All important information for future exchange students can be found here.

You can find an overview of the exchange places here.

Learning Agreements (LA) are checked and signed by the Departmental Coordinators. I am therefore responsible for the LA from students in the Mechanical Engineering Department. Just send me the PDF to me via internationales@mechcenter.tu-… or come to my office.

You register for all lectures and Modules via TUCaN. Important: You cannot register for the exam without registering for the module and the associated lecture. Registration for the lecture is activated from the start of the semester.

Registering for the module does not mean that you have to take the exam.

Please note the special conditions for projects / ADP / Ttutorials or seminars. Registration via the Fachgebiet offering the event is often required before you register in TUCaN. You can get more information from the hosting supervisors.

Incoming students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering can take modules from the entire range of modules offered by TU Darmstadt.

However, the modules must be open to incoming students or students from other departments by the department offering them.

For example, Department 01 only opens certain modules for incoming students, which are listed here.

You can usually register for these modules yourself in TUCaN. If you have any problems registering, please contact me or come to my office.

If you are an incoming student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, you can apply for the ToR via this link.

You benefit professionally, linguistically and personally. You will get to know new technical focuses, work in international teaching and research cultures, improve your language skills and develop personally. A semester abroad strengthens your independence and significantly improves your chances on the job market.

You can take modules that are not available in Darmstadt, gain international laboratory and project experience and sharpen your engineering profile. International experience is in high demand in the industry.

It is crucial that you are curious, can get involved in new things and are willing to organize yourself. If you want to broaden your horizons, you are ideally suited to study abroad.

You don't need perfection. For most partner universities, a B2 level in the language of instruction is sufficient, but some require a C1 certificate. Find out in good time what requirements your desired universitywill have.

If English is the language of instruction but not the national language, you should also have a basic level of the local language so that you can communicate well in everyday life on site.

Ideally, you should leave in the 5th or 6th semester, when you have completed the basic modules and are flexible in the elective area. However, students can apply for a stay abroad at the Department of Mechanical Engineering as early as the 1st semester. A stay is then well possible at universities that offer many courses in the Bachelor's program.

Between the 2nd and 3rd semesters you have the best opportunities because you know your specialization and have enough freedom of choice.

Yes, that is possible. However, arrangements must always be made with the professors of mechanical engineering and the international team of the MechCenter. See FAQ on thesis abroad.

Yes, it must be clear from the study documents that you will be in the Master's programme at the time of mobility. If the change to the Master's program does not take place before the start of the mobility, this may lead to limited course attendance or rejection by the partner university.

You can go abroad via Erasmus+, worldwide exchange programmes at TU Darmstadt or double degree programmes.

Freemovers are students who organize their semester abroad completely on their own – regardless of exchange programs such as Erasmus+ or existing partnerships at their university.

As a freemover, you have a lot of freedom, but – unlike in structured exchange programs – you are on your own when it comes to all questions and the entire organization.

Erasmus+ is the European exchange program that allows you to study at a European partner university for one or two semesters. You remain enrolled at the TU, pay no tuition fees at the host university and receive a monthly financial support that is permanently assigned to the place.

You will receive financial support, can receive additional top-ups (e.g. forsustainable travel or special life situations), use the Online Learning Agreement, do not pay tuition feesand benefit from clear recognition rules according to the Lisbon Convention.

You can study at universities in all EU countries as well as other programme countries (e.g. Iceland, Norway, Turkey).

As for all exchange places, you apply via the application portal for Outgoings Move-On in the FB16 area. After the selection by FB16, you will be nominated by Department VIII and will receive all further information about applying to the host university.

Yes, there are several funding programs that can support you financially during your studies abroad. Depending on the destination country, length of stay and program, you have different options.

Erasmus+ (Europe)

If you go to a European partner university, you can be funded through Erasmus+. You will receive monthly financial support, the amount of which depends on the destination country. TU Darmstadt is guided by the official Erasmus funding groups. The amounts may change annually because they depend on the funds available.

