Tips for Beginners

Welcome folder in the online status of your application
Subject-related information on the start of studies in the summer semester 2022 on the websites of your faculty(ies) or (central) institute(s).
Introductory event for the teacher training programme (in German)
Kick Off-Zooms for International Students from 28.03.-13.04.2022
Overview of central and subject-related orientation events for the start of studies: hu.berlin/welcome.

What materials do you need to prepare for the semester?

Study and examination regulations for your degree programme(s) with module descriptions and ideal-typical study plans, which give you advice on how to structure your studies and how to build your timetable, can be found on the websites of faculties, departments or institutes. Those already published in the Amtliches Mitteilungsblatt der Humboldt-Universität can be downloaded from hu.berlin/spo. Please refer to the most recent study regulations for your subject.

Students with the option of a teaching profession (except for primary school education) also require the study regulations for the study parts Education Sciences and Language Education (www.amb.hu-berlin.de, Nr. 80/2015).

The Humboldt-Universität University Calendar (Vorlesungsverzeichnis)
Many legal questions concerning studies will be answered by checking at the Fächerübergreifende Satzung zur Regelung von Zulassung, Studium und Prüfung der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (ZSP-HU) (hu.berlin/zsp).
The Guide for International Students can also be helpful for you.

Note on timetable creation

At the university there are usually no predefined "timetables", i.e. each student creates an individual plan independently.

Please check the website of your (central) institute or faculty first to see if there are any hints for beginners.
With the help of your study regulation(s) (see Ideal Typical Study Plans at the end of the module descriptions) you can find out which modules are recommended for the 1^st summer-semester.

If there are amendment regulations, then the ideal-typical study plan can usually be found in the 1^st version.

If enrolment in the first semester was exceptionally possible in the summer semester, a course of study according to the ideal typical study plans cannot alway be guaranteed.

If you are studying a combined Bachelor's degree, you will need the study regulations for the core and the second subject.
You can find out from the individual module descriptions whether there is a prerequisite for participation.
If this is not the case, check which types of courses belong to the corresponding modules and what time frame they have (see specification of SWS = semester week hour = hour of academic teaching in each week of the semester).
Finally, log into the portal "Agnes - Teaching and Examinations Online" with your HU account and select your subject in the course catalogue first and then the modules recommended in the study regulations. Here you will also find information whether digital course formats are to be expected.
Then choose the number of courses specified in the module description for your timetable, register for them and transfer them to your personal timetable.
Each semester you should take modules of about 30 credit points (LP).
The Agnes Help Center also offers useful information.
If you have any further questions, please contact the (student) course advisory service (see below).

Who can help?

The Course Advisors (Studienfachberatung) can help in matters related to a particular course as well as with planning lectures and classes in the first semester. Addresses, telephone numbers and office hours can be found also in the relevant websites and course catalogues of the faculties, departments and institutes.

Advice of fellow students (studentische Studienfachberatung) can be helpful as well. Most faculties, departments and institutes offer subject-related peer counselling, or the Fachschaft (student representation) will help you.

Support for starting studies, connection and orientation assistance: Study Buddy-program

The Service for teacher training students of the Professional School of Education (PSE) offers advice on specific questions of teacher training and timetable construction guides.

Computer and Media Service of Humboldt-Universität: HU account, Campus Card, course catalogue, HU mail, computer labs, WLAN, eLearning (Moodle), exam registration, see Agnes - Teaching and Examinations Online with Help-center as well as information of Immatrikulationsbüro

If technical problems occur when registering for courses: agnes@hu-berlin.de.

The Career Center provides counselling on practice-related courses within the framework of the Überfachlicher Wahlpflichtbereich (ÜWP).

If support is needed because of disability or chronical illness, advice will be given by the Disability Advisory Service .

Tips and support for parent students (child care) can be found at hu.berlin/familienbuero.

For social counselling the contact is www.refrat.de/beratung.html.

If you want to improve your language skills the Language Centre offers plenty of courses.

If you wish to register with the University Library, just click at hu.berlin/ub.

If you want to make music in the company of other students, you will be helped at hu.berlin/musik.

If you want to go in for sports, www.zeh.hu-berlin.de/ is a useful link.

Tips on healthy studying and networking opportunities can be found on the website of the University Health Management.

The Studierendenwerk Berlin takes care of social matters such as student finance (according to BAföG), halls of residence and Kitas.

Contact for further concerns

Version: 17 June, 2022