First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2025

The next First-Semester-Students' Welcome will take place on October 7, 2025. Further information will follow shortly.

First-Semester-Students' Welcome 2024

On September the 30th about 2,500 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.

Photos and video of the First-Semester-Students’ Welcome 2024

1/4 © Universität Bonn/Marc John

Erstsemester Welcome 2024

Bild © Universität Bonn/Marc John

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 61st 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…

Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Hoch, University of Bonn Rector

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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!

And now it’s time to wish you all a fine and successful start to your academic pursuits at the University of Bonn.

Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Hoch
University of Bonn Rector

Info-Tip:

A student wearing a yellow sweater, headphones and a big smile is working on her notebook. In the picture’s background a white window and one of the University’s main building’s towers can be seen, with the Study Compass’ cover displayed on the right side.

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 ZSB² 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!

Go to Starting Your Studies ³

View across the Hofgarten-lawn to the University’s main building.

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 Registry⁴'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.

+49 228 / 73-4464 /-4491 ⁴

The University’s Information Center with its counter and shelves filled with info material as well as the Uni-store.

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 Center⁵ in the main building! There you will also find the university store. University apparel and accessories are also available at our online store⁶.

To the Information Center ⁷

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.

Go to the Welcome Days-page ⁸

Student Representative Bodies participating in the First-Semester-Students' Welcome

The AStA's info booth at the First-Semester-Students' Welcome event in 2019

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.

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