Need help deciding? First get your bearings, then study.

As soon as school ends, many people have to decide on a course of study. But which course is the right one? How does studying at university work? Which university is right for me? Should I study at all? A-level students often feel left alone with these questions. But there is a solution: RPTUzero. The orientation program at RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau offers help with decision-making. Among other things, participants can get to know different subjects at the same time in one semester.

RPTUzero has been a regular program in Kaiserslautern since 2018. Victoria Margraf and Ann-Cathrin Winter, coordinators for RPTUzero at the location there, regularly receive positive feedback: "The success of the project is particularly evident in the fact that more than half of the orientation students stay with us for regular studies." In Landau, RPTUzero was implemented for the first time in the summer semester of 2023. Britta Rudolf took over the coordination there. From her point of view, what speaks in favor of the orientation program: "With RPTUzero, prospective students can find out whether they meet the requirements of a degree program." In order to implement and further develop the offer in the best possible way, there is close cooperation and a constant exchange of experience between the two locations. Britta Rudolf names further advantages of the program: "RPTUzero is like a gentle introduction to studying, without the pressure to perform that comes with regular studies. This allows participants to make a considered decision about their future." It is particularly important for young people who have just passed their A-levels to experience the difference between school and university.

However, RPTUzero is not just for recent high school graduates, but also for professionals who want to break new ground. This applies, for example, to Sebastian Linden, a former tattoo artist who has been an educator for ten years. He took part in the first course in Landau. "I wanted to do something new, but I wasn't sure whether studying would suit me," says the 39-year-old. "I also had no idea what I would be suited to in terms of my subject," he explains. "As I'm no longer the youngest, I wanted to avoid changing subjects during my studies. Through RPTUzero, I was able to take a non-binding look at what was on offer and was involved in a framework program with fixed contact persons who provided support and answered questions about studying."

Discover perspectives, explore the campus

The RPTUzero event series "Study - Discover. Experience. Decide" offers orientation on all topics related to studying in parallel to attending courses. Participants can choose from six modules or thematic blocks.

In the "Discover study perspectives" module, participants explore the degree programs at the university that interest them. It's not just about content, but also about the professional fields that follow after graduation.

"Explore campus" is particularly popular: the university introduces itself via a campus tour and campus challenge - after which everyone knows where to find the canteen, library and much more. In addition, student institutions such as the General Students' Committee (AStA), the Student Advisory Service and the Studierendenwerk (Student Services) present their tasks and services. Of course, you can also make initial contacts with fellow students. Sebastian Linden emphasizes: "As a participant in RPTUzero, you are in the same position as all other first-year students: everyone wants to exchange ideas and, as a rule, nobody knows each other beforehand." Offers during the orientation week, such as the campus tour, quickly change that.

Develop study skills, test research

For most people, the "Study experience" module is the most important. Here, participants can freely choose what interests them from the wide range of degree courses and attend the corresponding courses. "This really helped me to rule out subject areas and confirm my preferences," explains Sebastian Linden. This direct study experience is rounded off by the fourth module, "Developing study skills", which teaches skills such as stress management and general study skills.

In the "Trying out research" module, participants also get a first impression of how practical research work works. In Kaiserslautern, they can attend research workshops and get actively involved in exciting research projects. The offer is rounded off with a course on scientific work. "Among other things, we teach how to formulate a research question and cite it correctly. After all, the university is not only about teaching, but also about intensive research," says Britta Rufolf.

Exchange of experience deepens orientation

The many impressions and experiences can be regularly reflected on in the "Deciding the future" module. Counseling services and exchanges with fellow students help with the decision-making process. To this end, Britta Rudolf brings students together individually with graduates of their desired degree program if required.

In the summer semester of 2024, the exchange between RPTUzero participants in Kaiserslautern and Landau will also be cast in a fixed format for the first time: "We are introducing a cross-location seminar series and thus opening up even more perspectives," explains Victoria Margraf. 

Sebastian Linden was impressed by the orientation program as well as the RPTU courses in general. He is now studying regularly in Landau on a dual-subject Bachelor's degree, which combines two undergraduate subjects on an equal footing - in his case English and political science. Another aspect of RPTUzero benefits him: "I find it very practical that you can already take exams - this helps you to find out whether your learning style suits the university or not. If you don't pass, it's not the end of the world and if you do, you can choose whether you want to have the work credited towards a subsequent degree course." He believes that many more prospective students should take part in such a program. If only to prevent them from changing subjects during their studies. He recommends this orientation phase to everyone, because "afterwards you not only know whether you are ready for university, but usually also what you want to study".

Text: Lena Frohn