Getting Started

To participate in the "GettING Started" program, you must THM be enrolled
No later than five weeks after the start of the first or second semester, you must submit an application for participation in this program variant to the Departmentoffice of your respective Department.
You can find the application form on the GettING Started page for your degree program.

Department of Construction:
Civil Engineering

Department EI:
Electrical and Information Engineering (Giessen)

Department IEM:
Electrical and Information Engineering (Friedberg)

Department LSE:
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology/Biopharmaceutical Technology,
Climate Protection, Environmental and Safety Engineering

Department M:
Mechanical Engineering (Friedberg)
Mechatronics

Department ME:
Mechanical Engineering (Giessen)
Energy Technology
Energy Economics and Energy Management

Right at the beginning of their studies, all first-year students in the respective degree program are asked to participate in a subject-specific competence analysis.

The competency analysis – largely digitally supported – is divided into two sub-areas:

• Competency tests in core subjects of the respective Degree Courses
• Self-assessment tests regarding study motivation and self-efficacy

Following the competency analysis, personal reflection and consultation sessions are held with the participants based on the results achieved. If necessary, a recommendation for switching to the appropriate study program variant will then be made.

Participants in this study program variant have the opportunity to take part in supplementary courses (mostly mandatory) to equalize their knowledge/skill levels within an intensively supervised learning group. Examples of these supplementary courses include:

• Support courses in the basic subjects
• Supplementary internships and laboratory work to support theoretical understanding
• Review sessions, exam preparation courses, open office hours and study periods 
• Project work in the initial phase of studies to promote early identification with the subject of study

In addition to in-person classes, e-learning resources/online courses are provided for the foundational subjects. These digital and hybrid offerings for deepening the study content are continuously developed and expanded.

By participating in this study program variant, the initial study phase is extended by two semesters.

If eligibility for BAföG funding exists, it also applies to the additional two semesters.

Beyond the purely academic offerings, this study program variant provides a wide range of organizational support:

• Intensive support during the initial phase from the project team for individual study planning and to promote reflection processes
• Organizational support from mentors for socialization at the university
• Setting "Group mentoring" to promote the perception of diversity among participants while simultaneously offering the opportunity to be seen as an individual within that diversity
• Strengthening of interdisciplinary skills and systematic preparation for self-organized learning later in the course of studies through:
  • Practical projects in small groups to train project management, learning methods, self-organization, time management, teamwork skills and initial testing of professional actions
  • Additional courses and workshops to impart interdisciplinary skills
  • Additional opportunities for career exploration (e.g., excursions, internships)
  • Scenarios for digitally supported teaching and learning serve to support the learning and reflection process

As part of the program “High quality in studies and teaching, good framework conditions for studying” (QuiS), the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art is promoting the introduction and continuation of a study program at an adapted speed (SaG) at the five Hessian universities of applied sciences until the end of 2025.

The aim of this collaborative project is to support students in meeting the demands of their studies. By spreading the basic studies over two semesters, time is created for mandatory supplementary courses, practical projects, and additional support services. This allows for consideration of the diverse entry qualifications, promotes socialization at the university and within the Department , and fosters networking among students.

The universities of Fulda and Darmstadt, along with the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen have already developed various implementation concepts for a SaG (School-Based Learning) in a joint model project. During the QuiS funding period, these concepts will be sustainably established and rolled out. Building on the experiences and measures already implemented in the model project, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences are developing and testing pilot projects for selected Departments .

Further information on studying adapted speed | SaG: https://quis-hessen.de/foerderprojekte/sag-studium-der-angepassten-geschwindigkeit1/and on the project landing page:
https://www.studiere-mit-mehr-zeit.de/