Welcome to the website of the academic advisory office of the Department of History!

We offer a wide range of academic advising on all questions relating to studying history at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and are also happy to support you in the transition phases between school, program of study and transition to a profession. We have organized our advisory services thematically in the menu below this text so that you can find the right contact person for your concerns. Please take a moment to think about which topic your questions can be assigned to.

Please contact the relevant academic advisory offices and make use of the consultation hours. Some questions may be resolved by following our first aid links or using the university’s interdisciplinary information services. If you are unsure who to address your query to, use this address: studienberatung@geschichte.uni-mainz.de. Please do not send emails with the same request to several academic advisory offices and employees of the student advising office at the same time.

The university-wide Teaching Quality Pact project at JGU Mainz (LOB).

The History student advising office administers the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at the Department of History. It is available to students and teaching staff as a contact for program-specific questions or for questions about Jogustine. You can reach the student advising office either in person or by telephone or email at the shared email address studienbuero-geschichte@uni-mainz.de. Please use this address if you are not sure who to address your inquiry to; please do not send parallel emails to several employees.

  • Responsible for the organization and coordination of the history degree programs
  • Ensuring the proper admission of students to courses in accordance with examination law
  • Quality assurance
  • Further development of current degree programs
  • Registration and deregistration of students for courses in the system
  • Semester planning
  • Advising students and teaching staff on examination issues
  • Planning examination dates and examination corridors in coordination with the examiners and other responsible bodies
  • Administration of exam registrations and exam data in Campusnet/JoguStine
  • Registration and deregistration of students for examinations

E-mail: shahla@uni-mainz.de
Phone: (49)-6131-39-20195
Fax: (49)-6131-39-20324

Office: Philosophicum, Room 01-543

Sprechzeiten:
Nach Vereinbarung per Mail
  • Semester planning and administration of courses in Campusnet/JoguStine
  • Spatial planning
  • Participation in the course-related work of the study management team
  • Administration of teaching contracts

The “link” between the administrative tasks of the academic offices and the actual “academic area” of the teaching staff is a degree program officer for each degree program. This person belongs to the group of university teaching staff. The program representatives work closely with the study management and bear the ultimate responsibility for the proper implementation of the examination regulations and module catalogs. In addition, they should be particularly active in cases of conflict between the study offices and the academic teaching staff.

We offer a wide range of academic advising on all questions relating to studying history at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and are also happy to support you in the transition phases between school, program of study and transition to a profession. We have organized our advisory services thematically in the menu tree on the left so that you can find the right person to answer your questions. Please take a moment to think about which topic your questions can be assigned to.

Please contact the relevant academic advisory offices and make use of the consultation hours. Some questions will certainly be resolved if you follow our first aid links or use the university’s interdisciplinary information services. If you are unsure who to address your query to, use this address: studienberatung@geschichte.uni-mainz.de. Please do not send emails with the same request to several academic advisory offices and employees of the Office of Student Affairs at the same time.

The academic advisory office specializes in specific subject areas:

  • Where can I find support if I have difficulties with event or exam registration?
  • What deadlines do I have to meet?
  • Why doesn’t “the Jogustine” do what I tell her?
  • How can I plan my program of study sensibly?
  • What proof of language proficiency do I have to provide when studying history?
  • How can I organize my academic papers better?
  • What can I do if I am unsure whether I have made the right study choice?
  • How do I prepare for examinations?
  • What do I have to consider when I want to log in my bachelor’s thesis?
  • Does a master’s degree program make sense for me, and what requirements does it have?
  • …

Information events

The History Examination Office is part of the Central Examination Office in Faculty 07: History and Cultural Studies. Ms. Shahla, who supervises examination matters in the History degree programs, has been delegated by the faculty to the History seminar for these tasks. Instructions on examination law on the website of the Central Examination Office in Faculty 07: History and Cultural Studies therefore generally also apply to the History Seminar.

  • Advising students and teaching staff on examination issues
  • Planning examination dates and examination corridors in coordination with the examiners and other responsible bodies
  • Administration of exam registrations and exam data in Campusnet/JoguStine
  • Registration and deregistration of students for examinations

E-mail: shahla@uni-mainz.de
Phone: (49)-6131-39-20195
Fax: (49)-6131-39-20324

Office: Philosophicum, Room 01-543

Office hours:
Currently only by appointment by e-mail; later again Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 09:30-11:30 a.m.
  • I have been threatened as a person or as a member of a group (because of my appearance, my gender, my sexual orientation, my nationality, my religion, etc.).
  • I have been approached by people or groups that I would classify as radical, racist, misogynistic or anti-healthcare.
  • I have come across statements or activities in my university environment that I would classify as such an environment, but I am unsure whether I am perhaps wrong.

