Counseling services for students
This web page outlines all the sources of counseling, help and support available to students at the University of Bonn. We are here to help!
Support during your studies
Students with questions pertaining to the organization of their studies and problems—writer’s block, financial difficulties and accommodation—can turn to the:
The subject-specific study advisory services provides advice and support on a range of subject-specific questions such as the contents of specific modules, university teaching, examinations and how to develop your own subject profile.
The Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service advises all those considering a university application and provides advice on choosing a degree program, the application and admissions procedure and preparing to succeed at university.
The Student Registry is the first point of contact for all administrative questions related to your studies, including the application and admission procedures, enrollment, re-registration, leaves of absence and changing subject or degree program.
The Studierendenwerk’s agency for educational assistance is the first port of call for all those with questions about and wishing to submit a BAföG application. Its student accommodation section administers the student accommodation and guest houses at the University of Bonn.
In addition to representing students’ political interests, the General Students’ Committee’s focuses on the provision of counseling and other services. Their expertise covers a wide range of topics: advice on matters pertaining to BAföG, advice for students with children, social and legal consultation, advice for international students, advice for lesbian/homosexual and transgender students—AStA provides advice and support on almost every issue that could affect students.
The student councils provide information and support from the student’s perspective. Student councils are a key point of contact, especially for first-semester students; the activities which they organize provide good opportunities for networking and orientation. Some student councils also sell scripts and second-hand textbooks at reduced prices, arrange learning partnerships and organize interesting, subject-related excursions.
The University of Bonn Writing Lab provides advice and support in all questions about writing academic texts. It is the first port of call for free-of-charge and constructive individual consultation for students of all disciplines, providing feedback, tips for skills-acquisition and the best response to a range of challenges. The USL offers also an open office hour. The Writing Lab also organizes courses and workshops on academic writing and seminars provided by the empirical lab.
Studying with a family
Questions about childcare and sources of (financial) support before, during and after pregnancy should be addressed to the:
The Office of Family Services provides advice and support in all issues affecting those raising a family whilst enrolled in a degree program, including issues such as maternity protection, parental leave, sources of financial support and how to combine childcare and the need to care for relatives with studies.
The General Students’ Committee (AStA) organizes regular counseling sessions for pregnant students and those with childcare responsibilities focusing on a range of issues such as financial support, finding a daycare center place or organizing studies.
During or after completion of your studies
Further information about stays abroad or starting your career can be found here:
The International Office of the University of Bonn is the contact point for all questions regarding international and intercultural offers and activities. It supports both students of the University of Bonn who are planning a study-related stay abroad and international students who would like to study at the University of Bonn.
The Career Center supports University of Bonn students and graduates in making the transition from their studies to a professional career. The offer spans counseling, seminars and career events.
Psychosocial and health counseling
Information about a range of physical and mental health issues and conflicts is available here:
The staff physicians office provides individual consultation and advice services for University staff experiencing health problems at work.
The Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at University Hospital Bonn provides inpatient treatment for those with psychological and psychosomatic conditions as well as outpatient diagnostic consultations. It specializes in eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and burnout.
Sometimes, everyone needs a little advice and support to master difficult situations, especially during a degree course. You can find help and support from the contact persons of the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service.
Help and assistance for staff and students experiencing conflict situations.
This service provides consultation on short notice, arranges psychotherapy and provides assistance in cost claims procedures.
The University Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic run by the Department of Psychology at the University of Bonn is an outpatient research and teaching department focusing on behavior therapy.
Do you have the feeling that life is not going to plan? Does a chronic illness or specific situation (threaten to) throw your life into confusion? Would you like to meet with people in a similar situation?
Then get in touch with the Bonn self-help contact point and/or find out about the work of the Bonn self-help groups and the advice and support provided by the contact point from this home page.
The telephone counseling service of the Protestant and Catholic Churches are open to all. It is free-of-charge and provides anonymous and confidential support 24 hours a day. You can also contact us online:
In addition to the services listed above, there are also some organizations that provide online information about dealing with mental illnesses such as depression and offer help. Here you will find some of the websites listed:
- Freunde fürs Leben: Freunde fürs Leben provides information about suicide and depression to know the signals in themselves and others and to better interpret calls for help.
Web Page (German) - The Ocean in Your Mind: The Ocean In Your Mind helps people with depression, anxiety and self-injurious behavior. They educate about mental illness and support options.
Web Page (German) - gesund.bund: On this website you will find general information about depression in English.
Web Page - Deutsche Depressionslige e.V. & Deutsche Depressionshilfe: The two organizations are aimed at people with depression and support them, among other things, with information and support services.
Deutsche Depressionliga e.V.: Web Page (German)
Deutsche Depressionhilfe: Web Page (German)
Inclusion and protection against discrimination
The University of Bonn provides information tailored to the needs of a range of individual groups:
If you have any questions about studying with a disability, especially regarding issues of disadvantage compensation during admission, studies and examinations, please contact the representative for disabled and chronically ill students. Our service is entirely confidential and follows a solutions-oriented approach, with the aim of enabling independence at university, with or despite a disability!
The Gender Equality Office is the first port of call for all those with questions pertaining to LGTBQIA* issues and provides consultation on a range of issues, for example bullying.
The University of Bonn is committed to promoting equal opportunity at all levels, but especially for students. You can find programs, working areas and contact points at the university that further implement equal opportunities and make the university a place of fair, sensitive and individual support.
Dealing with (structural) racism and discrimination is a challenge that German universities, including the University of Bonn, face. Racism is a topic that should be looked at intersectionally. In order to take a stance against racism, the university has to critically deal with forms of everyday racism, racism within institutional practices and racism as a (possible) component of teaching and research. When students are affected by racism, counseling can help.
Support for doctoral students
Some services offered by the University of Bonn are specifically aimed at doctoral students to support them during their doctoral studies.
As the central service department for doctoral candidates at the University of Bonn, the Bonn Graduate Center can help you choose and navigate a doctoral or postdoctoral program, offer guidance on our comprehensive Doctorate Plus and Postdoc Plus training opportunities, as well as about current calls for proposals and funding and connects you with the other service facilities at the University of Bonn.
The BGZ offers help and suggestions for doctoral students at the University of Bonn when they find themselves in a difficult situation.
As an independent counseling, reconciliation and mediation office, the Ombudsperson Office helps doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and supervisors navigate challenges and conflicts.
This web page from HCBN provides an overview of the advice centers run by various institutions at the University of Bonn, providing telephone counseling and important information on their websites.
Each faculty determines its own doctoral regulations, the prerequisites and requirements for the doctorate. On the web page you will find a link to these regulations as well as the contact details of contact persons for questions about the doctoral degree regulations for each faculty and for registration in the doctoral office.
