Getting started with your Studies
An unusual start to your studies...
... which you will experience as a newcomer to the Business School in the first two weeks of your studies at Pforzheim University: the SIC program.
The SIC program focuses on the promotion of social, methodological and intercultural skills, also known as key qualifications or future skills. Our aim is to optimally prepare students for the complex, multi-layered demands of their studies and the future world of work. This is why the teaching of interdisciplinary qualifications for the professional degrees at our university is of great importance.
We, the SIC team, the professors and tutors, wish you a good start at our university, many new insights, exciting learning experiences and - last but not least - lots of fun with these interactive and creative forms of learning.
First lectures and lots of IMPORTANT information for the start of your studies
The SIC introductory weeks include initial lectures and information events that are important for your studies and support you at the start of your degree program, e.g:
- Welcome by the Dean of the Business School
- VIA impulses
- Introduction to the SIC program and information on the English test
- Introduction to the university's IT
- Climate protection and sustainability
- ‘Innovation, entrepreneurship & personality - together we make ideas fly’
- Corporate responsibility for sustainability (incl. a voluntary exam for the ETHIKUM)
- Introduction to the study and examination regulations
- Learning techniques
- Information on quantitative methods Accounting Compulsory credits - English courses
- etc.
Some of these are continued in the course of the semester through lectures and e-learning courses.
Before the first semester
You will mainly work in small groups with student tutors and get to know your fellow students at the same time. We want to familiarize you with ways of learning and working that will be useful and helpful to you in your further studies:
- “Get Ready 4 C” incl. Business administration case study
- Business simulation game
The content and references of these training courses will come up again and again in individual seminars during your studies. Social skills and teamwork are very important to us!
First semester students are automatically registered for the two courses mentioned above.
All new students take an English placement test as part of the SIC introductory weeks.
Further information can be found under “Information for new students” and “Dates”.
The following degree programs are not participating in the English placement test:
- International Business
- International Marketing
First semester students are automatically registered for the English placement test.
Math Orientation Test
We offer you the opportunity to refresh your knowledge of mathematics in a free course. In this preliminary course, you will review the school material up to A-level.
| Course | Date | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-course I | August 25, 2025 - August 29, 2025 | Course registration and further information on our Ilias platform. The course will be held in German. |
| Pre-course II | August 25, 2025 - August 29, 2025 | |
| Pre-course III | September 1, 2025 - September 5, 2025 |
Another option is to test your knowledge in the online math orientation test. Please note that you will never again have as much time for math as you did before you started your studies.
Students have the option of taking a mathematics orientation test (online) in Moodle. The math test is not yet available. The password will be announced as part of the math pre-courses and in the math information in the SIC program.
Before the second semester
In the third semester
Another component of the SIC program is the Cross Cultural Competencies (CCC) seminar. The CCC events take place in the 3rd semester (for students on the Taxation and Auditing program and the Controlling, Accounting and Finance Management program in the 2nd semester).
CCC is a compulsory course for all Bachelor's students at the Business School.
There is a separate CCC course for students of the following degree programs:
- International Business
- International Marketing
What is the CCC seminar?
The CCC seminar is held in English. Students are taught the basics of successful communication, co-operation and management between and across cultures - abroad, at home and virtually. Based on cultural dimensions from the GLOBE project, relative differences between cultures are considered and insights are gained that should help to build bridges between cultures and recognise opportunities in intercultural cooperation.
You can find the following information in the Cultural Competencies site
- Link to registration
- Schedule
Welcome to the Business School Pforzheim...
... where you will start your studies with the SIC Program from September 15, 2025 to Sepbember 26, 2025!
We will welcome you on September 15, 2025 and provide you with detailed information about the SIC Program. You can find an overview of the events that await you in the schedule available for download.
Comprehensive information on the SIC Program can be found
- on this SIC website
- in the e-Campus (for students, university login required)
- at the start of the program in the Moodle course “SIC Information for New Students in WS 2025/2026”.
We will inform you of the group allocation by e-mail to your university address shortly before the start of the event.
We look forward to welcoming you to our university soon!
Why is an English placement test carried out?
Proof of B2 level in English is a prerequisite for participation in English-language courses that are part of your degree program. By taking the English placement test, you can already provide this proof of B2 level.
If you do not take the test or do not reach B2 level in the test, you can provide proof of B2 level later by taking a language course followed by an exam. However, you can only take the online placement test once.
If you already have a B2 certificate for which recognition is possible (see below), participation is not necessary. Please contact the employees in the Language Centre if you have any questions about recognition.
