Welcome and Orientation

From the 2nd to the 4th of September, exciting orientation events will take place on the city centre campus Stadtmitte in a building called the Maschinenhaus. This location is relatively central as it is within walking distance of the main bus and tram stations in Darmstadt such as Luisenplatz or Schloss. Don't forget to register for the events and save your ticket for the big day! You should automatically receive an email with an invitation to the events and a link to register. If not, please don't hesitate to contact us.

On the first day, starting from 2 p.m (14:00 h), we will welcome you to campus and introduce you to your fellow exchange students as well as your Erasmus and Overseas Officers, ISS (us!) along with our TUtor International Team, Unite!, and more! Then, from 3 p.m. (15:00 h), you will have the opportunity to get to know the various services, important contact persons, and student-led university groups that TU Darmstadt has to offer at the X-Weeks Info Fair. The student-led group Erasmus Student Network (ESN) will also be hosting a Stammtisch (a German word for a regular meeting of people, mostly at a pub or bar) at 8 p.m. (20:00 h), so don’t miss this chance to make new friends and connections! Check their social media for updates on the location and more upcoming events.

Day two is all about the essentials. On this day, you will learn more about the first steps you need to take after your arrival. We will explain how to register at the Einwohnermeldeamt (Residents’ Registration Office) and how to open a bank account in Germany, before discussing matters related to the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners Office). Learning the basics about visas and residence permits is crucial to ensuring that nothing goes wrong during your stay here in Germany. Of course, you will also have the chance to talk to our experts and ask questions afterwards at their consultant desks, whether about the topics mentioned above or other topics such as health insurance. Before the event, you can also stop by the ESN Coffee Hour in the Hochschulgruppenhaus to recharge your batteries for a day full of serious topics. After the event, they’ll also have a Speedfriending event at Herrngarten, a beautiful park right next to the campus!

On the third day, you will have the opportunity to attend our student panel, where student assistants and experienced exchange students will talk about their own experiences as students at TU Darmstadt and give you first-hand advice and tips for a successful stay in this city. You’ll learn a lot about what the university and the city have to offer, and you will have the opportunity to ask your own questions! After the panel discussion, you can explore the campus with our TUtor International Team during ‘Campus Quest’ and get to know your fellow exchange students better in Herrngarten. All this will be rounded off by the ESN Welcome Night at 8 p.m. (20:00 h).

Exciting events for the coming weeks

As you’ve probably noticed by now, during the X-Weeks you will not only receive information and tips on how to organise your stay, but you will also have a lot of fun! Stay tuned for even more exciting social and cultural events that we and our partners have planned just for you. Over the next few weeks, you will get to know other students at sport events and meet-ups, as well as exploring the city and the region through tours and day trips. If you are already here at the end of August, don't miss out on TUtor International’s (TI) trip to Darmstadt’s Landesmuseum on 23 August or ESN’s Stammtisch on 26 August.

Another highlight of the coming weeks is the Global Picnic on 27 September organized by ESN, TI, and ITT where you can sample different cuisines from all around the world and share your own traditional meal. This is followed by another insightful event by TI on 25 October called Survival Kit where they’ll show you how to find your way around Darmstadt through various activities with the beloved Karaoke International event coming soon after on 29 October.

Stay tuned and visit the ISS Website and the X-Weeks website regularly. For all of the most important dates, check the X-Weeks Calendar we sent you. And last but not least, follow us on Instagram or Facebook and join our Telegram channel for the latest ISS news!

The ISS Team cannot wait to meet you!