Welcome to Cognitive Science at Osnabrück University!
We are excited to welcome our newest students to the Cognitive Science program this semester! As the new semester begins, we want to make sure you’re fully prepared for this exciting journey. Every new student will receive an email with all the essential information and links, so be sure to check your inbox – this will be your guide to the academic start, and it’s important that you read it carefully.
In addition, you’ll find information about various social events and activities right here on our website. These events are a great opportunity to meet fellow students and start building connections within the Cognitive Science community.
Before the semester starts
The semester officially begins on October 1st, but lectures won’t start until Monday, October 28th. However, there are plenty of activities you can get involved in during the weeks leading up to the lectures.
From October 9th – 11th, there will be a Computer Science pre-course. More information can be found here, registration is not necessary: https://www.inf.uni-osnabrueck.de/arbeitsgruppen/didaktik/studienvorkurs_informatik.html
From October 14th – 18th, the Mathematics pre-course invites all those who want to get a head start. It is a good idea to attend this course, as mathematics is usually one of the topics that is troubling to a lot of students. More information on the mathematics pre-course can be found on the website (please sign up until 7.10., if you intend to attend): https://www.mathematik.uni-osnabrueck.de/willkommen/erstsemesterinfos/studienvorkurs.html
We are excited to already offer socializing events throughout the pre-courses, specifically designed to help you connect with fellow Freshies before the semester begins:
- CogSci Socializing during the Computer Science pre-course: October 9th from 16:00 – 20:00 at Schlossgarten (SchloGa) (follow the sign) or room 15/130,
- CogSci Socializing during the Mathematics pre-course: October 14th from 16:00 – 20:00, also at SchloGa or room 15/130
These early interactions are a great way to ease into university life as you navigate the pre-courses together and get to know your future fellow students! You can enjoy some board games or team up to explore the pubs in Osnabrück. Come and have some fun!
Bring your own food so we can have a picnic together.
Your Freshie Week
From October 21st to 25th, we will welcome you to the CogSci program and introduce all the important facts, tools, and places to you: The Freshie Week is intended to give you the information you need to successfully study Cognitive Science. You will learn to use the various university tools, you will be advised on how the study regulation works and how to find the right courses. And, of course, you will learn about Coxi-life around the university!
Check out the schedule below for all the key events and sessions during your Freshie Week. Detailed descriptions of each event are provided below, including what to bring, whether registration is mandatory, and if there are any costs involved. Make sure to review the details to ensure you’re fully prepared for each activity!
Reminder: Don’t forget to fill out the survey (see the link in your mail) by Sunday, October 6th! This helps us plan better for Freshie Week activities. It’s just a quick estimate, so no worries if you’re not 100% sure yet.
This schedule is preliminary! (last updated 30.09.2024)
Attendance at these events is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend joining at least the Freshie Week tutorials. They provide crucial information on course selection, university procedures, and how to register in StudIP (the tool for course sign-ups). This is especially important as new regulations are in effect from this winter term, and non-Freshies may not have the most up-to-date information.
While we encourage you to attend in person, you can also join some events online using the link provided in your welcome-email.
Event Descriptions
Informative events
| Welcome Talk highly recommended | At the Welcome Talk, you’ll meet fellow students and get helpful insights to kickstart your university journey. We can’t wait to see you there and officially welcome you into our community as we begin this exciting adventure together! This is also the best chance to grab your “Freshie Bag” full of vouchers and goodies! Just bring a pen and a piece of paper or your laptop to jot down anything important. |
| Tutorials highly recommended | These sessions are designed to help you get a smooth start to your studies. We’ll walk you through essential academic information, what courses to choose, and how to navigate life at university and in Osnabrück. So do not miss the tutorials! For Master students who are still waiting for their visa to Germany, there will also be an Online Tutorial available. Bring your laptop, your brain, and any questions you may have! No registration is required, but check with the tutorial group you belong to! |
| Institute Welcome, International Office & Initiative Talks highly recommended | Meet our Dean of Studies, the International Office, and some student initiatives! These will introduce you to the Institute of Cognitive Science and the different groups, activities, and opportunities you can get involved with during your time at uni. Bring something to take notes. |
| Q&A Session | This event is for everyone who still has questions about the study regulations and study program. Feel free to ask our Dean of Studies, Gregor Hörzer, and the CogSci Mentoring Team everything that was left unclear. |
| University Welcome | The University Welcome Event will feature a welcome speech by our university’s president, Prof. Dr. Susanne Menzel-Riedl. After the speech, you can join an information fair where various university-related groups and initiatives will present themselves and give out a variety of goodies! |
Social Events
| Campus Rallye highly recommended | Get to know your new campus through an interactive, fun-filled scavenger hunt! You’ll work in teams, explore key locations, and compete in challenges designed to help you familiarize yourself with the university and your peers. Bring comfortable clothes and lots of enthusiasm! |
