Advisory Services

We are happy to be the first point of contact for all your questions and problems.

We advise on

• questions concerning the law on foreigners,
• problems with the immigration authorities,
• questions about health insurance,
• questions about accommodation,
• problems during your studies,
• questions about financing your studies, especially in financial emergencies.

Should we be unable to find the answer to your question, we will also support you in finding the right contact persons.

The counseling services offered by the Central Academic Advising Office (ZSB) are wide-ranging. The colleagues advise and support students - based on the student life cycle - before admission and throughout their studies. They also provide support when students have doubts about their studies, when they drop out, when they return to their studies, and when they graduate.

You are at the right place at the ZSB if you:

• need assistance in deciding on a course of study,
• would like to get a basic orientation at the beginning of your studies,
• have doubts about your studies during your studies,
• if you have questions about financing your studies or would like to find out more about scholarships,
• if you are starting your studies with an impairment.

The General Students’ Committee  (AStA) represents student interests in and outside the university and offers advice on the following topics:

• Study with disability or illness
• Examination and study questions
• Legal questions
• Jobs and Social Security
• International students
• Homosexuality
• Psychosocial counselling
• Study with Child
• Financing and social counselling

Get in touch with us by phone, by e-mail or via the contact form! Your feedback will be treated confidentially and processed anonymously. We need your contact data for the consultation with you.

All university members and visitors shall have their personal rights respected at the TH Köln. You yourself contribute to promoting a respectful university culture.

If you are affected by sexualized discrimination or violence, the advice and counselling services of TH Köln are your first point of contact. Here you will find information about support possibilities and options for action. In the context of counseling, those affected have an unrestricted right to anonymity.

After the initial contact with a counseling service, you as the person affected have the decision as to whether you would like to just report the incident and leave it at counseling, take advantage of further counseling, or pursue the case either in informal or formal proceedings.

TH Köln’s goal is to make it easier for employees and students to combine work and studies with family life. The family service TH Köln offers individual options, advice on counselling, childcare, family-friendly work spaces, maternity and partental leave, amongst others.

Please contact the Family Service and schedule your one-on-one confidential consultation, whether it is on

• finding childcare services,
• obtaining information on maternity and parental leave,
• continuing your studies with children,
• supporting flexible work,
• caring for sick/elderly family members.

The Kölner Studierendenwerk is in charge of the halls of residence and cafeterias for all universities in Cologne. They also advise students with children, international students and students who need psychosocial counselling or help with financing.
The Department for Culture and International Affairs also organizes events such as forro dance evenings, language get-togethers, excursions and country evenings.
The Infopoint of the Kölner Studierendenwerk will provide you with information and immediate short-term advice on BAföG, housing facilities of the Kölner Studierendenwerk and more.

International student associations are established by international students who pursue a common goal. These groups are enrolled on request in the matriculation register of the University of Cologne and are therefore effectively organs of this university, with all rights and duties. As a rule, they are led by international students, but German and students of other origins can also become members or even lead these groups.

Students of TH Köln are very welcome, but are not entitled to vote.

More information can be found here: International Student Associations

The umbrella organisation ISAC can be found on Facebook: ISAC Cologne

If you have a religious interest and would like to get involved in a community, you can contact, for example, the Catholic or Protestant Student Community, the Islamic Student Association or the Jewish Student Group. The staff is available to you for all questions of faith, spiritual care, but also in case of financial difficulties or if you simply need "an open ear" - regardless of your denomination, faith, field of study, age or origin.