Orientation Weeks for Undergraduate Students
The orientation weeks for undergraduate students (StEW) offer you the opportunity to discuss the most important questions about starting your studies in a small group with mentors and future fellow students, to get to know the university and the departments and to deal with important formal matters together.
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Image: JLU/Katrina Friese
- OWIS Note
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Are You an International Student?
A separate programme tailored to the needs of international students – the Orientation Week for International Students (OWIS) – is offered by the university. Please refer to the links below to find out more.
OWIS International Pages
- Intro Winter
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Orientation Weeks during the Winter Semester 2025/26
Dear first-semester students,
welcome to JLU! We would like to welcome you to the Student Orientation Weeks (StEW), during which you will receive all the important information you need to start your studies and have the opportunity to get to know other first-year students on your degree programme, exchange ideas and make contacts.
The orientation weeks take place from 29 September to 10 October 2025. Depending on which degree programme you are studying, you will take part in one of the two weeks – the exact schedule can be found under ‘Dates’.
You will first be welcomed to the JLU and your degree programme in introductory events before spending the rest of the week in small groups, where you will be accompanied by student mentors, i.e. students from higher semesters of your degree programme. Please be sure to attend the opening events, as this is where the groups for the rest of the week are formed. It is not necessary to register in advance. Your studies beginn with the start of the lecture period of the winter semester on 13 October 2025.We wish you a great first week and a successful start at JLU!
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Dates
There is no official programme on the public holiday (03 October). However, the groups may meet for leisure activities.
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Vocational Education and Training [1]
Business Administration
Teaching Degree (Qualification for Grammar Schools) (L3)
Teaching Degree (Special Needs Education) (L5)
Teaching Degree (Primary Education) (L1)
Teaching Degree (Lower-Secondary Education) (L2)
Crop Biomass and Bioresources
Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics
Economics
Agricultural Sciences
Nutritional Sciences
Environment and Global Change
[1] In addition to the introductory week at JLU, we recommend that first-semester students on the BBB degree programme in metal and electrical engineering take part in the introductory programme (STEP) at the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) from 6 to 10 October.
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Psychology
Social Sciences
Advanced Materials
Applied Computer Science
Applied Physics
Data Science
Geography (mandatory)
Mathematics
Physics
Physics and Technology for Space Travel Applications
Biology (mandatory)
Chemistry
Food Chemistry
Applied Theatre Sciences (B.A., M.A.)
Choreographie and Performance (M.A.)
Early Childhood Education
Dentistry
Medicine
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Adult and Continuing Education, Extracurricular Education
Law
Physical Activity and Health
History and Culture
Music
Music Education
The Culture of the Ancient World
Intercultural Communication and Business (ICB)
Anglophone Studies
German Studies
Comparative Studies
Romance Studies
Russophone Studies
Slavic Studies
Veterinary Medicine
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Further Information
The orientation week (StEW) is designed as a programme-specific event. It always starts with a welcome event for all first-year students of a degree programme or a group of degree programmes (see ‘Dates’). Make sure you attend your opening event, as this is where the groups for the rest of the week are allocated!
After the welcome event, small groups (approx. 15-20 participants) are formed, which are accompanied by mentors - students from higher semesters of your degree programme - and spend the rest of the week together. Within these groups, the programme for the rest of the week will be communicated to you.
You should be prepared to be involved during the StEW from at least the morning until late afternoon (even on the first day). Many groups also meet in the evenings for joint activities. So make sure to keep your schedule free in order to participate in the entire programme.
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In small groups, you will have the opportunity to...
- inform yourself about the expectations, rules, and composition of your study programmes.
- make connections with fellow students.
- to get an idea of the new student life situation, of everyday student life and to familiarise yourself with it.
- get support in choosing courses and organising your timetable.
- register for certain courses.
- familiarise themselves with the JLU's electronic platforms such as the course and examination systems and the learning platforms.
- discuss study and career-related questions with university lecturers.
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familiarise themselves with the university as an institution, including student representation and self-administration.
Please note : The orientation week is mandatory for first-semester students of the Bachelor's programmes Biology and Geography.
Leave of absence / certificate for the employer
Service personnel and employed persons who need to be released from work for the period of the study introduction can request a certificate from the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) by 12 September 2025 , in which the need to participate in the study introduction is emphasised and the employer or employer is asked for exemption. When requesting the certificate in writing, please state your first and last name, the subject you are studying and your address. We will then send you the certificate as a PDF by e-mail.
Request your certificate via Sekretariat.ZSB .
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Information for disabled and chronically ill prospective students
Do you need support to attend our events? Please contact us in good time so that we can make it easier for you to attend our events: Contact the advice centre for disabled and chronically ill students.
Student Organisation
- Term Dates
- Prüfungsordnungen (MUG)
- Study Encyclopedia (DE)
- Guide to institutions and social services (pdf)
- Campus Area | JLUmaps
- Living in Giessen
- Financing
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Electronic Systems at JLU
- Vorlesungsverzeichnis (eVV)
- E-Mail-Adress
- Student-Account (user name + password)
- ID | Semester ticket
- Flexnow | Stud.IP | ILIAS
- myJLU-App
Overview and instructions for the electronic systems at JLU
Flyer: "Setup": IT services for Students
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More
- International Office – Study & Internships Abroad
- Library | Courses and Online-Tutorials
- Botanical Garden
- Women's Representative
- Hochschulsport (ahs) | Studi-Pausenexpress
- University team of the employment agency (Agentur für Arbeit)
- Uni Shop
- University Orchestra
- StudiChor (Choir)
- ZfbK (Zentrum für fremdsprachliche und berufsfeldorientierte Kompetenzen) – Extensive range of language courses, writing courses and much more
- uniforum – JLU's University Newspaper
- ZMI – Zentrum für Medien und Interaktivität
- Donating Blood
- Lokal International
- Studentenwerk | Speisepläne der Mensa | Accommodation
- Together - At a Distance: Public Virtual Programmes at JLU
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Get to Know Giessen
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Contact
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Student Hotline Call Justus
✆ +49 641 99 16400 (Mo-Fr 8:30-12 & 13-17 Uhr)
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