STUDENT LIFE

Frankfurt School currently has almost 60 student initiatives, bringing together students with interests ranging from business and professional development to culture, social engagement and sports. You can join an existing initiative, take on a leadership role or even develop a new initiative of your own. 

Student initiatives include areas such as:

• Arts & Culture
• Personal & Professional Development
• Social Commitment
• Sports
• Societies
• Ambassador Programme
• Frankfurt School Student Consulting

Getting involved is also an opportunity to meet students from programmes and year groups beyond your own.

You can also explore the initiatives online and contact those that interest you.

Don't worry if you have never participated in a student organisation before. You can start by attending an event or speaking to members before deciding how involved you would like to become.

And if the community or activity you are looking for does not yet exist, you can contact the Community Life Team to learn how to start a new initiative. 

The Student Council represents student interests and provides a connection between the student body, faculty and Frankfurt School administration. Students can also contribute as class representatives, through student initiatives or by participating in other forms of community engagement. 

If you enjoy representing Frankfurt School, you can also explore the FS Ambassador Programme. Ambassadors support activities such as fairs, Bachelor Day, Master Evenings and Career Day and share their FS experience with prospective and current students. 

There is always more happening at Frankfurt School than lectures and examinations.

Throughout the year, student initiatives, university teams and the wider FS community organise activities ranging from professional and networking events to sports, cultural activities and social events.

The Community Life Fair is a particularly useful starting point for new students because it brings together student initiatives, the Student Council, the Ambassador Programme, and other opportunities to get involved. 

Keep an eye on FS communication channels and the relevant event calendars to see what is happening during the semester.

Joining a sports activity can be an especially easy way to meet people outside your academic programme – you do not necessarily need to know anyone before getting involved.

Available activities can change, so check the current student initiatives and Community Life information for opportunities during your semester.

You do not have to join several organisations immediately. Especially during your first semester, simply attending events can be a good way to discover what interests you and meet people outside your programme.

Start with Welcome activities, the Community Life Fair and events organised by initiatives that interest you.

Frankfurt School's Coaching & Counselling service is available to students across its academic programmes and provides support for personal and study-related challenges.

In a confidential setting, you can discuss issues such as:

• personal concerns
• stress and feeling overwhelmed
• difficult life situations
• study-related challenges
• adjusting to university life
• other circumstances affecting your well-being.

Where appropriate, the service can also help identify further support or refer students to specialised counselling services or partner psychotherapy practices. 

You do not have to wait until a situation becomes a crisis before reaching out.

Seeking support does not mean that your problem has to be severe. You might simply be finding it difficult to settle in, experiencing academic pressure or wanting to talk through a situation with someone.

Students can also access a free initial consultation with one of Frankfurt School's partner psychotherapy practices in Frankfurt, independently of whether they use FS's own counselling service. 

Frankfurt School's Mental Health First Aiders are specially trained students who provide fellow students with a confidential and accessible first point of contact.

They can listen, help you orient yourself in a difficult situation and help you identify appropriate support within or outside Frankfurt School.

FS also offers the peer-to-peer format "Let's Talk About...", providing space for conversation, mutual support and sharing experiences. These offers are not only for students facing an acute crisis. 

Our community brings together students, faculty and staff with different nationalities, cultures, experiences and perspectives.

An inclusive university community depends on all of us. Frankfurt School's community values emphasise:

Respect · Responsibility · Engagement · Trust · Cooperation

Students are expected to treat one another and members of the wider FS community with respect and contribute to an environment in which people can participate and belong. 

Frankfurt School's current Community Life activities include its Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, Charter of Diversity activities and student communities such as the FS Women's Society. 

Cultural societies and international activities also provide opportunities to share your background while learning about others' experiences and perspectives.

Explore the current initiatives and activities to find the form of engagement that interests you.

Depending on the situation, you can seek support from the relevant Frankfurt School contact or service. If you are unsure where to begin, your Study Advisor or Honour Council contact can help you identify the appropriate next step.

Frankfurt School's Honour Code and community values provide the framework for respectful conduct within the FS community.

Once you have taken care of the essentials, make time to discover the city.

Places worth exploring include:

• Römer and Römerberg
• Museumsufer
• Palmengarten
• Alte Oper
• Goethe House
• Frankfurt Zoo
• Paulskirche
• the River Main.

Frankfurt School's information for international students also highlights walking along the Museumsufer, visiting parks, cycling, relaxing by the Main, festivals, theatre, and local markets as ways to experience the city.

Depending on when you are in Frankfurt, you may encounter events such as:

• Grüne Soße Festival
• Night of the Museums
• Wäldchestag
• Sommerwerft
• Christopher Street Day
• Museumsuferfest
• Frankfurt Book Fair
• Christmas markets.

Dates and programmes change each year, so check the official Frankfurt events calendar for current information rather than relying on a fixed list of dates.

Frankfurt also has theatres, cinemas, music venues, museums, galleries and restaurants representing cuisines from around the world.

Nearby Wiesbaden and Mainz make easy day trips, while the Rhine region offers plenty of destinations within relatively short travelling distance.

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof provides national and international rail connections, and Frankfurt Airport connects the city with destinations across Europe and beyond. 

Your student Deutschland-Ticket can also make regional travel convenient – just remember that it generally does not cover long-distance ICE, IC and EC services.

Student societies, initiatives, events, language activities and international programmes can all help you connect beyond your immediate programme.

Frankfurt School's societies are specifically described as contributing to the institution's cultural diversity. 

You do not need to wait for a formal ‘international event’ to connect across cultures – joining an initiative, attending an event or working with students outside your usual circle can be just as valuable.

FS International Day is an annual celebration that brings together students from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

Student societies and initiatives also create opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity throughout the year.

These events are not only for international students. They are opportunities for the entire FS community to meet, exchange perspectives and learn from one another.

For incoming exchange students, having a buddy can provide a personal connection to someone who already knows Frankfurt School and the city.

For current students, participating is also an opportunity to meet someone from another country, share your own FS experience and learn about another culture.