First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2026
On October 8, 2026, the annual Ersti-Welcome will once again take place in the main university building. The focus will be on advice, information and getting to know each other. Whether at the official welcome in the auditorium, the information market in the Arkadenhof or the party in the evening — at the Ersti-Welcome, students can get to know their university with its wide range of offers, their student councils and their fellow students.
Admission is free of charge. Registration is currently not required. Please bring your student ID or other proof of your status as a student at the University of Bonn. Admission starts at 11:15 am. You can find a short program overview here:
12:00 p.m.: Official welcome in the auditorium, main building
1:00-3:00 p.m.: Info market in the Arkadenhof
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Activities
6:00 - 11:00 pm: Freshman party in the main building
Program overview
The program starts at 12:00 p.m. with the official welcome in the auditorium. Professor Michael Hoch, Rector of the University of Bonn a representative of the AStA Bonn, will welcome you with an informative talk program and interesting talk guests on topics related to the university and student life.
To ensure that as many of you as possible can attend the event in person, the auditorium program will also be broadcast to surrounding lecture halls.
For all those who cannot be on site, the Aula program will also be streamed live. You will find the live stream on this page on the day of the event.
The event will be simultaneously translated into English and sign language.
Following the auditorium program, you will have the opportunity to meet contact persons from central university and student institutions and, of course, your fellow students and academics in person at an information market in the Arkadenhof from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Here you can find all institutions present at the information-market (A-Z):
Alumni-Network Bonn
AMV - academic-musical student association
ASG Uni Bonn e.V. (Football/Volleyball)
AStA of the Uni Bonn (General Students' Committee)
BIMUN - Bonn International Model United Nations
Bonn Academy for Research and Teaching of Practical Politics
Bonn Lab for Analog Games and Imaginative Play
Bonner Hochschulgruppe für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik (BHAS)
Campus-Kino Bonn
Campusradio bonnFM
Career Service
Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service
CIMND* Department against ableism
City of Bonn - Office for Economic Development
Connexxion Bonn
Gender Equality Office
Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit
FAFA - First Aid For All
Forum of music
GEW Education and Science Workers' Union
Healty Campus Bonn
IHV Bonn - Islamic Student Association
Indian Students Association of Bonn-Cologne
Infopoint
International Office Uni Bonn
Juso HSG
Language Learning Center
LHG - Liberale Hochschulgruppe
Liste Poppelsdorf
litterarium & atelier
LUST - Liste undogmatischer Student*innen
MSV - Mit Sicherheit Verliebt
NABU-Hochschulgruppe Bonn
NatFak-Festival Bonn
RCDS - Association of Christian Democratic Students
Refugee Law Clinic Bonn
Roman-catholic parish for students
Protestant parish for students
dielinke.SDS Bonn
StopAI Bonn
Student group Skandinavische Filmtage Bonn
Students for future Bonn
Studis gegen Rechts Bonn
Studierendenwerk
StudyTutors e.V.
Sustainability at the University of Bonn
Transfer Center enaCom
Universitätsgesellschaft Bonn
UniBonn.UA
University and State Library Bonn (USL)
University IT and Data Center
University of Bonn Foundation
University Sports
Wor(l)d Club
Young European Federalist
In the afternoon, you can take part in guided tours of the historic main university building and take part in activities offered by the student councils. The afternoon program in detail:
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Guided tours of the historic main university building at the following times:
3:00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. (German)
3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. (English)
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (German)
3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. (German)
4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (English)
4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (German)
4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (German)
4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (English)
5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (German)
5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. (German)
5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (English)
The guided tours last 30-45 minutes each. The meeting point for the guidis the large screen in the Arkadenhof. Please pick up a free ticket in advance at the information point booth at the info market. Places are limited.
Please contact your respective student council for information on any other program items offered by the student councils in the afternoon. You will find the student representatives in the Arkadenhof, marked by a beach flag with the corresponding faculty.
