Freshers’ Week: First-year students take over the HSRW

Around 1,360 (as at 28 September 2026) first-year students were welcomed to the campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort at the first-year students’ welcome event and as part of Freshers’ Week. From 28 September to 2 October, the Central Student Advisory Service and the Welcome Centre offered a varied programme, which gave the new students the perfect opportunity to get to know campus life and meet their new fellow students.

Freshers’ Week kicked off straight away with a highlight: the first-year welcome event, which was held at both locations in a hybrid format. Sara Khaffaf-Roenspieß and Nele Decker from the Central Student Advisory Service hosted the event in Kleve, whilst Nele Decker and Anja Große-Kreul did so in Kamp-Lintfort. In addition, the university’s music and sports programmes introduced themselves.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter, Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, welcomed the students at the Kleve campus, emphasising in particular the benefits of the university’s international character: “It is this international character that makes studying at the HSRW so special. Here, you will meet students from all corners of the world who could become friends for life.” At the same time, he highlighted the region’s attractions: “Once you’ve fallen in love with this region, you won’t want to leave.”

At the Kamp-Lintfort campus, Prof. Dr Jörg, Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Academic Continuing Education, addressed the first-year students. He encouraged them to remain curious, gain new experiences and enjoy their time at university to the full.

The Freshers’ Week programme was as diverse as the student body itself. Following the official welcome in Kleve, a large breakfast buffet provided the perfect opportunity for students to get to know one another. The popular Music Nights in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort attracted numerous students keen to party and, as in previous years, were a resounding success. In addition, events such as the Freshers’ Market, Beats and Bites, campus and town tours, the faculty open days, as well as numerous activities organised by the AStA and the university sports programme, brought university life and the two towns of Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort to life.

The traditional Homecoming Cup, an interdisciplinary relay race in which students and staff from the HSRW, as well as external teams, could take part, provided the perfect finale to Freshers’ Week. During the competition, participants had to complete stages involving canoeing, sprints, a cycling agility course and the final team challenge: scaling a wall almost four metres high. The winning team consisted of Malte, Lara, Marlo, Linas and Alicia from Year 1 at the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium in Kleve. Congratulations!