Academic success

for international students at the Technical University of Darmstadt

The package of measures “Study success for international students” includes key support services offered by TU Darmstadt, which systematically promote international students during their study preparation and initial study phase and sustainably strengthen their study success.

Student Life Cycle: Study orientation, starting studies

Target group: Prospective students, first-year students, current students

University: Technical University Of Darmstadt

Academic Success for International Students

The QuIS-funded programs for international students at the Technical University of Darmstadt specifically address the challenges faced by international talent during their preparatory and initial study phases. The tailored programs focus on successful and sustainable integration into the German higher education system and the strengthening of academic, subject-specific language, and intercultural skills. International students also get to know the university and their fellow students early on, enabling them to benefit from structured support and a strong network as they begin their studies in Darmstadt.

With PreBachelor, TU Darmstadt offers an innovative preparatory program for international Bachelor's students in engineering. In a preliminary semester, students develop their subject-specific language, technical, and methodological skills. The program comprises four modules:

Specialized German course: Teaching of German language skills for engineering and science in preparation for the C1 level of specialized language.
Preparatory mathematics course: Review and deepening of key mathematical principles for successful university studies.
Study skills training and orientation in the Germanhigher education system: Acquisition of study-relevant skills and orientation in the university context.
Campus and integration services: Campus and city tours, insights into research institutions, and networking opportunities to promote academic and social integration.

PreBachelor is a unique opportunity to optimally prepare me for my computer science studies. The combination of technical German, mathematics, and academic integration is exactly what I'm looking for.

– Jason Franck Keugwa, PreBachelor participant

Through its integrative approach, PreBachelor specifically prepares international prospective students for the demands of STEM studies. The program strengthens subject-specific language skills, facilitates orientation within the German higher education system, and supports academic integration. This creates key prerequisites for a successful academic career even before the start of studies.

With the PreCIS (Preparatory Course and Support Programme for International Students), TU Darmstadt has established a comprehensive support program that specifically assists international bachelor's students as they begin their studies. PreCIS combines three coordinated modules:

PreCIS preparatory course: Two-week intensive study preparation course focusing on mathematical terminology, introduction to the German higher education system, campus orientation and intercultural awareness;
PreCISBuddy Program: One-semester peer mentoring by experienced students from the same department;
PreCIS workshops: Semester-long courses on learning planning, exam preparation and self-organization, supplemented by structured networking formats.

PreCIS demonstrates its high effectiveness in terms of academic success and integration. With over 200 applications per year, it reaches more than 50% of international first-year students. Over 90% of participants rate the program as extremely helpful. As a result, the program boasts a remarkably high graduation rate of 84%, significantly exceeding the internal benchmark for international engineering bachelor's programs (51%).

Both QuIS programs at TU Darmstadt contribute to introducing international talent to the university at an early stage, facilitating a successful transition to university studies, and promoting long-term educational success. In doing so, QuIS makes a significant contribution to the internationalization of TU Darmstadt and to the sustainable recruitment of highly qualified international STEM professionals for Germany.