Guide for first-generation students
Guide for first-generation students: Useful tips and information about studying and university life
If you are the first in your family to study and you are interested in what the university offers in the way of advice, support and qualifications, the table below gives a selection of specific services offered by various offices aimed at making your studies and university life that little bit easier. Information all about studying, accommodation, financing your studies, jobs, social aspects, empowerment and health.
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Student Advice Center (IBZ) | The huge choice of degree programs and subject combinations at FAU can be confusing and it is not surprising if you feel overwhelmed. We are here to guide you in your decision and help you better understand the different options. We also offer support once you have started studying, whether you have specific subject-related questions or whether you are considering changing your focus. | IBZ | Visiting address: Room 0.021, Schlossplatz 3 in Erlangen By phone: Monday to Friday 8 am to 2 pm: 09131/85-23333 und 09131/85-24444. Online: Tuesdays 1 pm to 2 pm and Thursdays 3 pm to 4 pm via Zoom You will be allowed to enter the main Zoom room as soon as one of our advisors is ready for you. | Study advice | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (fau.de) |
| Student Service Centers at the faculties | Faculty-specific advice on structuring your degree program and planning your studies in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs | Student Service Center | Depending on the faculty | Advice at the faculties | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (fau.de) |
| Welfare advice | Welfare advice covers topics such as: Options for funding studies other than BAföG, social security benefits such as child allowance, housing allowance, studying with a child, advice for foreign students, studying with a disability or chronic illness, social security during the final phase of your studies etc. | Student Services | Welfare advice is available by phone and by email. You can make an appointment with us for further advice: sozialberatung@werkswelt.de or by phone: +49 9131 8002-757 Welfare advice from Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg Sabine Eschelbach Phone +49 9131 8002-757 sozialberatung@werkswelt.de | Welfare advice » Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg (werkswelt.de) |
| General advice at FAU | First port of call for all general questions directed at Student Services. Information about the wide range of services available from Student Services and initial point of contact. | Student Services Erlangen | Erlangen Studentenhaus Langemarckplatz 4 Phone +49 9131 8002-58 Nürnberg Andreij-Sacharow-Platz 1 Phone +49 9131 8002-0 Fax +49 9131 8002-180 | Information on site » Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg (werkswelt.de) |
| Legal advice | Free legal advice for students, offering practical assistance in issues related to higher education law, labor law, consumer rights, tenants’ rights and all other legal difficulties relating to studying** | Student Services | Advice is offered online, please refer to the Student Services’ website: Legal advice » Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg (werkswelt.de) | ** The legal advice service is not responsible for questions regarding training assistance. Advice regarding BAföG training assistance is provided by the staff responsible for your case. |
| Online-compilation of services offered by FAU | FAU general | Advisory services from A-Z | Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (fau.de) | ||
| Central Office for International Affairs | We provide general information on scholarships and studying abroad as well as the option of funding internships through Erasmus and special funding for first-generation students. Subject-related advice is available from Erasmus subject coordinators in the relevant departments/institutes. We are also responsible for central exchange programs with institutes of higher education outside Europe. | International Service | Visiting address: Helmstraße 1 (entrance Einhornstrasse) in 91054 Erlangen In person: Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm Online: Monday and Wednesday, from 9 am – 12 pm via Zoom. You will be allowed to enter the main Zoom room as soon as one of our advisors is ready for you. | International Service | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Networking for first-generation students at FAU | A StudOn course for students who are the first in their family to go to university to meet, share experiences and gather valuable information. Networking meetings are also organised. | Diversity Management | Harriet Ziegler harriet.ziegler@fau.de | StudOn course here! |
| The empowerment workshop “Heimliche Begleiter” for students of all faculties | The workshop is aimed at students without an academic background and young people who have either come to the university after completing vocational training or work experience, or who are the first in their families to attend university. The aim is to give students a sense of empowerment and give them the skills they need to cope at university. The workshop uses playful elements from theater pedagogy to encourage participants to explore creative alternative approaches to studying. | Diversity Management | Harriet Ziegler harriet.ziegler@fau.de | 2022 2023 Workshop leader: Harald Hahn, theatre pedagogue, lecturer and systemic consultant, more information about the speaker at: http://www.harald-hahn.de/ |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| BAföG-Amt Erlangen (Training Assistance Office) | Responsible for BAföG grants | Amt für Ausbildungsförderung | Hofmannstraße 27 91052 Erlangen Phone +49 9131 8002-900; Only available by phone at the moment | Amt für Ausbildungsförderung Erlangen » Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg (werkswelt.de) |
| BAföG-Amt Nürnberg | Amt für Ausbildungsförderung | Andreij-Sacharow-Platz 1 90403 Nürnberg +49 91 31 80 02-59 (operator) | https://www.werkswelt.de/index.php?id=afa_nbg | |
| BAföG drop-in consultations at Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology | Information on BAföG and scholarships | Liaison Office BAföG | Please email your question to phil-bafoegbuero@fau.de Advice is also available by phone if you write an email first. The telephone number will be given to you upon request. Liaison Office BAföG Eileen Weiß Office: Former porter’s office Kochstr. 4 91054 Erlangen Phone:+49 9131 85-25767 E-Mail: phil-bafoegbuero@fau.de Description: Consultation hours listed at Financing your Studies – Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology (fau.eu) | Financing your Studies – Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology (fau.eu) |
