What is a StuKo (curriculum commission)?
A StuKo is a commission made up of staff and students that decides on changes to the curriculum of your study programme. It also serves as a space to reflect on the organisation and implementation of your curriculum, and gives the chance to discuss concerns regarding the study programme in a confidential environment.
A StuKo is a ‚Kollegialorgan‘, meaning it is a formal commission where professors, Mittelbau (adjunct staff) and students from your programme come together as peers, and where each member has the same voting power.
Importantly though, you are not there on the invitation of the professors. You are sent to StuKo on behalf of the students, so it is both your right and your duty to speak up for the students‘ interests.
You can find the list of StuKos (and the members list from last year) here: https://www.dieangewandte.at/jart/prj3/angewandte-2016/data/uploads/20250429_Angewandte_Stuko.pdf
How much work is being a StuKo member?
On average you will have to attend one 1 hour meeting per semester, but this can vary wildly depending on your study programme. It’s not a lot of work, but it’s very important work.
Most StuKos only meet once per semester for around an hour, and there is usually no need to prepare much for the meetings. If there are proposed changes to the curriculum there might be more to do, but it’s generally very little work.
StuKo members can be swapped out at any point, so becoming a StuKo member does not have to be a long term commitment. For every StuKo we also need to nominate ‚backup members‘ who might end up never attending a single meeting. It’s quite natural that new people start off as backup members and ‚move up‘ when one of the main members graduates.
If you have questions about how much work the StuKo of your study programme is, you can contact last year’s student members about their impressions. You can find the past list of members here: https://www.dieangewandte.at/jart/prj3/angewandte-2016/data/uploads/20250429_Angewandte_Stuko.pdf
What’s the difference between being a StuKo member and being an StV?
Your only duty as a StuKo member is to attend and represent the students at your StuKo meetings, and communicate with Hufak if you have any questions or concerns.
While StV work is usually very hands-on and out in the open (organising events, attending to current needs or problems), StuKo is more of a backroom activity: it’s a chance to meet staff at eye level to reflect on and discuss issues around the study programme or department in a confidential environment.
In contrast to StVs (who can only be elected every 2 years), it’s also very easy to swap out StuKo members at any point, so becoming a StuKo member does not have to be a long term commitment.
A person can be StV and StuKo member at the same time, but they don’t have to be.
How many student members are there in a StuKo?
We need at least 2 student members for each StuKo (3 for Lehramt and Architecture), plus (ideally) another 2 (respectively 3) as „backup members“ (Ersatzmitglieder).
At a StuKo meeting there are 6 voting members: 2 professors, 2 Mittelbau, 2 students (exception: the Lehramt and Architecture StuKos consist of 9 members, 3 from each group).
So while only 2 (or 3) student members need to be present at the meetings, it’s usual to nominate the same number of backup members (Ersatzmitglieder). If a main member can’t attend a meeting, substitute members can attend the meeting and vote in their place. It doesn’t matter which main or backup members come to each meeting, as long as two student members come to each meeting.
Can I be part of a StuKo if I don’t speak German?
Official documents+protocols will always be in German, but the working language in the meetings will depend on the particular StuKo. If your study programme is mainly taught in English, then we think it should be possible to run the StuKo meetings in English as well. If there is any disagreement about this in your StuKo, please reach out to Hufak at hufak@hufak.net
The language used in StuKo meetings depends on the StuKo. If the study programme is officially held in English, then you can be sure that StuKo meetings will be in English as well. If there is ambiguity: ask.
StuKo protocols are legal documents that need to be issued in German. Protocols are sent around for confirmation in advance so it’s usually no problem to be a StuKo member without speaking (or reading) German.
What do I get in return for being a StuKo member?
StuKo work is unpaid, but you get ECTS towards your ‚Freie Wahlfächer‘ as well as tuition fee exemption (just for being nominated, no matter if you actually attended StuKo meetings or not)
Both main and substitute members receive these perks, independently of how many StuKo meetings you actually attended:
– ECTS of ‚Freie Wahlfächer‘ (free electives) for every semester of being a StuKo member
1 semester of tuition fee exemption for every two semesters of being a StuKo member
How do I become a StuKo member?
The elected StVs nominate the StuKo members, they can nominate themselves or any other Angewandte student
It’s totally ok for StVs to nominate themselves into StuKo, but they can also nominate any other current Angewandte student. If your programme does not have an elected StV, please contact bipol@hufak.net and let them know which StuKo you want to be a part of.
While there are no hard rules about the gender distribution of the StuKo student members, it is preferrable to nominate sets of members that represent a mix of genders wherever possible.
