Starting your studies

You will be starting your studies at JGU as a first-year student shortly and probably have a lot of questions.

What does university life look like?
What do I need to do to get started?
Where do I find different buildings and services on campus?
When do the lectures start?

Don’t worry! We’re here to offer support during your first steps at university – with information on the JGU website, online presentations on how to prepare for university, Q&A sessions by students for (new) students, and an introduction week with information tailored to your program of study. We will explain what you have to do and know, who you can contact if you have questions, and how to be ready for university in just a few steps.

During the introduction week, we will provide you with all the important information you need at the beginning of your studies and offer plenty of help to get you started. It always takes place during the week prior to the beginning of the lecture period.

In addition to the interdisciplinary welcome and information events hosted by our university’s most important service centers, the subject-specific introduction events for your own subject during this week will tell you everything you need to know about your first semester at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU).

In addition, the academic advisory offices and the student councils offer special consultation hours and other opportunities to gain information – with lots of opportunities to learn from lecturers and more advanced students.

Last but not least, during the introduction week you will get to know other students who will be taking the same degree course.

Just go – it’s worth it!

You are also welcome to take part in our preparatory events – online in the lead-up to and on campus during the introduction week.

What do I need to do after being admitted and what can I prepare now? Is there a course schedule at university and when are the holidays? And what does a program of study really look like, anyway?

Our student ambassadors are there to support you before you have even started studying. They offer tips on how to prepare, explain the first steps you will need to take, and tell you about their own program of study and experiences at JGU. There will of course be time for you to ask your questions at the end.

The lecture will take place on

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 3:00 pm

During the online Q&A sessions, our student ambassadors are happy to answer any questions you have about the university, the city of Mainz, the introduction week and starting your studies.

The Q&A session will take place on

Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 3:00 pm, focusing on accommodation, leisure, athletics, music and more
Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 3:00 pm, focusing on the introduction week for first-year students

The introduction week is your first week at JGU. This is an exciting and potentially nerve-wracking time, and you’re probably wondering what it entails, what you definitely shouldn’t miss, and how you can best get ready. In our online lecture, we will provide you with tips and explain how you can make the most of the introduction week events in order to prepare yourself to start your studies. We are of course also happy to answer your questions.

The lecture will take place on

Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 3:00 pm
Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 3:00 pm

Information in the red Infobox – we are here for you!
Monday, October 14 to Wednesday, October 16 | 9:00 am–2:00 pm

Where do I need to go? How do I get to the Philosophicum? What do SB II and ReWi mean? What is JOGU-StINe and where can I grab a coffee? Help!

The staff of the Student Advisory Center and the JGU student ambassadors will be on campus to answer your questions from Monday to Wednesday of the introduction week.

Come to the accessible red Infobox and we will be happy to answer your questions about starting your studies and help you get oriented on campus. And if we can’t answer one of your questions, we will know who can.

Feel free to stop by!

From studying and working to accommodation and food to leisure time, Campus Mainz e. V. is available to accompany you through your time at university. On our website www.campus-mainz.net, you can find interesting about student life in Mainz and current notices from around campus.

New to Mainz? Then be sure to check out our article “Erstis @ Campus Mainz,” which contains information and events for first-semester students, including the Ersti-Woche. Plus, you will find QR codes to subject-specific and university-wide WhatsApp groups where you can make initial connections and ask your burning questions! If that doesn’t work, you can contact our office phone via WhatsApp (+49 6131 3272130) and we will add you manually.

See you soon on campus!
Campus Mainz e.V.

What introduction week events should I be sure not to miss? What happens during the subject-specific introductory events? How does course registration work and what are examination regulations? The introduction week is your first week at JGU. It’s a very exciting time for you!

The Student Advisory Center would like to welcome you to JGU – now officially your university – and provide you with some general information and tips at the start of the introduction week. In particular, we will show you how to take advantage of the introduction week to best prepare to start your program of study.

The lecture will take place on

Monday, October 14, 2024, at 10:00 am, lecture hall N1 (Muschel)
Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 9:00 am, main lecture hall – Audimax (Alte Mensa)

Select the day that best suits your introduction week schedule.
You do not need to attend this lecture if you already attended “Bald geht’s los – Vorbereitung auf den Studienstart” online.

What else do I need to be ready for university? Since many tasks and services are carried out online at JGU, you will need to keep a few things in mind to be ready for life at your new university.

Student university account

At JGU, you can register and withdraw from courses and examinations, communicate with teaching staff, and conduct many other aspects of your studies online. For this purpose, you will receive a student university account with which you can log in to the different online services and platforms.

You will need it for services such as

using your student email account (mail.uni-mainz.de)
logging in to the web portal JOGU-StINe zur An- und Abmeldung von Kursen und Prüfungen
using the campus WiFi
using library services
using other online services

Activating your university account

You will need to activate your university account when you begin your studies. To do so, the Data Center (ZDV) will send an individualized activation link and an activation code to your personal email address along with your enrollment certificate (up to 48 hours after you receive the email containing your student ID number).