| Jobs while studying | Jobs and assistant jobs at FAU and companies. | FAU Stellenwerk job portal | https://www.stellenwerk.de/erlangen-nuernberg/ | |
| Further tips on BAföG | ||||
| Upgrading training assistance from BAföG | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | https://www.bafög.de/bafoeg/de/home/home_node.html |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| From FAU | FAU | https://www.fau.de/education/studentisches-leben/wohnen/ | ||
| Student accomodation in Erlangen and Nürnberg | Student Services | https://www.werkswelt.de/index.php?id=wohnen |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Applying for a Master’s or doctoral degree program at FAU | Information on applying for a Master’s or doctoral degree program | Postal address: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg Referat L4 – Masterbüro Schlossplatz 4 91054 Erlangen | https://www.fau.de/education/bewerbung/bewerbung-masterstudium/ | |
| Federal Employment Agency at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology | Federal Employment Agency Fürth Career advice Michael Hümmer, M.A. and human resources officer (IHK) | Career Service | Please refer to the website to make an appointment: Student Advice Bachelor/Master – Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology (fau.eu) | |
| Career Service | Various services: personal advice, portfolios for job applications etc. The Career Service in Nuremberg supports students at the School of Business, Economics and Society: http://www.career.wiso.fau.de | Career Service | career-service@fau.de Contact form for booking a consultation: Advice and services | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg | Career Service | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg Events: Events | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Language Center | Language courses for students; summer courses | FAU Language Centre – Languages ‘R’ Us | ||
| Orientation program (Grundlagen- und Orientierungsstudium, GOS) | Information on orientation program (Grundlagen- und Orientierungsstudium, GOS) with an orientation week for new students | Center for Applied Philosophy of Science and Key Qualifications (ZiWiS) | (already took place in WS 2022/23) | Grundlagen- und Orientierungsstudium (GOS) › Zentralinstitut für Wissenschaftsreflexion und Schlüsselqualifikationen (ZiWiS) (fau.de) |
| Summer- and fall-schools: FAU Global Program | These programs enable scholars, entrepreneurs, and students from all over the world a high-speed enrichment of their entrepreneurial skills, the unique opportunity to experience the world’s hubs for innovation and digitization as well as the opportunity to connect with seasoned scholars and experts. | dta-gp@fau.de | https://www.gp.dta.fau.de/ | |
| RRZE | A wide range of computer courses | RRZE | https://www.rrze.fau.de/ausbildung-schulung/schulungszentrum/kursangebot/ | |
| Virtual University of Bavaria – vhb | A variety of courses are available from different universities (including FAU) | Home | open.vhb.org |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Information of FAU | FAU website gives information on the various options for starting to study at FAU without an Abitur. | FAU | Entry requirements | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| University Counseling Service | The multi-professional advisory team from the counseling service of Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg offers all enrolled students psychological counseling and psychotherapy in individual sessions, with partners and family members, and in therapy groups at various locations. | Student Services | Contact depending on location, see website: Kontakt je nach Standort: vgl. Website: Psychologische Beratung » Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg (werkswelt.de) | https://www.werkswelt.de/index.php?id=ppb |
| Service | Content | Office or institution | Point of contact | Data |
| Arbeiterkind.de | We encourage school pupils from families without experience of university to be the first in their family to study for a degree. Across Germany, 6,000 volunteers in 80 local ArbeiterKind.de groups inform young people about the option of studying for a degree and to support them on their journey from beginning a degree to successfully completing it and starting a career. Most of our volunteers are themselves first-generation students or academics and report on their own experience of higher education, encouraging others with their example. | Arbeiterkind.de | https://www.arbeiterkind.de/ | |
| AELIUS Förderwerk für faire Bildungschancen (Development organisation for fair educational opportunities) | Aelius Förderwerk was founded by an FAU student and has been offering comprehensive support for fair opportunities in education consisting of mentoring, advice and free training workshops on the topic of school, studying and work since 2018. | AELIUS Förderwerk | Aelius Förderwerk e.V. Zollhof 7 90443 Nürnberg info@aelius-foerderwerk.de Phone: +49 163 515 91 75 Office hours: Monday-Thursday: 9am to 3pm | Das Förderwerk | Aelius Förderwerk (aelius-foerderwerk.com) |
| Senkrechtstarter Erlangen/Nürnberg | The student-run program Senkrechtstarter is a joint initiative of (previous) scholarship holders from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. It is aimed in particular at prospective first-generation students and students with a migration background. | https://www.facebook.com/senkrechtstarterErlangenNuernberg |
| Netzwerk Chancen | We offer young adults across the whole of Germany workshops, mentoring, a strong network and contacts to employers. | Sozialer Aufstieg | Netzwerk Chancen | Berlin (netzwerk-chancen.de) |
| Studienkompass (high school students) | Support: https://www.studienkompass.de/foerderinhalte/ | https://www.studienkompass.de/ |
| Speed Up Buddy | We support the individual goals of students from all disciplines who are the first in their family to go to university. From their first semester, to internships, experience abroad, all the way to graduation and starting a career! | https://speedupbuddy.de/ |
| Aufsteiger | Helping first-generation students find their first job | https://aufsteiger.org/ |
| „Going abroad with Erasmus“ | There is special financial support (Link) in Erasmus for students who wish to complete a semester (Link) or internship (Link) abroad as part of Erasmus. | Contact: Bianca Köndgen mobility@fau.de |
If you have any questions or suggestions to make, please feel free to contact:
Diversity Management
Officer
Office of Equality and DiversityOffice: Room 1.005
Bismarckstraße 6
91054 Erlangen
Phone: +49 9131 85-24728
Cellphone: +4915206490141
E-Mail: harriet.ziegler@fau.de