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First semester information

Welcome to Ostfalia University!

We have compiled the most important information for you on this page to ensure that the start to your studies goes smoothly. From enrollment and technical tools to advisory services, you can find everything here at a glance.

The central first semester welcome ceremony will take place on September 22, 2025 at all locations.

If you have any questions, your faculty or our service facilities will be happy to help you.

We wish you a successful and exciting start to your studies!

Location greetings

Suderburg

Your first day at the Suderburg campus begins on Monday, September 22, 2025. Starting at 8:30 a.m., you can register at the welcome desk in the cafeteria foyer (Building E), where you will be welcomed and given an orientation.

Starting at 9:00 a.m., the university invites you to a joint campus breakfast in the cafeteria—organized by the AStA and the cafeteria, completely free of charge for you.

At 10:00 a.m., the official welcome by the Presidium and the deans of the Faculties of Construction, Water, and Soil and Commerce and Social Work will take place in the Audimax (Room B 58). This will be followed by greetings and a group photo.

Starting at 10:45 a.m., there will be introductory events for the individual degree programs, where you will receive important information about the course of study and your contact persons.

Lunch break is at 12:00 p.m. – a good opportunity to try out the cafeteria and chat with other students.

Starting at 1:00 p.m., central service centers and contact points for your studies will be presented in the Audimax, including learning coaching, academic advising, career services, the International Office, university sports, AStA, student councils, and many more. Afterward, the AStA will show you the most important places for student life on campus.

All further information for first-semester students can be found on the faculty websites:

Construction, Water, and Soil
Faculty of Commerce and Social Work

Salzgitter

At the Salzgitter campus, your first day will begin with an official welcome for all first-year students from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., the introductory events for your degree program will begin. There you will receive important information about starting your studies, your schedule, and the contact persons on site. The program is expected to end around 1:00 p.m.

Further information for first-year students – including details about Welcome Week – can be found on this page: https://www.ostfalia.de/hochschule/fakultaeten/fakultaet-verkehr-sport-tourismus-medien/fuer-studierende/erstsemesterinfos

Wolfenbüttel 

Your studies at the Wolfenbüttel campus will begin with an official welcome by the university's executive committee and the AStA in the auditorium, accompanied by music from Robin Kap.

  • 9:00–9:45 a.m.: Welcome by the faculties of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Social Work, followed by guided tours of the campus.
  • 10:00–11:00 a.m.: Welcome from the faculties of Supply Engineering, Computer Science, and Law – including the presentation of the BRAWO Public Welfare Award. This will also be followed by tours.
  • 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: Hands-on activities, drinks, waffles, and a photo booth await you at the activity mile in the cafeteria and glass corridor.
  • Afterwards, the individual faculties will offer further individual program items where you can get to know your future lecturers and fellow students.

Wolfsburg

At the Wolfsburg campus, the official welcome ceremony for new students will take place on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Audimax.

Around this central event, the faculties of Health Care, Business, and Automotive Engineering are planning their own introductory programs for their degree programs. The exact schedules and rooms are currently still being coordinated.

Further information will follow shortly here on the website.

Starting your degree - step by step

Checklist

What you should do now

Starting university is an exciting moment that brings with it many new tasks. To make sure you are well prepared, we have put together a checklist to help you keep track of all the important steps. From confirming your acceptance to activating your student ID - you should complete these tasks in good time to ensure a smooth start at Ostfalia University. Good luck and welcome to your university!

  1. Contact your health insurance company and have your insurance status confirmed
  2. Register and transfer your tuition fees
  3. If necessary, apply for BAföG at the Office for Educational Support
  4. Look for accommodation, register at your new place of residence and forward your semester address to Ostfalia
  5. Pick up your Ostfalia Card at the computer center
  6. Create your timetable
  7. Take preparatory courses
  8. Log in to Stud.IP and Moodle and familiarize yourself with the learning platforms
  9. Attend welcome events

Organisation

The portal gives you access to all the web applications you will need during your studies. Under the menu item Applications > Learning Management, for example, you will find the Stud.IP and Moodle learning platforms. There you can search for specific courses and easily add them to your timetable.

You can also access the study and examination administration via the portal - it is your central location for exam registration, exam deregistration and the grade overview.

