In view of the many current crises and conflicts, she encouraged the students: “Have confidence, as you are the ones who will shape the future! Our task is to prepare you for this in the best possible way.”
Studying for a degree teaches you how to think scientifically and analytically, and examine complex problems: “You will learn to collect and analyse data, and ask the right questions – about different perspectives, about connections, about contradictions. This lays solid foundations for seeking innovative solutions, as well as for scrutinising social discourse and developing your own point of view – beyond the seemingly simple and untenable answers offered in part by populist parties on TikTok.”
Although the welcoming address was focused on the future, it is also important to look back on this special date: “The terrible Hamas terrorist attack on the Israeli people and brutal hostage-taking exactly one year ago still horrifies us today. Our sympathies also go out to the civilian population in the Palestinian territories and in Lebanon. The human suffering on all sides is immeasurable. We cannot solve the conflict in the Middle East here at HHU, but as a University, we stand for an open and respectful exchange with arguments. Hate in word and deed, as well as all forms of discrimination have no place here. We will never tolerate anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism.”
Following these words, Sophie Rhinow from Düsseldorf university radio and cm3 moderated a panel discussion with the President, Professor Dr Christoph Börner – Vice President for Quality in Studies and Teaching, and Elif Benli – Chair of the General Student’s Committee (for short: AStA). Many study-related questions were answered, for example: Where do I get my timetable? When does it need to be finished? What are the most important points of contact when I start my studies?
Professor Börner encouraged everyone to take part in the first-year student survey, the launch of which is planned for 25 October: “We are particularly interested in what made you decide to study at HHU and what information sources helped you reach your decision. Your experiences are of great importance to us – they help us improve our offers and optimise approaches to future students.”
Among other aspects, Elif Benli highlighted the role of the student representatives and departmental student committees: “They can provide lots of help with concrete questions about day-to-day issues and student life, both in person and online.” There are also many opportunities to get involved on campus, “both in the departmental student committees and AStA offices, as well as in university politics or cultural and social topics.”
At the information bazaar in the foyers of the lecture theatres in buildings 22.01 and 23.01 after the official welcome event, all central University institutions were on hand to provide first-year students with a wide range of information and advice.
Preliminary figures at the start of the winter semester 2024/2025 (reference date: 4 October 2024):
At the reference date, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) had a total of 27,707 students; at the reference date in the prior year, this figure was 28,090. Around 14% are international students (around 15% in the prior year).
A total of 3,647 new students (students in their first semester at university) had enrolled by 4 October 2024, which is a slight decrease compared with the previous winter semester (2023: 3,931 students at the same reference date). The percentage of new students has decreased slightly year-on-year from 14% to 13%, while 16% of the students now starting a degree at HHU are from abroad.
At the reference date, the five most popular study programmes were the State Examination for Medicine, the Computer Science bachelor’s degree programme, followed by the State Examination for Law and the Biology and Business Administration bachelor’s programmes.
The top five study programmes in the previous year (in ranking order) were the State Examination for Medicine, the Computer Science bachelor’s degree programme, followed by the Biology bachelor’s programme, the State Examination for Law and the Business Administration bachelor’s programme.
In percentage terms, the top five programmes with the greatest growth over the past five years are the Artificial Intelligence master’s programme, the Industrial Pharmacy master’s programme, the Linguistics master’s programme, the Financial and Actuarial Mathematics bachelor’s programme, and the Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences bachelor’s programme.
Alongside those students studying for bachelor’s degrees and State Examinations, 757 master’s students are also starting their studies in the winter semester. The majority of these students (332) are enrolled at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, followed by the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics (181), the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (172) and the Medical Faculty (72).
With 11,523 students in total, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences is the largest faculty at HHU with 42% of all regular students currently enrolled here. The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is next with 26% (7,127 students), then the Medical Faculty with 15% (4,090 students), the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics with 10% (2,820 students) and the smallest faculty – the Faculty of Law – with 8% of all students (2,147 students).
Currently, students can still apply for places in the bachelor’s study programmes Biology, Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences, Quantitative Biology and Business Chemistry, the bachelor’s major subjects Art History and Japanese Studies, as well as the bachelor’s minor subjects Art History and Japanese Studies via the local clearing procedure.
Please note: All these figures refer to regular students including cross-registered students (headcount and excluding waiting-list candidates). The figures relating to first-year students and their breakdown by faculty and subject are provisional statistics only (trend) at the reference date of 4 October 2024. These figures change daily as clearing procedures are not yet complete. Final statistics are expected in December 2024.
