Technical University of Darmstadt

Karolinenpl. 5, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany

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Overview

The Technical University of Darmstadt is a highly ranked German institution of higher education. Since its inception in 1877, it has been involved in cutting edge research and development, with a current focus on artificial intelligence and sustainable energy. More than 24,000 students are enrolled at the University, which is one of Germany’s most international by collaboration and partnership volume.

TU Darmstadt has 13 Academic and Research Departments (Architecture, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrica...

University Highlight

Establishment year	1877
Total Students	24,406
International Students	N/A
QS World University Rankings 2024	=246
Campus Size	75 acres
Total Number of Campuses	2 + 3 minor locations
University Website	https://www.tu-darmstadt.de/index.en.jsp
No. of Schools and Divisions	13 Departments and 5 Fields of Study
Nobel Prize Winner Alumni	4
No. of Education Programs	120
Student to Faculty ratio	9:1

Course Highlight

Technical University of Darmstadt offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 13 Departments, which are grouped into five broad Fields of Study.

The Department of Architecture provides UG and PG taught and research programs in modern fields like Sustainable Architecture and Monument Preservation.
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through thirteen Institutes, including Construction Management, Geodesy, Waste Water, Structural Design, Steel Construction, and Materials in Construction.
The Department of Computer Science teaches UG and PG courses, and carries out research in cutting edge fields like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology provides UG and PG taught and research programs in Microelectronics, Power Electrical Engineering, and Software Design.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Heat Transfer, Automotive Engineering, and Mechatronics.
The Department of Biology provides UG and PG taught and research programs through nineteen senior Research Labs, including Cell Biology, Animal Evolutionary Ecology, Applied Plant Sciences, Microbial Energy Conversion, and Plant Membrane Biophysics.
The Department of Chemistry conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs in eight Subject Areas: inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, macromolecular chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, technical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and didactics of chemistry.
The Department of Materials and Earth Sciences conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the design and synthesis of materials.
The Department of Mathematics teaches UG and PG courses, and carries out research in various fields of pure and applied mathematics.
The Department of Physics provides UG and PG taught and research programs in laser physics, particle physics, photonics, and high energy physics.
The Department of History and Social Sciences conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs through six Institutes: History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Linguistics & Literature, and Theology & Social Ethics.
The Department of Human Sciences provides UG and PG taught and research programs through three Institutes: General & Vocational Education, Psychology, and Sports Science.
The Department of Law and Economics conducts undergraduate and postgraduate programs in several subject areas, including Management Science, Accounting, Innovation Management, Corporate Finance, Logistics, and Business Informatics.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants to undergraduate programs at TU Darmstadt must satisfy the following criteria:

Possession of a high school secondary certificate. This should also be stamped by the relevant authorities and translated to German or English via the Embassy, in case it was issued in any other language.
Completion of relevant subjects, with grades listed for each in detailed academic transcripts.
Possession of an international passport issued in the country of origin, valid for at least a year from the expected date of arrival in Germany.
Proof of Language Proficiency: Most courses require B2 or C1 Level Proficiency in the German language.
Documents need not be notarized, which is different from the requirements for most other highly ranked German Universities.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral programs at TU Darmstadt must satisfy similar criteria; however, they must submit Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees certificates from recognized international institutions of higher education, respectively.

Admission

Both domestic and international students must submit their applications through the online portal, TUCaN. The application process for undergraduate and postgraduate candidates is similar, and the following steps are involved:

Creation of an account on the portal, and filling up the application form with accurate academic records and personal details.
Contacting the Academic Evaluation Center via the Germany Embassy, to have the academic certificates and transcripts evaluated and certified. This is necessary only for applicants from Vietnam, China, and India. This is not needed for doctoral program applicants; all other candidates from those countries must undergo this process.
Passing the DSH-2 examination in order to prove German language proficiency In case the chosen program has English as the medium of instruction, a minimum performance level of 6.5 (IELTS), 95 (TOEFL iBT), or 76 (Pearson English Test) is required.
Uploading the following documents to the portal:
- Identity Proof (Passport ID Page)
- Academic records (Degree Certificate and Transcripts).
- Updated Curriculum Vitae.
- Personal Statements and Essays, as per requirement.
- Letters of Reference. These are mandatory for most Master’s programs.
- Language Test Scores
Certain programs may require candidates to apply for an entrance examination or project e.g. the Master of Aerospace Engineering.