Erasmus+ is coordinated by the International Relations Office (Division VIII). There [s1.1]you will also find all current funding rates and conditions.

PROMOS (outside Europe, one semester)

For a one-semester study abroad outside Europe, you can apply for a PROMOS scholarship. PROMOS is also supported by the International Relations Office. The funding depends on the length of stay and the country of destination. On the PROMOS pages [s2.1]you will find the current calls for proposals and deadlines.

DAADannual scholarship (outside Europe, full year)

If you are planning a year-round stay outside Europe, you can apply for the DAAD annual scholarship. Applications must be submitted directly to the DAAD.[s3.1]

Important: The application deadlines are often very early. Example: For the USA, the deadline often ends in July of the previous year – i.e. before you even know whether you will get an exchange place through TU Darmstadt.

If you receive the DAADStipendium but do not get a TUA exchange place, you can use it to apply as a so-called freemover at other non-partner universities.

Fulbright Scholarships (USA)

Fulbright scholarships are particularly interesting for stays in the USA. Fulbright [s4.1]offers different funding formats:

• Travel Grants

• Partial scholarships

• Full scholarships

A Fulbright Scholarship is not only financially attractive, but also a very reputable funding program that looks great on your resume.

Other scholarships and databases

There are numerous other foundations and associations that promote stays abroad. Good places to start are:

• the scholarship overview of TU Darmstadt,

• the DAAD scholarship database.

There you can filter by country, department and type of stay.

Yes, you can. You can reapply for both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

However, there is an important rule with Erasmus+: You can be funded for a maximum of 10 months per study phase (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate).

This means:

• An Erasmus stay in the Bachelor's degree and another in the Master's degree is possible without any problems.

• Within a period of study, you must observe the 10-month limit.

You will receive a monthly fund, the amount of which depends on the destination country. In addition, you can get Top-Ups. The funding is regulated by a grant agreement and usually paid out in two installments.

The OLA supports the organisation of your stay abroad.

There you indicate which courses you would like to take abroad, and the partners involved can give you direct feedback on whether your planned course of study is feasible.

However, the recognition of your modules at TU Darmstadt is not handled by the OLA, but is regulated by the APB.

You fill out your Learning Agreement digitally. It is signed by you, TU Darmstadt and the host university. You can submit changes digitally within the first few weeks abroad. You can find more information about this at Department VIII.

You will check the subject focus, the language of instruction, the semester times, the recognition options and your personal preferences for the region. The partner universities of FB16 are sorted by country and program and can be searched via the partner database.

You can specify up to 5 preferred universities to increase your chances of studying abroad.

Yes, you can. You always submit your application for another place to your own department via move-on. There, the Departmental Coordinator will check whether your documents are complete and then coordinate with the other department whether a place is available.

Note, however, that applications from other departments will be treated as a secondary priority. The students of the respective department always have priority.

If you carefully coordinate your study plan, it is very likely that your courses will be recognized.

You inform yourself, get advice, prepare your documents and apply via the application portal for Outgoings Move-On. FB16 will select you for a place and report this to Department VIII, which will nominate you at the partner universities. After that, you officially apply to the host university.

The regular application for a semester abroad is possible every year from 15 October to 30 November via the application portal for Outgoings Move-On . The start of the mobility is in the following winter semester.

There will be another round of applications in May. It is valid for places still available in Europe for the following summer semester. The deadline is 31.05.

You will need a letter of motivation and aptitude, a curriculum vitae, a transcript of records and, if applicable, proof of language proficiency, as well as your study plans for each university of your choice.

For exchange places at North American universities, FB16 provides for an additional selection stage in the form of group interviews. These talks usually take place at the beginning of December by invitation. They serve to get to know you personally, to better assess your motivation and to find out whether the program is a good fit for you.

As soon as you have been selected for a place by the department, we will report you to Division VIII. There, the last formal things will be checked before the official declaration of acceptance is sent to you. With this declaration of acceptance, you will find out for the first time bindingly for which place you have been considered. If you accept the place, you will then be nominated at the partner university. Only then your can apply at the partner university. As soon as the partner university accepts your application, it is finally clear where your semester abroad will take you.

