First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2023
First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2023
On October 4th about 2,000 new students attended the First-Semester-Students’ Welcome put on by the University of Bonn. The event's emphasis was on providing advice and information and enabling people to get to know one another. Whether it was at the official welcome in the main auditorium (Aula), the info fair in the Arkadenhof or the party in the evening, the First-Semester-Students’ Welcome provided ample opportunity for new students to find out more about their University, get to know their student councils and meet fellow students.
First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2023
Picture gallery 2023
Pictures of this year's First-Semester-Students' Welcome have been added to the photo gallery.
Live-stream of the First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2023 (English translation)
For those who could not be there on October 4th, the welcome-program was live-streamed. The program was held in German and simultaneously translated into sign language and English.
Welcome to the University of Bonn!
Dear First-Semester-Students,
It is my distinct pleasure as rector to welcome you to the University of Bonn — a University of Excellence with over 200 years of proud history. You are now one of roughly 40,000 students here at our university. Welcome!
You are beginning your studies at the University of Bonn in (at least) one of our seven faculties, each offering a broad palette of degree programs. Many of our departments have earned a stellar reputation in comparisons with both national and international competition. In part this reflects our Excellence Strategy, which has successfully secured six Clusters of Excellence for our institution, more than any other German university. This is just one of the reasons why the current edition of the renowned Shanghai Rankings scored us 76th on its list of roughly 1,000 universities around the world, placing us among the most prestigious institutions anywhere on the globe.
Yet it is not just the strength of our sciences that makes Bonn so special. This place, this haven for academia is extraordinary in its own right: Bonn is a city of great history and promising present and future…
For all its famous scientists and philosophers, Bonn is also known as the birthplace of one of the grandest musicians of all time: Ludwig van Beethoven. It was here in Bonn, at the heart of Europe, that Germany’s Basic Law was signed 71 years ago—even today the finest constitution ever produced on German soil. This is why we at the university see ourselves as bearing a special responsibility to foster the values of democracy, freedom and enlightenment and to actively promote the fundamental values of equal opportunity and diversity. Beyond this, Bonn has a very distinctively international orientation, serving as the German base for the United Nations, including the headquarters for the UN’s World Climate Secretary and many globally active organizations and companies. Let us now offer a special welcome to all of those students among you who come to us from all corners of the world! I'm confident that you will come not just to live here in Bonn on the Rhine, but to love it as well. At your feet lie a great variety of cultural and leisure opportunities, both within the university community and outside it!
Without question, you begin your studies with us at a remarkable moment. The global coronavirus pandemic forced us to shift the last few semesters almost completely into the digital realm. This summer semester the University of Bonn returned to in-person teaching. It seems crucial to us that first-semester-students in particular be afforded every opportunity to get to know your university, your instructors and your fellow students personally wherever possible. Because we know how important direct dialog is, especially when one is just beginning to study. With that said, we will also continue to use digital elements that have proven their value. All information about your studies can be found on the university website under “Studying.” That portal also contains a variety of other helpful information and counseling offerings from your faculties and departments.
And now it’s time to wish you all a fine and successful start to your academic pursuits at the University of Bonn. I very much look forward to getting to know you personally whenever the opportunity arises, and fervently hope that such chances can come sooner rather than later.
Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Hoch
University of Bonn Rector
Info-Tip:
The "Starting Your Studies"-Portal
The Central Student Advisory and Counseling Service's (ZSB) "Starting Your Studies"-portal provides all info you might need for a successful start to your studies. The ZSB is your first point of contact for all questions about studying.
Here you can get consultation, a checklist for starting your studies and the Study Compass!
The Student Registry's Service-Hotline
Do you have questions about current application, enrollment and/or admission procedures for your studies and would like to clarify them quickly by phone? The Student Registry's Service Hotline is there for you!
The service hotline is available Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 1 pm to 5 pm, at +49-(0)228/73-4464 and -4491.
The University Bonn Information Center
You have questions about the university in general? You are looking for a contact point for a specific problem? You would like to buy university apparel or accessories? Just contact our Information Center in the main building! There you will also find the university store. University apparel and accessories are also available at our online store.
Welcome Days for international students
With the Welcome Days we would like to welcome all new students and doctoral students from abroad to Bonn and facilitate a successful start of their studies. You will find all important information on the International Office's Welcome Days-page.
Student Representative Bodies participating in the First-Semester-Students' Welcome
Meet the General Students’ Committee AStA
Get to know the Student Councils
Find out more about Campusradio bonn.fm
Information Fair for First-Semester-Students
As a part of the First-Semester-Students' Welcome Event, the University of Bonn offers an information fair. There you can meet representives of central university institutions and members of student organizations.
A list of the participating institutions of the 2023's Information Fair for First-Semester-Students can be found below.
Additionally, all information about various counseling and service offers provided by central university institutions can be found on the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service's webpage.
- Alumni Network
- Amnesty International Students Group Bonn
- Bonn University and State Library
- bonnFM
- Career Service
- Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service (ZSB)
- City of Bonn
- Connexxion, christian university student group
- General Student’s Comittee AStA
- Healthy Campus Bonn
- IAESTE International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
- Infopoint
- International Office
- Kulturticket
- Language Learning Center – SLZ (Department IX, IKM)
- litterarium & atelier
- Music forum of the University of Bonn
- NatFak-Festival e.V.
- Protestant congregation for students
- Queer Department of the General Students‘ Committee AStA
- Roman Catholic University Congregation
- Student Service Organisation Bonn
- Sustainability at the University of Bonn
- Transfer Center enaCom
- Universitätsgesellschaft Bonn – Alumni, Friends and Supporters e.V.
- University of Bonn Foundation
- University IT and Data Center (HRZ)
- University Sports
- Vice Rectorate for Equal Opportunity and Diversity
- Vice Rectorate for International Affairs
- various student councils and representatives of the faculties
Follow the University of Bonn on Social Media:
Contact person for the First-Semester-Students' Welcome
Lena Hufschmidt
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
Antje Schaffrath
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
The 2023 Ideas Competition organized by the Transfer Center enaCom once again impressively demonstrated the innovative potential of the University of Bonn. Eight candidates made it through to the final on December 6 and pitched their ideas to the jury and audience at the Digitalhub at Bonn's central station. Three of them convinced the distinguished jury: "UniTalks" by Daria Kononenko and "Inspired by Learning" by Fabian Mantsch and Lars Pfleider each won 1,000 euros donated by the Universitätsstiftung Bonn and Comma Soft AG. The idea "PlateProfit" by Leon Schmidt won the Digital Startup Prize from DIGITALHUB.DE.
How do you explore an excavation site without being there in person? The Classical Archaeology team and the Bonn Center for Digital Humanities at the University of Bonn want to use new digital tools such as 3D technologies and virtual reality in their research and teaching. Their researchers are collaborating with the Universities of Amsterdam and Oslo and the Open University of the Netherlands in an international project entitled “Virtual Worlds in Teaching Archaeology.” The European Union is co-financing the project to the tune of some €400,000 over the next three years.
The University of Bonn has achieved very good results in the latest QS Sustainability Rankings, coming an excellent sixth in Germany in the overall scoring and 138th among the 1,400 or so global universities that were evaluated. Compiled by analysts at Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the rankings assess the work that universities are doing to tackle the most urgent environmental and social problems facing the world.
A delegation from the University of Bonn has visited Australia with three main aims in mind: to cultivate partnerships, strengthen exchange programs and explore options for joint research. Existing cooperation arrangements were stepped up on the trip and new ones agreed for the future.