One week before lectures officially begin, your studies start with StartWeek. You will meet your future fellow students, get to know the campus and familiarise yourself with the university environment. Since 2001, StartWeek has been an integral part of the curriculum for the assessment year at the University of St.Gallen (HSG). The overall aim of StartWeek is to best prepare you for your new role and everyday student life at HSG over the course of a week. In short: we get you ready to start your studies.
To introduce you to scientific working methods, you will spend the week examining interdisciplinary issues based on an engaging case study. In addition, you will receive important administrative introductions to the study system, IT infrastructure, and library. To help you settle in socially, you will have the opportunity to make initial contact with your future fellow students.
Students who are required to complete Swiss military service have the option of attending a shortened two-day Start Week. For further information or to register, please contact startwoche@unisg.ch. Students who are pursuing officer training in the Swiss military and will start their studies later in accordance with the agreement with Swiss Universities should notify the Military Liaison Office in order to receive all relevant information.
The StartWeek serves as an important bridge for you. It supports you in your transition from secondary school to university life and learning. Students in higher semesters accompany you throughout the week in the role of tutors.
During the StartWeek, you will:
A central element is the case study, which always deals with a current social issue and enables you to work together in groups on complex questions, consider different perspectives and critically reflect on possible solutions.
The StartWeek not only provides you wih specialist knowledge, but also eaches you team spirit, critical thinking, creativity and a sense of responsibility – skills that are crucial for your successful studies and future career.
Divided into 72 StartWeek groups, you will be supervised, supported and accompanied throughout the week by two tutors (students in higher semesters). Your tutors have been specially trained for their tasks in the StartWeek. They have also completed StartWeek and the Assessment Year themselves. They can share their own experiences with you, answer your questions and give you valuable tips for your studies at the HSG.
You will deal with the organisational aspects of your studies. The introductions to ‘Digital Onboarding’, ‘Campus Tour’, ‘Studies and Exams’, ‘Library Introduction’, ‘HSG Services’ and an introduction to bidding (course allocation system) will support you in your administrative integration and help you find your way around your new environment.
The interdisciplinary case study introduces you to scientific working methods in an academic context. Networked thinking is just as important for working on the case as effective teamwork. This promotes various technical and methodological skills, critical self-reflection, a sense of responsibility, cooperation and team spirit. These are key success factors for your upcoming studies.
Friendships are a key aspect of studying. They make it easier to work together on challenging tasks and enrich your student life outside of lecture hours. The Start Week offers you many opportunities to make contacts. Whether in group work, at events or during breaks, you will get to know your fellow students and can build your first friendships. It is not uncommon for the Start Week to lay the foundation for friendships that last far beyond your studies.
Here you will find further links with information on the next steps before you start your studies, your arrival in St.Gallen, campus life at the HSG, study-related digital platforms and IT tools, and advisory services (student finance, language courses, military liaison office, studying with disabilities) that may be relevant to you before you start your studies.
StartWeek is part of the Service Centre 'StartWeek & Assessment Year' and is designed and managed by an experienced core team. This permanent core team ensures that expertise is mainained and continues to develop StartWeek year after year. In terms of operational implementation, StartWeek is supported annually by student employees. They take responsibility for specific areas and make a significant contribution to the success of this major event.
This combination of continuity in the core team and changing student perspectives ensures that StartWeek remains closely aligned with the needs of new students and is continuously developed.
University of St.Gallen
StartWeek
Dufourstrasse 50
CH-9000 St. Gallen
+41 71 224 31 23
startwoche@unisg.ch