News for Students
Here we keep you up to date on current calls for applications, opportunities to help shape teaching and studies, helpful funding programmes, scholarships or workshops and useful general information.
General information
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Award for excellent teaching: Nominate courses for “Equal Opportunities in Teaching and Learning”
The issue of equal opportunities plays a major role in teaching and studying. This year's HU Award for Excellent Teaching focuses on best practices that have made an outstanding contribution to equal opportunities, diversity, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging in teaching at HU.
You can submit your suggestions until January 12, 2026. Courses from the 2024/25 winter semester up to the current semester that are characterized by particular sensitivity to the diversity of participants, appreciation, opportunities for co-creation, and reflection can be nominated.
Additional examination attempt after consultation
Previously, a failed module final examination (MFE) could generally be repeated twice. With the 22nd amendment to the ZSP-HU, the HU will implement the possibility, as included in the BerlHG with the last fundamental amendment, to take an additional attempt after participating in an examination consultation and exhausting all regular repetition attempts, effective since 21 January 2025. Before the last regular repetition attempt, the examination board will inform you about the consequences of a final failure of the examination and invite you to a consultation to discuss why the MFE was not passed and provide targeted assistance on how it could be passed in the next attempt. If you have any questions or problems, you can contact the examination office responsible for you.?
Results of the 2025 Student Survey
The initial analysis of the 2025 student survey is complete – we would like to once again sincerely thank you for your active participation! Your feedback provides valuable input for the ongoing development of teaching and learning at our university.
You can now access a first look at the results:
https://hu.berlin/sb2025insights
Results of the student survey on AI in higher education
More than three quarters of the students surveyed already use AI in the context of their studies, with over 30% using it frequently or very frequently. These findings come from the student survey on AI in teaching and learning, conducted in summer 2024 as part of the KI-Campus 2.0 project at HU Berlin. The results will be used within the KI-Campus project and for the further development of teaching and learning at HU Berlin.
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Events
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?Zukunftswerkstatt Lehre“: AI in Teaching and Learning
Artificial intelligence?is developing rapidly and?already affects various levels the way we teach, learn and work at HU Berlin. How do we as a university want to respond to this development and shape it in our own interests? You are all cordially invited to join other students, lecturers and staff at HU in January to exchange ideas! Opportunities, questions, solutions and visions relating to AI at our university will be explored and developed. The "Zukunftswerkstatt Lehre" is an annual event that serves as a creative space for dialogue, networking and the joint, continuous development of teaching and learning at HU. Interested? Save the date: 29 January 2026, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., UdL 6. Further information to follow.
Healthy at HU: The University Health Management
The University Health Management (HGM) is committed to promoting the health of all HU members. There are three highlights coming up in November!
1. The student survey “Do you feel good at HU?” returns. Your participation helps to develop health-promoting measures – most recently, another lecture hall cinema, a movement-friendly teaching room and workshops on anxiety in everyday student life.?This video shows why your participation matters.
2. Health Day on November 13, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the main building will show how closely health and sustainability are linked.
3. LICHTember – The mental health awareness month with free events to brighten November. We look forward to your participation!
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First aid for university stress: The Psychological Counselling Service
Studying brings many new experiences – sometimes exciting and rewarding, sometimes also challenging. In such situations you are not alone: The Psychological Counselling Service supports you with individual counselling and special offers.
This winter semester you are invited to:
Webtalk “It’s ok not to be ok – 7 tools to better cope with stress in your studies” on 18 November 2025, 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
FirstGens Peer Group – a space for first-generation students to share experiences, starting with a kick-off meeting on 25 November 2025.
How to UB: University Library offers at the start of the semester
New to HU? The University Library welcomes you. At 10 locations, there is not only a wide range of books, journals and online resources, but also plenty of study and work spaces, areas for participating in digital events and group study rooms. At the start of the semester, the UB offers various introductory events and guided tours at the respective locations. In the webinar ‘Getting Started in the Library’, you can learn everything you need to know about using the library and the services offered by the UB, get tips and tricks for literature research and academic work, or get to know the various branch libraries better on a tour. Important information is compiled on the University Library website for first-year students.
