frisch! Top tips
Welcome to FAU! You’re ready to dive into student life. We asked the experts to share their top tips for making a successful start.
Silvana, Medical Engineering
Erlangen is a really welcoming city. The different events like the Laufgelage and the 1000 Miles Run organised annually by Technik ohne Grenzen are a great way to get to know people or just have a nice time with friends. I also recommend the free language courses at the Language Centre. In my free time, I enjoy going to cosy coffee shops in Erlangen and having cake with friends. In the summer, I love picnicking or having a barbecue in the Schlossgarten, Exerzierplatz or Bürgermeistersteg.
Dayana, International Business
It can be challenging for a foreigner to settle in to a new environment. I recommend living in student accommodation in Nuremberg or Erlangen. They very often organise meetings for new students. This will help you to meet people from different cultures, improve your German and learn more about the city and the university from experienced students. It will also help you to settle in quickly and deal with all the official things which need to be done without any extra hassle.
Michael, Medicine
A bike is worth its weight in gold in Erlangen, there’s an extensive network of cycle paths which make it the best way to get from A to B. If your bike needs fixing, you can take it to the bike workshop or ‘Fahrradwerkstatt’ between E-Werk and Kaufland. Here you can fix everything yourself, the tools are available and volunteers are there to give tips or even lend a hand if you get stuck. It’s fun, and doesn’t cost a lot!
Sina, teaching degree
If you are taking a teaching degree, then I would definitely recommend the Lehr:werkstatt. This allows you to shadow a teacher specially chosen for you for a whole school year whilst continuing to study. I was able to discuss my questions, uncertainties and objectives with my mentor. This helped me to learn a lot about teaching and procedures at school. I’ll always remember this year and the people I met.
Nina, Media, Ethics and Religion
When you first start university, everything is new and you are bombarded with a huge amount of information. I felt quite lost and rather overwhelmed with everything at the beginning. Don’t stress too much about your study plan or whether you have written down all the important points from a lecture. Things will sort themselves out in a little while and you will soon realise what fun being a student actually is.
Stefan, Law
The best way to meet new people are definitely student parties. Parties at the student accommodation are great, it doesn’t cost a lot to get in and the drinks are cheap. Whether you choose to party at Dutzendteich, Ave, St. Peter or Kade, you can be sure to meet someone you know. Just check online to see when the next parties are being held, or ask some other students.
Gregor, Palaeobiology
I have any books or media I need from the University Library sent online to the branch library nearest to where I am. If you live in Nuremberg, for example, but study in Erlangen, this means that you can save yourself a trip to the University Library outside the lecture period. Together with the VPN service offered by FAU, it’s the perfect way to work from home on all the stuff I need for uni.
Michael, Physics
The student associations arrange various fun events such as parties, movie nights, or board game evenings. This is a great opportunity to meet up with friends, meet new people or get to know students from higher semesters. You can also join a student association yourself and contribute your own ideas.
An online guide to starting at FAU
Congratulations! You’ve decided to study at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. That’s a great choice! Plus, you’ve just found the perfect companion to show you around: Our magazine frisch! an der FAU can tell you (nearly) everything you need to know about our university.
You can find more articles from the frisch! on this website.