The following frequently asked questions and their answers are continuously updated should there be any changes. Therefore, please check regularly whether there have been any updates. Die updated questions are marked by the date they have been updated. All university members will continue to be informed by email, please check your mailboxes regularly.
Last updated: August 11, 2020.
Please address any justified (!) suggestions for improvement or questions to the core team "Regular Operations":
We would also ask you not to bring your possible displeasure about some of the annoying or awkward hygiene protection issues to the attention of the staff of the housekeeping and the KBB, who provide us with wonderful support and help to ensure the smooth running of our operations.
On June 2, 2020, we will return to regular operations and face-to-face teaching at the university. As previously announced, we are only allowed to do this if we adhere to a comprehensive distance and hygiene concept that is binding for students, teachers, employees and all guests of the university.
The Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration published the most important information about COVID-19 in Kurdish, Turkish, Polish, French and other languages on its website.
The Hessen State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK) makes the decisions and decrees applicable to the universities available as PDFs on its website.
The Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs has set up a hotline for questions relating to the corona virus. It can be reached daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 0800/5554666. If you suspect that you have contracted the coronavirus, please do not go to the doctor's office, but call them in advance. Thereby you will avoid possibly infecting other patients in the waiting room.
If you experience cold symptoms (with or without a fever) and have had contact with people with a confirmed infection with the Corona virus or have been in a risk area, stay at home, report to your supervisor sick and call the hotline of the Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs at 0800/5554666.
If you experience cold symptoms without contact with people with a confirmed corona infection, you can:
They will clarify whether an infection with the new coronavirus is likely and initiate further diagnosis and treatment if there is reasonable suspicion. In any case, please report sick to your supervisor.
Please refer to the website of the Robert Koch Institute for information on current risk areas: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html
Please note: The Federal Government is constantly reviewing the extent to which areas are to be classified as risk areas. Therefore, there may also be changes at short notice, in particular an extension of this list. Please check immediately before you start your journey whether you have stayed in one of these areas within the last 14 days before entering Germany and which regulations currently apply to you.
We ask students and lecturers who are abroad to inquire about options for returning to Frankfurt and to plan their trip now.
Keep in mind that you may have to go through a two-week quarantine before entering the university.
The page provides information about who needs to be tested or quarantined, who does not need to be quarantined, and what the quarantine means.
Should you expect difficulties or delays on your return, we ask that you briefly inform your main subject teachers or the Fachbereiche. For students arriving late, we are looking for fair individual solutions. We can also provide you with additional certificates in the event of difficulties with an exit permit or visa.
Here you will find questions and answers about travel, entry and residence.
People who are over the age of 60, who have an underlying disease (cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory, liver, kidney and cancer) or whose immune system is suppressed (by illness or medication) are in the risk group.
Take advantage of the advisory services offered by the university: the liaison lecturer, trust students, the complaints office, study conditions and other contacts are looking forward to hearing from you.
All contact addresses can be found on the page Advisory service and complaints offices.
Students, teachers and employees of the HfMDK can contact the following advice centers outside of the university if they have any questions, concerns or anxiety about the corona virus:
Corona crisis telephone at the Center for Psychotherapy at Goethe University
From March 30th, 2020 you can reach psychologists on 069-798 46666 at the following times:
Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 4-8 p.m.
