Welcome Week

Welcome Week in winter semester 2026/2027
The Welcome Center offers various orientation events for new international students every semester.
The events for the winter semester 2026/2027 will mainly take place as of 5 October 2026. Some online events will happen before that. You will find more detailed information about the Welcome Week on these web pages in good time (please scroll down); the list of events will be continuously updated.
Discover Saarland
Our Centre for International Students (ZiS) made a little collection of the most beautiful destinations in Saarland for you.
Please also check out the leisure activities organized by:
Onboarding for Moodle, LSF and MS Teams
From 5 to 9 October, the Centre for Teaching and Learning is offering new students an onboarding programme, including the multilingual hybrid information session 'Onboarding: Digital Platforms', in which participants will familiarise themselves with the university’s key digital platforms, such as LSF, Moodle and MS Teams. There will also be workshops on artificial intelligence and effective presentation skills.
Onboarding for first semester students: LSF, Moodle and MS-Teams
Orientation Sessions
The link to each event will be provided some time before the start. You can then find the link to each event below.
How to: Participation in MS Teams
Tuesday, 25. August 2026
11:30: How to find accommodation in Saarbrücken (online)
This presentation provides an overview of the available housing options, explains where and how to search effectively, and highlights what to expect during the housing search process. We also cover common challenges, useful tips for contacting landlords, and important things to keep in mind before signing a rental agreement.
Duration: 45 minutes
Click here to join
Thursday, 03. September 2026
15:30: How to find accommodation in Saarbrücken (online)
This presentation provides an overview of the available housing options, explains where and how to search effectively, and highlights what to expect during the housing search process. We also cover common challenges, useful tips for contacting landlords, and important things to keep in mind before signing a rental agreement.
Duration: 45 minutes
Click here to join
Tuesday, 06 October 2026
14:00 Orientation 1 - Arrival and Registration procedures
City registration, visa appointments, opening a bank account and much more.
Location: Innovation Center (A2.1), room 3.05.1 (3rd floor)
Duration: 45 minutes
15:00 Orientation 2 - Culture differences and safety tips
How to avoid misunderstandings due to cultural differences; consent in Germany; community support offers; how to handle cases of emergency
Location: Innovation Center (A2.1), room 3.05.1 (3rd floor)
Duration: 45 minutes
Wednesday, 07 October 2026
14:00 Orientation 3 - Orientation 3 - Apartment rentals in Saarbrücken - Do's & Dont's
What you need to look out for when renting an apartment, during your rental period and which paperwork to deal with.
Location: Innovation Center (A2.1), room 3.05.1 (3rd floor)
Duration: 45 minutes
15:00 Orientation 4 - The medical system in Germany
How does the German insurance system work and what to do if you get sick during your stay?
Location: Innovation Center (A2.1), room 3.05.1 (3rd floor)
Duration: 45 minutes
Monday, 12 October 2026
10:00 Official Semester Opening of Saarland University
On Monday October 12, Saarland University will celebrate the official opening for the new academic year and welcome all its new students to the campus.
The event will begin with an official greeting of the university's president and will be followed by interviews with students and other members of university.
New in 2026: this year the entire event will be interpreted simultaneously, giving you the chance to listen to all speeches in English via your headphones.
The second part of the event is an Information Fair, where you can meet the teams of different university services and get to know their offer. The represented offices include the Language Center, the German Course Office, University Sports, the Center for International Students, the Erasmus Student Network, the Family Office, the Psychological Counseling Office and many others. The official list will soon be updated and then be available on the website of the Information Fair.