Support and Advising
Starting LAS is a big change – transition to university, a new city or country, questions about LAS, the right Major, or study abroad... UCF, Freiburg University, and others offer support and advising in different areas, including health issues, emergencies, and more
Advising and Learning Support at UCF
UCF academic advising, your class community, and fellow students can advise on academic and learning issues. You can also find university courses on learning strategies and more.
Application & Admissions Advising
Applying at a university is challenging. Beyond our application guideline, there are several support offers in place for prospective LAS students:
- LAS-specific application inquiries → UCF's Stefan Adler at application@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- General application matters → Uni Student Service Center at studienberatung@service.uni-freiburg.de
- Processing of non-EU applications and recognition of non-German University entrance qualifications → Uni International Admissions and Services at international@service.uni-freiburg.de
- Finally, LAS students are also available for questions → lasstudentsmediator@gmail.com
Your Academic Advisor
LAS students are assigned an academic advisor who can provide new perspectives, help you think through options and decisions, e.g. choice of Major, studies abroad, plans after LAS... And you can discuss challenges such as adjusting to a new environment or balancing studies and work. Please see the Student Handbook for more on academic advising.
Program Consultation and Examination Office
Program Consultation provides information on technical and organizational LAS questions. Thorsten Leiendecker, the LAS Program Coordinator, can be contacted at:
- Email: las.consultation@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Tel. +49-761-203-67614
- Office Hours: Monday 10–12 (Alte Uni 01069a) and Wednesday 10–12 (by appointment via ILIAS or phone)
Information on courses and dates is available in the Course Catalog. Lecturers' contact details and office hours are listed there and on the UCF staff page. Please consult the Program Coordination information on the ILIAS Info Board and in the Student Handbook first.
The Examination Office is responsible for administering forms, exams, grades, and transcripts. Kathleen Robinson is available for student- and exam-related matters:
- Email: examination@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Tel. +49 761 203-67342
- Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10–12, exam office (Alte Uni 01070), by appointment
Advising in the Majors, the Core, and Study Abroad
Advising in the Major and Core focuses on the content and organization of these study areas. Please see the information provided by the coordinators on ILIAS first (e.g. Wikis, Interest Groups...).
- Core: Thorsten Leiendecker at thorsten.leiendecker@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Culture and History: Dr. Ryan Plumley at ryan.plumley@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Environmental and Sustainability Sciences: Dr. Sabine Sané at sabine.sane@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Governance: Dr. Mila Mikalay at liudmila.mikalayeva@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
- Life Sciences: Dr. Simon Büchner at simon.buechner@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
At the annual Major decision event, usually held during the summer semester and coordinated with the deadline for the Major declaration, coordinators and students present "their" Major and answer your questions.
Study Abroad Advising for outgoing and incoming exchange students focuses on questions before, during, and after your stay abroad or at UCF. Please consult the information on our website and on ILIAS first.
If you have questions, get in touch with UCF International Coordinator Anne Klemperer at anne.klemperer@ucf.uni-freiburg.de
Office Hours: Monday afternoon by appointment (Room 01066)
Every spring, UCF hosts a Study Abroad Fair with presentations by UCF and the International Office on study abroad opportunities as well as a Q&A with LAS students about their study abroad experiences and with exchange students from our partner universities.
Student-to-Student Support and Peer Advisors
The LAS student body is a supportive community. You can find peers to share learning strategies, class-based expertise, balancing leisure and work, mitigating stress and anxiety during exam times... Seek them out!
The Student Council is the LAS student association. It is a platform for social and extracurricular activities and contributes to support and advising at UCF.
The Student Mediators confidentially resolve conflicts within the student body or between students and staff. And they are available for questions about student life at UCF: lasstudentsmediator@gmail.com
The student committees bring together engaged students with similar interests, e.g. in the Outreach Committee, Journalism Committee, Global Order Project, Ecoalas, Intense Committee, Acts of Kindness, Reading Room Committee...
The Students Council regularly organizes intercohort get-togethers to bring together students for activities such as ice-skating, movie nights, picnics by the lake, etc.
