Start of the semester
Information and introductory sessions for new students
Welcome to FAU!
Starting your studies at university is a very special time. As first year students, you will experience many new things. However, there is one thing you can rely on: FAU, its institutions, faculties and partners offer a wide range of services and introductory events to help you find your feet as you start out at university. One thing you should always bear in mind: no matter what your question is, there is always an answer and someone who can help you.
You must read your e-mails from the University. They give you important information about examination dates, re-registration dates or important information from the Executive Board. To make sure that you don’t miss any important information, you can set up e-mail forwarding to redirect your e-mail to another personal account.
How to draw up my study plan?
Introductory events and information from the faculties
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
School of Law
School of Business, Economics and Society
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Sciences
Faculty of Engineering
- Information for prospective students (including information about introductory events at the Faculty of Engineering)
- Introductory online course offered by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering (also includes general information for all prospective students and new students)
Information about central institutions and services
Virtual orientation week in the orientation program (Grundlagen- und Orientierungsstudium)
The Center for Applied Philosophy of Science and Key Qualifications (ZiWiS) offers an orientation week for new students as an online course. The orientation week is aimed at students of all faculties. You will receive important tips on organizing your first semester as well as practical advice for studying in general.
Central welcome weeks of the Office for International Affairs
The Central Office for International Affairs offers welcome weeks for 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 international students.
Further information about The Central Office for International Affairs
Student Services (incl. advisory services, student restaurants, etc.)
All advisory services are also available for contactless appointments (video consultation/telephone/e-mail).
The student restaurants are open and offer takeaway food.
University Library
The University Library offers face-to-face sessions as well as digital and virtual events: At the library, you can find a place to study, either alone or in a group, and it holds both online and face-to-face training sessions. You can also order media online and read e-books and electronic journals. The library staff are also available to give you advice and assistance at all times.
University Sports
Visit www.hochschulsport.fau.de to find out all about the various courses offered by University Sports.
Center for Teacher Education (ZfL)
The Center for Teacher Education (ZfL) is available to give you advice on your teaching degree, no matter which subject you are studying.
Starting studying: Introductory events for teaching degree students winter semester 23/24
The entire range of information and services on offer is available here:
Services offered by Students’ Representatives
The students’ representatives in the Student Associations (FSI) and Student Committees (FSV) (belonging to the Students’ Representatives (Stuve) have put together some information aimed at helping new students in particular to settle into studying at FAU. The FAU Social Media Address Book has an overview of all the social media channels of the student associations.
Checklist for new students
This checklist for new students provided by our Student Advice and Career Service provides an initial overview:
- Have you carefully read all the information on the website of your degree program/institute?
- Have you read the degree program and examination regulations?
- Have you noted the date for the new students’ welcome event and the introductory event at your institute?
- Have you looked at the course catalog?
- Have you drawn up your schedule? Have you read all the tips and instructions and taken them into account?
- Have you had a look around your institute? Have you located the notice board at your institute/department and read the notices? Have you got a copy of the ‘WERKsWeiser’ brochure from Student Services? (available free of charge from Student Services and the Student Advice and Career Service)
- Have you read the information about the FAUcard and activated your user account in Identity Management?
- University Library: Have you activated the library function of your FAUcard? Have you reserved a space on the library training course?
- Have you set up internet access via the Erlangen Regional Computing Center (RRZE) and activated your user ID?
- If you have moved: have you put your name on your letterbox at your new address? Have you notified the Student Records Office about your semester address or a change of address (via “campo”)?Have you registered your main address at the residents’ registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) at the town hall?
- Have you made a note of the deadline for re-registration for the next semester (February/July)?
- Have you downloaded the FAU app?
An introduction to online portals at FAU
An overview of the online portals is available here: Online platforms for organizing your studies.
A video has been produced at the Faculty of Engineering that provides a useful overview to students of all faculties of the various portals at FAU:
FAU Dialog – Join in the discussion!
The FAU Dialog offers students and staff a joint platform to shape the future strategy of FAU. All members of FAU have the possibility to discuss current developments, the University’s strategic approach and future goals with the Executive Board. The FAU Dialog covers a wide variety of topics: from site development and excellence strategy planning to the Hightech Agenda Bavaria and strategic partnerships.
