Pre-courses

You missed the preliminary courses or are not yet in Magdeburg? Just take a look to our Online-Material! (currently not fully functional)

If you have questions - write us a Mail at vorkurs@farafin.de

You would like to study at our faculty and want the perfect start for your university life? So register for our FIN-preliminary courses!

In the two-weeks crash course in programming (Java) and maths you will not only refresh your A-level knowledge: you will also learn the basics that have been proven to make it easier to start studying computer science. You will also get to know a lot of people who can help you with tricky questions about your studies, and you will make friends who will accompany you throughout your studies.

Key dates

Period date: 22.09. - 02.10.2025
We will create the groups shortly after the registration deadline and then inform you which group you are in and therefore in which room.
Further information on the welcome event will follow

Registration for pre courses

Online Material

math course*

At the Faculty of Computer Science, the maths lectures require some prior knowledge from school. Don't worry - it's all doable. To make it easier for you to get started in higher maths, there is a maths course: its aim is to refresh school knowledge and to raise students from all federal states to a standardised basic knowledge level.

* These are the FIN maths and programming pre-courses. The university-wide maths pre-courses take place in parallel, but these do not apply to FIN students.

programming courses

Programming is the tool of the trade for a computer scientist. Even if the degree programmes at our faculty do not theoretically require any prior knowledge of programming, it is still very helpful to have already gained a foothold in this large field.

In the programming course, the basics of good programming are taught in brief. We will also teach you the basics of Java, explain object-orientated programming and show you important code conventions - and much more.

Programme

This year, the preliminary courses will take place daily from Monday to Friday from 22nd September to 2nd October. There will be

Maths - 9:00 to 12:00
Programming - 12:30 to 15:30
If you would like to change the group, please send an e-mail to vorkurs@farafin.de

On Monday 22.09, a short welcome event will take place in G29-307 (Building 29 (Faculty of Computer Science) in room 307) at 9:00 am.

Registration via the link above is required for participation.

So that we can better place you in a suitable group, you will receive a self-test of your current maths and programming knowledge by e-mail before the preliminary courses. This will take about 30 to 45 minutes. Please refrain from using tools such as calculators or the internet - they will not be available to you later in the exams. Be honest with yourself! A piece of paper and pen might be helpful for one or two questions.

Room Layout

Maths

A - G29 335

B - G29 336

C - G29 K058

D - G29 K059

E - G29 K056

F - online - https://ovgu.zoom-x.de/j/65103122705 (passcode: 094821)

Programming

A - G29 144

B - G29 K058

C - G29 427

D - G29 K059

E - G29 K056

F - online- https://ovgu.zoom-x.de/j/67110575987 (passcode: 951655)

G - Plan for AI engineering will be announced separately

Evening programme for the winter semester 2025/2026

This plan is provisional! Changes may still be made. Please check your emails regularly so that you are informed in good time! You will always find the latest version here.

You can simply drop by for most events. For the pen & paper evening, bar evening, bowling evening and bouldering evening, we need you to register so that we know how many people are interested. You have until the day before the event to register!

For registrations or other questions, simply write to us at vorkurs@farafin.de.

Weekday	Date	Time	Place	Programme point	additional Information
Mo	22.09.	17:00	G03-315	Pen&Paper Evening	Registration required No previous knowledge of Pen&Paper is required! Drinks and snacks will be provided There will be a pizza order at World of Pizza (Alte-Neustadt) You have to pay for the pizza yourself Please bring cash with you!
Tu	23.09.	17:00	G03-315	Game Night	Drinks and snacks will be provided There will be a pizza order at World of Pizza (Alte-Neustadt) You have to pay for the pizza yourself Please bring cash with you!
We	24.09.	18:45	Meeting point in front of the FIN	Bar evening im "Moonlight" (Ernst-Lehmann-Straße 16, 39106 Magdeburg)	Registration required Meet in front of the FIN at 18:45 or at 19:15 at the Moonlight We cover one drink, all other drinks and food must be paid for by yourself Attention: No card payment is accepted! Only cash or PayPal
Th	25.09.	14:30	G29-307	ger. Guest lecture (offline)	Visit together with the programming tutors
Th	25.09.	16:50	Meeting point in front of the FIN	Bowling evening at the "Bowl and Fun" (Lemsdorfer Weg 27, 39112 Magdeburg)	Registration required Meet before the FIN at 16:50 or at 17:45 at the "Bowl and Fun" We cover the lane costs from 18:00 to 20:00, as well as the costs for bowling shoes Drinks, food, a lane extension or other services must be paid for yourself! Attention: Unfortunately, the bowling alley is a little further away from the FIN. So check in advance what options you have for the way home!
Fr	26.09.	10:30	G29-307	ger. Guest lecture (offline)	Visit together with the math tutors

Mo	29.09.	17:00	G29-307	Quiz evening	Drinks and snacks will be provided
Tu	30.09.	14:30	G29-307	eng. Guest lecture (offline and online)	Visit together with the programming tutors
Tu	30.09.	17:00	Meeting point in front of the FIN	Bouldering evening at the "BlocSchmiede" (Lübecker Straße 53 – 63, Haus 16A, 39124 Magdeburg)	Registration required Meet before the FIN at 17:00 or at 17:45 at the "BlocSchmiede" It would be advisable to bring sportswear for this part of the programme We will cover the cost of the day pass, as well as the cost of climbing shoes and chalk Drinks, food or other services must be paid for by yourself! Attention: Unfortunately, the bouldering hall is a little further away from the FIN. So check in advance what options you have for the way home!
We	01.10.	16:15	Meeting point in front of the FIN	Real Life Scotland Yard	Programme point is weather-dependent We will be using Magdeburg's public transport system on the day. Your semester ticket is therefore required, you can find instructions here
Th	02.10.	15:30	Lawn in front of the FIN	Final grill	Drinks and barbecue food will be provided
Fr	03.10.	---	---	Public holiday	German Unity Day

Attachments

Programming tasks (aufgaben_en.pdf) Aufgaben Programmieren (aufgaben.pdf) Java Grundlagen Sheet (java_cheatsheet.pdf) Cheat Sheet: vollständige Induktion (induction_cheat_sheet_de.pdf) Cheat Sheet: Mathematical induction (induction_cheat_sheet_en.pdf) Pre-course math booklet (german) (aufgaben_de.pdf) Pre-course math booklet (vorkursheft_en.pdf) Folien Gastvortrag 2024 (vorkurs_einfuhrung_java.pdf) Pre-course slides (german) (programmier_vorkurs.pdf) Pre-course slides (programmier_vorkurs_en.pdf)