JGU offers its members, especially its students, a specialized advising and support service as a component of its diversity strategy: For example, as part of the implementation of a diversity-sensitive university culture, a further step towards an equal opportunity and low-discrimination university was taken with the institution of an Anti-Discrimination Officer position in the Equality and Diversity Office. Ms. Gonca Sariaydin is the anti-discrimination officer. She has already headed several anti-discrimination projects for various ministries and most recently an anti-discrimination office at a higher education institution in Hesse. The office’s task is to offer affected students and members of the university a contact point and to develop prevention and awareness-raising offers.

  • Where can I find the right contact points and contact persons?
  • What are the advantages of studying history in Mainz?
  • Which degree program is right for me: B.A. or B.Ed.
  • Is studying history the right thing for me?
  • What requirements do I need for admission to the History degree program?
  • Where can I get a placement in the appropriate academic semester if I want to transfer to Mainz?
  • Which credits from my home university will be recognized if I transfer to Mainz?
  • Which credits will be recognized if I want to change degree programs or start studying for two degrees?
  • Can I already complete courses for the Master’s degree during my Bachelor’s degree? How can they be recognized?
  • …

Studying with children / Studying with physical and mental impairments (“disadvantage compensation”) / Studying under the conditions of caring for relatives, etc.

Many students are restricted in their program of study by factors that do not stem from their studies themselves. These include, for example, physical or psychological impairments. Studying with a child can also cause difficulties due to limited childcare hours. According to legal requirements, we are obliged to provide appropriate support in these cases and are happy to do so. You are welcome to contact us about this. Everything you talk about is, of course, confidential.

  • Where can I find advice if I have problems with the organization of my studies in particular life situations?
  • Who can support me in applying for disadvantage compensation?
  • I often have bouts of illness and/or absences during examinations – what options are there to help me study successfully despite this?
  • My children are only supervised in the mornings before 12 noon – how do I organize the program of study around these childcare hours?

There is another parent-child workroom in the departmental library in the Georg Forster building. This is located in the basement of the departmental library (room no. -1.423). This room is primarily intended for parents with children. If the study room is used by students without children, you can ask them to leave the space to you.

A third parent-child room is located in the Kreuzbau. In addition to a nappy-changing and breastfeeding corner, there are also computer workstations and the option to prepare or heat up food.

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz supports students with disabilities so that they can complete their program of study on campus as independently and unhindered as possible. The point of contact for students with disabilities and for on-site supervision in Mainz is JGU’s Service for Students with Disabilities. The employees have extensive experience and will be happy to work with you to develop a customized solution for any problems that arise in connection with your program of study at JGU. The service for students with disabilities and chronic illnesses at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz provides information about accessibility on campus. On the website(http://www.barrierefrei.uni-mainz.de) you will find a large number of useful links on all kinds of topics, as well as a detailed photo gallery and collection of accessible buildings and lecture halls.

Further offers for disabled and chronically ill students from the Service for Students with Disabilities are:

  • social law issues
  • Organization and financing of assistance in the program of study and everyday life
  • Dealing with authorities and institutions
  • overcoming personal problems and crisis situations
  • psychosocial issues
  • applying for technical aids and personal assistance

We have aids for the visually impaired and blind available for you. Currently:

  • Workstation for the blind with 80r Braille display and voice output
  • Visually impaired workstation with large print and voice input and output
  • Laptop with large print and voice output
  • Rental equipment
  • Reader and expansion of the pool of aids

Other aids, hardware or software products can be organized and purchased on request. Further information can be found on our website: http://www.barrierefrei.uni-mainz.de/unseren-hilfsmittelpool/.