You have been selected for a place and your data has been passed on to the partner university. Now you are entitled to officially apply there – but not yet automatically admitted.

You will receive all information about applying to the host university from Directorate VIII. You will create your Learning Agreement and take care of things such as leave of absence, advance recognition, insurance, financing, accommodation and, if necessary, visa.

You will research the course offerings of the host university, check the subject-specific fit and coordinate your Learning Agreement/or study plan with the partner university. The equivalence list of FB 16 (PDF file) (opens in new tab) is helpful for you. Afterwards, you will take care of the recognitions.

A Learning Agreement is always required when participating in the ERASMUS+ programme. Furthermore, if students apply for scholarships, e.g. apply for the PROMOS scholarship.

But some universities also require a Learning Agreement in non-European countries.

Yes, within the first few weeks abroad. Changes have to be voted on again.

No, TU Darmstadt does not specify a minimum number of credit points. We recommend aiming for about 20 to 30 credits abroad. However, the first draft of the Learning Agreement should always include 30 credits (ECTS) per semester. Some partner universities even explicitly require this.

The recognition follows the Lisbon Convention. Achievements are to be recognised if there are no substantial differences. Content, level, learning outcomes and workload are evaluated.

You will need module descriptions, syllabi, information on the form of the exam and workload, and later the transcript of records from the host university. If recognition needs to be checked after your stay abroad, further documents such as scripts, presentations or other course material should be provided, also via Hessenbox cloud storage.

You will carefully coordinate your choice of course with the International Team of the MechCenter, use the equivalence lists of FB16 and, after approval by the International Team, talk to the examiners about pre-recognition at an early stage. Please see also our notes of recognition (PDF file) (opens in new tab).

We do not recognize failed achievements abroad. So there are no disadvantages.

You should not expect all modules to be replaced 1:1 / recognized as equivalent. However, under certain conditions, it is also possible to have courses recognized that are not exactly available at FB 16. Early coordination with the International Team of the MechCenter and the examiners is crucial!

This depends on both your personal planning and your choice of course. With good preparation, you can have many modules recognised. If no 30 CP are planned during the study abroad, there may be a delay in the studies. However, this is usually compensated for by personal and intercultural development and is usually not an obstacle when entering professional life.

You will take care of leave of absence, insurance, financing, visa and finding accommodation. The planning of the arrival and departure is also your responsibility.

Several months. The sooner you start, the more relaxed the process will be.

Depending on the university, there are exams, project work, oral exams or continuous performance certificates. You have to be prepared for other exam formats. For example, there may be so-called mid-terms intermediate examinations during the semester.

Yes, you have full entitlement to study and take examinations at TU Darmstadt during your stay abroad. This also applies if you apply for a leave of absence due to a study-related stay abroad.

Yes, you can – both in the Bachelor's and Master's degrees. However, there are clear rules and procedures that you must follow. The thesis always remains an achievement of TU Darmstadt, even if you do it abroad. Therefore, agreements with the professors of Mechanical Engineering Department are absolutely necessary. Since the procedure can be complicated, contact the FB16 International Team as early as possible.

Bachelor's thesis abroad

For the bachelor's thesis, the procedure is comparatively uncomplicated. You can write your bachelor's thesis abroad and then have it recognized as a regular coursework abroad.

What you need for this:

• Transcript of records of the host university

Master's thesis abroad

For the Master's thesis, the procedure is more extensive because it is treated like an external Master's thesis in terms of examination law. You have to follow the following steps, which often run in parallel:

1. Application for external Master's thesis

You submit an application for an external Master's thesis to the Dean of Studies. The application must contain:

• the topic of your master's thesis,

• the names and e-mail addresses of both supervisors,

Important:

• Supervisor 1* is always a professor of FB16 at TU Darmstadt.

• Supervisor 2* is the supervisor at the host university.

• The supervisor at the TU must countersign the application so that the Dean of Studies can see that supervision is guaranteed.

