{"id":40453,"date":"2024-08-30T16:08:37","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T14:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/magazin\/how-to-survive-the-first-semester-a-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T11:46:39","slug":"survive-the-first-semester","status":"publish","type":"magazin-studierende","link":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/magazin\/starting-your-studies\/survive-the-first-semester\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Survive the First Semester \u2013 A Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"40453\" class=\"elementor elementor-40453 elementor-16477\" data-elementor-post-type=\"magazin-studierende\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-40eb7e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"40eb7e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a0c0eb9\" data-id=\"a0c0eb9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a227569 elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-13182 elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"a227569\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!--Banner Tag \/\/ Website: GRIN.COM \/\/ Adslot: gri_outstream (6695068) -->\r\n<div id='npm_6695068'><\/div>\r\n<script>ADNPM.cmd.push(function(){ADNPM.loadAd(6695068)});<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-70d613a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"70d613a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a477b79\" data-id=\"a477b79\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11b357c elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"11b357c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tWhat to expect:\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__11b357c\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__11b357c\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__11b357c\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0b39560 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0b39560\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-05c72c1\" data-id=\"05c72c1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a3f9c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a3f9c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>First things first:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Students from higher semesters are the ideal point of contact for all of your questions.<\/li>\n<li>Take advantage of introductory events. There you can find out more about organizational topics and get to know new people. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ae3188 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ae3188\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-97dafa3\" data-id=\"97dafa3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90ea4e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"90ea4e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At first glance, the organizational system at university doesn&#8217;t seem to be very different from the one in school: You have a timetable, attend your courses accordingly and at the end of the semester you write exams, assignments or give presentations. However, the university building is usually much larger, studying requires more organization (especially compared to school everything is very self-organized) and at the beginning of your studies you are often overwhelmed with new impressions. To help you start your studies and stay relaxed, we have collected some helpful tips.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-31fc086 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31fc086\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c64576c\" data-id=\"c64576c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ea2a7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1ea2a7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Before you start studying: Get to know the university and university city<\/h2>\n<p>When you start your studies, you often have to move to a new, unfamiliar city. So start looking for a <b>suitable apartment, shared flat or a place in a hall of residence<\/b> in time. It is often worth looking on the outskirts of the city: Apartments are cheaper here than in the city center, but you can still get to all the important places quickly and easily by bus, train or streetcar. You are also less stressed at the start of your studies if you have already found the right apartment and unpacked all your moving boxes.   <\/p>\n<p>Once the question of accommodation has been resolved, take a <b>long stroll through the city<\/b>! Whether alone, with friends from school or as part of a first semester event. Use the time until the actual start of your studies to see a few well-known sights, explore the immediate surroundings of your new accommodation and memorize the most important routes and public transport connections. This way, you won&#8217;t have to panic on the first day of lectures when looking for the quickest way to the university and you might even know the right caf\u00e9 for your lunch break.  <\/p>\n<p>As already mentioned, a university is usually much larger than a school. Particularly large universities have, in addition to the main building, several adjoining buildings spread across the city, in which various specialist libraries, institutes and classrooms are housed. Here it can be a great advantage to get an <b>overview of the various buildings<\/b> before the start of lectures and to internalize the designation system of the different rooms. This way, you won&#8217;t wander through the corridors without a plan, but will quickly find the lecture halls where your next course is taking place.   <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c4f6b3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c4f6b3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a5b3252\" data-id=\"a5b3252\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24548b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24548b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Getting started on site: Introductory and first semester events<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most important things during your studies? <b>Maintaining contact with fellow students<\/b>. Whether you&#8217;re from the same or a different degree program, a first-semester student or an advanced student, contact with other students is a big part of studying. And these contacts are best made at introductory events or first semester events.  <\/p>\n<p>Not only is it easy to meet new people at these events, but you also receive <b>important information about studying, the university and the university city<\/b>. It is a valuable opportunity to clarify open questions about your degree course, to receive organizational tips for your studies or to exchange information about different options for the course. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e4c634c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e4c634c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dd467a3\" data-id=\"dd467a3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80e4a37 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80e4a37\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>During your studies: Organizational tips<\/h2>\n<p>Studying requires a lot of independent organization, responsibility and planning. Something that awaits you every semester are deadlines for enrolment and registration for courses and examinations, as well as payment deadlines for the coming semester&#8217;s tuition fees. In order not to miss such deadlines, it is important to regularly check the relevant information pages to see what is coming up.  <\/p>\n<p>The timetable in particular can be a big challenge, especially at the beginning, as you are no longer simply presented with it, but usually have to put it together yourself. It is important to avoid time <b>overlaps between different courses<\/b>, to keep to a sensible sequence of courses and, of course, to complete all compulsory modules and collect all the required ECTS points during the course of your studies. It is worth taking a closer look at the <b>module handbook<\/b> or examination regulations for your degree program. You will often find a study plan there that you can use as a guide. This will also tell you which courses build on each other in terms of content, which forms of examination are planned for the respective module, where you have options and which examinations you can repeat and how often.    <\/p>\n<p>Especially in the first semester, it can also be very helpful to ask <b>fellow students from higher semesters<\/b> for help with creating your timetable. Especially if you are not yet familiar with the system of assignments, advanced students can help you with valuable tricks and experience. <\/p>\n<p>And even if the first few weeks of your studies are particularly busy and stressful: Don&#8217;t let it put you off! Find a mix of lectures, studying and free time that suits you and the rest will eventually work itself out. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7d3e6ae9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7d3e6ae9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7373e3f7\" data-id=\"7373e3f7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a1cbd1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3a1cbd1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you like our magazine? Then sign up for our GRIN newsletter now! <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ba10e12 elementor-button-align-center elementor-mobile-button-align-stretch registr_form_grin elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-34452 elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"7ba10e12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;N\\u00e4chster&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Voriger&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" id=\"newsletter_subscription\" name=\"Formular\" aria-label=\"Formular\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"40453\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"7ba10e12\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-above\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-name elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVorname\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[name]\" id=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Dein Vorname\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_ac13577 elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_ac13577\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNachname\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_ac13577]\" id=\"form-field-field_ac13577\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Dein Nachmane\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tE-Mail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"email@beispiel.de\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" type=\"submit\" id=\"subscription\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Jetzt anmelden<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve chosen what you want to study, have been accepted and now you are just waiting for it to start? We\u2019ve got a few pointers and tips for you. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":16499,"menu_order":0,"template":"area-article.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"magazin_studierende_tag":[],"collections":[340],"class_list":["post-40453","magazin-studierende","type-magazin-studierende","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","collections-starting-your-studies"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/magazin-studierende"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40458,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40453\/revisions\/40458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"magazin_studierende_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin_studierende_tag?post=40453"},{"taxonomy":"collections","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collections?post=40453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}