Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service
Poppelsdorfer Allee 49
1st floor, small seminar room
53115 Bonn
Open office hours. Please bring some waiting time.

The Employment Agency offers one-to-one consultations focused on devising a strategy for your future career that fits you personally.

You can discuss issues such as: switching to vocational training or a dual training program (current opportunities in your preferred region at employers from all over Germany will be communicated free of charge); switching to another degree program, university or type of higher education institution; career prospects with a university degree or vocational training; alternative financing models and/or options for bridging the gap until you embark on a fresh start.

If you call during this time but the line is busy, you are welcome to send us a message at Bonn.Berufsberatung@arbeitsagentur.de. 
Please indicate briefly why you are getting in touch and include a phone number that we can call you on.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.⁹

Registration via email: Katja Reinicke, schreibberatung@studierendenwerk-bonn.de

Help with writing term papers and theses for students from all departments

Consultation covers the following main points:

• Harnessing your personal resources
• Finding and focusing on a topic
• Developing a cogent argument
• Overcoming writer’s block
• Fluent writing techniques

Writing assistance also takes place outside the theme weeks by prior appointment on Mondays as an in person consultation in Adenauerallee 63 and on Wednesdays from 9:00-13:00 by telephone, consultation duration max. 90 minutes. Consultations are also possible in English.
This offer can only be used by students of the University of Bonn.

Elvira Fray: 0228 / 2284 230  (no appointment necessary)
Annette Hutmacher: 0228 / 2284 197  (no appointment necessary)

“The right candidate for the job” (“Passgenaue Besetzung”) at Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is a program that offers a telephone consultation for students withdrawing from university who are looking for a placement as part of a dual training program. Anyone interested in such a placement can find out about dual training programs that lead to an IHK qualification in a specific profession and sign up to the team’s agency service.

With its “Relaunch your Career” project, the IHK Bonn/Rhein-Sieg allows students withdrawing from university to complete reduced-length “turbo training” in selected professions.

A video consultation via GoToMeeting can also be arranged after phoning in advance.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.²

Careers with an apprenticeship

Breaking off a degree program before finishing it and completing vocational training instead is an opportunity, not a sign of failure!

“The right candidate for the job” (“Passgenaue Besetzung”) is a program run by Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce that matches people looking for a dual training program with companies offering a suitable placement on a training pathway leading to an IHK qualification.

With its “Relaunch your Career” project, the IHK Bonn/Rhein-Sieg allows students withdrawing from university to complete reduced-length “turbo training” in selected professions.

Students withdrawing from university who are looking for a placement as part of a dual training program can register in our applicant management system:
www.ausbildung-bn-su.de³⁵ und www.relaunch-your-career.de

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 632 7839 5551
Passcode: 593276

Introductory talk with Q&A

Considering switching subject? Maybe even changing university too? There can be many different reasons for this.

This talk by the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service is thus designed to give you an overview of the key steps in the process for switching subjects and universities. It also aims to explain what else you might need to bear in mind when planning a change of subject or university and will share some tips on where you can do research, get guidance and find central service points and places to seek advice. You will be able to ask questions and plan your own personal next steps.

More information on switching degree programs and universities

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 697 8211 6708
Passcode: 574935

Maybe you’re looking for a new direction, e.g. because you want to change subject or university, drop your studies altogether or have some completely different plans? And maybe you’re wondering how to go about it and where you can find information?

I’ll be talking about various places you can look online to find study and training options as well as career opportunities. You’ll be told how to find out what training or degree program matches your strengths and interests. We’ll also have some time to answer your questions on these issues.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-identification number (access code): 2731 009 9276
Meeting-password: aaZd7Xhrv72 (22937947 via video systems)

Linking Theory and Practice — Working Together from Day 1 

As an international development bank, we are committed to the sustainable development of the environment, society and businesses. Our focus in our Bonn office is on domestic development, for which we are on the lookout for people keen to help drive forward the digital transformation, e.g. by embarking on a dual training program.

However, there are also opportunities for direct career entry, such as in customer service.

We are looking forward to sharing information about the various entry-level opportunities using real-life examples as well.

