Study and research in Germany

Facilities from A to Z

What is a faculty? What does an Internship Office do? What's the difference between the Registrar's Office and the Central Student Advice Service? When can I contact the International Office?

Germany's universities have lots of different facilities, service centres and organisations. They all have important jobs to do. So knowing what each of them does makes studying easier.

To help you find your way around uni quicker, the following will briefly introduce you to the main facilities. You may possibly find that your university has different facilities, but there's no need to worry. Just ask if there's anything you need to know or if you need any assistance.

AStA: Good advice in all situationsStudent Council: Each university has a Student Council. Depending on where you are studying, this can be known as AStA (Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss) or UStA (Unabhängiger Studierendenausschuss) or sometimes as StuRa (StudentInnenrat). No matter what it's called, it does represent student interests at university level, i.e. including vis-à-vis the university management. This university Student Council is elected by the Student Parliament (Studentenparlament) and has its own budget. This money is used, for example, to pay for German language courses and tutoring programmes for foreign students. The Student Council (be it AStA, UStA or StuRa) is divided into various sections, such as Social Affairs, Cultural Affairs or Foreign Students. You can also go there for advice if you have any legal questions or problems with the authorities. And it's also good to know that the Student Council organises a wide and diverse range of sporting and leisure activities. Any student can help the Student Council in its work – and that's a really good opportunity for making contacts.Dort können Sie sich beraten lassen, wenn Sie rechtliche Fragen oder Probleme mit Behörden haben. Und ebenfalls gut zu wissen: Der AStA organisiert ein vielfältiges Sport- und Freizeitprogramm. Jeder Student kann beim AStA mitarbeiten – eine gute Chance für Sie, Kontakte zu knüpfen.

Bibliothek: The range of services offered by university libraries is wide and diverse: you can search through virtual catalogues, order specialist essays from foreign libraries or access online journals. Many libraries offer free-of-charge Internet workstations or let you connect your own notebook to the Internet. 

Cafeteria: Cafeterias offer reasonably priced snacks and drinks.

Uni libraries give you free accessDean's Office: The Dean's Office (Dekanat) is responsible for the faculty administration. That's where you have to go if you want to have credits gained at other universities recognised for your studies, for example. The Dean's Office will also advise you on questions regarding academic exams and degrees

Departmental Student Society (Fachschaft): The students of a faculty or department form a Departmental Student Society (for example, the History Society or Physics Society) to represent their interests vis-à-vis the faculty or department. For example, the departmental society has a right to be heard when new professors are appointed or when the study regulations are amended. Departmental societies regularly offer advice on studying, give tips on exams and on how best to sit them or help when problems occur with lecturers. Many departmental societies run small cafés and organise leisure activities – a good opportunity to get to know other students

Fakultät: A university is made up of various Faculties (Fakultät). Typical examples of classical faculties are Law, Mathematics and Science, or Arts and Humanities. Each Faculty is made up of various related departments. For example, a Faculty of Mathematics and Science may be made up of the Departments of Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics and Chemistry. But, the question of what faculties a university actually has and what subjects they cover differs from one university to the next in Germany. Some universities (and especially Universities of Applied Sciences = Fachhochschulen) use the term Fachbereich rather than Fakultät, but they generally mean the same.

University Sport (Hochschulsport): Come on, get out of the lecture hall and into the gym! Many universities offer a wide, diverse and varied programme of sports activities. What makes it so good is that the programme is open to all students and is free of charge or only charges very reasonable prices. Just ask about it at the Student Council or the Registrar's Office (Studierendensekretariat).

Refectory: The refectory or student restaurant is called Mensa in German and offers value for money midday meals and often evening meals as well. The menu includes vegetarian mealsn der Mensa können Sie preiswert Mittag- und oft auch Abendessen. Zur Auswahl stehen auch vegetarische Gerichte.

