Exchange Studies Overseas

Within the framework of bilateral agreements with partner universities, students of the TU Darmstadt can study abroad outside Europe.

A list of current exchange places for students of the Department of Architecture can be found at the end of this website. The information brochure »Go out!« (opens in new tab) provides detailed information on scheduling, requirements, the application and recognition procedure. In addition, the website of the International Affairs Department of the TU Darmstadt offers a general insight into the exchange programme and exchange opportunities by subject area & field reports.

Application Process

The application is made one year in advance at the International Office of the Department of Architecture. Exchange places are allocated for the entire academic year at the beginning of the year (January / February). The application deadline is November 30.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required:

  • Printout of the online application for a stay in a European and/or non-European country (three universities)
  • Attachment to the application form by FB15 (opens in new tab)
  • transcript of records (printout from TUCaN)
  • Letter of motivation in German (one page)
  • Information and proof of language skills
  • Confirmation of participation in the Buddy Programme (completed application form)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Portfolio with at least three projects / drawings (max. DIN A3)

Please upload your files in the moodle-course GoOut -Auslandsstudium.

A second, printed version of your application (portfolio) should be submitted at the Dezernat (letter box International Office).

Recognition of Credits

The awarding of credits at the Department of Architecture consists of the individual recognition (opens in new tab) of the work done abroad as well as the presentation of the experiences abroad in a short lecture at the “International Evening”. During the stay, a short report in form of the postcard campaign “Greetings from abroad” or a post on the Instagram page of the International Office Architecture is a requirement in order to give interested students a direct insight into the reality of the semester abroad. In addition, exchange students undertake to write an experience report after completing their stay abroad, in which they describe their personal experiences abroad with regard to the country, the city and the partner university. Interested parties can view past reports on the individual partner universities in the following list of partner universities.

Partner universities in Asia

Shanghai
TONGJI University
Duration: 1-2 semesters
Language of instruction: Chinese / English (TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, GMAT 600 or GRE 1250 (V+Q))
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports:
Shanghai, Louisa Wenkemann (opens in new tab) (WS 16/17 + SS 17)
Shanghai, Sebastian Seibert (opens in new tab) (WS 16/17 + SS 17)
Shanghai, Isabella Francesca Baum (opens in new tab) (WS 16/17 + SS 17)

Seoul
EWHA Womans University
Duration: 1-2 semesters
Language of instruction: Korean / English (no certificate required)
Bachelor / Master

Seoul
Hanyang University
Duration: 1 semester
Language of instruction: Korean TOPIK Level 3 / English B2
Bachelor / Master

Seoul
SNU – Seoul National University
Duration: 1 semester
Language of instruction: Korean / English (Fluent level of either English or Korean language proficiency is highly recommended, no certification is required)
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports: Seoul-EWHA, NN (opens in new tab) (WS 22/23 + SS 23)
Seoul-EWHA, Isabella Heising (opens in new tab) (WS 21/22 + SS22)
Seoul-EWHA, Shynar Mars (opens in new tab) (WS 21/22)

Seoul-SNU, Patricia Dauenhauer (opens in new tab) (SS 22)
Seoul-SNU, Bea Engelmann (opens in new tab) (SS 22)
Seoul-SNU, D. M. (opens in new tab) (WS18/19 + SS19)

Tainan
National Cheng Kung University
Duration: 1-2 semesters
Language of instruction: Chinese, English (prevalent at the graduate level: TOEFL score internet-based 69 / TOEIC score 750 / GEPT (General English Proficiency Test) HighIntermediate Level—first round and above / IELTS 5.5,every section rank no less than 5.0)
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports:
Tainan, Thurid Steiner (opens in new tab) (WS23-24)
Tainan, Nora Stellwag (opens in new tab) (SS20)
Tainan, C. M. (opens in new tab) (SS20)

Bandung
Indonesia-Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
Duration: 1-2 semesters
Language of instruction: English (No minimum requirement, desirable IELTS 5.5 or equivalent)
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports:
NN (opens in new tab) (WS22-23)

Partner universities in Central and South America

Sao Paulo
Escola da Cidade
Duration: 1-2 semesters
Language of instruction: Portuguese B1 (if you know other Romance languages, Portuguese A1/2 is sufficient)
Bachelor / Master / Doctorate

Rio de Janeiro
UFRJ – Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Duration: 1 semester
Language of instruction: Portuguese language proficiency not required, but level A2 recommended
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports:
São Paulo, Christopher Hollerer (opens in new tab) (WS18/19 + SS19)
São Paolo, Merve Bakirci (opens in new tab) (WS19/20)

Barranquilla
Universidad del Norte
Duration: 1 semester
Language of instruction: Spanish / English B2
Bachelor / Master

Experience reports:
Malinalli, Boss (opens in new tab) (WS 22/23)

Querétaro
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)
Duration: 1 semester
Language of instruction: English B2, Spanish B1 (Spanish evaluation of the ITSM consisting of online test and Skype interview is necessary to participate in Spanish language courses)
Bachelor

Experience reports:
Monterrey, Nadine Hanske (opens in new tab) (WS 14/15 + SS 15)
Monterrey, Eileen Rush (opens in new tab) (WS 14/15)

Partner universities in North America

Fayetteville
University of Arkansas
Duration: 2 semesters
Language of instruction: English (TOEFL 79 / IELTS 6,5 / documentation from home university)
Bachelor / Master

Lowell, Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Hessen-Massachusetts-Programme
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch

Experience reports: Massachusetts, Janine Junen (opens in new tab) (WS 21/22)
Massachusetts, Rebekka Orendi (opens in new tab) (WS 21/22)

Blacksburg, Leon Lais (opens in new tab) (WS 18/19)
Blacksburg, Frederik Tost (opens in new tab) (WS 17/18)
Blacksburg, Lukas Hills (opens in new tab) (WS 15/16)