In order to activate:

Click on the activation link and follow the steps listed.
Enter the activation code and
create a new, individual password.

Your username and your new password will be sent to your personal email address for confirmation. After this, we will communicate with you exclusively via your student email address for reasons of data protection.

Please note:
You will need the login information for your university account throughout your studies.

JOGU-StINe – JGU’s study information network

Our online portal JOGU-StINe supports you in many ways when it comes to organizing and pursuing your program of study. You can use JOGU-StINe with any internet-enabled device with a browser in order to

register for courses and examinations
get an overview of your class schedule and examination dates in your personalized online timetable
receive information if the room or the time of your course changes
get an overview of the examinations and coursework you have already completed and the credits you have earned (LP or ECTS)
submit a request for a change of subject or a second degree
make changes to your postal address
view, download, or print enrollment certificates and other official notifications from Student Services

TAN procedure

For certain actions in JOGU-StINe which need an added level of security – such as registering for or withdrawing from examinations – additional personal authentication is required. This necessitates the use of a TAN (transaction number, similar to online banking).

Your first TAN list with several TANs will automatically be sent to your newly set-up student email address after enrollment. Once you have used all but the last TAN, use this final TAN to generate a new TAN list in JOGU-StINe.

Lost your TAN list?

If you lose your TAN list, you should do the following promptly:

Deactivate your current TAN list (in JOGU-StINe), thereby invalidating the TANs.
Request a replacement TAN list (in JOGU-StINe). It will be sent to your student email address.

Email

Over the course of your studies, you will regularly receive important messages via email sent to your student email account. This includes messages regarding your courses and examinations! Once you have activated your university account, you will be able to use your email address. You can view and manage it here:

You can access your email account at https://mail.uni-mainz.de. The Data Center (ZDV) has provided a guide for using your email account on your smartphone.

JGU-Ausweise app

Many services at JGU require you to authenticate your identity as a student. This can be done using the convenient JGU ID card app “JGU-Ausweise.” The app gives you digital access to the following:

Many JGU degree programs offer online or hybrid courses in addition to on-campus courses.

JGU’s central platform for online learning is the learning management system (LMS). The JGU LMS supports interactive and collaborative work through a variety of learning activities and tools for exchanging files and communicating (such as forums, chat rooms, or video conferences).

However, JGU also utilizes a further LMS called Ilias, particularly for online examinations with a large number of participants.

The main platform for video conferences and online courses at JGU is BigBlueButton (BBB). Depending on the course, other platforms may also be used. An LMS course about online learning offers an introduction to these and other platforms. It contains introductions, instructions, and information on the most important digital tools and platforms as well as numerous tips and ideas for how to organize your studies, both online and offline.

With a few exceptions, all courses take place on the JGU campus. You will also spend a lot of time on campus between courses – for studying, working, eating, and recreation. That’s why it is important to be able to find your way around campus.

Are you wondering…
Where to find important lecture halls and libraries? Where the workstations are? Which canteens and cafeterias there are? Where to take a relaxing break or meet up with friends?

Our tips:

Check out our campus map for a quick overview.
Visit and explore the campus before lectures start to find key locations and buildings.
Take a campus tour to see what the campus has to offer.
Check the websites of your institute or faculty to find out which buildings are relevant for your subject.

Use the time before your first courses to get an overview of your future studies and daily life as a student at JGU.

During the introduction week, which takes place the week before the beginning of the lecture period, you learn more than how life at university works. In most cases, you will have to sign up for the courses you will be taking during your first semester via JOGU-StINe during this week by a specific deadline.

You will find out which courses you should take and how registration works during your subject’s introductory events. You can also get an overview of the courses you will be taking in your first semester. Your degree program’s examination regulations and study regulations will contain information on all classes you will have to take over the course of your program of study. In bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, the module catalogsand program structures document the recommended course sequence. You can also register independently using these documents as a guide. You can find them on your institute’s website, which you can reach via the degree descriptions.

If you have questions about starting your studies or are not sure who can help you with your questions, call the hotline below to make an appointment with the Student Advisory Center. They can advise you in all study-related matters. The academic advisors are happy to advise you in person at the university, by phone, or online.

Do you have questions about a specific degree program? If you do, feel free to contact the responsible academic advisory office.

The academic advisory offices are the best points of contact for the following topics:

Structure and content of the program of study
Planning your course schedule
Recognition of credits and examinations when changing subject or university
Examination procedures

The academic advisory offices offer special support at the beginning of the semester with additional consultation hours and informational events during the introduction week.

Are you looking for information and advice from a student in your (future) program of study?
Then get in touch with your student council!

They represent students’ interests and would be happy to hear from you!

The student councils have special support offers for new students – before, during, and after the introduction week.

JGU has a contact point for questions regarding every aspect of studying.