Welcoming Our New Undergraduate Students for To the 2026-27 Academic Year

September marks the beginning of a new academic year, and with it a chapter for our incoming undergraduate students. 

Welcome Week activities took place across Schiller’s campuses in Heidelberg, Madrid, Paris, and Tampa. Designed to help students settle into university life, these days combined academic orientation, practical guidance, cultural experiences, and opportunities to connect with their new community. With a range of undergraduate programs offered across our global campuses, Welcome Week brought together students from more than 80 nationalities, with diverse academic interests and backgrounds. 

Key Takeaways 

• Getting ready for academic life: Students learned about academic processes, degree structures, digital resources, and the support available to them.  
• Getting to know their new community: Welcome activities, group sessions, and student-led events created opportunities to meet classmates and campus teams.  
• Discovering their new surroundings: Campus tours and activities introduced students to their new cities, neighborhoods, and local resources.  
• Building connections from day one: From informal meet-and-greets to team-building activities, students had opportunities to start developing their networks. 

Getting Ready for the Semester 

A key part of the program was helping students understand the resources and support available to them from day one. Across the campuses, students met with advisors, faculty, and staff through sessions covering academic processes, degree structures, student services, IT and digital resources, finances, housing, visas, and career services. Sessions such as academic overviews with Associate Deans, student panels, and help desks also gave students the opportunity to ask questions and become more familiar with the people and teams supporting their university journey. 

This year’s Welcome Week also marked a new milestone for our international community, as we welcomed our first group of study abroad students from BARNA as part of our partnership with the institution. 

Discovering Campus Life and Building Connections 

Welcome Week also extended beyond the classroom, giving students the chance to get to know their new surroundings. Campus tours, scavenger hunts, neighborhood walks, and city activities introduced students to their local communities. In Heidelberg, students explored Bahnstadt, while Madrid students discovered neighborhoods including Chueca and Malasaña and visit the available student dorms with Micampus Residencias. In Paris, the program included a visit to partner school EMA and a boat ride along the Seine. Tampa students visited the local art museum and public library, helping them become familiar with some of the resources and cultural opportunities available in the city. 

Building connections with fellow students was another important part of the week. Team-building and group activities, welcome lunches, intercultural workshops, Student Council sessions, and informal meet-and-greet opportunities created spaces for students to get to know one another and start building their new networks. In Tampa, students also had the opportunity to meet the new President and campus team over coffee and donuts, while the campus introduced its Food Pantry initiative to provide additional support beyond the classroom. 

A Strong Start to the Schiller Experience 

Together, these activities provided a practical and engaging introduction to life at Schiller. From learning how to navigate academic systems to discovering a new city and meeting classmates from different backgrounds, Welcome Week gave our new students the opportunity to begin building the knowledge, connections, and confidence they need for the semester ahead. 

As classes get underway across our campuses, we look forward to seeing our newest students make the most of their Schiller experience and become part of our global community.