Information for first semesters at HPI

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

Official introduction at HPI#

Date: expected 03. and 04.04.2025

  • 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 are scheduled to start on April 3rd at 9 am 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 08.04.2025 and ends on 19.07.2025.

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 2024 (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

  • Goal 1: You will be able to refresh your prior math knowledge from school and fill in gaps in your knowledge, making the transition to math lecture easier.
  • Goal 2: You 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.
  • The course is also the perfect opportunity to get to know your future fellow students - without the stress of exams, time pressure, etc.
  • The lecturer is Dr. Timo Kötzing from the Algorithm Engineering Group, your lecturer for Mathematics I.
  • Those unable to attend on-site are invited to take the openHPI math precourse https://open.hpi.de/courses/mathe2023 instead.
  • Signing up is not necessary.
  • The course lasts 3 weeks and typically takes place from Monday to Friday from 9:15 to 15:00.
  • A barbecue is planned for the first day to get to know each other better. This will take place after the course.

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 costs for participation in the Erstifahrt are expected to be €70-80. (If the costs represent a hurdle for you, there will be the possibility of a subsidy)
  • You will receive further information and an application form via e-mail in good time.

Start of Lecture Period#

  • The lecture period of the winter semester 2024/2025 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 offers of the Hochschulsport are very diverse and often very cheap.
  • 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:https://www.uni-potsdam.de/en/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, the HPI also offers its own English courses in its Professional Skills Program (Specialized English I and II).

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 pen with you when studying mathematics, it is not compulsory to have a laptop at HPI. But 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, it should be noted that students can buy laptops from Lenovo and Apple for a lowered price in exchange for a student certificate. You should also look out for student discounts from 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

It is worth living close to the Griebnitzsee.

You can use Mapnificent to check where you can live if you want to get in X minutes or less to the HPI.

Student Union#

  • The Studentenwerk makes studying easier for students.
  • The services include: student residences, BAföG administration, refectories and cafeterias, job placement and various advisory services.

Student residences#

General advantages#

  • relatively cheap
  • contact to many students
  • furniture (kitchen, bed, desk, shelf, cupboard, chairs) and washing machines/dryers (in the laundry room) available
  • proximity to the campus
Student residence Stahnsdorfer Straße#
  • Costs: 300 € to 360 €
  • mainly two-bed apartments, few single apartments and three-bedroom apartments
  • is right next to the HPI (highly recommended)
  • Note: very popular, therefore long waiting times! Apply early! (This is also possible, even if you do not yet have a certificate of enrolment)
  • More information on the website of the Studierendenwerk
Student residence Park Babelsberg#
  • Costs: 250 € to 270 €
  • 4 and 5-bed shared flats
  • about 2,5 km away from HPI
  • Disadvantages: Poor transport connections (especially at night): conditionally recommended, but can be reached by bicycle within 5 - 10 minutes
  • The apartments are slightly smaller than those in Stahnsdorfer Straße
  • More information can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk
Student residence Breite Straße and Kiezstraße#
  • Costs: 250 € to 380 €
  • predominantly single flats, a couple 2-bed shared flats and family appartments
  • central location in the city, 10 minutes away from the main station (recommendable)
  • Disadvantage: large street in front of the door
  • more information on the website of the Studentenwerk here and here
Student residence Rosenstraße#
  • Costs: 305 € to 325 €
  • single flats
  • Advantages: Some of the apartments have a balcony, the apartments do not have such a "dormitory character"
  • Disadvantages: The Studentenwerk Potsdam (or the University of Potsdam's "ZIM") cannot provide internet access here, unlike the other apartments. This means that you have to take care of this yourself (significantly more expensive)
  • More information on the website of the Studierendenwerk

The other Potsdam residences are only conditionally recommended due to the distance to the Griebnitzsee campus. More information about these dormitories can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk .

Please note: Places in student residences are assigned according to the order in which applications are received. You can apply without being enrolled at the university. Since you are reading this page, you seem to be interested in studying at HPI. Therefore, if you would like to live in a student residence, we would highly advise you to apply as soon as possible! In order to actually get a place in a dormitory, you have to submit your certificate of enrolment subsequently.

If you have signed a tenancy agreement for a room in Stahnsdorfer Straße starting in October, but would like to move in earlier for the precourse, you can ask Mrs. Schwanke schwanke@studentenwerk-potsdam.de if the room might become available earlier. In addition, you can try to contact your previous tenant and find out whether moving in earlier is an option. Since the residence halls are social housing, there is no second home tax. In any case you have to register your new residence at the municipal office.

Private living#

Apart from the Studentenwerk, there are a couple private businesses that offer dorms for students, such as Basecamp , Youniq , skay , Die Zimmerei , How8 , or the-twenty .

However, their capacities are limited and the dorms are quickly taken.

Other than that, you can always consult a search engine for housing. Examples for those are Immobilienscout24 (German only, for any kind of housing), WG-Gesucht (for shared flats), and Kleinanzeigen (at Immobilien > Auf Zeit & WG).

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

General tips#

  • pay attention to the transport connection to the HPI
  • Attention: "Neubau" = Plattenbau (prefabricated building)
  • Nightlife in Potsdam is limited: make sure you have a good connection to Berlin

Living in Potsdam#

  • Babelsberg district
    • Distance to HPI varies, 4 minutes by S-Bahn from Babelsberg S-Bahn station
    • Living atmosphere: almost only old buildings, altogether quite nice
    • near the S-Bahn station Babelsberg there are very nice renovated apartments in old buildings
  • Am Stern district
    • Distance to HPI: by bus about 10 to 15 minutes, by bike usually faster
    • Living atmosphere: Almost only prefabricated concrete slab buildings (mainly renovated); not too bad; very cheap
  • District Am Schlaatz
    • Distance to HPI: about 15 to 30 minutes by bus/train or bike
    • Living atmosphere: almost only prefabricated housing
    • cheapest district of Potsdam
  • Other districts
    • partly very nice districts (e.g. Berlin suburb, Potsdam West). Closer to Potsdam city center, but usually further away from HPI and Berlin

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!