template: Information for first-semester students
5 steps for starting your studies
- Your key to the uni: Use your computer centre user ID to set up your university email address and stay up to date.
- Orientation: Take part in university orientation events and those related to your degree programme to get important information and meet new people.
- Getting down to business: Attend your degree programme’s lectures and seminars and take a look around Digicampus.
- Immerse yourself in everyday student life: Get to know your fellow students, and don’t be shy about participating in on campus student initiatives and working groups.
Important information about starting your degree
Insert: General information about the beginning of each semester or introductory or welcome events that take place in the winter semester for first-semester students. For subjects or degree programmes that only have a few first-semester enrolments in the summer semester, and which therefore have no information events, please provide first-semester students with the relevant link for an advisory session with a faculty subject advisor.
- Event topic
- How to register or “No registration required”
- Date and place
Please do not only give the number of the lecture hall; also provide the official name of the building with a link to a campus map. First-semester students are often not familiar with the campus, and it can seem rather large.
How can the Student Advice and Counselling Service help with questions related to my studies? Who can I talk to about an internship or a semester abroad? What does the AStA do? New students receive answers to these questions and more at first-semester introductory events.
Date and time:
Place:
Minimal requirements (if a pre-course is offered)
- General information about the pre-course that is being offered to first-semester students at the beginning of the winter semester.
- Target group: all first-semester students or only those that need to freshen up on their knowledge.
- Topic of the event
- How to register or “No registration required.”
- Date and place
- Please do not only give the number of the lecture hall; also provide the official name of the building with a link to a campus map. First-semester students are often not familiar with the campus, and it can seem rather large.
- If the date is known, please provide it; if not, then please delete older dates and indicate that the “Date has not yet been determined.”
Minimal requirements:
- How to present this depends on the structural complexity of the degree programme, e.g., whether it has minor, supplementary, or elective subjects in the first subject semester (see examples).
- Interdisciplinary degree programmes can also refer to the general information on creating a timetable.
Background:
- The greater the structural complexity of a degree programme or subject, the more important it is to provide information about subject-related advisory sessions.
Minimal requirements:
- Description of the advisory sessions or other services on offer as permanent information.
- If the date is already known, please provide it. If the date is not yet known, please delete old dates and indicate that students will be informed about the date in a timely manner.
Background: Digicampus
- Course registration for nearly all subjects takes place through Digicampus. There you can find information about the course registration period for each semester.
Once enabled by the relevant lecturer, first-semester students can register early in the “general registration period” or in the “late registration period.” As this often depends on teaching staff, even for those teaching within the same subject, first-semester students need clear guidance on when they can register for their courses.
Minimal requirements:
- Basic information about when and in which registration period students can register in Digicampus.
- A guarantee and indication that registration via Digicampus is also possible after the subject information event in the so-called “late registration period.”
Background: Course start date
- Experience shows that irrespective of the faculty, subject, chair, or lecturer not all courses (lecturers or seminars) start in the first week of the lecture period. First-semester students need reliable and easy to find information about when the first lecture or seminar in a course takes place. This information must be visible in Digicampus.
Minimal requirements:
- Specific information about when each course will start, e.g., the day and date.
- All old dates from the previous semester must be deleted and information provided about when the new course dates for the current semester will be made available.
Digicampus is an interactive portal for organising studies. Students register for courses, seminars, lectures, as well as for language courses or first-semester events at the beginning of their studies through Digicampus. They also receive relevant course information. It also offers a digital discussion platform for students and lecturers. A computer centre user ID is used to log in.
Please note:
- Some degree programmes offer information materials or a PowerPoint presentation as “catch up reading” for late enrolments either before or after the information event.
Please note:
- Even first-semester students often want to (or should want to) find out at the beginning of their studies what later aspects of their degree programme look like. The degree programme study plan should therefore be made available on the first-semester information website.
Organising your studies
A new study routine includes many new dates, module catalogues, and examination regulations that by the end of the first semester are very relevant. Find out at the start of the semester which modules you can expect and when your first examinations will take place.
Minimal requirements:
- Important dates related to the degree programme at the beginning of the first semester. A note that attending first-semester events is important.
Example text: Important dates for your degree programme in XYZ are as follows:
- For all first-semester students: Introductory and orientation events as well as the preliminary course start on x.x.2024. You can find the programme and further information on the introductory events webpage.
- For all other students in other subject semesters, the lecture period starts on x.x.2024.
