The preparatory course offered by the Faculty of Computer Science at Ulm University of Applied Sciences is designed to help you get off to a successful start in your degree programme. The course helps you make the transition from school or work to university smoother, brush up on key fundamentals, and familiarise yourself with everyday university life at an early stage. This will enable you to begin your studies with greater confidence and a solid foundation.
It is aimed at first-year students on the Computer Science, Data Science in Medicine, Business Informatics and Information Management in Healthcare programmes.
The next preliminary course of the Faculty of Computer Science at Ulm University of Applied Sciences will take place from 02.03.2026 to 13.03.2026.
It is still possible to join during the current preliminary course. To ensure that the process runs smoothly, please register in advance by e-mail with the pre-course team. They will also provide you with information on which modules you can still attend and which content you should prepare in self-study.
The preliminary course mainly takes place at the Prittwitzstraße campus. On individual days, events are offered at the Albert-Einstein-Allee campus. Please therefore note the respective location details in the timetable.
For the preliminary course you will need
Clarification of organizational questions (Where can I find my timetable? How can I access my THU mailbox?)
Tour of the Prittwitzstraße campus and Albert-Einstein-Allee campus
Tips & tricks for successful studies
Notes on the math entrance test (Which topics are relevant? Where can I get support?)
You will find theoretical basics, exercises and sample solutions in the following script. It is advisable to start with the arithmetic test (1st exercise) after the foreword.
Pre-course mathematics script
Mathematics Preparatory Course
Small programming crash course: Tasks, Python Cheatsheet, Project Tic-Tac-Toe
In what language is the course taught?
Currently, the course is offered exclusively in German.
How much does it cost to participate in the preparatory course?
The course is free of charge for all first-year students at THU.
What materials should I bring?
Please bring the following materials to participate in the preparatory course:
Food and drinks are available at the cafeteria. PLEASE NOTE: You will also need your THU-Card to pay.
What documents do I need to provide for registration and participation?
No documents or certificates are required for registration and participation in the preparatory course. Your enrollment at THU is confirmed by the possession of a valid student ID (THU-Card) and your university account. These should be available by the start of the preparatory course.
How should I prepare for the course in advance?
The preparatory course is primarily designed to help first-year students navigate the THU’s infrastructure, standardize their knowledge of mathematics and computer science, and make initial connections with fellow students. Prior preparation is therefore not required.
Will the course also be available online?
No, the course is currently held exclusively on-site. Otherwise, campus tours and social interactions with fellow students would be lost.
Is there a recording of the course?
No, currently no recording of the course is available. We, as the orientation course team, prefer in-person sessions that allow for direct interaction, as this enables us to address questions promptly and effectively. Otherwise, campus tours and social interactions with fellow students would be lost.
Is attendance compulsory when registering for the course?
The preliminary course is intended to simplify the transition to studying at THU, there is no compulsory participation and no compulsory attendance, not even for individual parts of it. Individual thematic modules build on each other, so you may find it more difficult to follow if you do not attend all of them. Talk to your tutors on site on a case-by-case basis about which content you should work on in self-study.
I cannot attend all parts of the course for personal reasons, is it still possible and useful for me to attend?
On which days would attendance be most important? The preliminary course is intended to simplify the transition to studying at THU, there is no compulsory attendance, not even for individual parts of the course. In principle, we think it is important and sensible to attend the entire course. Individual modules of a subject take place on different days. Advanced content will be missed if you do not attend and should then be worked through in self-study before resuming the course. Which content is more necessary or more important for each participant varies greatly from person to person and depends heavily on their previous career. Talk to your local tutors on a case-by-case basis about which content you should work on in self-study.
I am ill/incapacitated and cannot attend the course (anymore), what should I do?
You are not required to attend the course, so you do not need to cancel your registration if you are ill or unable to attend.
I found out about the course too late and it has already started. Can I still take part?
It is still possible to take part even if the course has already started. Individual thematic modules build on each other, so it may be more difficult for you to follow the course if you do not attend all of the events. Talk to your local tutors on a case-by-case basis about which content you should work on in self-study
The mathematics entrance test is taken by all students of the Faculty of Computer Science in order to gain admission to the mathematics exam at the end of the first semester. Students who do not pass the math entrance test are excluded from the first math exam. This means that they must repeat the first mathematics lecture, take the entrance test and can only take the mathematics exam at the end of the next semester.
The entrance test is not graded and the results of the test are not included in the assessment of the mathematics exam; this is a preliminary performance, i.e. a "certificate", which you must present before you are admitted to the real exam.
The preliminary course covers the content you need to pass the entrance test. At the end of the preliminary course, you have the opportunity to take the entrance test. If you do not pass this test, you will still have the opportunity to take it during the semester. However, if you fail, a blocking period of 3 days will apply: i.e. you can only retake the entrance test 3 days after the last attempt
I still have general questions about studying and course content, where can I go?
Contact the Student Service Center (SSC) with your questions about application and admission. As soon as you are enrolled, the faculty secretariat is responsible for questions about the course of study or the examination system of the respective faculty for the possible recognition of credits from previous studies. Please contact the secretary's office responsible for you. You can find the relevant contact details on the respective degree program page.
Where do I get my student ID and my university account?
The THU-Card (your student ID card) and your university account will be sent to you by post by the Student Service Center (SSC). Please activate your university account immediately by following the instructions sent to you so that everything is ready for the preliminary course. Please contact the SSC if you have any questions regarding the issue of your university account and THU Card at the start of your studies.