How does studying work now? The RPTU first semester guide.

New at RPTU? And you're wondering how to get literature for your courses, where to go for lunch or what the AStA actually is? We'll help you get started here.

>> How do I get to the campus?

The campus in Kaiserslautern is surrounded by greenery. From the main train station, you can take bus lines 105, 115 and 116 operated by Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern and get off at one of the four stops on campus. These are Uni West, Uni Süd, Uni Sporthalle and Uni Zentral. By the way: Your semester ticket is valid in the entire VRN network area! So you don't have to buy a ticket.  If you prefer to travel by bike and don't have your own, simply hire one from VRNnextbike. The first half hour is free for students!

In Landau, you can do almost everything on foot or by bike - including getting to campus. Or you can easily get to the campus from the main train station via bus lines 500, 520, 521, 535, 536, 537 and 538. You can get off at the bus stops Bethesa, Zoo (Abzw. Uni) and Alter Messplatz. From here, the campus can be reached on foot within 5 minutes.

For all those coming by car: The maps of both campuses, which also show available parking spaces, provide initial orientation.

>> Eating on campus

Your physical well-being is taken care of at both RPTU campuses! There are different options in the canteens, and there is always a meat-free meal to choose from. The veggie menu in Landau is even mostly vegan. In addition, there is a bistro and a cafeteria at both locations for those with a small appetite. The "Bistro 36" in Kaiserslautern offers many vegan options as well as organic products. You can find the menus on the websites of the operators, Studierendenwerk Kaiserslautern and Studierendenwerk Vorderpfalz for Landau.

>> Sport and culture

University life is not just about lectures and homework! At RPTU there are countless leisure activities for every taste. The campus in Kaiserslautern even has its own fitness studio, Unifit. Whether it's football, yoga for beginners or ultimate frisbee - university sport is present at both campuses with many offers. Not only that: your mental and social well-being is also the focus: the CampusPlus team therefore offers various activities. Just take a look. It's worth it!

Culture should not be neglected during your studies either. In Landau, there are therefore regular lecture series, student-organized workshops and the like. The best place to find out about such events is your student council! CampusKultur and the Center for Cultural and Knowledge Dialogue (ZKW) in Landau also enrich the cultural and leisure activities on offer in Kaiserslautern. The offerings include film screenings, slam events and concerts - you can even join in with the theater group or choir.

>> Where can I learn?

Sometimes thinking at home just doesn't work so well. That's why there are our university libraries, where you can also find plenty of literature for your assignments and events.

>> What does the University Computer Center do?

Roughly speaking, the Regional University Computing Center Kaiserslautern-Landau (RHRZ) takes care of everything to do with IT and related technology. This starts with your personal RPTU account, which gives you access to digital services in the university network. Even if you need to download certain software for an event or set up a VPN tunnel, it is best to contact the RHRZ.

Good to know: The RHRZ also takes care of the printing. Every month, 200 sheets of white DIN A4 pages are available to you free of charge!

>> Who can help with organizational questions about studying?

Do you want to register for an exam, change your degree course or apply for BAföG? There are contact points at RPTU for all these organizational matters. You can find information about all administrative services here.

>> Why should I know the AStA?

The abbreviation AStA stands for "Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss" (General Students' Committee). Students come together under this umbrella to represent you at the university, but also in society. For example, the AStA organizes the semester ticket or campaigns for a fairer distribution of BAföG. You can also contact the AStA if you have practical questions about your studies.

The AStA of the RPTU in Kaiserslautern even offers its own movie theater for students. Chairman Aaron Hackenberg also emphasizes the advisory function of the committee: "Students can come to the AStA with all kinds of issues relating to university life. From exam advice to support with tenancy law, we either help directly or direct them to the relevant offices."

The AStA of the RPTU in Landau offers a digital O-Messe (O for orientation) specially designed for first-year students. It also organizes the legendary Schnipseljagd and the Ersti-Kneipentour, where you can make your first contacts with your fellow students. Kaya Ludian, Press Officer, makes it clear: "Anyone who comes to us with questions or problems - whether it's about the timetable, car and bike rental or discrimination on campus - will never be turned away, but will at most be forwarded to the relevant department."

>> Where can I live?

There are five student halls of residence near the campus in Kaiserslautern. You can apply for a place in a hall of residence online at the Studierendenwerk. In Landau there are three student halls of residence to choose from. You can also apply via the Studierendenwerk website.

To ensure that your search for accommodation is a success, it is best to look around for other options at the same time. You can research in newspapers (the Rheinpfalz, for example, which is available in both cities, contains housing advertisements), in Facebook groups or on real estate portals. The best place to look for a room in a shared flat is on the usual portals such as "WG-Gesucht" or "WG-Suche".

>> Learning needs to be learned

When the first learning tasks become a challenge: With the services of the Centre for Innovation and Digitalization in Studies and Teaching (ZIDiS), you can improve your learning style and thus also your grades. You can find out how to present yourself more confidently, use your study notes more effectively or take part in coaching during your studies. You can find an overview of the offers here.

>> Free time in Landau and Kaiserslautern

If you want to get away from everyday student life, there are plenty of opportunities in the Palatinate. For example, the Palatinate Forest, the largest contiguous forest area in Germany, connects both locations. There you will find space to relax and enjoy outdoor sports such as mountain biking (see Palatinate Forest mountain bike park) or hiking (see Rhineland-Palatinate tour planner). The Palatinate is also known for its numerous wine festivals, which take place in the towns along the German Wine Route throughout the year.

The cities of Kaiserslautern and Landau also offer a wide range of cultural and leisure activities - here is an initial overview: