Information for first semesters at HPI

Start of studies April 2025 (summer semester, Master's only)#

Official introduction at HPI#

Date: 04.04.2025, 09:00 in the foyer of the lecture hall building on Campus I. You will receive all further information and a link for pre-registration by e-mail.

  • During the introduction days you will learn everything you need to know for your first semester at HPI. It will take place all day; please do not make any other plans.
  • You will get a campus tour around the three HPI campuses, get to know all contact persons for the start of your studies, receive your HPI account as well as your access chip for the internal areas and a technical introduction. There will also be testimonials from students.
  • For the technical introduction, we recommend that you bring your private laptop so that you can make all the settings relevant to the start of your studies directly.

You should attend the introduction on in any case! Please let us know by email tofachschaftsrat@hpi.de if you cannot attend (parts of) the introduction in person. Further information will be published here in good time.

The Erstitage will start on Friday, April 4, at 9 a.m. in the foyer of the lecture hall building at HPI Campus I . Please check this page again to see if there are any changes to the meeting point or time.

Until then you can always ask us questions via email.

Start of Lecture Period#

The lecture period of the summer semester 2024 begins on 07.04.2025 and ends on 18.07.2025.

University Websites#

Website:https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/studium/studying/information-on-starting-your-studies

The university websites offer useful tips for starting your studies. You will only have to deal with the PULS (online enrolment system of the University of Potsdam) in exceptional cases. You will be informed about everything important regarding the enrolment during the introduction day and via e-mail during the first week of the semester.

Start of studies October 2025 (winter semester, Bachelor and Master)#

HPI pre-course [for Bachelor]#

Date: probably from mid-September for three weeks Location: Lecture hall 1 at Campus I in Griebnitzsee

  • On the first day, non-binding registration opens at 8:45 a.m. in front of the lecture hall.
  • Objective 1: Refreshing previous math knowledge from school and closing gaps in knowledge so that the transition to the math lecture is easier.
  • Objective 2: Prepare your computer for your studies and get to know some new software so that the introduction to the programming technology lecture is more relaxed. -A comprehensive introduction to the technology will then take place during the first days (see below).
  • The course is also a good opportunity to get to know future fellow students without the stress of exams, time pressure, etc.
  • The lecturer is Dr. Timo Kötzing from the Department of Algorithm Engineering, Lecturer in Mathematics 1.
  • Those who cannot attend on site are invited to visit the openHPI math pre-course https://open.hpi.de/courses/mathe2023 instead. The course was created in 2023, but is still up to date.
  • Signing up is not necessary.
  • A barbecue is planned for the first day after the preliminary course to get to know each other better.

Official introduction at HPI [for Bachelor and Master]#

Bachelor's date: Expected Tuesday, 07.10.2025 to Friday, 10.10.2025. Meeting point 07.10., 10:30 a.m. in the foyer of the lecture hall building. Master's date: Expected Thursday, 09.10.2025 and Friday, 10.10.2025. Meeting point 09.10., 09:00 a.m. in the foyer of the lecture hall building.

  • During the introduction days you will learn everything you need to know for your first semester at HPI. It will take place all day; please do not make any other plans.
  • You will get a campus tour around the three HPI campuses, get to know all contact persons for the start of your studies, receive your HPI account as well as your access chip for the internal areas and a technical introduction. There will also be testimonials from students.
  • For the technical introduction, we recommend that you bring your private laptop so that you can make all the settings relevant to the start of your studies directly.

You should attend the introduction on in any case! Please let us know by email to fachschaftsrat@hpi.de if you cannot attend (parts of) the introduction in person. Further information will be published here in good time. Until then you can always ask us questions via email.

Freshman trip [for Bachelor]#

Date: probably on one of the first weekends in the lecture period

  • Traditionally, a Freshman trip for all students in the first semester is offered. This is a great way to get to know each other.
  • Participation in the Freshman trip is of course not a prerequisite for a successful start to your studies, but an optional offer from your new fellow students.
  • The cost of participating in the Erstifahrt is expected to be €70-80. (If the costs are an obstacle for you, there is usually the possibility of receiving a subsidy).
  • You will receive further information and an application form via e-mail in good time.

Start of Lecture Period#

  • The lecture period for the winter semester 2025/2026 begins on 13.10.2025 and ends on 06.02.2026.
  • Typically, the winter semester starts on Monday at 9 AM with an HPI General Assembly.

Welcome at the University of Potsdam#

  • At the beginning of the semester, there is usually an official welcome ceremony for all first semester students at the University of Potsdam.
  • The WarmUP! usually takes place in the first week of lectures and offers a varied cultural program.
  • Find more information on StudiUP and WarmUP! .

University Websites#

Website:https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/studium/studying/information-on-starting-your-studies

The university websites offer useful tips for starting your studies. You will only have to deal with the PULS (online enrolment system of the University of Potsdam) in exceptional cases. You will be informed about everything important regarding the enrolment during the introduction days and via e-mail during the first week of the semester.

Leisure and additional offers#

Potsdam, the university and the HPI offer a wide range of opportunities for your studies and leisure time. You will get to know most of them in time during your studies. Here we would like to briefly describe the most relevant ones.

University sports#

Website:https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/hochschulsport

  • The university sports offers are very diverse and usually very affordable.
  • They offer a good opportunity to get to know students from other academic courses.
  • The enrolment begins early in the semester and some offers are often booked out after a few minutes, so it's worth informing yourself early and being quick!