The day will end with the Freshers' Party from 6:00 p.m. Celebrate the start of your studies together in the main building of the University of Bonn.
Admission to the party is from 5:30 p.m. via the Ehrenhalle (ground floor).
The event ends at 11:00 p.m..
Admission is free of charge.
Registration is not required. Please bring your student ID or other proof of your status as a student at the University of Bonn.
Our party will be accompanied by an awareness team. Here you'll find information about our awareness guidelines for a respectful atmosphere!
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 eight Clusters of Excellence for our institution, more than any other German university. 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…
In addition to world-famous scientists and thinkers, one of the greatest musicians of all time was born here: Ludwig van Beethoven. In Bonn, in the heart of Europe, the Basic Law was also passed, the best constitution that has ever existed on German soil. As a university, we therefore see it as our particular responsibility to promote the values of democracy, freedom and enlightenment and to stand up for fundamental values such as equal opportunities and diversity. As the German city of the United Nations, where the UN Climate Change Secretariat is based, as well as numerous globally active organizations and companies, Bonn also has a very international character. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a special greeting to the students among you, who are coming to us from all over the world! I am sure that you will all quickly settle in and feel at home in Bonn on the Rhine. There is a great variety of university and non-university cultural and leisure activities on offer for you!
We want to give you, the first semester students, the opportunity to get to know our university, your lecturers and fellow students personally. Because we know how important direct contact is, especially at the start of your studies. You can find all the information about your studies on the university website under "Studies". There you will also find a wealth of further information and advice from your faculties and departments.
And now it’s time to wish you all a great and successful start to your academic pursuits at the University of Bonn.
Professor Michael Hoch
Rector of the University of Bonn
A Report on First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2025
First- Semester Welcome 2025
Bild © Universität Bonn / YouTube
Live Stream (EN) 2025
Bild © Universität Bonn / YouTube
A report on the 2025 First-Semester Students’ Welcome
The University of Bonn celebrated its traditional First-Semester Students’ Welcome on October 8, which offered them no end of things to see and do. As well as providing information, the emphasis was mainly on making new contacts so that the new students could get the latest chapter in their lives off to a successful start.Every year, the University of Bonn greets its new students with a truly special event, the First-Semester Students’ Welcome, which is all about getting their studies off to a good start. Interest was so great that the official welcome given by Klaus Sandmann, the Vice Rector for Teaching, Learning and University Development (standing in for the Rector), and Sean Bonkowski, President of the General Students’ Committee, in the main auditorium was also broadcast in the lecture halls next door, on a big screen in the Arkadenhof and via a livestream.
On the stage, representatives from the Rectorate and the wider University talked about the areas they are responsible for as well as presenting opportunities for the new students to get involved themselves. The speakers covered numerous aspects of University life, including sustainability, diversity, internationalization, musical activities, student services and support.
The info market in the Arkadenhof enabled the guests to find out about the activities of the many University- and student-run organizations, from student councils and University Sports through to counseling and advisory services and initiatives. Anyone who was interested could also join a guided tour of the University Main Building and take part in hands-on activities run by the departmental student bodies. The day culminated in a lively party in the University Main Building that gave the new students the chance to come together and celebrate.
“Our First-Semester Students’ Welcome marks the start of a completely new chapter in these people’s lives,” says Professor Klaus Sandmann. “So we make a point of taking the time to say a proper hello to the new students and make it easier for them to settle in here. I'm delighted that there was so much interest and I'm sure that the new freshmen will start their studies with motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm."
Click here to see the first photos!
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 10 am to 12 pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm, at +49-(0)228/73-4464 and -4491.
Infopoint of the University of Bonn
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 Infopoint! You will find us at our new location at Poststraße 26. 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
Follow the University of Bonn on Social Media:
Contact person for the First-Semester-Students' Welcome
Lena Hufschmidt
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
Friederike Demant
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn