Information for Applicants

You would like to apply for one of our Master degree programs? For general questions on application, admission, and enrolment, please contact the International Admission of TU Darmstadt. Here you will also find information on deadlines and required documents. For the application please fill out the corresponding Competence Statement for the Application and send it to master@bauing.tu-…

• Competence Statement for the Application for the M.Sc. Bauingenieurwesen – Civil Engineering (in English) (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• Bewerbungskompetenzauskunft for the application for the M.Sc. Bauingenieurwesen – Civil Engineering (in German) (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• Bewerbungskompetenzauskunft for the application for the M.Sc. Umweltingenieurwesen (PDF file) (opens in new tab)

Degree Programs at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Whether your focus is on transportation systems, sustainable environmental solutions, or the design of modern high-rise buildings – our department provides a diverse range of study opportunities.

Follow thelink to explore detailed information about our programs.

M.Sc. Bauingenieurwesen – Civil Engineering (bilingual)

The Master’s programme Bauingenieurwesen – Civil Engineering is taught in English and German. The first two semesters are taught mainly in English, the last two semesters mainly in German. To complete the degree, it is mandatory to complete modules worth 42 Credits each in German and English. 36 Credits can be chosen freely regarding the language of tuition. It is not possible to obtain the degree only by completing modules in one language.

For admission, we require a language certificate for English at C1 (corresponds to IELTS 7.0) or equivalent (accepted English proofs are found here under “Language requirements” -> “Language Requirements for Degree Programmes taught in English”. A B.Sc. programme completed in English is accepted as proof of English skills. The certificate about the C1-level in English does not have to be submitted at the time of application but may be submitted within the first two semesters of study.

Good German language skills are indispensable for studying this programme successfully. We do not require a formal German language certificate for admission, but the sufficient level in German (C1) should be reached by the beginning of the third semester at the latest and at the time of application, it should be likely that this will be reached in time. Thus, a minimum level of German between B1 and B2 at the time of application is highly recommended. Learning German in parallel to a regular degree programme from scratch to a level that allows to study in this language is a major challenge. An extension of study duration due to this additional effort should be expected.

A specific GPA is not required for admission.

Further information can be found here:

• module manual (PDF file) (opens in new tab)

• Departmental programme website

• DAAD International Programmes

• With myGermanUniversity we offer info-webinars.

M. Sc. Sustainable Urban Development

The only master’s programme at our department taught completely in English is the M. Sc. Sustainable Urban Development, a Joint Degree Programme offered jointly with the Vietnamese-German University. Application for this programme is possible only for winter semester from June 01 to July 15. of the same year (dates expected).

M.Sc. Umweltingenieurwissenschaften (M.Sc. UI; taught in German)

If you are interested in the M.Sc. Umweltingenieurwissenschaften (M.Sc. UI; taught in German), please note the following recommendation for the application: Experience has shown that admission to the degree programme is often not possible for external applicants because certain required subject-related prerequisites are missing. In some cases, admission fails because there are just too few credit points in one area, although the overall impression of the competence profile is positive. Therefore, we recommend applying for the B.Sc. UI at the same time as applying for the M.Sc. UI. You will be admitted to the B.Sc. if the formal admission requirements for academic studies alone are met. If the application for the M.Sc. UI is rejected, it is then possible to enrol in the B.Sc. UI and make up the missing modules from there. At the same time, modules from the M.Sc. UI can already be brought forward from the Bachelor's programme. This way you can play it safe and not lose any time.

Application, Admission and Deadlines

To study at TU Darmstadt, you must first apply centrally to the International Admissions Office. On their webpage you will find information on application deadlines, documents and admission requirements, in particular language skills and language learning opportunities. If you have any questions about the application process and the required documents, please contact the colleagues at International Admission directly. They offer consultation via online Counter and phone hotline.

Please find out more about your opportunities at our department and at TU Darmstadt following these links:

All general information about application and admission are provided by the international admission office.

• Application for Bachelor’s programmes

Please send all required documents to the central international admission office. If your school leaving certificates allow to study at TU Darmstadt, you will get an admission for a bachelor’s programme without further examination of your former study contents.