The LAS Peer Advisors
At UCF, senior students advise younger peers especially in their first LAS year: university- and life-related issues, university bureaucracy, transition to adulthood, the unspoken rules and values at UCF and in Freiburg... An advising group consists of 2 advisors and 6-8 advisees. There are several meetings throughout the year, each with a different focus, depending on upcoming LAS decisions and deadlines. For more information, please contact Anne Klemperer and see the information on ILIAS.
Peer Advising Testimonial
Johanna and Benedikt were LAS peer advisors in 2019:
"Our main motivation to become mentors was to offer guidance to first-years starting a new chapter of their lives at UCF and Freiburg. This new chapter often creates many questions, insecurities and challenges, as well as new inspiration and possibilities. We remember this time in our own first year very well, and hoped that our involvement as advisors would make the first year at UCF somewhat smoother for our mentees.
Our aim was getting to know all our advisees and create a personal connection, so they would feel comfortable talking about their personal situation and we would be able to give proper advice. In the end, this showed us that that we are connected in many more ways than just being students at the UCF!"
Support and Information beyond UCF
The University and university-related institutions offer advising, support, resources for all sorts of situations.
Advising and Learning Support
- The Central Academic Advising at the Uni Freiburg Student Service Center (SCS) offers counseling on questions before, during, or after your studies.
- The SCS maintains the myUFR app for information about workshops on navigating the academic system in Freiburg and managing your academic learning progress.
- Students with a disability or chronic illness can receive academic support at the SCS as well.
- The Studentisches Gesundheitsmanagement offers a variety of resources and courses on time management, stress management, etc. (often in German).
- The Studierendenwerk (SWFR) has a large number of cultural, financial, academic, and psychological counselling offers, including workshops on learning techniques, time-management, writer's block, etc.
- Nightline Uni Freiburg is a low threshold student-to-student chat about any- and everything – anonymous and without prejudices. The Freiburg Nightline is in German; Konstanz has an English version.
Wellbeing and Health Support
There are many wellbeing and health-oriented activities and opportunities beyond your studies.
- The Studierendenwerk Freiburg (Student Services Freiburg; not part of the University) provides a broad range of services.
- Counselling for students with children, for international students, and for students with disabilities
- Psychotherapeutic counselling
- Financing your studies
- Student dorms and information on accommodation in Freiburg
- Legal advice and mediation
- At the University of Freiburg
- For mental health crisis situations, please see the list of counseling option and health support services compiled by the the Student Services Center (SCS).
- For treatment, counseling, and prevention services in the context of stress-related disorders, please see the offerings at the Uni Freiburg Psychology Department.
- Students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses also receive support and advising at the SCS.
- The Studentisches Gesundheitsmanagement has resources, largely in German, on health and wellbeing.
International and Intercultural Support
- You are new to Germany? You are interested in interculturality? You are preparing for your study abroad? The Uni Freiburg kosmic online platform offers online self-study formats such as "Core competencies in studies" or "Basic knowledge of interculturality".
- The University runs an Intercultural Mentoring Program: Advanced students (mentors) share experiences with international students (mentees) and support them in personal, social, and professional matters.
- Freiburg has a huge variety of international clubs and offers, e.g., Club Evenings, Black Forest Camps, Buddy Program, Café Multilingua, Study Trips, and much more.
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We have a UCF webpage with information and resources for (new) international students.
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The Student Services Center has an overview of social and leisure activities, especially but not only for international students.
Help in Emergencies
- Emergency telephone numbers: 110 (police) or 112 (fire department/rescue service)
- The University hospital lists health emergency contacts here.
- The University lists general emergency contacts here.
- Here is a list of first aid information and emergency contacts in and around UCF / Alte Universität.
- In cases of sexual harassment, violence, or stalking, please see the offerings at the Equal Opportunities Office. If you prefer advice at UCF, please get in touch with Mila Mikalay, Sabine Sané, or Thorsten Leiendecker.
- Are you having suicidal thoughts? Somebody you know? You may want to look at the Arbeitskreis Leben, a U25 suicide prevention offering for young adults. Their website is in German only. Get a German-speaking LAS student or staff member involved.