Outside the theme week, you can contact Jutta Römer: 
Phone: +49 228 831-7364, email: Jutta.Roemer@kfw.de

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 936 4420 4364

Dual training programs enjoy a good reputation in Germany. The high-quality services and products being turned out in all industries and areas of work are thanks to experts armed with practical knowledge. This is what many companies’ commercial success is built on. The German training model is also highly regarded in other countries. At the end of the training period, there is the option of going on to qualify as a business management specialist, business economist or industrial supervisor. With its initial and advanced qualifications, the vocational training pathway thus opens up a wide range of career prospects. This presentation and subsequent discussion will introduce the dual qualification system and explore the opportunities and options available. Participants will be given details of useful places for obtaining personalized advice.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 836 0172 0876
Passcode: 168763

This presentation provides an insight into the option of dual training in a particular manual trade and introduces the wide range of training professions to choose from. Find out here what career opportunities and options are available with a dual qualification. Anyone interested in a training placement can find out about dual training programs that lead to an Chamber of Crafts qualification in a specific profession and sign up to the chamber’s agency service.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.⁶

Participation link
Per telephone: +49 911 178 78 78, 637901785#
Conference-ID: 637901785

This talk will explore some of the opportunities for re-orientation that are available to people having doubts about their studies or withdrawing from university. These range from taking stock of your current situation through to specific options after discontinuing your studies and how to make your new start a success.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link 

Information on qualifying as a tax specialist and on advanced training and continual professional development opportunities

The Cologne Chamber of Tax Consultants (Steuerberaterkammer Köln, or StBK) is holding a virtual drop-in session for people withdrawing from university who are looking for a training placement or dual training program. Anyone who is interested in a training placement can log in to find out about qualifying as a tax specialist and about the related opportunities for advanced training and continual professional development.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 645 2927 5090
Passcode: 574935

Having some doubts about your studies and the feeling that you’re all on your own? Keen to discuss it with other people in the same boat and ask them “Why are you having doubts?,” “How are you feeling about it?,” “What do you want to do, what do you want to change?” and tell them your story? We’re giving you a platform to do just that via Zoom.

So that everyone can help to create an atmosphere of trust and communicate easily, we would like to ask you to switch your microphone and camera on if you can and base yourself somewhere quiet.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 690 0782 2470
Passcode: 925949

Taking a break from my studies — can it be worthwhile? What are my options in Germany and abroad? And what should I bear in mind when doing my planning? Britta Förster (Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service, University of Bonn) and Olivia Schäfer (Study Abroad Advisory Service, University of Bonn) will be answering these questions in their brief joint presentation entitled “Taking a Break from Your Studies”

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Phone number: 0228 / 924 4020

The Employment Agency offers one-to-one telephone consultations focused on devising a strategy for your future career that fits you personally.

You can discuss issues such as: switching to vocational training or a dual training program (current opportunities in your preferred region at employers from all over Germany will be communicated free of charge); switching to another degree program, university or type of higher education institution; career prospects with a university degree or vocational training; alternative financing models and/or options for bridging the gap until you embark on a fresh start.

If you call during this time but the line is busy, you are welcome to send us a message at Bonn.Berufsberatung@arbeitsagentur.de. 
Please indicate briefly why you are getting in touch and include a phone number that we can call you on.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.⁹

Participation link
Conference-ID: 301049
Passcode: 358974

The Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, BZSt) will be sharing some information on the dual training program and vocational training available as a route into the civil service, particularly at the BZSt itself. The various civil servant pathways and the careers that they can potentially lead to will be explored, with the spotlight on financial administration.

The following study and vocational training opportunities will be covered:

• Dual training program in financial administration/qualified tax specialist/Bachelor of Laws/tax administration
• Training in financial administration/tax administration/tax specialist

We are looking forward to welcoming a great many listeners!

For additional information, please visit www.karriere.bzst.de

Are you having doubts about your studies because you can’t see any career prospects at the end of them? Maybe you don’t know how to go about finding out what you’d really enjoy doing for a living? Make use of the service offered by the Career Service and discuss ideas for potential careers and ways to obtain career guidance in a 25-minute chat with Dr. Anke Bohne.

Consultations are held in presence. 

What time slots are available?