| Coxi Party highly recommended | A relaxed party where the whole Coxi family comes together to party! Good drinks and nice music, organized by us for us! Wear whatever outfit you feel like dancing all night in and bring lots of energy! Ticket reservation is required and can be done online or during Freshie Week. 10€ for entry, drinks sold at the venue. |
| Flunky Ball & Pub Crawl highly recommended | Get ready for an epic afternoon of flunkyball (where athletic ability is optional, but enthusiasm is mandatory). You’ll make friends, questionable throws, and memories that’ll last a semester (or at least until next weekend). But wait —there’s more! After the games, we’re hitting up Osnabrück’s finest (and possibly stickiest) bars and pubs for a legendary tour. You can expect drink specials that’ll make you question your life choices (in the best way possible). We recommend coming to both events. Only if you really can’t make it, come definitely to the pub crawl. Bring: – Weather-appropriate clothing (rain or shine, Osnabrück doesn’t care) – A water bottle and a snack (for keeping up with your flunkyball prowess). Please eat beforehand—only some stops will have food, and you don’t know when you’ll have the opportunity to eat. – CASH to pay for your drinks (and the pals’ you make along the way). |
| AI Exhibition | This is a temporary exhibition on the subject of artificial intelligence. You can look around for yourself, but there will also be guided tours by other Coxis. The exhibition consists of three parts: History of AI, how AI works, and AI applications around Osnabrück. The exhibition only runs until October 27th, so this might be your last chance to see it. |
| AStA Freshie Party | Party for all Osnabrück University Freshies organized by the AStA. For info, check the AStA website. Entry is free and no registration required, but it usually fills up quickly, so be there early. |
| Bike Tour | This is a 3-hour bike tour starting from the Westerberg campus (meeting point: in front of the Mensa Westerberg). We will visit the Rubbenbruchsee and the canal, then follow the Hase (river) back into the city. After 1.5 hours, we will have a short break in the Schlossgarten for people to join or leave the group. We will then continue through Haste and finish on the Piesberg after another 1.5 hours. This event will continue seamlessly with the Piesberg stargazing event. You will, of course, need a bike. During the first half of the trip, we will still have daylight, but as twilight begins at 18:15, please make sure your bike has lights if you want to cycle the second half. We strongly recommend that your bike is roadworthy in case of police checks. Additionally, windproof clothing is useful. Consider bringing a jacket and a scarf, even if good weather is forecast. |
| Bouldering | For reasons we can’t really explain, bouldering has become a Coxi-favourite sport and we are looking forward to taking you along – whether you have been climbing for ages or never been in a climbing gym! Price and slots will be announced later! |
| Café Tour | Do you spend more time in cafés than pubs? Join our café tour to meet like-minded people and get to know the cafés in town. In small groups, you will wander from the best coffee to the best cake! Make sure to wear comfy shoes and bring some money to treat yourself: Participation is free, but please don’t forget to pay for your own drinks and food. |
| Game Night | Join us for a fun-filled game night where we come together to play a variety of board, card, and social games! Feel free to bring your favorite games, including your Nintendo Switch! |
| International Buffet | An amazing meet and greet with other international CogSci students to get to know varied cultures! Bring excitement, curiosity, and your favorite dishes from around the world! |
| OV Sneak Preview | Are you a movie enthusiast? Join us for an exciting night out at the Cinema Arthouse, where we catch the latest sneak preview! This fun and long-standing Coxi tradition is a fantastic way to meet fellow students and enjoy great films together. Please note that this event isn’t organized by us, so be sure to check the Cinema Arthouse website for tickets (6€) and details. |
| Piesberg Evening & Stargazing | Enjoy a relaxing evening of stargazing at Piesberg. Bring warm clothes and binoculars, if you have them. |
| Quiz Night | This is a fun and relaxed quiz that is all about having fun, and you don’t need to be a trivia expert to participate. Most of the answers can be figured out along the way. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet fellow students, test your wits, and enjoy a friendly competition. No prior knowledge needed, just bring your enthusiasm! |
| Sauna Night | After a busy Freshie Week, what better way to unwind than in the soothing warmth of a sauna? Don’t forget to bring your flip-flops, bathrobe, and towels. Costs will be announced later, registration is required! |
| SchloGa Evening with Picnic and Games | Join us for a relaxed evening filled with games and good food! Bring your favorite board games and some food to share with others. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, have fun, and enjoy a cozy evening together. Don’t miss out on the fun! |
| Speedfriending | This is the perfect opportunity for you to meet new people in a relaxed environment beyond the usual small talk. You will have the opportunity to talk to as many people as possible as we cover a variety of topics/questions from silly to deep and anything in between. You don’t need to bring anything but your excitement and openness! |
Contacts
If you are unable to attend the Freshie Week, please write to the Mentoring Team (cs-mentoring@uos.de) as soon as possible, so we can figure out when to set up a meeting to get you started for your first semester.
If you have any questions regarding the Freshie week events or concerns that cannot wait until the Freshie Week, please send an email to the Mentoring Team or contact us via fs-cogsci@uos.de.