Information for Freshers
Dear students,
Welcome at the Faculty of Life Sciences! On this website you will find the information you need to start your studies.
General information
The website
General information for students - from the semester periods to the examination phase - can be found on this website:
https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students
Checklist
The checklist will help you to complete the necessary steps before starting your Bachelor studies at the Faculty of Life Sciences. Use the links and instructions provided for detailed information and necessary steps, which you can find as a PDF document in the download area or directly via this link: Checklist.
Freshers' Day/first semester day
The Freshers' Day for Bachelor and Master's students in their first semester will take place on 21.03.2025. On this day, you will receive an overview with all the important information about starting your studies and the opportunity to ask questions as part of the event "Enrolled - and what's next?" organised by the Faculty of Life Sciences. Among other things, we will explain which points are particularly important and give you information on the examination phases. In addition, in some degree programmes there will be short welcome and „Orientation: What exactly is your study programme about?“ sessions in the afternoon as part of introductory events. During this day, you will have the opportunity to get to know your fellow students and the university, receive lots of important information for the start of your studies and ask questions.
Programme for the day - 21.03.2025
1) "Enrolled - and what's next?"
Speaker: Study Guide Laura Preisker
For German-language degree programmes: 12:30 - 14:00, Room KLE 12 EG 010
For English-language degree programmes: 14:00 - 15:30, Room KLE 12 EG 010
2) „Orientation: What exactly is your study programme about?“
Duration: approx. 30 minutes (presentation of the degree programme & welcoming the first semester students)
Food Science: 14:30, Room KLE 12 EG 008
Biological Resources: 16:00, Room KLE 12 EG 010
Health Sciences and Management: The event will NOT take place on 21 March 2025, but as part of the safety briefing on 25 March 2025 at 12:00 noon in room 12 EG 006.
Further information on the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences website on Fresher's Day:
https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/welcome/fres…
3) What the FSR (Faculty Student Body) has planned for you on Freshers‘ Day
Campus Tour
(will be different from the Study Advisory Service’s campus tour as it will be more personalized towards student life, like the good spots to study, the cheapest shop to go to for groceries, the best coffee shop, where to get good stationary etc.)
1st tour: 11:00am – 12:00pm; meet up in room 11 01 014
2nd tour: 4:00pm – 5:00pm (for those who missed the first tour); meet up in room 11 01 014
whole day activities:
9:00am – 5:00pm in the FSR room (room 11 01 014)
- selling lab coats for 5€ each
- „Get to know the FSR“ session + handing out brochures
- Quizzes & games with prizes
E-mail, Moodle, HISinOne & Co.
Setting up all the necessary access early on is an important prerequisite for a successful first semester.
You can find an overview and assistance on the university's IT Services website:
Student Counselling
The university's central student counselling service can help you with general questions about studying and offers numerous events on various topics.
Student Service Point:
https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/academics/students/study-adviso…
Faculty-specific information
Timetable
The current version of the timetable can be found online on the homepage of the Faculty of Life Sciences at
https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/faculties/life-sciences
Modules, Exams, Curriculum...
You will find the examination regulations, module descriptions and curriculum plans on the website of your degree program (on the right by the quick links). These can help you organize your studies as they contain important information, e.g. about the modules and examination types.
Lab IDs
To enter the laboratories, students need a laboratory ID. The IDs will be given out during the lab courses. The prerequisite for receiving the ID is a passed general safety briefing for the laboratory. The safety briefing has to be completed online via Moodle.
Lernportal HSRW: Alle Kurse (hochschule-rhein-waal.de)
Preparatory internship
Information about prerequisites and recognition of preparatory internship can be found on this website: https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/page/preparatory-internship
Learning Agreement
Did your Bachelor's programme only last 6 semesters (180 CP) instead of 7 semesters (210 CP)? Then you are still missing 30 CP, which you must make up by the time you register for your Master's thesis. You can clarify questions about the type and scope of the Learning Agreement with the Examination Board.
If you study Biological Resources and need a Learning Agreement please join the moodle course "BR3 5099 Learning agreement" (Kurs: BR3 5099 Learning agreement | Lernportal HSRW) for further information instead of reaching out to the Examination Board.
Refresher courses at the Faculty of Life Sciences
The Faculty of Life Sciences offers at the start of the winter semester 2025/2026 refresher courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry for high school graduates. The courses aim to refresh the school knowledge and prepare students for the future studies.
The preparatory courses for english speaking students / english study courses are offered at the faculty of Technology and Bionics. The offer is available on moodle for enrolled students.
Student Council
The student council represents the interests of all life sciences students and acts as an interface between the public, faculty, staff and students. Further information can be found here:
https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/en/faculties/life-sciences/faculty-student-body