First-years. The first week decides who you will study and party with for the next three years.
Welcome week, your first steps and answers to what everyone asks at the start. If you want to know more afterwards, just drop by during office hours.
Welcome week
One week before lectures begin: timetable session, campus tour, research farms, hike, city tour. Please sign up for the individual events beforehand so that we can plan.
Whole week to your calendar · Register for the research farms
Welcome trip
A weekend to settle in, with people from your year and from the council.
We announce the date and destination here and in the programme as soon as they are fixed.
First steps
Tick off what is done. Stays on this device only.
- Set up your university e-mail. All information on modules and exams arrives there. Forwarding is no longer possible, but you can add the account to a mail app.
- Personal first registration at the examinations office. Without it you are enrolled but may not sit exams.
- Build your timetable in BASIS. We go through the template timetable together in the welcome week.
- Get a canteen card at the counter in the café of Mensa Poppelsdorf, 5 euro deposit.
- Come to the meeting on Monday, just like that. 8 pm, Katzenburgweg 9.
Tips for the start
First things first: nobody understands the exam system in the first week. That is normal.
Do not forget the personal first registration
Without the personal first registration (Personelle Erstanmeldung) you are enrolled but cannot sit any exam or collect credits. The form is available from the AEI examinations office.
Use your university e-mail
You must use your university e-mail address. Some lecturers only respond to it, and all information on modules and exams goes through it. Forwarding is no longer possible; you can, however, set up the mailbox in an e-mail client.
Do not buy books on suspicion
Wait for the lecturers’ recommendations. Much is available in the library, as an e-book via the ULB, or second-hand.
Canteen card
Available at the counter in the café of Mensa Poppelsdorf, 5 euro deposit, refunded on return. Top up with cash at the machine or by card in the canteen café; from 10 euros there is a 30 cent bonus.
Library card
Apply online via the ULB. An e-mail to set your password follows, after which the card can be used in the university app.
c.t. and s.t.
c.t. means cum tempore: the class starts a quarter of an hour later, so 8 c.t. is 8:15. s.t. means sine tempore and means exactly at the stated time.
Preparatory courses
Before your studies begin you can attend preparatory courses in chemistry and mathematics. You do not need to have taken an advanced course at school; gaps can be closed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a canteen card?
Yes. You can pay by debit card at the till, but the canteen card is more convenient. Top up with cash at the machine or by card in the canteen café; from 10 euros there is a 30 cent bonus.
Where do I get the canteen card?
In Mensa Poppelsdorf at the counter in the café. 5 euro deposit, refunded on return.
What is the HRZ and where do I find it?
The university computing centre (Hochschulrechenzentrum), Wegelerstraße 6, a street parallel to Nußallee. They help with all IT questions, especially the Uni-ID.
What do c.t. and s.t. mean?
c.t. (cum tempore) means a quarter of an hour later, so 8 c.t. is 8:15. s.t. (sine tempore) means on time, so 8 s.t. is 8:00.
Do I have to buy particular books?
Not in advance. They are expensive, and you should wait for the lecturers’ recommendations. Much is available in the library, second-hand or as an e-book via the ULB.
Where do I get the library card?
Apply online via the ULB website. You will then receive an e-mail to set a password for your user number. After that you can add the card to the university app.
How do I contact lecturers?
Contact details are in BASIS. There is a search form for people.
Do I have to use my university e-mail address?
Yes, definitely. Some lecturers only respond to messages sent via the university e-mail, and all information on modules and exams arrives through it.
Can I forward my university e-mail?
No, forwarding is no longer possible. You can, however, set up the mailbox in an e-mail client. Instructions are in the computing centre’s documentation; the link can only be reached from the BONNET Wi-Fi.
Do I get Microsoft Office for free?
No, that offer is for staff only. For students Microsoft has an offer of about 3 euros a month. You only need it for academic papers.
What is the personal first registration?
It is required before you may take any exams at all. Without it you are enrolled but cannot sit exams or collect credits. The form is available from the examinations office.
Exam dates, medical certificate, exam periods?
All forms are available from the AEI examinations office. If the one-week withdrawal deadline has passed, you need the special medical certificate in case of illness, completed by a doctor. The periods are set by the examinations office; the individual exam dates are in BASIS.
Where do I find information about my degree?
On the AEI pages. If something is unclear, write to the study advisory service or ask us.
What next?
After welcome week, Your studies helps you further. Ask us anything else during office hours, Tue and Thu, 1–2 pm, or at kontakt@fsagrar.de.