• Application for Master’s programmes

Application periods:

• M.Sc. Sustainable Urban Development: Only winter semester: 1 March to 15 July
• All other M.Sc. programmes offered by our department: for winter semester: 1 March to 31 August, for summer semester: 1 September to 1 March; dates expected.

At the time of application, the Bachelor's degree does not yet have to be available.

Only after a successful general examination of your documents by the international admission office will your certificates be examined in the department from a subject-related point of view and an admission or rejection will be issued.

Other useful informations for prospective students

• To get an idea about the requirements for the Master degree programme before you apply, you can take a look at the competence statement form M.Sc. BI-CE (PDF file) (opens in new tab) or competence statement form M.Sc. Umweltingenieurwissenschaften (PDF file) (opens in new tab). Please compare your former study achievements with the information given in the module handbooks (see “Examination regulations 2021”).
• Please also note the study plans of the programmes offered by our department (see examination regulations 2021).
• For information about our department for international students see here.
• Together with the International student services the department of civil and environmental engineering offers a general orientation programme (study organization, orientation in the city and campus, accommodation, visa issues, foreigner’s office, study and programme related questions…) carried out by student buddies who care about freshers individually.
• Please have a look here for an overview over the department.
• For general information about the university see here.
• The semester fee is about 380€. Please check here for detailed information.
• To enrol, you have to proof valid health unsurance. We recommend to contact our campus consultant of the Techniker Krankenkasse, Ms Catharina Bremer for advice.
• For enrolled students, language courses are available at the language resources center of TU Darmstadt, either intensive courses in advance of each semester in March/September or courses during the semester.
• Please find out about options for financing your studies. Make use of information on scholarship searches. At TU Darmstadt, international students can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium and, in the final phase, for a graduation scholarship. Both are not full scholarships and are only paid out for a limited time. It is therefore advisable to apply to scholarship providers in your home country, e.g. the DAAD, or to look for other financing options.
• Working as an international student: allowed amount of work is 140 full days (full-time or 40 hours per week) per year or 280 half days (part-time or 20 hours per week) per year. Students from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can take up any work under the same conditions as German students. Semester holidays are an exception to this rule. If you like to work more than permitted, you will need an exceptional authorisation from the relevant immigration authority.
• Part-time study is possible for most programmes.
• For questions about visa application and entry to Germany please contact the international student services via iss@zv.tu-darmstadt.de.

Late Arrival

Unfortunately, many students face problems with long waiting times for a visa. Please note our advice on late arrival:

Your admission is only valid for the admitted semester and a deferment of the admission is not possible. So, currently you have two options to process further:

1. Reapply for the semester in which you actually wish to begin your studies. This means going through the entire application process again, just as you did the first time.

2. Enrol for the admitted semester. Then you will be a regular student of our university and can start your studies whenever you are able to. In case of enrollment you would need to note the following:

- Even if you are not on site, enrolment requires the transfer of the semester fee and the presentation of an insurance policy, usually with a statutory German health insurance company. Please enquire, for example, our campus consultant of the “Techniker Krankenkasse” statutory health insurance. You will also be advised about private insurances if you wish.

- After enrolment you may apply for a semester of leave for the first semester which might be of advance for these reasons: The semester fee includes the semester ticket for public transport in Germany. Upon application, you could be reimbursed for this share if you are unable to be in Darmstadt during your first semester. This would have the additional advantage that the first semester would not count as a regular semester for the foreigners' office either (see following points).

- The semester of first enrollment is technically counted as the first one. From the side of the university this has no consequence with regard to your studies since there is no limitation of study duration. But the foreigner’s office could object to a stay in Germany that is too long. They regularly check the progress of foreign students and take the technical duration of their studies as a first point of reference. You should therefore be sure to document the date of entry into Germany in order to prove to the authorities that you have not studied despite being enrolled (flight ticket, stamp in passport).

- TU Darmstadt does not require taking examinations each semester. But the Hessian Federal state higher education law stipulates that at least one examination must be successfully completed within two years. The time during which you would be enrolled but not yet studying would also count as a subject semester in this sense.

- Unfortunately, we do not offer online courses.

