Dear first-year students, welcome to the Hasso Plattner Institute! We are pleased that a new cohort will begin their studies with us. To make the start of your studies easier, we would like to tell you about the various events and offers at HPI at the beginning of the semester.

Target group: First semester Bachelor students

Date: 16.09.2024 - 02.10.2024 in lecture hall 1, HPI Campus 1.

The preliminary course for first-semester students of the Bachelor's program in IT Systems Engineering refreshes their knowledge of mathematics, prepares them for the math lectures during their studies and imparts technical knowledge. Registration is not required.

Start: from Monday, September 16, 2024 at 9:15 a.m.; non-binding registration begins at 8:45 a.m. in front of the lecture hall
Location: Lecture hall 1 at Campus I in Griebnitzsee
Duration: three weeks; Monday to Friday from 09:15-15:00
Format: Presence; those who cannot attend on site are invited to attend the openHPI math pre-course instead.

Registration is not necessary.

Target Group: First semester bachelor and master students

Every semester, the Student Council organizes the so-called "Ersti-Tage" (First Semester Days) for all first semester students in the Bachelor and Master program, where you learn everything you need to know for your first semester at HPI. The program, which lasts several days, includes a tour of the campus, an introduction to everyday life at the university, contacts at HPI and an introduction to the infrastructure.

Typically, all first-year students in the Bachelor program are also offered a first-semester trip. This offers the opportunity to get to know each other better. Participation in the first semester trip is not necessary for a successful start to your studies, but it is a great provides from the students of higher semesters to their new fellow students.

The dates and further information about the introductory events and the Erstifahrt can be found on the pages of the Student Council.

Target group: First-year master students

From the beginning of their studies, all master students are supported by a professor as a mentor and liaison lecturer.

Target group: First semester bachelor students

Date: 1 x per week in the first semester

The seminar offers first-year students the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics and questions concerning the start of their studies. Experienced master students act as mentors for the participants. The content is not only about the lecture material, but also about studying itself: What do exams look like? What is the best way to study? How do I organize my everyday life for a good work-life balance? How does the cooperation between lecturers and students work? These questions and much more can be discussed at StubS.

Students from abroad can find support services at HPI's International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

The International Office of the University of Potsdam is another point of contact for international students taking up studies at the University of Potsdam.

The Buddy Program of the University of Potsdam is a mentoring program in which students of the University of Potsdam support new students from abroad.