Online Study-Choice Assistant (OSA)
Service Center Studium will be closed during the university closing times from Dec 12, 2024 to Jan 1, 2025 (including). We look forward to being available for you again from 7 January.
The Online Study-Choice Assistant (OSA) is a free service offered by the Central Academic Advising Office of the University of Freiburg. Specialized sample activities, videos and a comparison of expectations give you a realistic insight into day-to-day studies and teaching in a specific subject. The process can help you to assess whether the subject really matches your expectations and wishes.
You can complete the OSA totally anonymously. The results are only intended for you and will not be stored or used by the University of Freiburg. Any questions? We have compiled a list of FAQs and answers!
Get to know our campus! Make a virtual visit to the University of Freiburg with our Campus Tour With videos, pictures, sound clips and small quizzes we will guide you around the campus and introduce you to different places and people of the university everyday life. Especially in times of pandemics you will get an insight into the otherwise pulsating campus life.
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Undergraduate degree programs
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Master’s degree programs:
Frequently asked questions
We have compiled a list of FAQs and answers about the OSA here. Feel free to contact us by e-mail if you still have questions.
What is the OSA?
The Online Study-Choice Assistant (OSA) is a free service offered by the University of Freiburg. Specialized sample activities, videos and a comparison of expectations give you a realistic insight into day-to-day studies and teaching in a specific subject. Completing all the modules can help you to assess whether the subject really suits your expectations and wishes.
You can complete the OSA totally anonymously. The test results are only intended for you and will not be stored or used by the University of Freiburg.
Who is the OSA for?
The OSA can be used by anyone who is interested. The OSA is suitable for prospective students from 11th grade, who already have a rough idea what they want to study.
If you still have no idea on the direction you want to take, then it is best to take a general interdisciplinary orientation test first, or make an appointment with the Central Academic Advice Office.
Documentation of study orientation process for application
Since the 2011/12 winter semester it has been compulsory in Baden-Württemberg to take part in an orientation process before applying for an undergraduate degree program (i.e. excluding Master’s degree programs) and application documents must be accompanied with suitable documentation, no older than two years.
It is also compulsory to use the Online Study-Choice Assistant (OSA) offered by the University of Freiburg or another study orientation process recognized by the University of Freiburg in order to apply to the University of Freiburg.
List of all study orientation processes recognized by the University of Freiburg [de]
After completing the process, simply print out your confirmation of completion and include it with your application.
N.B. You can also download and print out your personal results in our OSA. This is only intended for you and should not be included with the application documents!
There is no OSA for the subject I want to do – what should I do?
All German language OSA for many subjects can be found under www.osa-portal.de. You can see here whether there is an OSA for the subject you want to do.
Other online tools to help with your choice of studies
Are you still unsure what you want to study or whether studying is the right thing for you at all? Or would you like a specialist OSA which we do not (yet) offer on our website? You can find a range of online tools to help with your choice of studies here.
Our tip: The decision whether you want to study, and if so what, is a process. Take plenty of time and try out ideas. Listen to your gut feeling – a test can’t take the decision for you, but it can maybe offer new ideas. Online research is a step in your decision-making process. Other possible steps include a one-to-one advice session, attending a lecture and contact with students.
General orientation tests
www.hochschulkompass.de/studium-interessentest oder www.studiengaenge.zeit.de/sit
- Test jointly developed by Hochschulkompass and ZEIT
- Result suggests degree programs throughout Germany
- Lots of filter options
→ A great way to start choosing a degree
- Orientation test from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts (MWK)
- Result suggests degree programs (in Baden-Württemberg) and careers (link to Berufenet and Hochschulkompass)
- Range of additional tests to refine results available
→ A great way to start choosing a degree
Databases
- Nationwide service of the German Rectors’ Conference
- Includes all state-approved degree programs in Germany!
- Many different filter options.
→ A great way to target your search
www.berufenet.arbeitsagentur.de
- Job center service
- Information on many careers with relevant apprenticeships and/or degree programs
→ Many filtering and sorting options
Specific tests
- Mandatory for matriculation on teaching degree programs in Baden-Württemberg
- Self-test for teacher training
- Contains a lot of additional information on teaching as a career
→ A great way to get a broader idea of teacher training
- List of German-language Online Study-Choice Assistants (OSA) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Mostly subject and location specific
→ A great way to learn more about a specific specialist area
Information about degree programs
We recommend reading the relevant module guide and examination regulations thoroughly in order to gain in-depth insight into a degree program. These can often be found by searching the Internet using the terms “Modulhandbuch Prüfungsordnung [Fach] [Uni]”
What should I do with the results from the OSA?
The OSA is something you do for yourself alone. So it is not about getting as many points as possible! The idea is to find out for yourself whether your expectations are relevant to a subject and whether the exercise has interested you in learning more about the content. This is one way you can test whether a subject suits you.
If you have more questions about a degree or are unsure whether you want to study and if so what, you can make an appointment with the Central Academic Advice Office. Our team will be happy to help you with your decision.
Accessibility
At present the Online Study-Choice Assistants (OSA) are not fully accessible. Please contact Ms Solveig Roscher, the Representative for Students with a Disability/Chronic Illness, for support or if you have questions:
Solveig Roscher
Representative for Students with a Disability/Chronic Illness
Service Center Studium
University of Freiburg
Sedanstr. 6, Room 02/ 015
79098 Freiburg
Phone: 0761 - 203 - 67380
solveig.roscher@zv.uni-freiburg.de
Appointments by arrangement by e-mail or phone
Contact
Any questions or suggestions about our OSA service? We would be glad to hear your feedback either on the last page of the OSA or by email to our team.
Projektteam Online Studienwahl Assistenten (OSA)
University of Freiburg
Service Center Studium
Sedanstr. 6
79098 Freiburg
osa@zv.uni-freiburg.de