University-wide deadlines and dates can be found on the deadlines and dates webpage.
With your computer centre user ID and password, you can use all digital services at the University of Augsburg. You receive your computer centre user ID and password with your enrolment documents.
With your computer centre user ID, you have access to:
- Digicampus: the portal for organising your timetable and registering for courses.
- VIBS: the administration and information portal for applications and studies. Here you can change your contact details, e.g., address, check that you have paid your semester fees and print out of confirmation thereof, as well as print out a confirmation of enrolment /BAföG and a confirmation of academic progress.
- STUDIS: the student administration portal. Here you can register for and de-register from examinations.
- Your student email address is very important. The university will communicate with you through your student email address. It ends with “@uni-a.de.”
Please read your student emails regularly or arrange for them to be forwarded to your private email address. To log in to your student email, use your computer centre user ID.
You can find further information and guidance on the “ Starting your studies” webpage.
If you require technical support during your studies or have questions related to your computer, internet, hardware or software, you can visit ZEBRA (the Computer Centre) in person.
Minimal requirements:
- Link to the current examination regulations and the module catalogue for the degree programme.
- Short description of what examination regulations are.
The examination regulations outline all the legally binding requirements and conditions that you must meet in order to successfully complete your studies, e.g., how your degree programme develops and above all else how and when you are examined.
The module catalogue provides a description of all the modules in your degree programme that you either can or must enrol in and, most importantly, what you have to pass. Each module is assigned to a course that you either can or must attend. Here it is important to know which modules you either must, or can, enrol in each semester.
To the module catalogue for the bachelor’s degree programme Industrial Engineering
Click here for more general information on credit points, modules, and the module catalogue.
Minimal requirements
- Description of the registration process for examinations in the degree programme
Example text:
You need to register for each examination, e.g., test/examination or written assignment, in a specific period of time through the STUDIS portal. The registration period applies for all degree programmes and is communicated throughout the entire university via the university email address (@uni-a.de).
You can find further information as well as an explainer video on the STUDIS student advice webpage.
Example text:
Each module is completed through an examination, which serves as evidence of achievement. This can be designed in different ways, e.g., it can be oral, written, a written essay, a practical report, or a portfolio. Which form of examination is offered for which modules is always outlined in the module catalogue.
Student life
Many people remember their student days as a particularly special time in their life, a time when they made many friends that lasted a lifetime. Use the many opportunities to get to know new people and shape the life on campus.
Minimal requirements:
- No particular requirements.
- Get to know you events for the degree programme
- Details about campus tours offered by the faculty student council
- Other orientation events and get togethers
Minimal requirements:
- Explanation of what a student council is.
- Welcome and offer from the student council.
Example text:
Students from the degree programme who participate in the faculty student council are committed to improving the degree programme, offering social events for students, and providing advice for students facing problems. Find out more about the events offered by your student council.
Here would be a good place to include a message from the student council personally addressed to first-semester students.
Student initiatives enrich everyday university life. They range from student engagement in student councils, entrepreneurship and business, leisure activities and sport, to social, political, and religious orientated university groups.
Student representation also exists at both the university-wide and faculty level, which offers the opportunity to participate in various exciting activities.
Discover what
student life at the University of Augsburg has to offer.
Various sports are offered through our Sports Centre. They present a good opportunity to get to know other students.
Most sport courses take place during the lecture period. However, there are some courses that can be taken during the lecture free period. As there is always a high demand for courses, we recommend that you register early. The registration details and a detailed list of courses offered can be found on the
University Sport webpage.
Student advisory services
Subject-specific study advisors are available for each degree programme, who can answer any degree or subject specific questions you may have. The Student Advice and Counselling Service also offers many advisory services, with Studierendenwerk Augsburg also providing various information to support you throughout your studies.
Minimal requirements:
- Name of the subject-specific study advisors, contact details, and a short description of their specific role and responsibilities.
Example text:
Subject-specific study advisors within the faculties are your contact persons for all detailed subject or degree-related questions.
In your chosen degree programme Industrial Engineering, Florian Schmid and Dr Jerome Geyer-Klingeberg are your
subject-specific study advisors.
For the subject French language and literature (B.A.), Dr Maximilian Gröne (French Literature), Dr Frank Paulikat (French Language), Michaela Schäfers (Applied Linguistics), and Catherine Gagnon (Language Centre) are your
subject-specific study advisors.
For the degree programme Geography (B. Sc.), Markus Hilpert (Human Geography) and Dr Beck (Physical Geography) are your
subject-specific study advisors.
