First Semester at HAW Kiel: A Guide to Getting Started
The essentials for a smooth start at HAW Kiel
Starting university means being hit with a lot of information at once. So much, in fact, that some things never seem to get properly explained — or maybe they did, and they just got lost somewhere in the chaos of the first week. There are a few things that trip up almost every first semester student , not because they are complicated, but because nobody explicitly explains them.
How to Read Room Numbers
Before your first day, it helps to understand how rooms are labeled on campus. The letter in front of the building number tells you which part of the campus you are in. C stands for the main campus, while F refers to buildings near the Seefischmarkt. The number after the letter is the building number, and the number after the dash tells you the floor and room. C22-0.02 for example means building 22 on the main campus, room 0.02 on the ground floor. Once you understand the system, finding your way around gets much easier.
C12 Is a Maze
Building C12 is known for being confusing and finding the right room on the first try is not guaranteed. The building has multiple floors, wings, and entrances that can be hard to navigate without guidance. If you get lost, head to the ground floor. There is a screen near the entrance that explains how to navigate the building and guides you to your room directly on your phone. Leave extra time if your class is there, especially in the first few weeks.
Your Semester Ticket Lives on Your Phone
Before you even arrive on campus, make sure your semester ticket is set up. It is no longer a physical card, since it is now managed through the NAH.SH app. To activate it you need to enter your university email and a few personal details, and the ticket then appears digitally in the app. Do not wait until you are already at the bus stop to figure this out.
Three Platforms, Three Purposes
In your first week you will come across three different platforms. Casy is the main student portal for administrative things like semester re-registration and downloading study certificates. QIS is where you register for courses and exams and check your grades. Moodle is where your course materials, assignments and communication with lecturers live. All three are important and getting familiar with them early will save you a lot of stress later.
Registration Is Your Own Responsibility
One of the most important things to know early on: you have to register for both your courses and your exams yourself, and both have deadlines. First you sign up for the courses you want to attend, then , a while later, you seperately register for the actual exams. If you miss the exam registration window, you cannot take the exam, even if you have attended every lecture. Check QIS regularly and find out when the registration periods open for your semester.
IDW and IDL — Two Terms, One System
Most students hear early on that they need to collect IDW or IDL points, but nobody really explains the difference. Both are essentially the same thing. They‘re credits you earn by taking classes outside of your normal program. The difference is just timing. IDW points come from a two-week period each semester where you attend special interdisciplinary classes. IDL points come from courses that run throughout the entire semester and often earn you more points since they take longer. Most students assume they have to wait for the IDW weeks, when in reality the semester-long courses are available the whole time.
The Best Information Comes From Other Students
A lot of the practical knowledge about studying at HAW Kiel does not come from official sources. It comes from fellow students who asked the right question at the right time and passed it on. During orientation week you will be introduced to Hiwis , who are student assistants who are there to help. Afterwards they stay reachable through a WhatsApp group where you can ask questions at any time. Do not be afraid to use it ,s since that is exactly what it is there for.
You Will Not Know Everything and That Is Okay
The first semester feels like everyone else has it figured out except you. They do not. Almost everyone is quietly trying to keep up, unsure if they missed something important. The difference is usually just who asked first.
Have more tips for first semester students at HAW Kiel? Share them in the comments below.