After submission of the application, the University typically responds to all candidates with a decision within a few weeks. Successful applicants may complete the enrollment procedure and apply for a German long term student visa.

Fees

Neither domestic nor international students at TU Darmstadt need to pay tuition fees, as the German Government subsidizes higher education. However, semester and administrative fees must be paid, which amount to 295.46 Euros per semester, with small increases expected in future years:

Semester Fee: 245.46 Euros.
- Semester Ticket: 135.23 Euros; this pays for examination and evaluation fees.
- Student Union Fees: 93 Euros.
- Student Body Fees: 13.15 Euros.
- Other minor components of the Semester Fee include hardship funds, cooperative body fees, and bicycle fees for the entire campus.
- Certain programs, like the Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, have a higher semester fee, with approximately 100 Euros being spent on the cost of collaboration with Goethe University, Frankfurt.
Administrative Fee: 50 Euros. This is used by various offices of the University to provide efficient and uninterrupted service.

The University estimates that its students will spend 1,100 Euros per month, on average, on living costs. The rent for a private apartment in the city is approximately 500 to 600 Euros per month, with low cost student housing available at substantially lower prices. Food can cost between 300 and 550 Euros per month, depending on individual choices. In addition, most students spend 100 Euros per month, on average, on transportation, personal costs, shopping, and study materials. There are also one time costs that are incurred upon arrival in Germany, including Residence Permit fees, a rent deposit, and a safety deposit.

Campus facilities

TU Darmstadt has five locations in the city, of which the first two serve as the main campuses:

Stadtmitte, the oldest location, was the original site of the university and has four sections within it, housing the administrative units, some academic departments, and the main library.
Lichtwiese is in the southeastern part of the city, and is home to most of the engineering and natural sciences departments.
Botanical Garden, which is home to the Institute of Earth Sciences.
Hochschulstadion, where the sports facilities and grounds of the University are located.
Windkanal, where fluid mechanics and aeronautics testing are carried out.

The historic city of Darmstadt gives students of the University several opportunities for cultural and sports outings. Most heritage walks and hikes are organized in the summer months, with Christmas markets and musical evenings reserved for the autumn and winter months. Dozens of student clubs are active, primarily in the fields of art and culture, and the Student Union serves as the bridge to the leadership of the University.

The Hochschulstadion campus location of TU Darmstadt is home to one of the most modern sports complexes in any German University. It has several grounds and a stadium for outdoor sports, including football, hockey, basketball, and track sports. Multiple swimming pools allow aquatic athletes and casual swimmers to get their weekly dose of exercise, and well appointed gyms and cardio areas ensure that daily workouts are possible at a low price. Indoor sports halls can also be booked by students at the University. In addition to the Botanical campus, the other four locations have extensive green spaces as well.

Scholarship

The Graduation Scholarship for International Students is the main financial aid option for Bachelor's and Master's students at TU Darmstadt. There are two main criteria: academic performance and the social situation of the student. Candidates can apply twice a year, in October and March. The amount is variable, with at least 250 Euros per month paid for a maximum period of half a year. This scholarship is unique in that awardees can appeal the decision if they wish to receive funding for a longer period.

DAAD, the academic exchange arm of the German Government, awards several scholarships to deserving students of TU Darmstadt based both on academic merit and financial need. Candidates must apply directly to DAAD. The amount may vary from a few hundred to a thousand Euros per month. The most prestigious DAAD scholarship is the Prize for Outstanding Achievements and Commitment, awarded to one international student every year.

The main Government Scholarship for students of TU Darmstadt (both domestic and international) is the Deutschland Stipendium. This is awarded based on academic potential and other factors, like social welfare work. Awardees receive a monthly stipend of 300 Euros for a year. This covers roughly a third of the monthly living costs. There is no limit on the number of students who can apply for or receive this scholarship.