Dear Students,

We are pleased to welcome you to the University of Bayreuth. The staff of the university library would like to accompany you throughout your studies and help you to find and to obtain the required information and literature. We would like to give you some general guidance but also information which relates especially to you as a student. Please use the information sheets, which are available for download under the links below.


Admission requirements

The main task of the University Library (UB) is to provide information and literature for the scientists and students of the university. Students automatically receive access to the UB. The student ID card serves as the library ID card. The user number (017th ..) is printed on the backside.

Students of the Summer University, exchange students, and scholarship holders receive restricted access to the library. In order to receive a library ID card (for borrowing, making orders, reservations, and interlibrary loans), the user must demonstrate that he/she is spending at least one semester at the University of Bayreuth. However, even without a library ID card, every person may use the holdings of the university library, which are freely accessible in the reading rooms of the Main Library and the department libraries.
For Campus-Academy students: When presenting your ID you will receive a library ID card and then you will be able to use all holdings and services offered by the university library.


Using the library services (registration, borrowing media, etc.) is free for students - and also for the general public from the city and surrounding area. Costs only occur for overdue items, copies via interlibrary loan, scan jobs, etc. Possible fees are collected in the fee list.

Structure of the Bayreuth University Library

The University Library consists of the Main Library, which includes the department library of  humanities, four department libraries structured by subjects on the campus and one department library in Thurnau (FIMT).
The Main Library contains the central departments of the library, such as cataloguing, acquisitions, interlibrary loans, and holdings for African Studies, Sports, Culture, Language and Literature. It is possible to receive and borrow media in all department libraries on campus. Please use our map to find the different library locations.

Offers and Hints

You are welcome to take part  in our guided tours (e.g. general ones or those which are held especially for students). The dates and all important details can be found under the menu item “Services/Library Tours”.

Information about the University's network can be found on the website of the IT service center. In addition, you have the opportunity to use many of our electronic services (e.g. e-journals and databases) from home (off-campus access).

Important course literature is provided by different lecturers through course reserve collections.

Reference management with Citavi

For the creation of reference lists/bibliographies, the university is offering Citavi, a specially licensed reference management programme.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact us personally or via our contact data if you have any further questions.

Our information sheets