Dortmund is located in the middle of the famous Ruhr region of Germany and is the perfect city in which to explore. The university integrates humanities, natural and engineering sciences, business and economics, teacher training, and excellent German as a Foreign Language for exchange students at all levels. While you can find enough to do without ever leaving the metropolitan area, the proximity to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France also makes this a great place to start your weekend excursions exploring the rest of what old Europe has to offer.
This program would be suitable for students that are ready to be abroad, but would still like some of the academic services that a U.S. college provides. It is a good choice for someone that is a world traveler OR has never left their hometown.
Learn more about the Technische Universitat Dortmund here! Read the ISEP Country Handbook to learn more about visa requirements, educational system, and culture.
Experiences of Former Students
WHAT PAST STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY
Eligibility | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To be eligible to participate in this program, students must meet the following requirements:
Students applying to ISEP must apply for an Exchange option (in any country) as a first choice but may apply to a Direct option as a back-up. Direct options may have an additional cost (see a financial section for more information). |
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Location | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Ruhr is one of Europe’s most exciting regions. More than 5 million people live in 53 cities, with Cologne, Bonn and the vineyards of the Rhine Valley on the periphery. A public transportation network, available to students at no cost, connects the whole area and opens its vast cultural offerings to each of its inhabitants. |
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Academics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Founded in the late 1960’s, Technische Universitaet Dortmund has retained much of the dynamic of that period. The result of thirty years of institutional development is a new kind of university that combines the academic excellence characteristic of the traditional German university system with modern commitments to innovative teaching and proactive leadership in the community. Interdisciplinarity, practice-orientation, and internationalization are the cornerstones of the university”s philosophy both in research and teaching. Among its 25,000 students are some 1,900-degree students from abroad. A faculty/student ratio of 1:19 assures a productive learning environment and individualized attention.
TU Dortmund integrates natural and engineering sciences, business and economics, social sciences, humanities and teacher training, and offers strong and innovative programs in all the major divisions. HINTS FOR RESEARCHING COURSES Researching courses in English on a German university homepage can be difficult and confusing. Here is a quick guide to navigating a German website, finding courses in both English and German, and some translations of common words and major fields of study. Download the ISEP Guide to Course Selection COURSES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH Courses in English are offered in many fields of the university including Engineering, literary and cultural studies and English, American, and Comparative literature and culture. Language Notes: German language courses are offered in conjunction with regular courses during the academic year. Academic Environment and Teaching Style Please understand that the academic system is quite different. Classes are usually lecture-based, instead of discussion or group work. Classes are often much larger than those found at Lake Forest College. Grades are based heavily, at times almost entirely, on one end-of-term exam, though some courses will also offer a midterm. Professors are often more formal than those in the United States. All courses/modules may have prerequisites. Some departments may have limitations on numbers of courses that can be taken within or outside it. Be aware of these limitations.
Classes While often friendly and helpful to foreign students, professors may be far more formal and less easy to approach than their U.S. counterparts.Teaching at the universities includes lectures and seminars. Vorlesungen (lectures) will, as a rule, take up the full amount of time designated, and the number of students is not limited. Discussion and questions concerning the lecture take place during the accompanying Übungen, small discussion groups. The Übungen usually feature homework assignments, research and the writing of papers. The Seminar, dedicated to small-group learning, is headed by a professor. It covers a subject area in more detail and requires that each student contributes, by way of an oral presentation on a specific topic. Students are encouraged to participate intensively in two to four seminars per semester. Proseminare makes up the Grundstudium (first few terms of study) until successful completion of the intermediate exam, after which Hauptseminare are taken to finish the course of study. Proseminare may also be taken in the Hauptstudium. A common practice is the akademische Viertel. Classes are scheduled on the hour but do not actually begin until 15 minutes past. This is signified by a “c.t.” (cum tempore) after the listed time of a meeting. If this practice does not apply to a particular meeting, an “s.t.” (sine tempore) will appear after the posted time. Check with other students before assuming that the akademische Viertel is practiced by individual instructors.
Coursework
Grades |
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Student Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ORIENTATION
Dortmund offers a comprehensive orientation to the city, university, study programs, and extracurricular activities. Students will also have the opportunity to meet their “Dortmund Double,” register for courses and ask any logistical questions they may have. The International Office is available for a consult before, during and after the official orientation period. STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Excursions: The International Office will organize excursions and day trips in and around Dortmund, the Ruhr area, and North-Rhine Westphalia. Additionally, an annual excursion over several days to cities beyond NRW is offered. |
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Internship Opportunities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Students attending Dortmund through ISEP may apply for internship opportunities once they arrive. This includes a long-standing and very popular school internship program where students can work with elementary or secondary school students in a Dortmund school one morning per week | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Housing and Meals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Students are housed in residence halls (single rooms) and receive a stipend for meals. Dortmund’s multiple mensa’s (cafeterias) offer daily specials at a low-cost, including a salad bar, main meals, barbeque, noodle and dessert bars and snacks. The ‘Vital” restaurant on campus offers fresh salads, vegetables, wholesome dishes and a buffet. |
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Financial Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For all approved programs for guaranteed financial aid transferability, students pay their Lake Forest College tuition plus a program fee. The program fee for a semester with the ISEP Exchange includes orientation, on-site director, college fees, housing, and the equivalent of 19/meals per week. Here is an estimated budget for the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 programs:
Tuition rates and program fees are subject to change each year, but this information was up-to-date as of February 2018. We will notify applicants, and update this page if the program fee or other estimates change. You can discuss with Financial Aid your specific aid package and your expected family contribution. Keep in mind that you may spend more or less in certain areas like personal expenses, travel, meals, or airfare, depending on exchange rates and your own spending habits. Classroom or lab fees are not included in this estimate and will depend on your course registration choices. Don’t forget to apply for scholarships! A great listing can be found here. |