Application and Admission

Whether you have a German or foreign higher education entrance qualification – the TUCaN online application portal is available for everyone.

Further information about the application process can be found: here

If you are unable to attend courses at TU Darmstadt for a course-related reason (e.g. international stay, work placement) or are unable to attend for a specific semester for appropriate personal reasons, there is the possibility of taking a leave of absence (see reasons for taking a leave of absence below).

We recommend submitting your Leave of Absence Application (opens in new tab) in a timely manner, if possible by the end of February or the end of August for the subsequent semester. This will ensure that you receive your student documentation containing the relevant information about the leave of absence well before the start of your leave. If you need to apply for a leave of absence for a current semester, the application must be submitted at the latest by 30 September for the summer semester and by 31 March for the winter semester. It is not possible to take a leave of absence retroactively for a semester that has already ended. Applications made after 30 September for the summer semester and after 31 March for the winter semester will be rejected regardless of the reasons.

The full semester fees are due even for a leave of absence and must be credited to TU Darmstadt's account within the re-registration period. It is possible to obtain a partial refund for the semester ticket; The students' union (AStA transportation department) is responsible for this.

The duration of a leave of absence is limited to six semesters regardless of whether different reasons are applicable. Leaves of absence due to maternity/parental leave and compulsory (military) service do not count toward this limit.

Be sure to read the information below regarding the reasons for (and consequences of) taking a leave of absence. Please also note that part-time study is an option for certain degree programmes.

A leave of absence may be taken for the following reasons:

• A medical condition of a type and duration that precludes proper study
• Course-related* internship
• Course-related* study abroad (e.g. participation in exchange programmes)
• Maternity leave
• Parental leave (extended leave for new parents)
• Being a member of a national team (first, second, third or fourth/third team) of a top professional association in the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)
• Caring for a relative who requires care according to a doctor-issued medical certificate
• Working as a nominated/elected representative on the academic administration or Student Government
• Other important reason that precludes proper study

*Course-related = reason must be directly related to course of studies

Taking a leave of absence typically precludes the acquisition of credits and sitting examinations.

Exceptions:

• Maternity/parental leave in accordance with Section 15 of the German Federal Law on Family Allowance and Parental Leave (Bundeserziehungsgeldgesetzes)
• Caring for a relative requiring care according to a doctor-issued medical certificate
• Working as a nominated/elected representative on the academic administration or Student Government
• Course-related study abroad
• Course-related internship
• Retaking a failed examination

Ongoing examination deadlines are not affected or extended by taking a leave of absence. If you have any questions about this, please contact the relevant Office for Student Affairs.

You can participate in the university's self-administration but your active right to vote is suspended.

A leave of absence in the first semester of a particular subject is possible for the following reasons by way of exception:

• Illness
• Maternal or Parental Leave
• Caring for dependent relatives who have been declared to be dependent by a doctor

The number of study semesters or semesters on leave can have an effect on:

• BAföG funding (student loans and grants under the German Federal Training Assistance Act)
• Child Benefit (Kindergeld)
• Duration of student health insurance
• Scholarships / funding programmes

More detailed information is available from the relevant organisations: student loan / grants office, family allowance fund, health insurance provider, scholarship foundation / funding provider.

Those who have submitted a new application and were therefore not enroled at TU Darmstadt in the preceding semester can apply to revoke their new enrolment / admission up to one month before lectures start by submitting the Application to Withdraw from First-Time Enrolment/Admission (opens in new tab). If enrolment has already been completed successfully, a processing fee of 30 euros will be charged. This will be deducted automatically from the refundable semester fees. (HMWK administrative cost order (VwKostO-MWK) dated 19.12.2013, no. 272 schedule of administrative fees).

Those who have applied to change degree programmes, and who were therefore registered at TU Darmstadt in the preceding semester, are able to apply to withdraw from the process of changing degree programmes until 30 September (when changing degree programmes for the winter semester) or 31 March (when changing degree programmes for the summer semester) by sending an email with this request to the International Admission Office.

In exceptional cases, it is possible to apply for de-registration as of a specific effective date. In this case, your TU Darmstadt membership will end on the day you apply. Semester fees will NOT be refunded.

More information can be obtained directly from the International Admission Office.

In principle, we recommend that students actively de-register.

Change of Name, Elective Subject, Nationality and Other Details

Please inform TU Darmstadt in a timely manner if your personal details have changed. Make sure to use the Personal Data Change Form (opens in new tab) and submit this to the International Admission team.

Change of Address

You can update your address in TUCaN yourself in the Service section.

To get a form from the Foreigners' Office filled out for you by the International Admission Office or for a confirmation which needs to be generated by the International Admission Office, please send the following documents via email as .pdf attachments to international.admission@zv.tu-…:

• The form (with your portion filled out) and both sides scanned OR the type of confirmation which you require.
• A copy of your Performance Record (Leistungsspiegel). This can be downloaded from TUCaN.