Language Center#

Website:http://www.uni-potsdam.de/zessko

  • The Center for Languages of the University of Potsdam (ZESSKO ) offers various courses in which you can enrol online only.
  • The exact enrollment period is noted on the ZESSKO website.
  • If you would like to improve your English skills, HPI also offers its own English courses in its Professional Skills Program.

Teaching company#

  • All HPI courses take place at the Griebnitzsee campus, right next to the "Griebnitzsee" S-Bahn station.
  • Language courses at the University of Potsdam take place at the Language Center on the Griebnitzsee campus.
  • Other courses at the University of Potsdam (relevant from the 3rd semester at the earliest) may take place at different locations.

Laptops#

  • Just as it is not compulsory to have a pencil in a math course, it is not compulsory for us to have a laptop. However, it is much easier if you have one.
  • It doesn't matter whether you use a Windows, Apple or Linux laptop. If you can feel comfortable with your current operating system, then there is no reason to switch. This way you can continue using the applications you already used before.
  • In exceptional cases, a course may require a Linux or Windows installation. But virtual machines are easily created for this purpose and these two operating systems are also installed on the numerous pool computers.
  • Finally, please note that students can get some laptops from Lenovo and Apple at a discount in exchange for a student certificate. You should also look out for discounts for students at other providers.

Public transportation#

The HPI is located right next to the Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station in Potsdam, making it easy to reach from Berlin by taking the S7 train. In addition, the RB 21 and RB 22 go via Griebnitzsee. For information on connections have a look at

You can use tools like Mapnificent to see where you can live to get to HPI in X minutes.

Student Union#

  • Studierendenwerk Potsdam makes studying easier for all students.
  • Its services include, for example, student residences, BAföG administration, canteens and cafeterias, job placement and various advisory services.

Student residences#

General#

  • Living in the halls of residence of the Studierendenwerk offers many advantages: Comparatively very affordable rent, contact with many other students, proximity to campus, furnishings (kitchen, bed, desk, shelves, wardrobe, chairs) and shared washing machines and dryers
  • Please note that the halls of residence are very popular! It is possible to apply one semester in advance without a certificate of enrolment. Places are generally allocated according to the order in which they are received. Further information on the application procedure and deadlines can be found here .
  • If you have signed a rental contract for a room in Stahnsdorfer Straße starting in October, but would like to move in earlier for the HPI preliminary course, you can ask Ms. van de Vegte (wohnen-service4@stwwb.de) whether the room might be available earlier. Otherwise, you can visit your previous tenant and discuss with them whether it is possible to move in earlier.
  • As the halls of residence are social housing, there is no second residence tax. However, you still have to register your new residence with the authorities.

Student residence Stahnsdorfer Straße#

  • Mainly 2-bed shared apartments, few single apartments and 3-bed shared flats
  • Located right next to the HPI
  • More information about this residential complex can be found here .

Student residence Park Babelsberg#

  • Mainly 4- and 5-person shared flats
  • About 2.5 km away from HPI
  • One disadvantage is the rather poor transport links, especially at night, but easy to reach by bike.
  • More information about this residential complex can be found here .

Student residence Breite Straße and Kiezstraße#

  • Mainly single apartments, some 2-person shared flats and family apartments
  • Right in the city, ten minutes from the main train station
  • One disadvantage is the noise level from the street directly in front of the door.
  • More information on these residential complexes can be found here and here .

Student residence Rosenstraße#

  • Mainly single apartments
  • One advantage is that some of the apartments have a balcony and are less "dormitory-like".
  • One disadvantage is that, unlike the other apartments, the Studierendenwerk (or the UP's "ZIM") cannot provide internet access here. This means that you have to take care of this yourself, i.e. expect additional costs.
  • More information about this residential complex can be found here .

The other halls of residence in Potsdam can only be recommended to a limited extent due to their distance from Griebnitzsee. More information about these halls of residence can be found on the Studierendenwerk website.

Private living#

Providers and search portals#

In addition to the Studentenwerk, there are also some private providers who offer accommodation specifically for students. However, these also have limited capacity and are quickly booked out. These include, for example

Apart from this, there is of course always the option of consulting online portals to find accommodation. These include, for example

Further offers can also be found on the page of the University of Potsdam .

Potsdam districts#

  • Babelsberg
    • Distance to HPI: From Babelsberg S-Bahn station four minutes by S-Bahn
    • The living atmosphere: Quite nice, almost all old buildings.
  • At the star
    • Distance to HPI: By bus approx. 10 to 15 minutes, usually faster by bike
    • Living atmosphere: Almost only prefabricated concrete slab buildings (mainly renovated); not too bad; very cheap
  • Am Schlaatz & Drewitz
    • Distance to HPI: By bus/train approx. 15 to 30 minutes.
    • Living atmosphere: Almost only prefabricated buildings
    • Cheapest districts in Potsdam
  • Other districts
    • Some very nice districts (e.g. Berliner Vorstadt, Potsdam West). Closer to Potsdam city center, but mostly further away from HPI and Berlin.

In general, it is also possible to find an apartment in the southern districts of Berlin. However, you often have to reckon with longer travel times and rental costs.

Contact#

Any questions? You can check the FAQ for HPI studies and send any questions to the Student Representative Group fachschaftsrat@hpi.de . We'll be happy to help you!