First semester in Ulm: Record number of 1,800 new students starts!

First semester in Ulm: Record number of 1,800 new students starts!

The winter semester 2025/26 has begun at Ulm University and the university is welcoming around 1,800 new students. The welcome took place on Monday morning under the guidance of University President Professor Michael Weber and representatives of the Student Body (StuVe). The speeches were broadcast in different lecture halls in order to reach as many of the new students as possible. Professor Weber emphasized the importance of curiosity and enthusiasm and encouraged the newcomers to maintain these throughout their studies.

Of the new students, more than 900 are classic first-year students who are taking up undergraduate studies. Almost 900 other people are continuing their studies in Ulm or changing their subject. In total, almost 10,000 students are enrolled at Ulm University at the start of lectures. The interests of new students are diverse; The courses in human medicine, psychology and economics receive the greatest popularity. In addition, 530 people are pursuing a master's degree.

Introduction to the university landscape

To make it easier for the new students to get started, the deans of all faculties welcomed the fresh faces and introduced them to the various study programs. Important institutions such as the Central Student Advisory Service, the Communication and Information Center (kiz) and the International Office presented themselves in the university forum. These events offer new students valuable information and support, which is of great importance for the start of their studies.

StuVe chairmen Julia Fokt and Igor Mikhailov also placed emphasis on the development of soft skills. She emphasized how important involvement in student representation and university groups is for personal and professional development. That's why numerous university groups were there with stands to recruit new members. The offerings ranged from leisure activities to information events.

A warm welcome

As a small welcome gift, the new students received a water bottle and a clay tablet that serves as a “tangible certificate of enrollment.” This year, the clay tablets show the graduates' traditional hat toss in front of Ulm Cathedral and were designed and produced by the University's Music Center (MUZ). Such small gestures help to make it easier for new students to get started at the university and introduce them to the community.

Experience shows that the number of students at Ulm University changes until around mid-November. This could potentially result in a further increase in enrollment, as the curiosity and range of courses on offer attract many students. Parallel to the start of the winter semester, statistics from the Federal Statistical Office show that a consistently large number of first-year students will be recorded in Germany in the period from 1995 to the 2024/2025 academic year. The demand for study places therefore remains high, which is also reflected in the current figures at Ulm University. Further information on the developments of first-year students in Germany is available on Statista.

Overall, the start of the 2025/26 winter semester at Ulm University not only offers a new opportunity for students, but also reflects the dynamic development in the university landscape in Germany.