  • Help with scanning documents
  • Printout in braille
  • Support with research, e.g. in libraries and/or on the Internet
  • Reading aloud service or organization of personal assistance
  • Commissioning of sign language interpreters
  • on site, i.e. on the JGU campus in Mainz and Germersheim, supervision and support
  • Assistance with exams and term papers and their preparation
  • Who will issue me with Bafög certificates (pink form) and which services do I need for the course certificate?
  • What options are there for financing the program of study?
  • Where can I find information on student loans or fellowships?
  • Who can I turn to in a financial emergency?
  • …

If you need a course certificate for the Federal Training Assistance Office, you should have it issued on the form provided by the academic advisory office if possible. You can find the form “Leistungsbescheinigung nach § 48 BAföG” here: https://www.bafög.de/bafoeg/de/antrag-stellen/alle-antragsformulare/alle-antragsformulare_node.html, general information on course certificates at https://www.bafoeg-aktuell.de/bafoeg/leistungsnachweise.html. The aforementioned form can also be submitted instead of the reporting document introduced at JGU Mainz.

You will find current instructions on Bafög regulations on the following pages. Important: Do not hesitate to submit proposals if your financial situation or that of your parents deteriorates!

Ausführliche Informationen zum Thema BAföG können Sie auf den Seiten des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung abrufen.

The student loan is a temporary, low-interest loan to support students and pupils in advanced phases of their education. It is available alongside or in addition to BAföG. There are also special student loans. At Mainz University, student loans from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) are granted via the Studierendenwerk Mainz.

Further instructions on financing options can be found here:

The Historical Seminar cannot advise you on BAFöG itself; this is the responsibility of the Office for Educational Support.

However, we can help you to compile the documents required for BAföG, i.e. the information to be provided in the subject. These are in particular course certificates for BAföG matters. In order to obtain the relevant confirmation, you must go to the academic advisory office with the Federal Training Assistance Office’s form (pink certificate of “usual achievements”) to have the confirmation issued there. This conversation is often very productive and an important support; please make use of it!

  • How do I find my personal answer to the question of what you can do with a history degree?
  • Where can I find information on appointments for historians?
  • How can I plan my transition to a profession during my program of study?
  • Which internships are suitable for me?
  • Where can I find out about further training opportunities and academic job vacancies?
  • …

Please also use the blog“History and Appointments” for orientation. Certificates for the “compulsory internship” can be obtained from Dr. Freia Anders.

  • What are the didactic requirements of the history teacher education program?
  • How do I prepare for the M.Ed. thesis?
  • What do I have to consider when I log in for the state examination or the extension examination?
  • Where can I find information about the third-subject extension examination certificate course?
  • What requirements should I meet for a successful program of study abroad?
  • How do I apply for a program of study abroad?
  • What do I need to bear in mind when preparing my stay abroad?
  • How can I fit a stay abroad into my degree plan?
  • Which of my achievements abroad can be recognized?
  • What are the strengths of the Integrated German-French Study Program Mainz/Dijon?

Each semester, we offer events on various counseling topics:

Montag 12. Januar 2026, 14-16 Uhr im Besprechungsraum im Erdgeschoss des Philosophicum-II (Flur des Zentrums für Lehrerbildung) (Verena von Wiczlinski, Andreas Frings)

Wir informieren Sie über die Modalitäten der Bachelorprüfung sowie Fragen des Zugangs zum Masterstudium: 5. November 2025 (Mittwoch), 12-13 Uhr, Microsoft Teams-Besprechung, 

Jetzt an der Besprechung teilnehmen

Besprechungs-ID: 399 070 849 687 1, Passcode: eM9DZ2gE

Wir bieten Ihnen ein Bewerbungstraining zum Berufseinstieg für Historiker*innen an: gemeinsam mit Kommiliton*innen können Sie üben, ihre Profile mit Stellenangeboten oder den Anforderungen potentieller Praktikumsgeber abzugleichen: 21. Januar 2026 (Mittwoch), 16-19 Uhr, Voranmeldung unter Vorlage von (fiktiven oder tatsächlichen Bewerbungsunterlagen) bis 10. Januar 2025: anders@uni-mainz.de.

Besuch des Geschichtsorts Adlerwerke – Fabrik, Zwangsarbeit, Konzentrationslager – in Frankfurt am Main, Führung durch die Ausstellung und Workshop zur Gedenkstättenarbeit mit biographischen Quellen: 18. November 2025, 10-13 Uhr, vor Ort, Voranmeldung bis 9.11.: anders@uni-mainz.de.

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has a wide range of information and counseling services. On this page you will find a list of the most important links.