As a new student in your first semester at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, you will take an English placement test as part of the SICK program. This placement test takes place in person at the university as part of the SIC introduction weeks. It is not necessary to register in advance. You will receive a group number which will determine the day, time and room. You will receive your group allocation shortly before the start of the SIC program.
For the schedule and room plans, please see ‘Dates’. The test lasts 60 minutes.
You must bring the following documents and equipment with you for the English test:
- identity card or student ID
- your own headphones (with cable / no Bluetooth).
- First-semester students of the degree programmes (International Business and Digital Business Management). Special requirements apply to these degree programmes, which will be communicated at the beginning of the course.
- Students who already have a B2 certificate (e.g. Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS), which can be recognised accordingly. You should have your certificate recognised as soon as possible. Please contact the Language Centre with any questions regarding possible recognition - the SIC team is not the point of contact here.
- Students who have already taken this test and have not passed it. Participation is only possible once.
- Students from a higher semester of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law who have not yet reached B2 level in English.
- Students who have changed their degree programme within the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.
Math orientation test
The math orientation test is offered as an online test. You can take this test from home. Participation is strongly recommended. The test serves as your own orientation and to assess your previous knowledge of mathematics. The test result makes it easier for you to further develop your previous knowledge in a targeted manner. The results will not be passed on in any form. Further information: see E-Campus
Pre-course in mathematics
It is also possible to take part in a pre-course in mathematics, information can be found here under Pre-course in mathematics.
As a student starting in the 3rd semester or higher (lateral entrants), you will only take part in the presentation training.
This two-day training will take place in the week before the start of the semester. Please register in good time via sik@hs-pforzheim.de.
If you have already taken part in a comparable presentation training, please contact Ms. Burkart directly to clarify whether there are any credit transfer options.
As a “lateral entrant” at Pforzheim University from the 3rd semester (and higher), you will only take part in the presentation training.
This two-day training takes place before the start of the summer semester in presence at the university on two consecutive days (September 24, 2025 and September 25, 2025).
Please register by email to sik(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de.
If you have already taken part in a comparable presentation training course, please contact Ms Burkart directly to clarify whether there are any credit transfer options.
The SIC program for the winter semester 2025/2026 will take place from September 15, 2025 to September 26, 2025. Details can be found in the schedule available for download (subject to change). We will inform you of the group allocation by e-mail to your university address in the week before the start of the event.
The English placement test takes place as part of the SIC introductory weeks in presence at the university. It is not necessary to register in advance. You will be assigned to groups based on the SIC groups. You will receive information on group allocation shortly before the start of the SIC Program.
Further information and dates can be found in the e-Campus.
“I moved to Pforzheim over a year ago with a queasy feeling. A new phase of life, you don't know anyone, you don't know exactly whether you'll make a connection - a fear that was totally unfounded. Through the SIC, I got to know a lot of new people who I'm still friends with, and I had a good and relaxed start to my studies. My SIC gave me lots of tips for my foundation course that I probably wouldn't have learnt without it.”
Vivian Speidel, Controlling degree program
"Even today, I still remember the SIC introductory events when I started my degree program. At the time, I thought these were a good way of making it easier for new students to get started thanks to the small groups and the tutor's anti-authoritarian approach. On the other hand, the social skills of the new students are trained right from the start, which is really important, as I noticed during my practical semester, for example."
Patrick Rettenmayr, Controlling degree program
"When I started my studies at Pforzheim University last year in the first semester and was supposed to take part in the SIC program, I had mixed feelings about the days. You had to arrive at the university before the regular start of the semester and the training was scheduled over several days.
In hindsight, however, I am very glad that I took part in the program, as I was immediately integrated into the university. You had the opportunity to get to know many fellow students, mostly even from your own degree program, and were also introduced to the topic of business administration in a very practical way through the case study. You were able to develop your presentation skills and have a lot of fun during the video shoots, for example."
Nele Melissa Schneider, International Business degree program
From left to right: Heike Hofsäß (former SIC team member), Dina von Garlen, Brigitte Burkart, Susanne Glas
SIC Program Management
Brigitte Burkart
Dipl.-Psych.
Phone 07231 286290
E-Mail brigitte.burkart(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Room W2.1.15
SIC Program Assistance
Michaela Lohrer
Dipl.-Ing. (FH), Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. (FH)
Phone 07231 286172
E-Mail sik(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Room W2.1.15
Lecturer CCC Seminar
Dina von Garlen
Phone 07231 286388
E-Mail dina.vongarlen(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Room W2.3.28
Consultation hour: Please make an appointment by e-mail.
Lecturer CCC Seminar
Susanne Glas
Study Abroad Advisor (Outgoing)
Phone 07231 286092
E-Mail businessout(at)hs-pforzheim(dot)de
Room W2.3.19