Website
Health Department of the City of Frankfurt am Main - Social Psychiatric Service
Telephone: 069.212-33311
email: info.psychatrie@stadt-frankfurt.de
Website
Advice centers of the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Erziehungsberatung Hessen
Telephone: 069.5302220
eMail: familienberatung@frankfurt-evangelisch.de
Website
Bürgerhilfe Sozialpsychiatrie Frankfurt am Main e.V. - Psychosocial counseling
Telephone: 069.612117
Crisis service (from 5 p.m. and on weekends): 069.611375
email: pskb@bsf-frankfurt.de
Telephone counseling
(different services), nationwide free telephone numbers: 0800 1110111
0800 1110222
116 123
Psychosocial counseling center of the Studentenwerk Hessen or Frankfurt am Main
Telefon (Frau Nina Müller): 069.798 34922
email: psb@studentenwerkfrankfurt.de
Website
For those whose questions and fears go beyond:
Bamberger Hof Frankfurt am Main (Social psychiatric outpatient clinic, day clinic and outpatient acute treatment at home)
Telefon: 069.67 800 2601
email: ambulanz.frankfurt@vitos-hochtaunus.de
Website
Agaplesion Markus Krankenhaus Frankfurt am Main
Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic
Telefon: 069.95 33 – 40 41
email: markus@fdk.info
Website
Within the framework of the Hessian support package "Reopening Hesse culturally" of the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art (HMWK), individual artists as well as independent groups, cultural associations and companies can apply for project grants from 13 to 30 August 2020 to master the transition to the development of new formats.
The project grants are intended to help realise artistic projects that were created during the period of the Corona pandemic and that break new ground in terms of content or form - for example in the form of films, literary texts or concepts for cultural mediation.
All artists residing in Hessen since the lockdown due to the Corona pandemic can apply for the scholarships, KSK membership is not required. The programme is aimed at visual or performing artists, musicians, authors, filmmakers, but also, for example, at people who convey culture. Projects can include concepts for the presentation and mediation of artistic forms of performance, digital or hybrid forms of presentation, performances, films or publications.
Detailed information and application forms can be found on the HMWK website.
Students should contact the “Studienservice” department with their questions:
The Society of Friends and Patrond of the HfMDK (GFF) has set up a Corona Aid Fund, from which students can receive an immediate grant of up to 500 euros upon request and with appropriate proof. Please contact the fundraising department with any questions.
You can find the application form here.
The student loan is a proven program of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). Since 2006, it has offered students the opportunity to take up to € 650 a month.
As part of the bridging aid from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for students in the Corona crisis, the group of recipients of the classic KfW student loan is being expanded for a limited period, and students are also being given the KfW student loan temporarily at an interest rate of 0%.
Here you will find information and application options for the KfW student loan.
The state of Hesse, together with the student unions, set up an emergency aid fund for students who were in financial emergency due to the corona crisis. Due to the high demand, these funds were unfortunately used up after a short time.
If you are in a financial constraint due to the current situation and have questions about the financing of your studies, you can contact the social and financial advice of the Studentenwerk Frankfurt am Main. Tel .: 069 - 798 34906 or Mail: finanzierungs@studentenwerkfrankfurt.de.
The Hessian Ministry of Social Affairs has set up a hotline for questions relating to the corona virus. It can be reached daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 0800/5554666. If you suspect that you have contracted the coronavirus, please do not go to the doctor's office, but call them in advance. Thereby you will avoid possibly infecting other patients in the waiting room. If an infection is found, the responsible health authority will take all necessary steps. If you have come into contact with a person who has been proven to be infected, you must self-isolate in home quarantine for 14 days.
On June 2, 2020, we will return cautiously to attendance in teaching - "careful" means: in strict compliance with a hygiene concept for teaching, administration and events.
You have received the coordinated distance and hygiene concept that everyone will have to adhere to strictly by email and you can also find it on the website, where it is continuously updated.
The following still applies: Lessons in which all course content can be conveyed digitally should continue to run digitally and be completed digitally. Because, in order to be able to implement the safety distances of the hygiene concept, we will need additional rooms for the lessons from June 2, in which parts or the entire course content can only be taught in presence. You can find information on the page Digital Learning and Teaching as well as in the course catalog.
The lecture period is extended until September. There will be a summer break for all students and lecturers during the lecture period: Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 16, 2020. The university is open during this time. The lecture period for the winter semester 2020/21 is expected to begin on November 2, 2020. The summer semester 2021 is also expected to start later than usual.
As soon as face-to-face operation is possible again, lessons and events, which are also exams, have priority over other events in the halls.
