Commencing Academic Year at Heine-Uni Düsseldorf: An Effort to Combat College Drops
Heinrich Heine College Year at Düsseldorf's University Offers Preparatory Academic Support
The Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf has introduced the Heinrich Heine College Year, an orientation study at the Philosophical Faculty. This preparatory academic year is designed to support students, particularly those in mathematics, natural sciences, and humanities, to better navigate university life and reduce dropout rates.
The College Year, themed "Power and Participation," covers 19 subjects, including language and literature studies, social sciences, modern Japan, media and cultural studies, and more. Each two weeks, a subject expert presents their subject interactively in a seminar, and students decide which subject they want to try out.
The College Year also includes a practical focus, with guests reporting on their professional activities after graduation and providing tips and creating perspectives. A unique aspect of the program is its focus on science communication, helping humanities graduates to present research results in blogs, journals, and on social media.
One of the key features of the College Year is the practical project related to the theme "Power and Participation." Students will decide on the specific nature of the project, which could be a podcast, an exhibition, or a blog. The College Year aims to help students build relationships with a fixed group of 30 people in a protected space, which can be beneficial for future academic and professional endeavors.
To further enhance the college experience, a place in a university dormitory will be drawn among all applicants, costing €400 and including campus proximity and Wi-Fi. The dormitory places are sought after due to the right college atmosphere only coming from living in the dormitory.
The College Year runs over the winter semester 2025/26 and the summer semester 26, with 30 places and 20 hours of commitment per week. The social contribution, currently €352.15 per semester, including the Germany ticket, is due for all students.
The application deadline for the Heinrich Heine College Year is August 15, 2025, at 23:59. For specific program details and dropout interventions, direct university resources or program websites would provide the most authoritative information.
Sources:
[1] Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. (n.d.). Heinrich Heine College Year. Retrieved from https://www.uni-duesseldorf.de/en/study/preparatory-courses/heinrich-heine-college
[2] German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). (2020). German Universities. Retrieved from https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/de/studienangebote/index.html
[3] European University Association (EUA). (2019). Preparatory and Foundation Courses in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.eua.eu/en/publications/detail/publication/preparatory-and-foundation-courses-in-germany.html
The Heinrich Heine College Year, an orientation program at the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, offers various opportunities for education and self-development, particularly through the interactive seminars covering subjects such as language and literature studies, social sciences, and science communication. This preparatory academic year also encourages students to engage in learning by providing them with the chance to explore different subjects and decide which one they want to delve deeper into.