• 2:30 pm – 2:55 pm
• 3:00 pm - 3:25 pm
• 3:30 pm – 3:55 pm
• 4:00 pm - 3:25 pm

How can I register? More information

Alternative times:
If no more time slots are available, you are welcome to register for the Career Service’s regular career consultation at any time. This will focus on your questions about your personal career guidance and planning and getting onto the career ladder.
Here you can find more information on this service.

You play with the idea of founding a start-up? You have already founded and can share your first experiences? Are you perhaps still looking for the right co-founder to implement your idea? Or are you generally interested in the start-up scene and would just like to "get a taste"? - Then you've come to the right place! We (University of Bonn, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg & DIGITALHUB) cordially invite all interested start-ups to our monthly start-up roundtable. Over a cool drink, you have the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people, have open questions answered by experts or simply get an insight into the start-up scene. Participation is free of charge. In December there will be a Christmas edition of our Stammtisch. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Location: DIGITALHUB, Am Hauptbahnhof 6, Bonn

Further information and ticket link
This offer can only be attended by members of the University of Bonn.

Are you having doubts about your studies because you can’t see any career prospects at the end of them? Maybe you don’t know how to go about finding out what you’d really enjoy doing for a living? Make use of the service offered by the Career Service and discuss ideas for potential careers and ways to obtain career guidance in a 25-minute chat with Dr. Anke Bohne.

Consultations are held in presence. 

What time slots are available?

• 2:30 pm – 2:55 pm
• 3:30 pm – 3:55 pm

How can I register? More information

Alternative times:
If no more time slots are available, you are welcome to register for the Career Service’s regular career consultation at any time. This will focus on your questions about your personal career guidance and planning and getting onto the career ladder.
Here you can find more information on this service.

Zeynep Iyilik: 0221 / 2575291 (no appointment necessary), zeynep.iyilik@rhnotk.de

Based in Cologne, the Rhine Notaries’ Association arranges placements for trainee notary’s assistants in and around Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Mönchengladbach, Aachen and Duisburg. Trainees are paid €800-900 in their first year, €850-950 in their second and €950-1,050 in their third.

Graduates of the program can take two more advanced training courses to qualify as a senior notary’s assistant and notary’s office manager, although they will need to leave a gap of at least two years between the individual courses.

Video: How to become a notary’s assistant

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week. 

Marion Becker: +49 228 73-7306
Video consultation via Zoom is also available after prior telephone contact.

Advice for students having doubts about their studies because of health problems

• Do you have long-term health problems, e.g. due to chronic illness or mental health issues (Crohn’s disease, MS, depression, PTSD, autism spectrum disorder, etc.)?
• And are you unsure about whether you can juggle both your health and your studies?
• Or are you already finding things getting in the way of your studies or difficulties tackling these challenges and don’t know how to move forward?
• Do you need compensation for disadvantages for your course work and exams?

If you can answer “Yes”, or “Maybe,” to at least one of these questions, then I will gladly give you some advice in my role as Representative for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses – at any time, not just during this theme week! 

Because chronic illnesses, mental health issues, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia/dyscalculia or other medium- to long-term impairments are forms of disability and have just as much of an impact on people’s studies as physical and sensory impairments – and in a different way, too. Teachers, counselors and fellow students often fail to recognize this or appreciate its consequences. Maybe you do, too?  And maybe this is why you have so far shied away from seeking advice about your situation?  Then this theme week might well be a good opportunity to do something about it.

The counselling is confidential and solution-oriented.

I am happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

The Study Advisory and Counseling Service at Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences provides advice on issues such as transferring to one of its degree programs or to a dual training program. Consultations are available by phone, video, email and chat. Contact details can be found here.

Video: “Differences between a university and a university of applied sciences”

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Georg Dick: 0221 / 97302032, dick@rak-koeln.de (no appointment necessary)
Udo Schäfer: 0221 / 97301025, schaefer@rak-koeln.de (no appointment necessary)

The Cologne Bar Association arranges placements for trainee paralegals in the Aachen/Bonn/Cologne region. If you are interested, please feel free to call or email Georg Dick and Udo Schäfer, who are responsible for arranging training placements. Face-to-face consultations are also possible by prior arrangement.

