Do you know what it's like when studying is a real challenge and pushes you to your limits? High performance requirements, the pressure to organize yourself and failing exams are just some of the hurdles. Added to this can be difficult life situations, such as the compatibility of studying with employment and/or care responsibilities. Experiences of exclusion and discrimination based on social and ethnic origin, gender or physical and mental impairments can also influence the course of studies and academic success. Research shows that several factors often lead to the decision to no longer want or be able to continue studying at a certain point.

As part of our analysis, we would like to find out what improved study conditions would be needed to prevent students from dropping out at TU Darmstadt?

We need you for this! We invite you to take part in an interview to share your experiences. We would like to analyze which challenges in your studies have led to concrete thoughts of dropping out and which structural changes are necessary to improve the study conditions at TU Darmstadt.

Share your experiences with us to realize this project!

Contact: studienausstieg@zv.tu-darmstadt.de or 06151-1620093

You can take part in the survey if you meet the following criteria:

    • You are seriously thinking about dropping out of TU Darmstadt or have already completed your studies at TU Darmstadt without graduating
    • You are studying for a Bachelor's degree or a state examination
    • You are currently or were enrolled in the 2nd to 4th semester

The following students in particular are invited to share their experiences:

    • Students with care responsibilities
    • First generation students (first from the family to study at university)
    • International students
    • Women
    • Students in a STEM degree program (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology)

We are carrying out the analysis as part of the QUIS Flex project: Analysis of the causes of dropout and dropout trends in the Diversity Education Office. The primary aim of the project is to identify the causes of dropout:

1. recording the causes of dropout: To identify the main reasons why students drop out or seriously consider dropping out.

2. analyzing needs for flexibility: understanding which aspects of degree programs students find inflexible and what changes they would like to see.

3. development of recommendations: Based on the data collected and previous academic evidence, formulate recommendations for designing flexible degree programs that support student success and reduce dropout rates.

In order to gain insights into your study experiences, we conduct structured interviews. This means that we have prepared some interview questions that we would like to ask you in a quiet place. This approach gives the interview a certain structure. At the same time, there is also room for the introduction of impulses and perspectives outside the formulated questions.

We will be happy to send you our questionnaire before our interview; it is not necessary to prepare the content. The questions are intended to highlight the reasons why you are seriously considering not continuing your studies at TU Darmstadt or the reasons why you have already completed your studies at TU Darmstadt without graduating.

Duration of the interview: approx. 30 min.

Interview location: In our office (S1/03 room 364) or at another location

After the interview: The interview will be recorded on a tape recorder and then transcribed using transcription software and subsequently analyzed in an evaluation program. Your data is anonymized so that no conclusions can be drawn. The results of the data collection will lead to a report in which, in addition to the evaluation of the interviews, recommendations for action to improve the study conditions and possibilities for flexibilization will be made.

Would you like to conduct an interview with us? Then simply get in touch with us by email or phone and we will arrange an interview date as soon as possible.

Data protection regulations are of crucial importance, especially when it comes to collecting and processing sensitive information. In our survey, we attach great importance to the protection of privacy and compliance with the applicable data protection laws. In accordance with the Data Protection Regulation, we undertake to treat our participants' data as strictly confidential. This means that all information collected is anonymized and used exclusively for the scientific purpose of our survey. Before our interview, we clarify the procedure for further processing of the collected data.