Know your Rights! Action Week 2025 for FLINTA*
The Office for Gender Equality and Equity at the Center for Eq?ui?ty, Di?ver?si?ty, In?clu?sion and Be?long?ing at HU invites you to the Action Week for FLINTA* (women, lesbians, inter-, trans-, and agender persons) on the occasion of the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls” on November 25. The Action Week will take place between November 21 and 30, 2025, and this year's motto is “Know your Rights!”. The focus will be on the HU Statutes on Protection against Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, Violence, and Stalking and the associated protection concept. Among other things, workshops such as “Mutausbruch” (Burst of Courage) and “How to be an Ally” will be organised. In addition, the public awareness campaign #knowyourrights! will be present on all HU channels.
Experience the Future of Communications: PR Report Camp 2025
Discover how exciting, diverse and future-oriented the field of communications can be, and take the opportunity to gain exclusive insights into the industry: Be part of the PR Report Camp 2025 on 13 November at the Kosmos venue in Berlin and immerse yourself for a full day in the world of communications. You can look forward to an inspiring program with keynote speeches, interactive workshops and lively discussions. Take this opportunity to connect with leading professionals from agencies, companies and the media and establish valuable contacts for your future career. Representatives of renowned organizations such as SAP and EnBW will share insights into current developments, career opportunities and the challenges facing the industry. The PR Report Camp combines knowledge, orientation and networking in a unique way and offers you a wide range of perspectives. We look forward to welcoming you there.
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Calls and Grants
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Equality, Diversity, Inclusion: Apply now for Circle U. funding
For the second time, Circle U. is offering funding for initiatives in the area of equality, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I). Students, administrative staff, and researchers at Circle U. member institutions are invited to develop innovative projects that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in their academic environment. A total of �12,000 is available per call for proposals, with individual projects eligible to apply for up to �4,000. The maximum funding period per project is one year, and the deadline for submitting applications is October 31.
Project tutorials in summer semester 2026: Apply now!
?Are you missing out on a topic in your studies or are you particularly interested in a certain subject? Do you want to contribute your own ideas and initiatives to teaching and research? Then take the opportunity to apply for a project tutorial. Project tutorials are courses run by students for students in which students can work on topics of their own choice in an independent, interdisciplinary, academic and practice-oriented manner. Project tutors receive a contract as a freelancer. The deadline for submitting applications for project tutorials in summer semester 2026 is January 13.
X-Tutorials: Apply for your own research project for the 2026 summer semester!
Would you like to put your own project idea into practice? Then apply for funding for an X-Tutorial by November 30.
In these student-designed research projects, teams of students analyze, develop, or experiment together to answer a self-chosen research question. The Berlin University Alliance will fund up to eight X-Tutorials in the 2026 summer semester. Two students (or one alline) can apply for a research scholarship as well as material and travel funds to lead an X-Tutorial.
On October 28, the StuROPx Coordination Office will offer an online information session in English. On November 6, Freie Universit?t Berlin invites interested students from all partner institutions to join an online peer exchange with experienced X-Tutorial tutors.
DigitalChangeMaker initiative 2026
Without students, there would be no universities—and without your voice, there would be no change! Become part of the DigitalChangeMaker initiative of @hfd_digitalturn and help shape the university world of tomorrow. As a DCM, you will be developing visions for a sustainable university—working alongside experts on projects in one of three thematic tracks: Learning, Society, or AI — presenting your results at the University:Future Festival 2026 in Berlin — benefiting from workshops, mentoring, and a strong network of students, university stakeholders, and politicians. Apply by November 30, 2025.
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Scholarships
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A semester abroad or short-term programmes: Don't miss out!
Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to view your subject – and yourself – from a different perspective while gaining valuable academic and life experience. As a HU student, you benefit from an extensive international network: How about taking part in Erasmus+ in Europe? Or spending a semester in Africa, Asia, Australia or the Americas? On our website, you’ll find all the information you need about the programmes, application deadlines, and advisory services. And did you know: international experience doesn’t always mean going far – it can also start at home or with short stays abroad. Our European university alliance Circle U. offers a wide range of opportunities to study together with students from our partner universities – both online and on-site – and to earn ECTS credits. Visit the Open Campus and discover programmes and courses that suit you! The HU ambassadors share insights in blogs and on Instagram throughout the semester.
THESys Award
You find yourself at the end of your studies and are dealing with human-environment research in your graduation thesis? The HU would like to support you: Excellent theses can be submitted for the THESys Award. (Annual call for applications between 15 July and 1 November)