The aim of academic advisory offices is to strengthen students’ ability to act on their own responsibility with regard to an autonomous, self-determined and goal-oriented program of study. The academic advisory offices in the faculty see themselves as competent contacts for students and prospective students with questions about their studies. Academic advisory offices take place in the respective subjects, are based on the subject’s way of thinking and are therefore organized in a way that is appropriate to the subject. For this reason, the institutes and seminars at the faculty strive to ensure the following framework conditions to ensure the quality of advising:

The academic advisory office sees itself as part of the subject in which it is located and is carried out by employees who are trained in the subject. It is geared towards the needs of a heterogeneous student body and provides advisory services tailored to the needs of its target group. Among other things, it advises on admission requirements, content, requirements and structure of degree programs, international courses offered, recognition of credits earned in other contexts, work techniques, study organization, career prospects and the social environment of the program of study. The concept, measures and methodology are based on the specific tasks at the higher education institution on the one hand and general standards of professional advising on the other. The implementation in an advisory capacity is the responsibility of the respective academic advising staff.

The academic advisory office focuses on the questions and needs of those seeking advice. In accordance with the advisory approach of the JGU Central Advice Center, the academic advisory office addresses the concerns of those seeking advice in an individual, solution- and resource-oriented manner, i.e. it is committed to communication that strengthens the personal responsibility and ability to act of those seeking advice in dealing with the program of study and supports them in finding their personal goals and expanding their decision-making scope. Academic advisory offices are independent of the sometimes conflicting interests within the higher education institution and the guiding interests of third parties because they are fundamentally open-ended. The basic prerequisite is that the academic advisory office is voluntary on the part of those seeking advice.

The academic advisory office meets the needs of those being advised in terms of confidentiality (anonymity) and discretion (privacy). Information is not passed on to third parties. Personal data will only be viewed and recorded with the consent of the person seeking advice. If the expertise of other people needs to be consulted in order to clarify issues, the consent of the person seeking advice will be obtained.

The academic advisory staff work together with the service and advisory offices at JGU and take part in the exchange of experience, in particular with the Student Advisory Center. They bundle the services offered by the counseling facilities for students and are able to make qualified referrals to those seeking advice if necessary. At the subject level, they cooperate with program representatives, study offices and examination committees.

Academic advisory offices are an integral part of the institutes and seminars. It is involved in the interpretation of examination and study regulations and in the further development of degree programs. Academic advisory offices provide relevant and up-to-date information. The institutes and seminars guarantee the organizational framework for students to be able to take advantage of a low-threshold consultation within a reasonable period of time if required. In particular, they endeavor to integrate academic advisory offices into the regular tasks of the staffing plan.

The academic advisory offices are responsible for ensuring that they continue their training in terms of advisory skills, up-to-date information and developments in the subjects for which they are responsible. Wherever possible, the subjects will provide and support further training, including participation in conferences.

Project manager: Dr. Andreas Frings

For many years, the Department of History has continuously expanded its academic advisory office services and aligned them with the needs of history students in the various phases of their studies and transition phases between school, program of study and transition to a profession. Individual advising is accompanied by information events, mentoring offers and professional orientation measures.

Measures (selection)

  • Establishment of peer-to-peer workshops for exam preparation in the first academic year
  • Establishment of an (extracurricular) subject-specific offer for master’s degree students
  • Internationalization at-home, including monitoring and supporting (international) student conferences
  • Extension of introductory seminar tutorials through writing support in peer learning
  • Expansion of the range of events for career orientation

If you have any suggestions, please contact Dr. Freia Anders directly.

The academic advisory office for History is naturally primarily responsible for issues within the subject of History. For advising in other contexts, we recommend taking a look at the advisory services offered by the Student Advisory Center and the academic advisory offices in the other subjects.

The History student advising office can advise you in an advisory capacity, particularly in technical matters (registering for and deregistering from courses, module assignments, etc.) and in matters relating to examination law and organization. Please refer to the website of the History Office for more information.

The History student council (more precisely: the History student council) has been conducting first semester tutorials for several semesters, in which first-year students on history degree programs are introduced to the program of study in a practice-oriented manner after attending the introductory event at the History seminar. These tutorials take place in close coordination with the History Seminar. You are also welcome to contact the History student council with any questions you may have, for example if you are looking for tips on Latin courses outside the university or would like to take part in a field trip organized by the student council. You can find an overview of the wide range of activities and offers of the History student council on their homepage.