O-Phase der Fachschaft Physik am KIT
The orientation phase - O-phase for short - is our information event, which should help you to find your way around the university better. After the welcome ceremony, you will get to know everything you need to know about your studies, the campus, Karlsruhe and you will meet your fellow students in small groups.
Of course we don't want to reveal everything in advance, that would be boring. But we can tell you a few things. We answer questions like "What lectures do I have to take? How do I put my timetable together? How do I find my way around the KIT's jungle of websites? Where can I get the best lunch? Where can I print cheaply? What can I do at the university besides studying? " and many more.
Your O-phase group is a small group of up to 15 first-year students that is guided by experienced students (tutors) from higher semesters. You spend most of the time in this group and especially now under Corona conditions the O-phase takes place exclusively in these small groups. I.e. you will have no physical contact with other O-Phase groups. During the group times, your tutors will show you, for example, how to borrow a book from the library or where to have lunch and of course much more.
All :) of course, we recommend that you take part in the entire program. If you can't do that, you should definitely take part in the events regarding examination regulations and minor subject presentation. If you miss these events, you can contact us via mail so that you can still receive the important information.
In short, studying physics is as good as impossible to master on your own. Especially with the first exercise sheets, you will find that these are simply not solvable on your own - no matter how good you were in school. Physics and physical thinking thrive on the lively exchange of ideas and let's be honest, solving difficult problems is just a lot more fun together. It is therefore very important that you get to know your fellow students at the beginning of your studies and be able to find a study group. And that's what the O-Phase is for. With a little luck you will not only find study partners during this legendary week, but possibly even friends for life.
Since the O-Phase is a lot more fun if you don't have to go home in the early evening, we try to find a place to sleep for you. Contact us or your tutors on Monday. If you still do not have an apartment at the start of the lectures, the AStA will try to provide an emergency accommodation. To do this, contact soziales@asta.kit.edu
The easiest way is the online application , which is possible for all subjects. You should carefully read the information on the Student Office page. If you have any questions, there is also the KIT applicant hotline: 0721 608 82222.
It's best to enjoy your free time and do what you enjoy. If you want to brush up on your mathematic skills or prepare yourself before your studies, there are also preliminary courses from the MINT college.
It works theoretically. But - better not think about it. The normal student usually has enough to contend with one subject of study. Getting started with your studies should get your full attention. If in doubt, you can still decide after the first semester to study something else in parallel. In addition, you can already get a good insight into another subject with the minor in the Bachelor's degree. If you have too little to do, you can also kill your time in other ways - e.g. with student council work. :)
You should have received a letter with your SCC account (u-code + password) when you enrolled. You can use this u-code to log in to the wifi , in the student portal as well as the KIT web server . Please contact the study office or SCC if anything did not work.
Yes, we have a stapler.
If you need the money or just want to get some work experience, there are tons of part-time jobs here - both at and outside of university. However, it is a good idea to take the major math and orientation exams before starting a job.
Internships are not included in the physics course. An internship in the 5th semester of the geophysics course is planned.
Yes. That is even promoted quite well: For stays abroad within Europe there is the Erasmus program . In addition, the faculty offers a double master program with the University of Grenoble Alpes. As a Bachelor, it is common to do a stay abroad between the 4th and 6th semester. As a rule of thumb: preparations should be started about 1 year in advance. As a master’s degree, it is best to take care of it before or at the very beginning of your studies.
The KIT is a campus university, i.e. (almost) all buildings are on a single site. The campus is centrally located between the castle park and the pedestrian zone, i.e. right in the heart of the city, and has very good connections to public transport. If you like nature, it is a good idea to take small breaks to take a walk in the Hardtwald, which is directly to the north. But otherwise, the campus is very green and offers enough shady spots to relax.
In Karlsruhe there are many nice pubs (many with beer gardens in summer), a few clubs, good cinemas and in summer the palace garden is a nice place to meet friends. So there should be something for everyone. The trains also run at night on weekends, unfortunately only until ~ 01:00 on weekdays. You can find more information here .
Most students live in shared flats (WGs) or in dormitories. There are a few of them in Karlsruhe. The Studierendenwerk offers most of the dormitories; but some dormitories are also self-governed. Particularly noteworthy is the HaDiKo - the largest self-managed student residence in Germany. Both dormitories and private apartments are usually no more than ten minutes (by bike) from the university. The typical student residential areas are Oststadt, Innenstadt and Südstadt.
The Studierendenwerk has a housing exchange platform , which is updated regularly. Here you will find new flat share and apartment offers. Under wg-sucht there are also new offers almost daily. It can also be useful to look through the advertisements in local newspapers (e.g. BNN) or even to advertise yourself. If you are already in Karlsruhe to look at apartments, you can stop by the notice board in the cafeteria, there are often ads for shared flats and apartments.
In addition, the Stadtwiki also lists all dormitories and contact points for private renting.
You can - but is that smart? When you start studying, you should actually stand on your own two feet. In addition, you only get to know the people you study with when you are really there and don't have to leave when the last train leaves.
You can buy your student ticket as soon as you have your study / KVV certificate in the student portal - i.e. as soon as you are enrolled. If you start studying physics, it even makes sense that you buy your ticket before the start of the lecture, because you will probably be in Karlsruhe after the preliminary math course. From 6:00 p.m. every day, on weekends and on public holidays, you can use the KVV free of charge with the printed KVV certificate and your student ID.
Then you have three options to find out more. It's best to go through them in chronological order:
In our first-semester info there are many answers to the above questions and much more. There you will find more detailed explanations about the university, the physics / geophysics / meteorology / teaching degree and life in Karlsruhe. The first-semester info is a product of many, many semester and life experiences. So you should really take it to heart.
Your O-phase tutors and the organization - The O-phase is there to inform you about the course. So take the opportunity and ask everything that's on your heart.
The Fachschaft! Your student representatives are there to support you through your studies. It is your friend and helper and is happy to answer questions. Outside of Corona, you are welcome to drop by at any time in the so-called swamp or the office and speak to a person. Otherwise, you can of course always contact us via mail with questions.