Please find out more about tools and programs for digital teaching on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the central support address elearning@hfmdk-frankfurt.info.
In office of student affairs and the examinations office, advice is only given by phone or email. All personal office hours are cancelled.
In urgent cases, individual appointments can be made by e-mail or telephone. Please contact:
You can send your thesis to the examination office by post. In urgent cases, individual appointments can be made by e-mail or telephone. Please contact:
In any case, please email the electronic version of your thesis (Word and PDF) to the examination office.
From June 2nd, the regular opening times of the university will apply again. Deviations are still possible on a daily basis.
From June 2, the room booking for rehearsals and lessons will take place as usual until 12:00 noon the day before via melanie.quint@hfmdk-frankfurt.de. You can make a reservation for practice sessions of two or more people, it must be possible to trace contacts.
The corresponding form for contact tracing, which all students generally have to fill out as soon as two or more people rehearse together, is also sent to you when you reserve rooms and is also valid for guests from outside university. You can also get it at the gate and hand it in there.
From June 2nd, rooms can be booked directly at the reception as usual (without prior registration via the KBB).
The HfMDK library is open, subject to the following conditions:
Using the Shibboleth authentication system, your HfMDK account can be used to access certain licensed online resources remotely. You can find information on this on the library's website.
Contact: Andreas Odenkirchen (andreas.odenkirchen@hfmdk-frankfurt.de)
Since Monday, June 22nd, the HfMDK canteen of the Studentenwerk Frankfurt is open again. This means: All hungry people will find a small assortment of food between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. In addition, the canteen staff prepares a vegetarian hot meal on site every day from Monday to Friday. You can find more information at https://www.studentenwerkfrankfurt.de.
With a new legally binding regulation, the Hessian state government has extended "the standard period of study by one semester for all students enrolled at Hessian universities in the summer semester of 2020", "so that students do not suffer any disadvantages in terms of BAföG due to the restrictions necessitated by the corona pandemic. (quote from the press release).
This regulation is limited in time until the end of 2021 and explicitly limited to matters caused by corona. The extension of the standard period of study by one semester does not result in an extended teaching entitlement.
The following should also be noted: In so far as online courses are available at training institutions in order to maintain teaching operations, participation in these online courses is obligatory in terms of the requirements for funding.
The ordinance is aimed primarily at mass university subjects in which examinations may be postponed. At the HfMDK, we currently assume that in the current as well as in the next two semesters all classes, although partly in different formats, and examinations will take place.
More information on the topic is available here: https://wissenschaft.hessen.de/bafoegcorona
For their main subject final examination, students have a contingent of free places which they can give to guests. This only applies if this examination takes place in one of the two concert halls:
Students taking the examination are responsible for submitting the guest list with their names to the KBB up to three days before the examination. Only after the complete list has been submitted in time and confirmed by the KBB is the guest registered.
During the examination, the presence of guests is checked by a member of the KBB staff so that all contacts can be traced in the event of an infection and the number of persons in the hall is not exceeded.
Applicants should contact the “Studienservice” department with their questions:
Student advisory service is only available by phone or email. All personal office hours are cancelled.
In office of student affairs and the examinations office, advice is only given by phone or email. All personal office hours are cancelled.
The aptitude tests will take place in a different form than usual, because the presence of several hundred applicants within a week at the university should of course be avoided.
Protecting everyone's health is a top priority. For this reason, the aptitude tests will take place in different time periods, in some cases there will also be digital preliminary rounds. In this way, applicants arriving from abroad should be able to take part in a face-to-face meeting and the total number of people staying at the university at the same time should be limited.
All applicants will be informed of the further course of the aptitude tests by e-mail.
The university will determine alternative dates for people who cannot take the aptitude test due to travel bans or because of the 14-day quarantine rule. We recommend booking flights and accommodation that may be postponed.
Teaching staff should please contact
On June 2, 2020, we will return cautiously to attendance in teaching - "careful" means: in strict compliance with a hygiene concept for teaching, administration and events.
