Start of the semester
Information and introductory sessions for new students
Your start of the semester will not be the same as in previous years. The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences mean that starting university will be a rather different experience for you, our new first year students. However, one thing will stay the same: FAU, its institutions, faculties and partners will still 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.
Invitation to the new students’ welcome event on Monday, 18 October 2021.
What form will teaching take in the winter semester?
Information is available on the FAU coronavirus information website under studying and teaching
Important: You must read your e-mails from the University. They give you important information about examination dates, registration dates or important updates on the coronavirus situation and infection prevention measures from the Executive Board. To make sure that you don’t miss any important information, you can set up-email forwarding to redirect your e-mail to another personal account.
Your Start @FAU
Introductory events and information from the faculties
Seminar building at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology (image: FAU/David Hartfiel))
The Juridicum in Schillerstraße in Erlangen (image: FAU)
Kussmaul research campus (image: FAU/Erich Malter)
FAU’s Chemikum building. (Image: Staatliches Bauamt Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Der sogenannte “Rote Platz” am Südgelände der FAU (Bild: FAU/Erich Malter)
- Information for prospective students
- Information on courses in the summer semester 2021
- Introductory online course offered by the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering (also includes general information for all prospective students and new students)
Services offered by Students’ Representatives
The following events have been organised by student associations for the start of the winter semester 2021/22.
- FSI German Language and Literature New student trip from: 15–17 October 2021
- FSI Latin/Greek:New students’ rally 18 October 2021
- FSI Teaching degrees on FAU Campus Nuremberg New Students’ Days 8–15 October 2021
- FSI Teaching degrees on FAU Campus Nuremberg Campus tours 13–14 October. Students need to book an appointment in advance.
- FSI Teaching degrees on FAU Campus Nuremberg: Online guide to the start of the semester (Lehramt GS, MS, RS)
- FSI Geography: New Students’ Day (face-to-face and online) – 15 October
- FSI Geography: WhatsApp group for networking among new students Please contact fsi-geo@fau.de to join.
- FSI Geography: Night hike for geography students – 26 October
- FSI Maths/Physics: New student book ‘Wurzel’ (in German)
- FSI Maths/Physics: Mathematics orientation week: 11–16 October 2021
- FSI Maths/Physics: Data Science and Physics orientation week: 11–16 October 2021
- FSI Pharmacy and Food Chemistry New Students’ event –15 October 2021
- FSI Pharmacy and Food Chemistry New Students’ rally –15 October 2021
- FSI CBI LSE CEN EnTe: New students’ event – 18 October 2021
- FSI CBI LSE CEN EnTe: WhatsApp group for networking among new students
- FSI Teaching degrees (Computer science) New Students’ Day – 27 October 2021(on Discord)
- FSI WInf/IIS: Bar tour for new WINF Bachelor’s students – 13 October 2021
- FSI WInf/IIS: Bachelor’s students Survival guide & get-together in ‘Das Paul’ Nuremberg – 14 October 2021
- FSI WInf/IIS: Master’s students Survival guide & get-together in ‘Das Paul’ Nuremberg – 19 October 2021
- FSI WInf/IIS: Tour of the Faculty of Engineering for WInf and IIS students
If your student association is not on this list, check the FAU social media address book for information on social media channels at the University.
Have we missed anything? Let us know by e-mailing the Web Team.
Information about central institutions and services
image: FAU/Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg
All advisory services are available for ‘contactless’ appointments (video consultation/telephone/e-mail). Our legal counselling services are working entirely by e-mail, the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung (Training Assistance Office) has introduced extended telephone hours. Personal visits may be possible in individual instances (for example to sign a contract or arrange a KfW student loan), but an appointment must be arranged in advance.
All student restaurants (apart from EWF and Insel Schütt in Nuremberg) are open for business. You can either reserve a seat in advance or buy food to take away.
The main University Library in Erlangen.(image: FAU/David Hartfiel)
Virtual training courses, online reservations for study places or online reservations for physical media: the University libraries at FAU are geared to digitalisation and online services. The library staff are also available to give you advice and assistance at all times.
The University Library has drawn up FAQs for special rules introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic regarding borrowing, opening hours, reading rooms, and training courses.
Photo: FAU/Jonas Baumgärtel
Visit www.hochschulsport.fau.de to find out all about the various courses offered by University Sports.
Image: Panthermedia
The Centre for Teacher Education (ZfL) is a central research institution and, together with your lecturers, the right place to turn to with any questions you may have about your teaching degree programme (Lehramt) at FAU. The entire range of information and services on offer is available here:
- Secondary education at Realschule (Lehramt Realschule)
- Secondary education at Gymnasium (Lehramt Gymnasium)
- Primary education at Grundschule (Lehramt Grundschule)
- Secondary education at Mittelschule (Lehramt Mittelschule)
- Study advice for students studying teaching degree programmes for Realschule and Gymnasium
- Study advice for students studying teaching degree programmes for Grundschule and Mittelschule
Image: Colourbox.de
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 organising your first semester as well as practical advice for studying in general.
Checklist for new students
Image: Colourbox
The ‘Studienanfang leicht gemacht’ checklist for new students provided by our Student Advice and Career Service provides an initial overview and has useful tips to make sure you get off to a good start at FAU:
- Have you read through all the information sheets about your subject/degree programme at FAU?
- Have you carefully read all the information on the website of your degree programme/institute?
- Have you read the degree programme and examination regulations?
- Have you made a note of the dates of introductory events etc.?
- Have you looked at the course catalogue?
- 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 IBZ)
- 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 Centre (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 (if applicable) via ‘mein campus’?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?
frisch! an der Uni – a guide for starting university
Congratulations! You have decided to study at FAU, and already you have found a valuable source of information: our magazine ‘frisch! an der FAU’ knows (nearly) everything you need to know about our university.
FAU Strategy Talks – Join in the discussion!
The FAU Strategy Talks offer 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 Strategy Talks cover a wide variety of topics: from site development and excellence strategy planning to the Hightech Agenda Bavaria and strategic partnerships.
Further information is available on our intranet after logging in with your IdM account.
The coronavirus and its impact on FAU
Image: Colourbox.de
We keep students and staff up to date on current developments and news at FAU with a special page devoted to information on the coronavirus, in podcasts, interviews and blog posts.
Coronavirus information page with you all need to know about studying
Questions and contacts
There are a number of advice and service centres available to help with any questions you may have about studying at FAU. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or encounter any difficulties.