Internship Office: The Internship Office (Praktikantenamt) will give you all the information you need on the procedure and requirements of Compulsory Internships. It will help you find an internship or work placement and will advise you when it comes to signing the contract. This is also the place to which you submit your internship report and have your internship recognised, which means credited.  

Examinations Office: The Examinations Office (Prüfungsamt) at your faculty is responsible for everything relating to your examinations (Prüfungen) and course credits or certificates (Leistungsnachweise). This is where you register for or cancel your examinations. This is also where you submit Health Certificates (Atteste) when applying to be allowed to hand in a paper or thesis late due to illness (deferral). The Examinations Office will also tell you what the examination dates and examinations regulations are, if you ask. Finally, the Examinations Office issues and certifies your certificates and documents, as well.

Psychological Counselling: Experienced psychologists help you in the event of psychiatric or mental health problems and support you in overcoming work and performance-related crises. The Central Student Advice Service (Zentrale Studienberatung) and the Student Services (Studentenwerk) will tell you where the corresponding service (Psychologische Beratung) is offered at your university.

Computer Centre: The Computer Centres (Rechenzentrum or sometimes Zentrum für Informationstechnologie ) are responsible for the university's IT infrastructure. Generally, they provide computer workstations for students to use with free-of-charge Internet access and email account. To use this service, just present your registration (matriculation) certificate.

Noticeboard: Every university has them – noticeboards – and they are found at many different locations. Noticeboards, known in German as "schwarze Bretter" although they are seldom black, hold hundreds of notes, announcements, ads and much more besides. For example, if you're looking for a flat, a language tandem partner or a car-sharing deal, you should regularly pass by the noticeboard close to the refectory. The noticeboard in your faculty is particularly important to students and their studies, because this is where you will find information about dates and deadlines, office hours or study regulations.

Learn German quicker in a language labLanguage Lab/Language Centre: Many degree programmes not only require students to study their specific subject(s), but also demand that they learn one or two foreign languages. The language training is generally offered in language labs. Besides offering basic courses, they above all run subject-specific language courses, such as Business Spanish or Medical English. And they also have special German language courses for foreign students. Please inquire about course dates as early as possible and once you know them register immediately. Otherwise, the great demand may mean that you don't get a place. And that may delay your studies. Because you will have to present the prescribed credits and certificates (Leistungsnachweise) gained in foreign languages for Admission (Zulassung) to the Intermediate or Final Examination (Zwischen- oder Abschlussprüfung).

Student Services (Studentenwerk): No matter whether you are looking for a flat, need health insurance or have to overcome a personal crisis in life: Student Services have the right support for you. Student Services run their own halls of residence and will help you find a place to live. They offer psychological counselling and help in emergencies. The Service Set for Foreign Students (Servicepaket für ausländische Studierende) is particularly interesting. Many Student Services offer it: the set generally includes accommodation, meals, and health insurance. What makes it so good is that you can already book your Service Set before you arrive in Germany. That makes the start of your studies all the more easy.

Preparatory Courses for Foreign Students: Foreign applicants can attend a Studienkolleg to take a Preparatory Course that enables them to gain the educational qualifications and German language skills required for admission to higher education in Germany.

Registrar's Office or Student Registration Office: The Studierendensekretariat is responsible for all matters relating to student registration (Einschreibung/Immatrikulation), to re-registration (Rückmeldung) each semester, to granting Leaves of Absence (Beurlaubung), to de-registering (Exmatrikulation), which means being removed from the university's register of students, to Study Accounts (Studienkonten), to the Semester/Enrolment Certificate (Semesterbescheinigung) or Student ID Card (Studierendenausweis). Get your questions answered as early as possible – either going in person, by phoning or by email. Also check the website of your chosen university to find out whether it is possible to register/re-register online. That can save you a lot of time and effort.

• Africa Sub-Sahara
• Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania
• Central and Eastern Europe
• Latin America
• North America
• Northern Africa and the Middle East
• Western Europe