You have received the coordinated distance and hygiene concept that everyone will have to adhere to strictly by email and you can also find it on the website, where it is continuously updated.
The following still applies: Lessons in which all course content can be conveyed digitally should continue to run digitally and be completed digitally. Because, in order to be able to implement the safety distances of the hygiene concept, we will need additional rooms for the lessons from June 2, in which parts or the entire course content can only be taught in presence. You can find information on the page Digital Learning and Teaching as well as in the course catalog.
The lecture period is extended until September. There will be a summer break for all students and lecturers during the lecture period: Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 16, 2020. The university is open during this time. The lecture period for the winter semester 2020/21 is expected to begin on November 2, 2020. The summer semester 2021 is also expected to start later than usual.
As soon as face-to-face operation is possible again, lessons and events, which are also exams, have priority over other events in the halls.
Please find out more about tools and programs for digital teaching on this page. If you have any questions, please contact the central support address elearning@hfmdk-frankfurt.info.
The Presidium has decided that the lecturers are entitled to teach digital formats (without physical presence) in the 2020 summer semester. The lessons provided are to be documented. Face-to-face teaching can only be resumed after approval by the HMWK. Up to this point, teaching contracts can be remunerated based on teaching in digital formats. In addition, lessons can take place in compressed form (e.g. block seminars) until September 30th. A general lesson-free time is scheduled between July 27 and August 16.
Meetings and meetings should, if possible, be carried out as a telephone or video conference even after returning to on-site operation.
So that contact persons of infected persons can be informed by the health office, the data necessary for the follow-up (name, telephone number, place and time of the meeting / session) must be noted when several persons meet. The person who organizes the room for the meeting / rehearsal is responsible for the documentation. This regulation also applies to all meetings and meetings in the administrative area and in the specialist areas.
The HfMDK library is open, subject to the following conditions:
Contact: Andreas Odenkirchen (andreas.odenkirchen@hfmdk-frankfurt.de)
On June 2, 2020, we will return cautiously to attendance in teaching - "careful" means: in strict compliance with a hygiene concept for teaching, administration and events.
You have received the coordinated distance and hygiene concept that everyone will have to adhere to strictly by email and you can also find it on the website, where it is continuously updated.
The following still applies: Lessons in which all course content can be conveyed digitally should continue to run digitally and be completed digitally. Because, in order to be able to implement the safety distances of the hygiene concept, we will need additional rooms for the lessons from June 2, in which parts or the entire course content can only be taught in presence. You can find information on the page Digital Learning and Teaching as well as in the course catalog.
The lecture period is extended until September. There will be a summer break for all students and lecturers during the lecture period: Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 16, 2020. The university is open during this time. The lecture period for the winter semester 2020/21 is expected to begin on November 2, 2020. The summer semester 2021 is also expected to start later than usual.
As soon as face-to-face operation is possible again, lessons and events, which are also exams, have priority over other events in the halls.
If they have no other childcare options, parents with children under the age of 12 can work from home in full or part-time. This is possible upon request and after consultation with their manager. This also applies if you have to look after close relatives in need of care. Please contact the dean's offices. However, children should not be taken to the workplace.
The Hessian state government has launched an emergency aid program: companies, clubs, associations, solo self-employed as well as artists who are in a dire economic situation due to the corona pandemic and who suffer massive liquidity issues are supported with a one-time, non-repayable grant.
The cultural department of the city of Frankfurt am Main has set up an additional emergency fund, with which artists can be given unbureaucratic help in special hardship and emergency situations. Individual artists, artist groups and collectives from Frankfurt am Main of different artistic genres are eligible to apply. The prerequisites are that there is an existential financial emergency due to the corona pandemic and that the federal, state or other third-party funding measures cannot be used or are not sufficient to ensure livelihood. The level of funding is decided on a case-by-case basis. It can range from 500 to a maximum of 5000 euros and is initially granted as a repayable grant. In individual cases, this can later be changed to a non-repayable grant.
