New students will be joining Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences at the start of the 2025/26 winter semester. The university is expecting 2,330 first-semester students at its four campuses.
1.110 first-semester students at the Wolfenbüttel campus
The official starting signal was given on Monday, 22 September at the central welcome events. 1.110 first-semester students have chosen a degree programme in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Law, Social Work or Supply Engineering at the Wolfenbüttel campus . "I would like to congratulate you on your place at Ostfalia and encourage you to keep thinking outside the box. We want to do our part to ensure that you can have a say and participate in current topics such as sustainability, climate protection, digitalisation and social change, not only in relation to your field of study, but also beyond," said Ostfalia President Prof. Dr. Julia Siegmüller.
Ivica Lukanic, Mayor of the city of Wolfenbüttel, sent his best wishes for the start of the programme via video greeting: "Wolfenbüttel is a city full of history, but also open to new things. A place where you can learn, create and try things out, whether in projects, associations, start-ups or social initiatives. There is an incredible amount of space for engagement and encounters here."
The first semester event in the Audimax took place in two rounds. On behalf of the General Students' Committee, Executive Board member Lennard Wilhelm gave the first-semester students a personal recommendation: "Discussions need to be held in this country because we are changing as a society. It is our task as students - as the next generation - not only to join in the discussion, but also to proactively participate."
Following the official welcome, the first-semester students had the opportunity to take a tour of the university campus to get their bearings. Various student initiatives and university organisations presented themselves on an activity mile, where the new students could take part in hands-on activities, drinks, waffles and a photo box.
260 first-semester students at the Suderburg campus
These days, 260 new students are starting on one of the degree programmes in the faculties of Construction, Water and Soil or Commerce and Social Work at the Suderburg campus . Even before the official start of lectures, the welcome and introductory events for students on the online degree programmes took place on 20 September. On Monday, 22 September, the new students on the on-campus courses were welcomed to the campus with a joint breakfast in the canteen, where they were able to make their first contacts.
After a musical introduction, Prof. Dr Ina Schiering, Vice President for Research, Development and Technology Transfer, warmly welcomed the new students on behalf of the university management: "You are now embarking on a new and important chapter in your lives and I am delighted that you have decided to embark on this journey with us at Ostfalia. We all want you to feel at home here and to be successful."
In their welcoming speeches, the Dean of the Faculty of Construction, Water and Soil, Prof. Dr Thorsten Albers, and the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Social Work, Prof. Dr Kirsten Wegner, prepared the first-semester students for the new phase of their lives and the responsibility that comes with it. "I would like to congratulate you on studying here and also on your choice of degree programme, because I am convinced that this is what society will need in the future," said Thorsten Albers. He emphasised that a degree from the degree programmes at the Suderburg campus can make a difference to society in the future.
Along the way, students can expect open doors and small learning groups. "Take a look around, work in a team and take advantage of the interdisciplinary programmes on offer," said Kirsten Wegner. She emphasised the personal and direct contact on campus and asked the new students to get actively involved in campus life.
Further words of welcome were given by Dr Heiko Blume, District Administrator of Uelzen, Wolf-Dietrich Marwede, Mayor of the joint municipality, and Dagmar Hillmer, Mayor of Suderburg.
After the other introductory events for the individual degree programmes, central service units presented themselves in the Audimax, including the Learning Coaching, Student Advisory Service, Career Service, International Office, University Sports, AStA and the student councils. The day ended with a barbecue organised by the AStA.
470 first-semester students at the Wolfsburg campus
470 new students are starting one of the Bachelor's or Master's degree programmes in the Faculties of Healthcare, Automotive Engineering or Business at the Wolfsburg Campus in the winter semester. They were welcomed by Prof. Dr Thomas Benda, Vice President for Teaching, Studies and Continuing Education, as well as the Campus Representative Prof. Dr Dirk Sabbert and Dennis Weilmann, Lord Mayor of the City of Wolfsburg.
In his welcoming address, Vice President Prof. Dr Thomas Benda prepared the new students for the time ahead and encouraged them to get personally involved: "We are particularly pleased about the new impetus that you are bringing as students. Because the great thing about a university is that it's not just you who are learning for your own future, it's the new students who bring a breath of fresh air, new ideas and new impetus. And we want to encourage you to pursue these ideas and put them into practice."
After the central welcome, the new students continued in their faculties with separate information on the individual degree programmes and tours of the campus.
490 first-semester students at the Salzgitter campus
490 first-semester students have chosen a degree programme at the Faculty of Transport, Sports, Tourism and Media at the Salzgitter campus . The new students were warmly welcomed by the full-time Vice President for Human Resources and Finance at Ostfalia, Volker Küch, the Dean Prof Dr Harald Rau and Stefan Klein, First Mayor of the City of Salzgitter. Vice-President Volker Küch got the first-year students in the mood for the time ahead. "From today, you are part of our Ostfalia family. And like every family, we also have habits and values that we want to live by and pass on. The vision of this family is: We teach and research for a sustainable and future-proof society."
Dean Prof Dr Harald Rau said: "We are very diverse at the Salzgitter campus and this is also reflected in the first semester welcome. Many people study here who come from families where studying is not a matter of course. That's a good thing. And as a faculty, we pursue a clear strategy. Part of this is that we are changing. This time, we are also welcoming students in Applied Psychology and Marketing - these are our two new degree programmes."
The welcome ceremony marked the end of the Welcome Week, which was organised by the faculty together with the General Students' Committee (AStA) to welcome the new students to the Salzgitter campus. During the Welcome Week, which started on 15 September, first-year students were able to make initial contacts at various events, explore the campus and learn a lot about the university and their studies. Student mentors and the AStA, together with those responsible at the university, prepared a varied programme for the new students, including initial workshops on writing coaching, barbecue picnics and an interactive quiz show in the Audi-Max.
