Welcome Week for our International Students

2022-10-12

The start of a course of study always means the start of a new phase in life, which brings many new and unfamiliar challenges. To ensure that all international new students arrive well at the bbw University of Applied Sciences, the International Office organised, as usual, a welcome programme for the start of this year's winter semester. Not only because of Corona cannot all students be in Berlin at the start of the semester, some are still waiting for their visa to be approved. Not all students can be in Berlin for the start of the semester, and not only because of Corona; some are still waiting for their visa to be approved. In the past semesters, the digital implementation of the programme has proven itself, so that the information sessions, useful seminars and an event took place online again in the winter semester.

The International Office welcomed the students with a colourful programme, which this time began even before the semester started. The topic of health insurance is already relevant before arriving in Germany. At the beginning of September, the statutory health insurance companies AOK Gesundheitskasse Ost, BARMER and TK presented themselves and their services and explained the German health system to the students.

The Welcome Week took place in the first week of October. The International Office itself kicked things off with an introduction to "Studying and Living in Berlin" - important information about studying and living in Berlin and a first opportunity to get to know each other and the International Office team. In addition, an interactive workshop to raise awareness of cultural peculiarities in Germany awaited the international students. On Thursday, the administration team introduced itself: The Student Service Centre, Examination Management and the eLearning department provided the most important information on enrolment, examinations and Moodle, the learning portal of the bbw University of Applied Sciences, and answered the questions of the new students. The Welcome Week ended with a virtual live sightseeing tour of Berlin in golden autumn weather. In addition to the virtual sightseeing of Berlin's main attractions, the guide provided information about the special history of Berlin and Germany and gave insider tips worth knowing about life in Berlin.

On 17 October, the orientation days will conclude with the matriculation ceremony. The ceremony takes place on a hybrid basis: Students in Berlin can attend on site after prior registration, while students who are still abroad can follow the ceremony online.

We wish all students a good start to their studies!