The Academic Advisory Service at THWS helps prospective students and current students choose a degree programme, deal with uncertainties during their studies and answer any questions relating to their academic progress. Monika Hahn and Hanna Holzheid provide confidential, personalised, and practical support.
Published on 28 October 2026
Deciding to study is rarely just an organisational choice. Behind every application there are usually fundamental questions: Which degree programme suits my interests? What opportunities will a degree open up for me? And what happens if, whilst studying, I realise that my decision might not have been the right one after all? For precisely these situations, there is a central point of contact at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS): the Academic Advisory Service.
They support people who are considering studying at THWS. However, the advisory service also supports students who are already enrolled, helping them with questions about their course of study and providing guidance when uncertainty outweighs certainty in their planning. This is not just about application deadlines or organisational procedures. Often, the focus is on personal decisions, doubts or questions about the future.
Advice for prospective and current students
Monika Hahn and Hanna Holzheid have been advising students since 2024. Although they each have different areas of specialism, they share a common goal: to provide guidance and highlight the opportunities available at THWS. Monika Hahn is responsible for providing general and one-to-one guidance to prospective and current students. Hanna Holzheid, on the other hand, works primarily at the interface with schools, fairs, and events for prospective students. In this way, traditional guidance is complemented by organisational and liaison work.
Monika Hahn: providing guidance when decisions are difficult
Monika Hahn is already well known to many at THWS. She has been working at the University since 2017 and initially focused primarily on collaborating with schools and organising information sessions for prospective students. Since October 2024, her work has centred on general student advisory services and one-to-one counselling. It is precisely this personal interaction that makes her work so special to her. "I find it really exciting to work with a young group of people who have a specific need for guidance," she says, explaining her motivation.
In her conversations, she encounters a wide variety of concerns: prospective students who are still unsure which degree programme is right for them, as well as students who are already well into their studies and are beginning to question their choice. The issues that students approach her with for advice are correspondingly diverse and often complex. They range from questions about choosing a degree programme and applying, through dual study programmes, to changing universities, doubts about one's studies or personal pressures that affect one's academic progress. These are rarely just isolated problems, but often involve a combination of various factors. This makes the safe space provided by the advisory service all the more important: confidentiality and openness form the basis for students to be able to speak honestly about their situation. The student advisory service deliberately does not see itself as an authority that dictates decisions. "The aim is not for me to prescribe solutions, but to point out ways forward so that those seeking advice can make a good decision for themselves," Monika Hahn emphasises.
When students are considering changing their subject or even dropping out of their degree programme, the advisory process begins by identifying the underlying causes. Where do these doubts stem from? Are they due to academic difficulties, external pressures, or simply unrealistic expectations of the degree programme? Only once these questions have been clarified can meaningful alternatives be developed. Monika Hahn also provides support with organisational challenges. For example, anyone wishing to change degree programmes is provided with information on deadlines, application processes, and possible consequences.
Information events at THWS
The most important information events at THWS are the student information days, which always take place in March, and the taster sessions, which can be attended every year during the Bavarian Whitsun holidays.
Hanna Holzheid: the link between school and THWS
Hanna Holzheid's focus in academic advisory services lies at the interface between school and University. The aim of her work is to bring prospective students into contact with THWS as early as possible – and to provide them with realistic, authentic insights into university life. She sees her role not as traditional one-to-one counselling, but rather as one of mediation and organisation.
Holzheid organises student information days, taster sessions, school visits, and appearances at education fairs. She also supervises a team of students who act as THWS student ambassadors at various events. Holzheid's day-to-day tasks include programme planning, liaising with schools, organisational coordination and organising off-campus activities. Authenticity is particularly important to her: prospective students should not just receive brochures, but gain genuine insights into everyday life at THWS. "Choosing a degree programme is a very important decision. You should really think it through, talk to current students and perhaps even sit in on a lecture," she advises.
Advising does not take place solely on campus
The work of the Academic Advisory Service is by no means confined to the campus. Both Monika Hahn and Hanna Holzheid regularly travel outside the University. This includes education fairs, school events and exchanges with organisations such as the Job Centre. This on-the-ground presence helps to bring information precisely to the places where decisions about studying are often made: in classrooms, at information events or in face-to-face conversations. At the same time, it enables THWS to make contact with prospective students at an early stage and offer guidance before uncertainties turn into major obstacles.
Asking early on rather than reacting in hindsight
A key issue that arises in counselling practice runs through many conversations: support is often only sought when the pressure is already very high – for example, shortly before important exams or when dropping out of university is imminent. Yet it is precisely early counselling that could help students put problems into perspective and develop new ways of thinking before situations come to a head. That is why Monika Hahn makes a clear appeal: "Don't be afraid to accept advice offers. It's better to ask once too often than too late." This sentiment sums up the work of the academic advisory service. It does not see itself as a last resort in times of crisis – but rather as a source of ongoing support during a phase characterised by decisions, changes and personal development.
How do I find the right degree programme?
If you're not yet sure which degree programme is right for you, you should take your time over the decision. As well as seeking advice from the Academic Advisory Service, it can be helpful to talk to current students, attend open days, take part in a taster course or do a work placement with a potential employer.
It’s also worth taking a look at the THWS degree programme finder to compare programmes in a targeted way.
Questions to help you find your way:
- What really interests me?
- What are my strengths?
- How is the degree programme structured?
- What career prospects does the degree programme offer?
To the Academic Advisory Service
To the THWS degree programme finder
