Tips for starting your studies

You should think about financing your studies in advance. The student services organisations can advise you on BAföG and scholarships, among other things. Find out about the relevant applications and deadlines. You can find more information on financing options in chapter 5.2. 

As soon as you have received an acceptance letter from the university, you officially enrol - only then are you sure of your place. Upload the required documents online or send them by post. Be sure to observe the deadlines.

Make sure you familiarise yourself with your university and the university location before the first week of your studies. It will slow you down immensely if you have to find out in the first few days of term where which institute or lecture theatre is located, where you have to register for courses and what services the student union (https://www.studierendenwerke.de) offers. If there is an ‘Introduction to using the library’ event, you should definitely mark it in red in your diary. The contact point for this information is the General or Central Student Advisory Service and, of course, the university website. Orientation days are often organised at the beginning of the first semester. This is a good opportunity to get to know the university, city, student council and fellow students.

To supplement and refresh your school knowledge, e.g. in maths or foreign languages, some universities offer so-called pre-(semester) courses. You can find out about current courses on offer at the universities. For applicants from abroad, there are also some comprehensive preparatory courses that start in the semester before admission.

(Compulsory) introductory events take place in the weeks before the start of lectures. Here you will find out from students in higher semesters how to create your timetable and register for courses and get lots of tips and experience. You will also make your first contacts with fellow students.