1 year’s work at the institution
5. Recognition for 4 weeks: Employment for at least 35 hours per month + 1 year’s work at the institution

o Recognition cannot be granted for working hours of less than 35 hours per month (Section 57(2) of the TAppV). If work at the institution lasts for more than one year and the recognition is less than 8 weeks, half of the weeks specified above may be recognised per semester, but not exceeding a total of 8 weeks. No additional recognition is granted for a period of work shorter than one semester.

(As of April 2025)
 

In the middle or at the end of the 10th semester, the examination timetable for the 11th semester is published.

First up are the clinical examinations, starting in early October, each taking place at the clinic where you completed your clinical rotation (if you did a paraclinical rotation rather than a clinical one at TiHo, you can choose which clinic to attend). Depending on the clinic, the internal medicine, surgery and reproductive medicine exams are organised slightly differently; to find out, simply have a look at the exam records from previous semesters. Next come the written exams in veterinary law, poultry and specialised pathology, followed by the post-mortem examination. For this, you’ll either be given a whole animal to perform a full post-mortem on, or two organs, for which you’ll then have to write organ reports. The final exams in the 11th semester are the written components on meat, foodstuffs and milk.

In mid-January, you’ll receive an initial email from the Veterinary Council detailing the documents required to apply for your licence to practise; there’s no need to worry about this beforehand. 

As of April 2025