Minimal requirements:
- If there is a connection with an education degree programme, a brief description of how this is structured, as well as relevant contact persons and any other relevant further information.
Example text:
The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Materials Engineering offers three education degree programmes. For each of these programmes, there are different contact persons and advisory services. Therefore, please use the individual links.
The team at the
Student Advice and Counselling Service informs prospective students about degree programmes at the University of Augsburg, supports new students with orientation, and provides students throughout all phases of their studies with advice and support. It can assist with big and small questions about study planning and organisation, provide advice about making changes to a study plan, about learning techniques, and assist students who are having doubts about their studies, or are suffering from examination anxiety or other worries.
It also offers psychological support and addiction counselling, as well as skills for studying with confidence through workshops and Zoom events. Student advice and counselling is free and confidential and can take place in-person, via Zoom, or via telephone. The Student Advice and Counselling Service is contactable each workday during its telephone operating hours.
Minimal criteria:
- Name of the current dean of studies, contact details, short description of their role and responsibilities.
Example text:
The dean of studies is responsible for matters concerning studies and teaching within the faculty. Above all else, they are responsible for ensuring that teaching and examinations are organised and take place according to regulations. They are also obliged to ensure the quality of teaching (including teaching evaluations). The dean of studies is elected for two years by a faculty committee. Their duties our outlined in Art. 40 of the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (Bayerischen Hochschulinnovationsgesetz).
Example text:
There are three deans of studies at our faculty corresponding to the three institutes. The dean of studies for the degree programme Industrial Engineering is Prof. Markus Sause.
Example text:
In addition to subject-specific study advisors and the
Student Advice and Counselling Service, you will also find a number of other information and advisory services at the University of Augsburg.
These include the International Office, the Career Service, and the Family Service. You can find further information via this website:
https://www.uni-augsburg.de/de/studium/organisation-beratung/
Student councils / Student representation
Minimal criteria:
- Contact details for the specific student council and a short description of their function and, if applicable, reference to other student bodies.
Example text:
Overarching student representation occurs through the representative faculty bodies known as student councils (Studierendenräte, StuRa) and cross-faculty committees.
Your student council for Industrial Engineering can be found via the following link:
https://www.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/mntf/infos/stura/.
For university-wide committees, the Student Konvent is the decision-making body and the Allgemeinen Studierendenausschuss (AStA) its executive body. Further information can be found via the link:
Information on student representation
Studierendenwerk Augsburg
Example text:
Studierendenwerk Augsburg supports, promotes, and advises students about matters of social, legal, and financial importance. As the landlord of student halls of residence, it also plays an active role. Alongside this, it organises cultural and social events, offers psychological counselling and legal and social advice to students. The Mensa and the on-campus university cafeterias are operated by Studierendenwerk. Further information can be found on the webpage of Studierendenwerk Augsburg.
International Office
Example text:
The International Office (Akademische Auslandsamt) is the central point of contact for international students at the University of Augsburg and for all students who plan to study a semester abroad or undertake an internship abroad.
Support and advice for students from non-academic families is offered by the initiative “ Arbeiterkind.de - Die Initiative für alle, die als Erste in der Familie studieren.”
There are many situations where good advice is needed while studying, whether it has to do with general or orientation-related problems at the start of your studies, questions about timetable planning, learning techniques, opportunities to study abroad, or discontinuing your studies. We will support you through all phases of your studies, including if you are considering postgraduate studies or a doctorate, or if you would like to prepare for entry into the job market.
Student advice and counselling service // International students // Studying abroad // Subject-related advice // Study advice for education degree students // Learning tips and self- & time management // Career orientation // Doctorial advice and counselling // Psychological counselling // Addiction counselling // Studying with a disability // Study doubts // Studying with family // Social, legal and psychological counselling // Sexual harassment
Living in Augsburg
With its rivers, canals and parks, Augsburg is a great place to live. But where can I find somewhere to live? How can I finance my studies? And what does the city have to offer in the way of leisure activities and attractions?
Optional: Checklist for international students
This checklist should serve as an orientation guide. The checklist sequence corresponds to the needs of the average international full-time student at the start of their studies.
Of course, it’s also possible to address more than one point at a time. At first glance, the list looks rather long, and there are indeed many tasks and administrative procedures to fulfil. But you will also learn and grow from these experiences. We wish you a successful start to your studies at the University of Augsburg and hope you meet many new people and enjoy your time with us.