For additional security, the system uses so-called iTANs (indexed transaction numbers).

You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use the study and examination administration in the RZWiki.

Your Ostfalia-card

As a student or employee of Ostfalia, you will receive a chip card that you can pick up at the computer center of your university location. It is your multifunctional companion in everyday university life - known as the Ostfalia Card. You can find all the important information about collection on the data center's website.

The Ostfalia Card has these functions:

  • Student ID card or service ID card with photo
  • Semester ticket for bus and train
  • Library card
  • Access to the computer center's PC pool rooms
  • Electronic wallet for the copy-print system (printer & copier)
  • Payment function for the student union's canteens and halls of residence
  • Locker access at the Wolfsburg campus

Wi-Fi

You can access the internet on all four Ostfalia University campuses. The computer center ensures comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage - so that you are always well connected on campus.

These Wi-Fi networks are available to you:

  • eduroam - the international university network
  • Ostfalia - an additional Wi-Fi network, available since September 2018
     

To log in, you will need

  • Your user name - this is your access ID (see account certificate), supplemented by @ostfalia.de
    (Note: this is not your e-mail address!)
  • Your current password from your university account


Support with the setup:

You can find all information about the WLAN configuration in the RZWiki. (external link, opens in a new window)
If you have any questions or technical problems, the Service Desk of the computer center at your location will be happy to help you.

Student financing

The study financing project provides you with comprehensive information about costs and financing options for your studies. Whether you are just thinking about studying or are already in the middle of it - the service is aimed at prospective students, students and parents.

The aim of the advice is to work with you to develop an individually tailored financing concept. You can find more information on the “Advice and help” page.

The Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen also supports you in financing your studies - for example with a scholarship to cover the semester fee for first semester students. It also offers social and financial advice. Everything you need to know about this can be found on the Homepage of the Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen. (external link, opens in a new window)

And don't forget: Here you can find all the information about the Deutschlandstipendium - financial support for high-achieving and committed students.

Charging an electric car

Do you drive an electric car and want to charge it on campus? No problem! Ostfalia offers all students the opportunity to charge their private electric vehicles at the on-site charging stations for a fee. Billing is conveniently done via your Ostfalia Card.

In order to use the charging infrastructure, you must have your Ostfalia Card activated once. This is easy to do in the Ostfalia portal (external link, opens in a new window): General → Applications → Charging infrastructure

Or directly via the following link: https://portal.ostfalia.de/lis  (external link, opens in a new window)
Here you only have to agree to the use of your data. Activation is free of charge for you.

You can find an overview of all charging stations here (external link, opens in a new window).

Locations

Advice & support

Family-friendly university

Are you studying and taking on responsibility in your family at the same time? Ostfalia would like to provide you with the best possible support so that you can combine your studies and family responsibilities.

The Family Service of the Equal Opportunities Office is your first point of contact for all questions relating to family life during your studies. Whether it's about childcare, caring for relatives or flexible study organization — here you can get the right advice and helpful information.

Studying with health restrictions

Ostfalia is a university for everyone. That is why it is particularly important to us to provide the best possible support for prospective students and students with disabilities, chronic illnesses or health impairments - whether visible or not.

We not only advise you as an affected student, but also:

  • Fellow students who would like support
  • Teachers who have questions about inclusion in studies
     

Our advice covers the following topics:

  • Choosing and applying to university
  • Organizing your studies
  • Transition to work
  • Support in everyday student life
  • Housing situation
  • Financing options
  • and much more

You can find more information on the page of the study counseling.

International students

Are you coming from abroad and would like to study at Ostfalia for one or two semesters - or are you planning to complete your entire degree here? Then the International Student Office is your first port of call.

We will help you to settle in at the university and find your way around your new everyday life - from the application process to organizational questions and integration into campus life. 

An additional offer for you is the project FYI - for your integration”. It supports you with various events and offers so that you can quickly feel at home and make contacts. 

Central Student Advisory Service

The Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) supports you with all questions and problems relating to your studies. The team will be happy to help you in person, on the phone or by email. Advice covers topics such as study options, changing your major or university and support with difficulties during your studies. 

