Introductory events and pre-semester courses
Preparing for the start of your studies
Start of studies, start of the semester, start of the lecture period – when exactly does university start?
Apart from a few exceptions, at FAU it is only possible to start studying Bachelor’s degree programs, teaching degree programs and State Examination degree programs in the winter semester. Usually, Master’s degree programs can be started in either the summer or the winter semester.
The summer semester always starts on April 1, and the winter semester on October 1. Classes are held for new students at the latest from the beginning of the semester, sometimes earlier, for example from the end of September.
The lecture period in winter semester 2025/25 begins on Monday October 13, 2025.
Interdisciplinary introductory events
The Central Office for International Affairs (RIA) offers a welcome week for all new international students at the beginning of each semester to help you with legal formalities as well as the general onboarding at FAU. The program is open to all new international students.
In the winter semester 2025/26, the welcome week will take place from October 6 to 10, 2025.
The official new students’ welcome event is held once a year, usually in the Heinrich Lades Halle in Erlangen. In 2025, it will be held on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 6 to 8 pm. All students who started studying at FAU in summer semester 2025 and who are starting studying in winter semester 2025/26 are invited. Invitations are sent, for instance, by email (only to FAU email addresses) in autumn 2025.
The new students’ welcome event is a celebration for welcoming all new students to FAU. You will receive information and orientation for the start of your studies in the introductory event for your subject.
Introductory events and further information from the faculties and schools
Each faculty at FAU offers introductory events for new students in every subject at the beginning of the semester. There are also interdisciplinary pre-semester courses and orientation programs.
Tip: Make sure you take part in the events, even if they are not compulsory. Not only will you get to know your fellow students, but you will also receive important information for creating your schedule and for the Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung (GOP) in the Bachelor’s degree programs.
School of Law
School of Business, Economics and Society
- Introductory event for Medicine
- Introductory event for Medicine Erlangen/Bayreuth
- Introductory event for Dentistry
- Introductory event for Molecular Medicine (BSc.)
- Introductory event for Molecular Medicine (MSc)
- Introductory event for Medical Process Management (MSc)
- Information on other degree programs at the faculty
- Office of the Dean of Studies
- Introductory events and workshops on drawing up your schedule offered by the Center for Teacher Education (ZfL) at FAU
- Study information and advice for teaching degrees in elementary education and lower secondary education (Grund- und Mittelschule)
- Study information and advice for teaching degrees in secondary education (Realschule and Gymnasium)
General and cross-faculty information events for new students
Finding your feet at university and successfully completing the first phase of your degree depends on more than just subject knowledge. ZIWIS can give you tips on how you can plan your first semesters, how studying at university works, how you can motivate yourself if everything is not going to plan, and much more besides. Short units (in German) called “Orientierungshäppchen für Erstsemester” touch briefly on various topics that may be of interest to new students, or you can choose to complete one of the more detailed modules (“Micro-Credentials”) that provide more insight and for which you can earn 1 ECTS credit toward key qualifications or free electives.
Sign up via “Orientierungshäppchen für Erstsemester” where you will find detailed explanations and can take a look at which topics you might be interested in.