To content
Let's get started in Dortmund!

After Arrival

Once you arrive in Dortmund, there is much to discover. We hope you enjoy it! Here you will find information about the first steps after the arrival, life and studying in Dortmund. Of course, incidents can also occur during your stay, so you should definitely know the emergency numbers in Germany. We hope you won't need them.

Welcome | German Intensive Course

If you take part in the German Intensive Course in March or September before the beginning of the lecture period, we are pleased to officially welcome you on the first day of the Intensive Language Course at 9:00 a.m. in TU Dortmund University's International Meeting Center (IBZ) (Campus North | Emil-Figge-Straße 59 | see campus map). Afterwards you will have the opportunity to get to know the North Campus during a guided tour.

Course Selection

Exchange students are assigned a personal Academic Advisor who assists with all academic questions. Please contact your Academic Advisor at the latest upon arrival in Dortmund and arrange a personal meeting to discuss your course selection and enrolment in those courses.

You will find the contact details of your Academic Advisor in your welcome e-mail, which you received from the International Office of TU Dortmund University after your acceptance into the exchange program.

Administrative Formalities

Before or during the official welcome you will receive a TU Dortmund University welcome bag, in which you will find important information and a schedule for all the necessary administrative procedures. The International Office team will support you during your first weeks in Dortmund with these necessary steps:

  • Enrollment at TU Dortmund University
  • Setting up a statutory health insurance
  • Opening a bank account
  • Registration with the city of Dortmund
  • Applying for a residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde Dortmund

Public Broadcasting Service Fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)

In Germany, all households are charged a broadcasting fee of approximately 20 EUR to finance public broadcasting service. Students are generally also obligated to pay this fee. By the obligatory registration with the city of Dortmund you will be registered for this fee and requested for payment by the “Beitragsservice”. You can find further information on the fee also for tenants in student dormitories on the websites of the Beitragsservice and the Studierendenwerk Dortmund.

Social Contribution

All ­students must pay the social contribution fee for each semester in order to get fully enrolled. This social contribution is not a tuition fee and must be paid by all students, regardless of when they enroll.

Upon receipt of your preliminary certificate of enrollment, you will receive a request for payment of the social contribution. Please do not transfer the social contribution until you have received your preliminary certificate of enrollment.

Attention ISEP Students: TU Dortmund University's International Office will pay the social contribution for you!

Activation of Your UniAccount

Exchange students are provided­ with a UniAccount upon enrollment. With this account you will not only receive your personal UniMail e-mail address but also have access to important online services that TU Dort­mund University provides to its students. You will receive your personal access data with your preliminary certificate of enrollment. You can activate your UniAccount here.

Germany student semester ticket

­Exchange students receive ­the Germany student semester ticket for ­public transport­ from the ­university, arranged in cooperation­ with the AStA and the respective transport associations. After successful enrollment you have access to the semester ticket in the TU App.

Digital Student ID

Exchange students receive a digital student ID within the TU Dortmund App.

WLAN on Campus

Exchange students may use the university WLAN network through their UniAccount.

TU Dort­mund App

The TU Dort­mund App can be a very practical companion for your studies. The app provides information such as cafeteria meals, LSF, university sports program, person search, campus navigation, departure monitor, AStA service, current news, events and much more.

Campus Life

On TU Dortmund University's websites you will find a lot of interesting information about the numerous offers of entertainment, culture, sports and catering the university has to offer. An overview of the diverse artwork installed on campus can be found on this website.

Orientation on Campus

Where is the SRG I building? How do I get from the North Campus to the South Campus? Where is the closest cafeteria? TU Dortmund University's interactive map and site plan help with these questions.

Places to Study

TU Dortmund University offers various rooms with workstations and Internet access, which can be used optimally for studying. Further information can be found here.

Library

The University Library offers a variety of rooms for studying as well as a large selection of literature.

Moodle | e-Learning

In the learning platform Moodle, course materials are made available online in almost all courses at TU Dortmund University. The registration is done with the UniAccount.

Dortmund - A Versatile Metropolis in the Ruhr Region

The city of Dortmund offers a variety of attractions and a distinct cultural scene.

Free Concerts and Theater Performances for TU Students

Exchange students have access to a very special offer: they can obtain free tickets to almost the entire range of performances at the Theater Dortmund by presenting their TU student ID.

During your studies you may work 120 full days or 240 half days per calendar year.

Although it is quite difficult to get a job for only one or two semesters, it is not impossible. You can obtain information about student jobs from the following offices:

We are very pleased that you like it at TU Dortmund University and that you would like to study with us for another semester!

To extend your exchange by one semester, your home university has to nominate you for another semester at TU Dortmund University. ISEP students must be officially nominated via ISEP. To do so, please contact the contact person at your home university and ISEP (if you are an ISEP student) and ask for an extension of your nomination. It is sufficient for your coordinator to send an e-mail to exchange-studentstu-dortmundde with the corresponding nomination. Please also contact your contact person in the International Office at TU Dortmund University as early as possible and let him/her know of your wish for an extension, so that they can prepare all necessary administrative steps in time. It is also a prerequisite that your Academic Advisor at TU Dortmund University agrees to an extension.

For logistical reasons, an extension within an academic year is advisable, i.e. from the winter semester to the summer semester. An extension by one semester after the summer semester is not recommended.

If you have to stop your stay prematurely for health, personal or any other reasons, please contact the International Office (exchange-studentstu-dortmundde) as soon as possible! You will then receive all important information about necessary steps by e-mail. If possible, please also contact your Academic Advisor.

Contact

Exchange Students (Worldwide | ISEP | USA Program)

exchange-studentstu-dortmundde

If you have any questions regarding your exchange at TU Dortmund University, please also have a look at our FAQs