- After admission, a document which indicates that from TU Darmstadt side there are no objections against entering Germany to take up studies after the start of lectures should be provided in your application account under “my documents”. The document is named “VIIIABescheinigungLV für Imma”

Scholarships

A lot of information on scholarship searches can be found here . At TU Darmstadt, international students can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium and, in the final phase, for a graduation scholarship. Both are not full scholarships and are only paid out for a limited time. It is therefore advisable to apply to scholarship providers in your home country, e.g. the DAAD, or to look into other financing options.

Graduation Scholarship for international students

International students can apply for the performance-based scholarship if they are in the final phase of their studies.

Applications are possible twice a year, from 01 until 15 April and from 01 until 15 October.

More infos can be found here.

International Career Service Rhein-Main (ICS RM)

Target Group: International students & students with a migrant background

Our Services:

• Matching Week
• Career Entry
• New Work
• Entrepreneurship
• Counselling & Coaching

You can find more information on our website and in the attached flyer (PDF file) (opens in new tab).

Contact:

• info@ics-rm.de
• Instagram: @ics_rm
• TikTok: @ics_rm
• YouTube: @ics-rm

Graduation Scholarship for international students

International students can apply for the performance-based scholarship if they are in the final phase of their studies.

Applications are possible twice a year, from 01 until 15 April and from 01 until 15 October.

More infos can be found here.

Confirmation from the Educational Institution for the Extension of the Residence Permit

Problem: Students need the confirmation of academic progress (“Bestätigung der Bildungseinrichtung zum Studienfortschritt”) from TU Darmstadt in order to extend their residence permit.

Procedure: Students write to Zulassung International stating that they need the confirmation from the educational institution (PDF file) (opens in new tab).

The following information is required:

• current transcript of records (can be downloaded from TUCaN)
• matriculation number
• full name
• date of birth
• appointment letter from the Foreigners’ Office (Ausländerbehörde)

Welcome to TU Darmstadt!

We are very pleased that you will be spending one or two semesters studying in our department.

An important presentation about the university and the start of your studies, which you should review before your arrival, can be found here (PDF file) (opens in new tab).

You can also find essential information about your studies in our department in this presentation (PDF file) (opens in new tab).

Please see TU Darmstadt’s central information for incoming students regarding:

• Application process
• Language requirements
• Accommodation
• Student card and public transport
• Health insurance

Please contact the office for Student affairs (Studienbüro) international@bauing.tu-… for questions regarding the department, such as:

• Service and advice for exchange students
• Study program
• Learning agreement and credit points
• Transcript of records

Orientation

The international student service invites you to join X-Weeks and the Kick-Off Days with different online activities. Please check the ISS website for updated information.

You are planning to study in English?

Please have a look at the current overview of our English taught courses winter term – summer term (please see below: Module and Courses).

Modules and Courses

At TU Darmstadt, the offered courses are organized in modules:

• A module consists of one or more courses.
• A course is always part of a module (and can be part of various modules).
• A course for example can be a lecture (“Vorlesung” –vl), a practical course (“Übung” –ue), or a seminar (“Seminar” –se).

Students only get a grade when they finish the whole module. A module consists of one or more courses as well as examinations. So please register for every module, every course of the module, and the examinations on TUCaN. If you register for a module you are not automatically registered for the associated examination.

Please consider that the language of instruction at the department is usually German. Courses taught in English can be found below.

For exchange students we offer the “International Research Project” (PDF file) (opens in new tab) at master level. Students work on a given topic largely independently using engineering methods. The results are presented in a scientifically correct manner in written and oral form.

• 12 CP
• Taught in English
• Module number: 13-01-M007

Options for writing a Bachelor's or Master's Thesis at TU Darmstadt

If you plan to write a (Bachelor's or Master's) thesis at our department, you usually need a supervisor of your home university as well as definitely a TU Darmstadt supervisor. So, please contact well in advance of your stay a professor at our department to discuss a possible topic with and get a confirmation of supervision. You need to decide:

either to defend your thesis and have it graded at your home university,

• i.e. to register and submit your thesis and take the exam according to the regulations of your home university.
• This decision has the consequence that TU Darmstadt cannot confirm by a transcript or learning agreement any Credit Points (CP)/ECTS (nevertheless, your TU Darmstadt supervisor can provide
• report, including workload, evaluation and grade of the thesis).

or to write and defend your thesis and have it graded at TU Darmstadt,

• i.e. to register and submit your thesis and take the exam according to the regulations of TU Darmstadt.
• To do this, once the topic has been accepted by the supervisor, you must register your thesis in the
• study office at the very beginning of your stay and submit the completed thesis to the study office until the deadline.
• In this case you get a Transcript of Records from TU Darmstadt containing the achieved credits. The credits can be recognized at your home university according to their rules.
• It is possible to individually adjust the scope of the Master's thesis if more than the 24 Credit Points awarded for the Master's thesis at the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at TU Darmstadt are required.