Information on training as a paralegal

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Lea Jenkner
Poppelsdorfer Allee
third floor, room 2.010
53115 Bonn

There can be many reasons to feel unhappy or have problems in your studies, and a good solution is not always immediately obvious. A consultation with the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service is a useful first step in order to establish the reasons behind your current situation and your options for moving forward.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Michele Sen: 0221 / 2022 481 (no appointment necessary)
Open telephone consultation (without registration) or video consultation (appointment at short notice after contacting us by telephone)

The Careers Workshop at Cologne Chamber of Crafts (HWK) offers a telephone consultation for students withdrawing from university who are looking for a placement as part of a dual training program.

Anyone interested in such a placement can find out about dual training programs that lead to an HWK qualification in a specific profession and sign up to the chamber’s agency service.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.⁹

Phone number: +49 2241 8659656

The Study Advisory and Counseling Service at Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences provides advice on issues such as transferring to one of its degree programs.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Lea Jenkner: +49 228 73-5520

There can be many reasons to feel unhappy or have problems in your studies, and a good solution is not always immediately obvious. A consultation with the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service is a useful first step in order to establish the reasons behind your current situation and your options for moving forward.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

Participation link
Meeting-ID: 639 6736 9686
Passcode: 574935

There can be many reasons to feel unhappy or have problems in your studies, and a good solution is not always immediately obvious. A consultation with the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service is a useful first step in order to establish the reasons behind your current situation and your options for moving forward.

We are happy to advise you at any time, not just during the theme week.

The Department for University Policy is the first place to go to with any questions relating to examination regulations and the University itself.

How is the advice you provide relevant to people who are having doubts about their studies or considering withdrawing?
We mainly deal with cases of involuntary withdrawal, i.e. particularly when someone is at risk of failing their final attempt at an examination or has already failed. The students will then ask whether they can appeal against the examination decision so they can continue their studies. Sometimes they will come to us after their first or second attempt in order to seek advice in good time. Those who have already failed and have no more chances left come to find out about alternative degree programs and how they can get recognition for what they have achieved so far. In extreme cases – and this is unfortunate – they won’t make themselves known until after they have been deregistered.

What do you advise them to do in such situations?
Even if you have only failed a written examination once or twice, you should check whether it was marked correctly. For example, people taking their third attempt often talk about inconsistencies in previous written examinations. There’s nothing we can do if that happens, unfortunately. This is frustrating, because they might be taking their third attempt when they shouldn’t have to.

How can such a situation be avoided?
It’s important to bear in mind in this context that, if you can’t sit a written examination due to illness, you must say so straight away! The same applies to term papers: if you’re ill, you should tell your examination office immediately so that the deadline can be extended if necessary. When you’re actually sitting your written examination, you must report any noise, mistakes in the questions, etc. to proctors right away and make sure they are recorded. If you don’t complain there and then, you won’t be able to appeal or prove anything further down the line.

What do people need to bear in mind if, despite everything, they have failed and have no more attempts  left?
People who have failed and have no more attempts left need to keep an eye on the deadlines for applying for other degree programs or for vocational training. This can sometimes be as early as the beginning of May for degree programs with restricted admission. The University’s Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service also offers advice to those considering switching to another degree program or subject. This can be helpful, particularly in terms of getting study achievements recognized.

The counseling team in the Department for University Policy can be contacted at hopo@asta.uni-bonn.de, and consultations are held (currently) via email on Mondays and Fridays. Telephone consultations can also be arranged by email.

Please note that the advice and support provided by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) is given by students and makes no claim to be complete or correct.

You can find more information at www.asta-bonn.de/Referat_für_Hochschulpolitik.

How is the advice you provide relevant to people who are having doubts about their studies or considering withdrawing?
Students come to Psychosocial Counseling for all kinds of reasons. As well as seeking professional help for mental health issues, these reasons also include all the other problems that make them feel unhappy and/or overwhelmed in their everyday lives, be this socially, in general or specifically related to their studies. The fact that students often feel dissatisfied with what they have achieved in their studies or that they have chosen the wrong path is often relevant in this context. It really depends. Some of the people we talk to see their doubts about their studies to be the problem in itself, while for others it plays second fiddle to other, more prominent crises or conflicts in their studies that are causing them doubt or uncertainty. There are also differences in terms of whether the problem vaguely buzzes around in the person’s head or whether they have already given it a lot of detailed thought and are mainly having difficulties making a decision. As studying is an integral part of many young people’s lives, it’s bound to trigger conflicts at some point that they need help to resolve. Psychosocial Counseling is here to offer a starting point if people feel unable to overcome these conflicts on their own. Having doubts about one’s studies isn’t unknown territory for us, in other words. On the contrary, it’s something we deal with all the time.