2. Approval by the Dean of Studies

After the signature of the Dean of Studies, the application will be passed on to the examination management. They then inform both examiners.

3. Assignment on “TU Papier”

To register your Master's thesis in TUCaN, you need the official assignment. This is always issued by the supervising department of TU Darmstadt – even if the content-related task mainly comes from the host university.

The assignment must be signed by:

• You,

• Your TU supervisor,

• Your supervisor at the host university.

4. Registration of the thesis

As soon as the assignment is available, you will register your Master's thesis in the examination management via e-mail (pm@mechcenter.tu-…).

5. Writing and Submission

The thesis must be submitted via TUbama by the deadline.

6. Colloquium

The planning and scheduling of the oral defense are in your hands. Clarify whether the appointment can also be held via video conference.

You submit your Transcript of Records to the International Team of the MechCenter and submit the application for recognition during the International Office hours.

The examiners check the recognition, the registration is carried out by the examination management of the MechCenter via International Team.

You can contact the MechCenter Internationales (FB16) for technical questions and to Directorate VIII for Erasmus+ and the general conditions.

You should know that quite well after reading the FAQ:) In addition, these pages offer helpful tips:

Learn more about going abroad

Apply as outgoings

We also recommend attending our information sessions on studying abroad mid October each year. If you have any further questions, feel free to visit our International Office consultation hours.

Yes. In terms of content, the Wi-MB and mechanical engineering are very close to each other: about half of the Wi-MB degree program is studied in FB 16.

Each department organizes its exchange places for its own students as well as the assigned fields of study. The Wi-MB course of study is part of FB01. Wi-MB students are generally eligible to apply only through the exchange program of FB 01.

Yes, but only subordinately and as a so-called non-departmental application. These are exceptional cases and must be coordinated individually – also with the International Relations Office (Dec. VIII) and, if necessary, the partner university.

Double-degree programs require a highly specific study plan and are therefore – often contractually – closely tied to the respective degree programs. For this reason, the double-degree programs are available exclusively to students of FB 16 enrolled in the corresponding master’s programs.

FB 16 takes into account that WiMB students complete a large part of their studies in mechanical engineering and often pursue an exchange course in mechanical engineering. Therefore, FB 16 tries to consider applications from FB 01, but only secondarily behind its own students (FB 16 + SB).

Yes. You can add FB 16 places if you want this additional option. There is no guarantee that you will receive one of the places of FB16.

Always via the application portal for outgoings Move-Onand there in FB 01. They do not use the FB 16 area in Move-On.

1. You select suitable exchange places in FB 16 (in addition to FB 01 places).

2. Submission of the application

You submit your complete application via Move-Onin FB 01.

3. First decision by FB 01

FB 01 decides:

• whether you basically go abroad
• whether you get an FB 01 place
• or whether an application for an FB 16 place is made possible

4. Contact between FB 01 and FB 16

If FB 01 agrees, FB 01 contacts FB 16 and names suitable students. Students themselves do not contact FB 16 directly and do not submit an application there.

5. Checking the offer in FB 16

FB 16 checks whether one of the desired places is still available.

6. Feedback to FB 01

FB 16 informs FB 01 about available places.

7. Final decision by FB 01

FB 01 decides whether you will be selected for the FB 16 place.

8. The FB 16 place will be transferred to FB 01 for your stay on a one-off basis.

9. Further procedure

The entire further exchange procedure – including recognition of the external courses – runs entirely via FB 01 as if it were a regular FB 01 place.

No. FB 16 tries to take WiMB students into account, but there is no guarantee of a place.

If FB 16 places remain free in FB, FB 01 will be informed. FB 01 decides whether these are communicated to the students.

If you have any questions about the procedure or the available places, please contact FB 01 only.

Students of FB 01 can apply for an equivalence check in FB 16 for courses related to mechanical engineering. The subject-specific equivalence check takes place in FB 16, but the recognition only takes place in FB 01.

In FB 16 – with the consent of the examiners – courses abroad can be recognized for which there is no direct equivalent. FB 01 also accepts these placeholder recognitions.