This decision must be agreed upon with your supervisors – at TU Darmstadt as well as at your home university – and both the International/Erasmus coordinators at TU Darmstadt and at your home university.

IREP

This program aims to enable undergraduate and graduate students from TU Darmstadt's partner universities in the USA and Canada to:

• Acquire an insight in research in your field through active participation
• Gain intercultural experience
• Transfer credit points home

More information here

For information considering students with refugee background, please see the Coordinating Center for Refugee Integration (Zentrale Koordinierungsstelle für Flüchtlingsintegration)

Basics

• The academic year consists of two terms/semesters called “Wintersemester” and “Sommersemester”. The winter semester courses start in mid-October and end by mid-February. The summer semester courses start in mid-April and end by mid-July. The so-called „vorlesungsfreie Zeit“ (semester break) is used to take exams, finish term papers, go on excursions, enroll in practical courses and prepare for the upcoming term.
• In order to give you a good start to your studies, we have collected bundled and detailed information about the start of the semester.
• At the beginning of your stay, it is important that you choose your modules and courses in the campus management system of TU Darmstadt TUCaN (for more information please see below).
• Course calendars are online by September 15th for winter term and by March 15th for summer term.
• Here you find our department’s module manuals (scroll down to the end of the webpage).
• Please consider that the language of instruction at the department is usually German. You are planning to study in English? Please have a look at the current overview of our English taught modules. It also contains information on the type of examination.

Institutes of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Here you can find an overview of all institutes within Department 13.

The information gives you insight into the research focus and areas of activity of each institute, helping you plan your studies and future career with greater clarity.

Planning your studies

Inform yourself about all relevant semester dates (start of courses, holidays…).

The study office advises you on requirements to fulfil and recommended research/focus subjects (see the departmental letter for admission).

Determine your research subjects/focus subjects (“Forschungsfächer”/“Schwerpunkte”) in TUCaN. Deadline: 15.05. (does not apply to the M.Sc. Sustainable Urban Development)!

Change of research/focus subjects is possible once without giving reasons (in a second time upon application).

Plan your master’s studies by the use of your programme’s study and examination plan! It contains all modules offered in your programme and indicates:

• associated course(s)
• their assignment to the different areas of your programme
• in which semester they are offered and recommended to be taken
• in which language they are taught
• what kind of exams are to be taken
• their workload (in credit points; CP).

Please find your programme’s study and examination plan here:

• study and examination plan M.Sc. Bauingenieurwesen – Civil Engineering (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• study and examination plan M.Sc. Umweltingenieurwissenschaften (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• study and examination plan M.Sc. Geodäsie und Geoinformation (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• study and examination plan M.Sc. Sustainable Urban Development (PDF file) (opens in new tab)

Modules listed among the research/focus subjects may also be chosen for the subject-related compulsory elective area.

For support contact our Study Advisory Service and your mentoring professor.

Study organization – Advice and Regulations

The Study Office is your first point of contact for organizational questions concerning your studies.

Services of the study office:

• Service and advice for students
• advice on requirements as well as on recommended research areas and specializations
• examination matters
• problems with module/exam de-/registrations (contact us before the registration/de-registration deadline via the contact form, if you are not able to register/de-register in TUCaN!)
• submission of medical certificates (in case of illness at the exam day: use online form to excuse)
• study documents (official transcript of records; final documents)
• recognition of former study achievements (PDF file) (opens in new tab)
• Transcript of Records
• Registration for thesis

Contact

via contact form or international@bauing.tu-…

Consulting hours for international students (Regine Sauerwein) – Drop in or call!

• Wednesdays 09-11am, building L5|06, room 128
• 06151 – 16 20618

Please make use of our moodle-course as collection of important study related information. Registration is possible after enrollment (choose English version in your course profile).