What questions or problems can people come to you with?
It’s often about the question of whether a person feels they fit in. Many people say they feel as if their fellow students are coping much better with the demands of their studies or already seem to have a much clearer plan and thus give the impression of being keener and more focused. This makes the people affected feel they don’t belong. It’s a similar scenario when students don’t get the grades they think they should and fall short of their own expectations. They might also realize at some point during their studies that they have deviated from their original path, which makes it hard to imagine having a career in the field they had initially chosen. This robs them of a goal that they feel is worth aiming for and that they can focus their enthusiasm and motivation on. So they soon start thinking about changing to another degree program or withdrawing from university. Conflicts can undoubtedly arise in a social context, too. If, for instance, a student’s family has done a lot to enable them to study, this can provoke an inner conflict, which makes it very hard for them to make the decision to withdraw.

How can you help?
Although we would never want or be able to make someone’s decision for them,
merely getting feedback in a conversation with someone who’s not been involved can help to get a better idea of how serious a problem actually is. Having a chat to get things clear in your head can do a lot to take the weight off your shoulders and guide you toward new options for positive achievements and possibilities that you weren’t able to see previously. If you have already more or less made up your mind to switch or withdraw from university, we can also help you gather various arguments together and come up with a plan for what next steps to take in order to actually achieve what you want.

Do you have any tips for students who are having doubts about their studies or considering withdrawing from university?
The best thing to do is always to tackle emerging doubts sooner rather than later before negative feelings and oppressive thoughts take hold. In a worst-case scenario, severe psychological stress can even develop. We are always pleased to help in difficult situations so that nobody need be left alone with their own thoughts and conflicts. We also want to share our firm belief that any problem can be solved. As this might not seem immediately obvious to you, you are welcome to pop in and talk to us or to other people in your circle who you trust. We want to give you the courage to always think from the perspective of the solution and to look for ways of achieving it rather than feeling you will always be at the mercy of your own problems with no help in sight.

Finally, it’s important to reiterate that switching degree program or withdrawing from university can also be a solution to a problem. Although this decision shouldn’t be made in haste, don’t let any time you might already have invested or any expectations that might have been unfulfilled prevent you from taking your future happiness in your own hands if it turns out to be the right decision for you.

The Psychosocial Counseling team can be contacted at  psb@asta.uni-bonn.de and is currently offering telephone and email consultations.

Please note that the advice and support provided by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) is given by students and makes no claim to be complete or correct.

You can find more information at www.asta-bonn.de/Psychosoziale_Beratung.

How is the advice you provide relevant to people who are having doubts about their studies or considering switching degree program?
The Welfare Advice team is the right place to come to once you’ve decided to switch degree program or withdraw from university. In other words, many students will already have made a decision and will have questions about formal and organizational matters, such as study financing. We can also certify documents relating to your studies, which you might need in order to enroll or apply somewhere, for example.

What questions do students ask you?
Most of the questions relate to financing. A lot is about BAföG, part-time jobs, accommodation benefit and student loans. The rules can often be complicated, particularly for students from outside the EU, so we’re happy to help.

How exactly do you do so?
We start by taking a look at the student’s individual situation, which can sometimes be a very detailed process. We then explain the various possible solutions. In complex cases, we go away, do some more research and then report back. If necessary, we put the person in touch with other advisory services that specialize in the relevant problem, such as the Accommodation and Legal Advice team at the General Students’ Committee (AStA) or the University’s Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service.

The Welfare Advice team can be contacted at  soziales@asta.uni-bonn.de and is currently offering email consultations every day between 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

Please note that the advice and support provided by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) is given by students and makes no claim to be complete or correct.

You can find more information at www.asta-bonn.de/Sozialreferat.