You can find information from the Federal Government on aid for artists and creatives on this page: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/coronavirus/hilfe-fuer-kuenstler-und-kreative-1732438
Among other things, you will find further links there on the subject of social protection, aid package, liquidity aid, compensation in the event of loss of earnings, tax relief measures, short-time allowance, loans etc.
The Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung has set up an emergency aid fund for freelance professional musicians who can make appropriate applications. The application function is currently closed.
The cooperative of German stage members has launched an immediate program.
The Hessen Economic and Infrastructure Bank (WIBank) grants loans between 25,000 and 150,000 euros for SMEs (up to 25 employees) and freelancers without collateral from the bank. "In any case, please make use of the emergency aid first before you apply for additional funding programs from WIBank. WIBank's loans are a complementary tool to meet additional liquidity needs. ”
The self-employed can inquire with their health insurance company and ask them to reduce their contributions to the minimum contribution rate due to the significantly lower sales forecast.
VG Bildkunst will shortly be launching as many distributions as possible. One-time special payments for members via the social welfare are currently being checked.
Members of the administrative staff should please contact:
For the administration, once normal operations have resumed, office work should continue to be carried out in the home office as well. Multiple assignments of office space should be avoided. If the safety distances are not reached, separations by plexiglass partition walls have to be used.
Colleagues who are older than 60 years of age, people who have an underlying disease (cardiovascular system, diabetes, diseases of the respiratory system, liver, kidney and cancer) or whose immune system is suppressed (by illness or medication) can now work completely or partially from home. Please speak to your direct superiors, in the specialist areas your deans, and inform the personnel department. The operation must be maintained through agreements in the respective area.
Discussions and meetings of the committees and working groups should be conducted as telephone or video conferences whenever possible. If this is not possible, a minimum distance of 1.5 metres must be maintained during the face-to-face meeting. Masks must be worn, should a participant request this.
So that contact persons of infected persons can be informed by the health office, the data necessary for the follow-up (name, telephone number, place and time of the meeting / session) must be noted when several persons meet. The person who organizes the room for the meeting / rehearsal is responsible for the documentation. This regulation also applies to all meetings and meetings in the administrative area and in the specialist areas.
If they have no other childcare options, parents with children under the age of 12 can work from home in full or part-time. This is possible upon request and after consultation with their manager. This also applies if you have to look after close relatives in need of care. Please contact the personnel department. However, children should not be taken to the workplace.
The employer is obliged to make sure that an objectively ill employee leaves work. If such an employee is sent home by the employer, the employee is entitled to continued payment in the event of illness. The regulations of the Continuing Pay Act (EFZG) apply. An employer that sends employees who are fit for work and ready to work home as a precautionary measure - e.g. in precautionary quarantine - remains obliged to pay the remuneration from the point of view of default in acceptance (§ 615 S. 1 BGB). In these cases, the employee does not have to make up for lost working hours.
With regard to continued payment of wages, the employer remains fundamentally obliged to pay wages if the employees are fit for work and ready to work, but are unable to employ them for reasons that lie within their operational sphere (so-called operational risk theory, Section 615 sentence 3 BGB ). This would include cases in which there would be significant staff shortages or supply shortages due to COVID-19 diseases, as a result of which the employer would temporarily cease operations. In these cases, the employees retain their right to remuneration even if they cannot work. Note: For these constellations, in which neither employer nor employee is responsible for the loss of work, individual or collective agreement agreements can regulate differently.
We are very pleased to offer events again and to welcome you as our guests in concerts and performances. Please refer to the pages of our event calendar to find out about the events we offer and the currently valid rules.
The Studentenwerk Frankfurt is responsible for the opening and operation of the canteen (Mensa). Further information is always available at https://www.studentenwerkfrankfurt.de.
Operations in administration continue, please contact your contact persons in the respective departments by phone or email.
Due to the current situation, many HfMDK employees work from home. Calls are forwarded. However, you can help us to relieve our telephone system by dialing the mobile numbers, if one is given.