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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Tips for Beginners

Orientation week for the start of studies: 11 October - 15 October 2021

Note: Preparatory courses of individual subjects may start earlier.

Lecture period for the winter semester 2021/22: 18 October 2021 - 19 February 2022

18 October = dies academicus (no regular courses on this day yet)

You can find out whether digital, classroom or combined teaching is predominant in your degree programme in the course catalogue and in the courses offered at the beginning of the programme.

Current information: hu.berlin/corona

What to do after enrolment?

(see also: "Study Checklist" and the brochure HU-Compass [in German])

Orientation within university

What orientation events are there?

The program of central and subject-related orientation events at the start of your studies is made available to you in the online status of your application and on: hu.berlin/welcome.

Information for International students provides the Students Welcome Centre.

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).

Note on timetable creation

At the university there are usually no predefined "timetables", i.e. each student creates an individual plan independently. If you have not been able to attend a subject-related orientation event:

  • Please check the website of your institute or faculty first to see if there are any hints for first semester students.
  • 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 1st semester.
  • If you are studying a combined Bachelor's degree, you will need the study regulations for the core subject 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 - Study and Examination 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.
  • If registration via "Agnes" is not provided for, registration might also take place via enrolment in a Moodle course, the link to which is given in this case. If a course key is requested for access, please contact the respective teacher by e-mail from your student e-mail address (!).
  • If compulsory courses of the core subject and second subject overlap in time, as a rule priority is given to those of the core subject or to those that are a prerequisite for attending further modules based on it.
  • Each semester you should take modules of about 30 credit points (LP).
  • The Agnes Help Center also offers useful information and our video (in German).
  • If you have any further questions, please contact the (student) course advisors (see below). If possible, please attend the subject-related orientation events (see above).

Who can help me?

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.

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

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

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

The Career Center provides counselling on practice-related courses (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.

The Studierendenwerk Berlin takes care of social issues, such as student financing according to BAföG, halls of residence and daycare centres. It also organises the "Student Financing Day - online" on 23.9.2021.

If attendance of language courses is sought the Language Centre offers plenty of courses, and 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, and if you want to go in for sports, www.zeh.hu-berlin.de/ is a useful link.

Contact for further concerns

Version: 29 September 2021