General Students' Committee (AStA)

The General Students' Committee (AStA) (external link, opens in a new window) is a university-wide institution that is organized, designed and managed by the students themselves. The AStA takes care of your wishes, concerns and suggestions and stands up for your interests at the university. 

Overview of central facilities

To help you find your way around everyday student life, we have put together the most important contact points for you. If you have any questions or challenges, you've come to the right place:

The Computer Center is available for technical questions.

The Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) is your point of contact for all questions relating to your studies.

When it comes to internships and career prospects, the Career Service has valuable information for you. You can also use the Career Service to develop key qualifications that will allow you to expand your social, methodological and personal skills as well as your specialist knowledge from your studies.

The Equal Opportunities Office supports Ostfalia in actively promoting equal opportunities for men and women, eliminating existing disadvantages and promoting the integration of gender research. As a contact point, the office offers you advice and information on topics relevant to gender equality. Your concerns will be treated confidentially.

The Center for Successful Teaching and Learning (ZeLL) supports both students and teaching staff with a wide range of offers to promote learning at Ostfalia. These include, for example, a writing workshop, learning coaching, offers on mathematics and the IT infrastructure.

The International Students Office (ISO) provides you with information and advice on the subject of semesters abroad and internships abroad. It is also your contact if you plan to complete your entire studies at Ostfalia.

The Language Center offers many other language courses in addition to the specialized English courses for your degree program or German as a foreign language. You can learn one or more languages free of charge during your studies.

Student life

Student living

Whether you want to rent an apartment, move into a shared flat or live in a hall of residence - there are many housing options during your studies. At your Ostfalia campus, for example, you can look for available rooms or apartments on the notice board. 

Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen (external link, opens in a new window) also runs several student residence halls at the various campus locations. 

Leisure and sports facilities

Whether university gym, dance course, fitness or team sports - university sports at Ostfalia offers you a wide range of exercise, fitness and health promotion activities at all locations. You can choose from numerous courses and actively do something for your health. Read all information about university sports at Ostfalia and the current sports program.

In addition, Healthy Ostfalia deals with many issues relating to health management during studies - for students and employees alike. 

Student initiatives

At every Ostfalia location, you have the opportunity to get involved in student projects, initiatives and clubs. Whether you want to deepen your interests, get involved socially or simply pursue an exciting hobby - Ostfalia offers you a wide range of opportunities to get active and meet new people. Here is an overview of the student activities at the individual locations:

Salzgitter:
Campus38 - the Ostfalia newsroom (external link, opens in a new window)
ImPuls - Studentische Sportberatung e.V. (external link, opens in a new window)
SPO-MAN - Sportmanagement in Salzgitter e.V.
Ostfalia Mediennetz
OHR - the Ostfalia university radio
UniLog e.V.

Wolfenbüttel:
WF Wolves - the Ostfalia RoboCup team
Ostfalia-Cup
The Bridge e. V. Waldgarten am Exer Veler e. V. V.
Waldgarten am Exer (external link, opens in a new window)
Velo Racing Team
Students for ChanGeS (external link, opens in a new window)

Wolfsburg:
Team e.Wolf
Team wob-racing (external link, opens in a new window)
Ostfalia Musikschmiede (external link, opens in a new window)
Model United Nations
Praxisstammtisch

Suderburg:
 

Canteen/Mensa

Whether it's a hot meal in the canteen, a snack in the cafeteria or a coffee in the bistro - at each Ostfalia location you have various options to fortify yourself during your study day. To help you quickly find what suits you and your schedule, here is an overview of the canteens, cafeterias and bistros at the respective locations - including opening hours:

Wolfenbüttel (external link, opens in a new window)
Wolfsburg  (external link, opens in a new window)
Suderburg  (external link, opens in a new window)
Salzgitter  (external link, opens in a new window)

All locations focus on offering a balanced menu - with vegetarian and vegan options as well as daily changing dishes. You can find the current menus on the website of the Studierendenwerk OstNiedersachsen (external link, opens in a new window).

Library

At all four Ostfalia campuses, you will find a library that offers you much more than just specialist literature. You can borrow books, journals and e-books, access numerous databases or use the printing and copying facilities on site. There are also many workstations available in the Ostfalia libraries - with or without a PC, depending on your needs.

Read the current opening hours and the services offered by the libraries at your location.