Areas in which placeholder recognitions are possible:

• B.Sc.: Compulsory elective area (WPB)

• M.Sc.: WPB II – Core Electives (KLV)

• M.Sc.: WPB III – Natural and Engineering Sciences (Nat.-Ing.)

The credit points are converted accordingly.

Bachelor

• FB 16 – WPB B.Sc. = FB 01 – Elective Area

Master

• FB 16 – WPB I = FB 01 – Core Area/Fundamentals

Only equivalent achievements can be recognized here (Machine Dynamics, Transport Phenomena, Sustainable Systems Design).

• FB 16 – WPB II = FB 01 – Core Area/Advanced Modules

• FB 16 – WPB III = FB 01 – Elective Area/Natural and Engineering Sciences/Supplementary Area

ADP/ARP/tutorials are part of the practical area in FB 01.

Project courses can be recognized as an ADP/tutorial if they meet the requirements of an ADP/tutorial. Project courses can be recognized as an ADP/tutorial if they meet the requirements of an ADP/tutorial. This is decided by the closest subject examiner. If there is no suitable subject examiner at FB 16, the Dean of Studies of FB 16 decides. The course is recognized with the original title – analogous to the placeholder recognition.

In the case of tutorials, it is also possible to apply for the equivalence test for an equivalent tutorial.

Students of FB 01 use the A2 form of FB 01, not the pre-recognition form of FB 16.

Yes, the examination can be applied for both before and after the stay abroad. A final decision is sometimes only made after the stay and the submission of further documents.

Yes. A course on the equivalence list is only valid for the specified period. If the content or scope of the course has changed, the equivalence can be reassessed and, if necessary, rejected.

1. Contact the International Coordination FB 01

First, discuss the entire recognition process with your international coordinator in FB 01.

2. Check the course on the equivalence list

Check whether the course is on the equivalence list of FB 16 (PDF file) (opens in new tab) and whether the entry is valid. If not, you will need to apply for an equivalence check.

3. Fill out the A2 form

Fill out the A2 form of FB 01 completely.

4. Formal request in FB 16

Send the form to internationales@mechcenter.tu-… . There it is checked

• whether the form is formally correct

• whether the course already appears in another request

• whether an equivalence check is necessary

5. Professional examination in FB 16

After approval by the MechCenter, you will contact the FB 16 examiners directly. This is followed by the clarification of all subject-specific questions on equivalence. The examiners enter their decision in the A2 form.

6. Return of the form

You will receive the completed A2 form back from the examiners.

7. Forwarding to FB16

Resend the signed form to internationales@mechcenter.tu-… so that the course may be added to the equivalence list.

8. Recognition in FB 01

With the signed A2 form, go back to FB 01. This is where the actual recognition and registration takes place.

• FB 16: checks equivalence / professional recognition on A2 form

• FB 01: carries out the recognition and registration

No, a transcript of records is not required for FB 16. However, the subject examiners can request it for inspection.

Please provide any available course materials you have, such as:

• Transcripts

• Presentations

• Bibliography

• Scripts

• Syllabus / Course description

Load everything in the Hessenbox into a separate folder and share it with the examiners.

Yes, completely digitally via e-mail and Hessenbox. Only rarely is a personal appointment necessary.

Yes, you can submit multiple courses at the same time. However, a separate A2 form must be filled out for each course. The subject examiners need complete documents for each course.

The processing time depends on the workload of the subject examiners. Plan at least 2-4 weeks, especially during the lecture period.

Yes, the FB 01 requires both signatures.

In this case, you will need to request a new equivalence check. Use the A2 Form and submit current course materials.

Yes, but recognition is only possible if the depth of content and the amount of work are comparable. The CP number alone does not determine the recognition. The examiners assess the overall scope.

In the case of subject-specific questions, the closest subject examiner of FB 16 decides. If you have organisational questions about the equivalence check, please contact the international coordination of FB 01; for content-related questions, please contact the international coordination of FB 16. In the event of conflicts with the subject examiners of FB 16, the Dean of Studies of FB 16 decides.