First-semester tips for starting university: attend the orientation week, build your timetable early and leave some room in it, talk to fellow students in the first week, and get to know the contact points of your university. You will find the formal tasks to complete before the semester begins in the study start checklist (in German). This guide covers the first weeks of student life: orientation, timetable, contacts and the mistakes you can avoid.
First-semester tips at a glance
- Orientation week gives you the campus, the student council and first contacts in a short time.
- For your timetable, compulsory courses come first, then the elective options. Plan travel times and buffers.
- You find connections through the student council, tutorials, study groups and student associations.
- Read the study regulations and the examination regulations completely in the first weeks.
- Those who ask questions early save detours later.
What happens in orientation week, and is it worth it?
Orientation week, or O-Week, usually takes place shortly before lectures begin. Student councils and departments show you the campus, explain how the course is structured and bring first-year students together in small groups. The dates are usually published on the website of your department or student council.
It is worth attending for three concrete reasons:
- You get to know lecture halls, the library, the canteen and the advice services before the first teaching day gets busy.
- You meet students in higher semesters who can tell you about lecturers, courses and deadlines.
- You make the first contacts in your degree programme without having to approach strangers.
What should you do in your first week at university?
In the first week the focus is on orientation and a working basic setup. These points help:
- Explore the campus: look at the lecture halls, library, canteen and administration office, ideally with a map.
- Set up your university access: university account, university email and learning platform. Announcements and materials appear there.
- Note your contact persons: study advisory service, student council, examination office and tutors.
- Read the study regulations and the examination regulations to know which modules are compulsory.
- Attend the first courses and check whether your timetable works in practice.
Many words will be new to you in these days, from module to credit points to examination regulations. The most important ones are explained in university terms explained (in German).
Is attendance compulsory?
In many lectures attendance is not compulsory. In seminars, tutorials and internships it can apply. What counts in your degree programme is set out in the examination regulations or the module handbook. Even where attendance is not compulsory, going is worthwhile, because it is the quickest way to get a feel for exam content and the connections between topics.
How do first-semester students build a timetable?
Build your timetable starting from the compulsory courses, then add the elective options. The basic structure comes from the recommended study plan for your degree programme, which you find in the study regulations or on the department page. For how to organise dates, tasks and study time over the long term, see the guide on organising your studies efficiently (in German).
- Mark the compulsory modules of the first semester and enter the dates in your calendar.
- Note the registration deadlines for courses, tutorials and seminars. Popular places are often filled quickly.
- Plan the walks between buildings and your lunch break.
- Clarify overlaps early and ask the study advisory service if needed.
- Do not fill the first semester to the limit, so that there is time for follow-up work.
Example: there are 15 minutes between two courses, but the buildings are a ten-minute walk apart. Then there is hardly time to arrive. Gaps like this become obvious as soon as you enter them in the calendar.
How do you make friends as a first-semester student?
Connecting with others is easiest in the first weeks, because many people are in the same situation. Talk to the people sitting next to you in lectures, go to the meetings of your student council and sign up for tutorials. A group chat for your year helps with organisational questions. More ideas are in the guide on making friends at university (in German).
A fixed study group is worth setting up early, even when the material still feels manageable. You explain topics to each other, share lecture notes and notice sooner where the gaps are. University sport and student groups offer further points of contact outside lectures.
Which mistakes do first-semester students make often?
These pitfalls can be avoided with a little preparation:
- Leaving the material until the exam phase. Those who review lectures regularly have less to catch up on later.
- Not reading the study regulations and examination regulations, and missing the registration deadlines for exams.
- Overloading the timetable and leaving no time for follow-up work.
- Waiting too long with problems, instead of contacting the study advisory service, the student council or lecturers early.
- Focusing only on studying and neglecting contacts, exercise and breaks.
How to prepare for exams is covered in the guide on preparing for written exams (in German). You can close gaps in prior knowledge with free learning resources online (in German).
Frequently asked questions
What do you do in the first week at university?
You get to know the campus, set up your university account, email and learning platform, attend the first courses and check your timetable. There are also conversations with fellow students, the student council and the study advisory service. The formal obligations, such as enrolment and the semester fee, should be completed beforehand.
Where do I find the dates for orientation week?
Departments and student councils usually publish the dates on their websites. They are often also in the enrolment documents. If you find nothing, ask the student council or the study advisory service of your degree programme.
How many courses should I take in the first semester?
Follow the recommended study plan of your degree programme and leave enough time for preparation and follow-up work. A timetable filled to the last gap rarely works. If in doubt, the study advisory service can help you choose.
How do first-semester students make contacts quickly?
Use the first weeks: orientation week, student council meetings, tutorials and year groups in messaging apps. If you talk to the people next to you in the first lecture and suggest a study group early, you will usually soon have fixed contacts in your degree programme.
What to do now
- Look up the date of orientation week with your department or student council and enter it in your calendar.
- Check the formal tasks with the study start checklist (in German).
- Read the recommended study plan and build your timetable with compulsory modules, travel times and buffers.
- In the first week, start a conversation with two or three fellow students and suggest a study group.
- Read the study regulations and the examination regulations completely, once.
Related guides
- Study start checklist (in German)
- University terms explained (in German)
- Organising your studies efficiently (in German)
- Making friends at university (in German)
- Health insurance at enrolment (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