Choice of Modules and Exams

At TU Darmstadt, the offered courses are organized in modules:

• A module consists of one or more courses.
• A course is always part of a module (and can be part of various modules).
• A course for example can be a lecture (“Vorlesung” –vl), a practical course (“Übung” –ue), or a seminar (“Seminar” –se).

Students only get a grade when they finish the whole module. A module consists of one or more courses as well as examinations. So please register for every module, every course of the module, and the examinations on TUCaN. If you register for a module you are not automatically registered for the associated examination.

Examinations take place between mid February and End of March (winter semester) or mid of June and End of September (summer semester)

Notes on examinations

To complete a module, you have three regular examination attempts for the technical examination (study examinations may be retaken unlimited times). Once in the entire degree programme, there is the possibility of an oral supplementary examination in the case of a failed 3rd examination attempt (only applies to modules in which the technical examination is a supervised written one).

TUCaN

TUCaN is the central organizing system for courses and examinations at TU Darmstadt. On TUCaN you can find out who will teach the course, what the course is about and where and when the course takes place.

• With TUCaN you register for modules, courses and examinations, access materials for seminars and lectures and you also find your grades.
• A module can contain several courses and so, several examinations. To get a grade at TU Darmstadt, you need to finish the entire module and pass all examinations.
• Please note that there are specific deadlines for the registration/cancellation for modules and registration for examinations in TUCaN is mandatory! Registration for and deregistration from examinations is only possible during specified periods. Late registration or deregistration cannot be accepted. Please learn about the regulations for withdrawal from exams (without giving reasons)!
• You will be informed about important study related issues (room changes, publication of grades, deadlines for registration…) via TUCaN. Check your TUCaN email account regularly and set up a forward to your student email account!
• Inform yourself about teaching content in the programme’s module handbook (see “Exmination Regulations 2021”).
• Course calendars are found in TUCaN at September 1st for winter term and at March 1st for summer term
• Please have a look at the FAQ for TUCaN

Registration Process via TUCaN

• Register for a module (at the beginning of the semester)
• Register for a course (at the beginning of the semester)
• Register for an exam (special registration period)
• Taking an exam without registration in the module and the for the exam is not possible!

General Information on Preparation, Arrival and Orientation

• For general questions (student card, health insurance…) please contact the International Student Services (ISS)
• Begin your TU Darmstadt journey with confidence through our free MasterPlus Programme—designed to support you both academically and socially. It offers you the chance to team up with a fellow student in your department to help you through your journey as a new student. Sign-up here!
• TU Darmstadt offers online orientation and language courses for international students:
  • In the beginning of the semester the International Student Services offers the X-Weeks (Experience Weeks) to exchange students and the Kick-Off Days to all international students. During these orientation programs, student tutors support you in organizing your stay and you get the possibility to participate in many different online activities. You will also get help with arrangements to be made in order to be able to begin your studies such as TU-ID, student email-address, Athena Card, TUCaN (please see section above). Please check the ISS website for updated information.
  • International Student Service ISS

Language Courses

• The Language Resource Center of TU Darmstadt offers regular and intensive language courses.
• Please note that you have to register and take a placement test before signing up for courses.

Module Registration in TUCaN

As module registration in TUCaN can sometimes be confusing, especially for new students, we have prepared two click-by-click guides for you:

• General Guide (PDF file) (opens in new tab) (BI-CE & UI)
• Guide for Sustainable Urban Development (PDF file) (opens in new tab) (SUD)

Please choose the guide that applies to you.

Sprachencafe

• The Sprachencafé offers a platform for students interested in languages, culture and people of all nationalities. It is a weekly gathering in cozy atmosphere. There is no registration required, you can come by whenever you prefer. Meetings are organized in a Facebook group that you are welcome to join.
• The Sprachencafé is currently online – every Thursday 5 to 8 p.m at their Discord channel

You can also take a look at the following free websites for learning German:

• SPZ TU Darmstadt
• Goethe Institute
• Lean German. DW

Digital communication

For digital communication, TU Darmstadt uses “Big Blue Button” and “Zoom”, for which we offer our students free licenses. To access these, you need your TU Darmstadt email address: (firstname.lastname@stud.tu-darmstadt.de)