The Role of Studienberatung in Planning Your Study Path in Germany
What is Studienberatung?
Studienberatung is the official academic advising service at every German university. It helps students with:
choosing the right major
organizing a study plan
handling study-related difficulties
understanding academic rules and requirements
making decisions when changing a program or taking a temporary break
Types of advising
Type – Focus
General Academic Advising (Allgemeine Studienberatung) – guidance before or during your studies
Subject-Specific Advising (Fachstudienberatung) – within your faculty/department (e.g., physics, economics)
Psychosocial Counseling (Psychosoziale Beratung) – mental and social support for stress or personal crises
Career Advising (Karriereberatung) – career guidance through the university’s career service
When do you need to go to Studienberatung?
You should consider visiting in these cases:
before selecting a degree program
if time management is difficult or workload feels overwhelming
if you want to change your program (Studiengangwechsel)
if you failed an exam more than once (e.g., Drittversuch)
before applying for an Urlaubssemester (leave of absence)
if you are thinking about dropping out or postponing your studies
What to expect in a session
a one-on-one meeting (usually 30–60 minutes)
explanation of the Prüfungsordnung (exam regulations) and Studienverlaufsplan (study plan structure)
planning a realistic semester (Modulplan)
tips to improve performance and organize your studies
no binding decisions — you stay in control
Documents you should bring
transcript / grade overview (Notenspiegel)
timetable (Stundenplan)
program description or study plan
your questions written down in an organized way
How to book an appointment
through the university’s official website under “Studienberatung”
many universities allow online booking or booking by email
often there are walk-in hours (Offene Sprechstunde) without appointment
Useful German phrases
“Ich habe Schwierigkeiten mit meinem Studienverlauf und brauche Beratung.”
“Könnten Sie mir beim Wechsel des Studiengangs helfen?”
“Ich denke über ein Urlaubssemester nach. Was muss ich beachten?”
“Wie kann ich meinen Stundenplan besser strukturieren?”
Conclusion
Benefit – Result
study planning – saves time and effort, avoids mistakes
support during problems – helps prevent repeated failure or removal from the program
smart decisions – change programs at the right time
accurate information – understand rules and the academic system clearly
The website’s team of writers and editors strives to provide accurate information through extensive research and consulting multiple sources. However, errors may occur or some information may remain unconfirmed. Please consider this information as a preliminary reference and always consult the responsible official institutions for confirmed details.
