Have your say, help shape it: campus life beyond the lecture hall

female students on campus
hands building a heart in front of the campus entrance
students chilling on campus

Whether in university groups, sports or through participation in the various committees – there are plenty of opportunities to actively shape student life at the University of Erfurt. We present some of them here:

Committees Our university groups: from theatre to climate protection Supporting others upon arrival: Tutor programmes and campus specialists university sports programme

Committees

If you have ideas, good arguments and a desire to play an active role in shaping the university, you are in the right place as a representative on the committees. Because here, having a say and co-decision-making are expressly encouraged. For some of these interest groups or committees, you have to be elected beforehand, while students can also participate in others "just like that". We have summarised the most important ones here:

The Student Council (StuRa)

... represents the interests of all enrolled students at the University of Erfurt. It represents the political, academic, social and cultural interests of students and supports academic and professional initiatives. The Student Council promotes the political education of students and cultivates supra-regional and international student relations. A new Student Council is elected once a year. All students at the University of Erfurt can stand for election. In addition to elected members, there is also the opportunity to participate and help shape the Student Council as a freelance employee.

link to the Student Council website

The Faculty Councils

... advise and decide, among other things, on study and research matters of the respective faculty, its examination regulations and appointments. Members are professors, students, academic staff and employees in technology and administration. The student members are regularly elected by all students of the faculty at the end of the summer semester.

The Faculty Student Councils (FSR)

... are the interest groups at the respective subject level. The members deal with all matters relating to studies, examinations and counselling within the degree programme. Every student is a member of the student council in whose department (degree programme) he/she is enrolled. The members of the Faculty Student Councils are elected once a year directly by the students. Any student of the Faculty Student Council can stand for election.

link to the overview of the Faculty Student Councils

The Examination Board

... deals with cases of hardship and complaints about examinations and attempted cheating. Its members are professors, academic employees and students. They are usually appointed by the student councils.

The Study Commission

... discusses issues relating to studies and examinations (e.g. course planning) and prepares decisions for the Faculty Council. Members are professors, students and academic employees. Appointments are usually made by the Student Representative Council.

The Appointment Committees

... deal with the appointment of an advertised professorship or the evaluation of an assistant professor. Such a committee is made up of professors, students and academic employees. The members are usually nominated by the student councils.

The University Council

... makes recommendations on the development of the university's profile and the prioritisation of research and teaching as well as the further development of course offerings. In addition, its tasks include issuing statements (e.g. on the basic regulations and their amendments, on the conclusion of target and management agreements, on the principles of funding), confirming the business plan and significant amendments to it, the resolution and adoption of the annual financial statements and the discharge of the Presidium, receiving the Presidium's annual report and participating in the appointment, election and dismissal of the President and the Head of Administration. A representative of the Student Council is also involved with the right to propose motions and speak. The University Council is elected every four years.

link to the University Council website

The Senate

... is responsible, among other things, for issuing and amending the Basic Regulations, for electing members of the University Council, for granting approval for the appointment of Vice Presidents and for granting approval before concluding the university's target and performance agreements with the Ministry. The Senate also decides on the establishment, modification and cancellation of degree programmes and gives its opinion on appointment proposals. It draws up the Equal Opportunity Plan and elects the Equal Opportunity Officer and the Diversity Officer. In addition, it approves the principles of funding and gives its opinion on the draft business plan, the annual financial statements, fee and remuneration regulations and the Presidium's annual report. The Senate is elected every three years. It also includes three representatives of the student body.

link to the Senate website

The Senate Committees

... advise the Senate in various areas, e.g. in study and examination matters (Study Committee), research (Research Committee), library matters (Library Committee), digitisation and data protection (IT Committee), international cooperation and selection processes (International Affairs Committee). The student members are delegated by the Student Council, but do not have to be members of the Student Council themselves.

The internal Accreditation Commission

... is responsible for the accreditation of all degree programmes at the university, i.e. it carries out the "quality check" for programme structure and content. The commission is elected and includes students as well as professors, representatives of the university management and academic employees.

The Assistant Council

... represents the interests of student assistants in the Staff Council. It consists of four student assistants (student assistants) and is regularly elected by all assistants at the end of the summer semester. Only student assistants can stand for election.

The Advisory Board for Gender Equality

... advises the Equal Opportunity Officer on the implementation of equal opportunities for women and men at the University of Erfurt. It makes a proposal to the Senate for the election of the Equal Opportunity Officer and her deputy. The Advisory Board includes two student representatives.

link to the website of the Advisory Board for Equal Opportunities

Your commitment to Erfurt as a university city

Do you want to stand up for Erfurt as a place to study? Then why not get involved in the Municipal University and Student Advisory Board (Kommunaler Hochschul- und Studierendenbeirat)? You can find more information on the website of the City of Erfurt.

student group in the KIZ
Studentin im Seminarraum
Studierende auf dem Campus
Studierende in der Gruppe Uni Erfurt

Our university groups: from theatre to climate protection

There are various university groups at the University of Erfurt that deal with a wide range of topics and offer the opportunity to get to know people who share your interests. Whether politics, theatre, choir or sustainability – there is something for everyone. The Student Council website provides an overview. If you would prefer to meet the university groups "live", you have the opportunity to do so at the start of each semester. This is when the groups, student initiatives and student communities present themselves at the "Market of Opportunities".

link to the overview of university groups

By the way:

The studi.life.erfurt postcast episode "Beyond the Lecture Hall" also provides an insight into the world of university groups. Just listen in! (in German only)

link to the podcast on Spotify

Supporting others upon arrival: Tutor programmes and campus specialists

Our Campus Specialists: experts with insight

... are students who share their experiences at the University of Erfurt with prospective students, answer questions – e.g. on their Instagram channel, at the Open Day and Discovery Days – but also offer campus tours for prospective students. There are currently three campus specialists. However, University Communications is regularly looking for new students for this role. If you are interested in becoming a Campus Specialist, please contact marketing@uni-erfurt.de to get in touch.

link to the Instagram channel of the Campus Specialists

Our Buddy Programme

... matches international full and exchange students on bachelor's and Master's programmes with buddies from Germany, i.e. local, experienced students from the second semester onwards, who support new students with their first steps and questions. On the one hand, the Buddy Programme is designed to help new students settle in. On the other hand, it offers plenty of opportunities to network, learn each other's language and gain new cultural insights.

link to the Buddy Programme website

Our student STET tutors

Anyone studying at a university for the first time has a lot of questions: How does it work with course enrolment? Where can I find what on campus? Who are my contacts... Our student tutors, who accompany first-semester students at the University of Erfurt during the Student Orientation Days (STET), have the answers. These are usually students from higher semesters who already know their way around campus and help the so "first-timers" to arrive on campus. A new call is launched every year, and anyone who would like to be involved can register as a STET tutor with Department 1: Registrar's Office.

further information

Our university sports programme

During your studies, sporting activities are a valuable addition and a healthy change for body and soul. In addition to the positive physical effects, sporting activities also give you the opportunity to make new contacts and organise your free time together with others. At Erfurt University Sports , students and employees of the University and UAS Erfurt are in good hands. With more than 150 courses in over 80 types of sport, the University Sports Club (USV) Erfurt offers a wide variety of activities.

link to the university sports website


Driving force and game changer – we are part of it!

You can find more stories from students who are involved at the University of Erfurt in our campus blog "I like my university...".

link to the blog (in German only)