Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

Hallo ich bin Linda, and I am currently doing a semester abroad here at Lake Forest College. Today I want to introduce the study abroad options at my home university TU Dortmund and the city of Dortmund to you!

TU Dortmund University was founded in 1968 and approximately 34.000 students, amongst them about 11 percent international students, study at our two campuses in one of the 17 departments. Our campuses are connected by the “H-Bahn”, the world’s first fully automatic monorail. It might sound strange, but it is definitely the reason for why I really enjoy changing lecture halls. My home university also includes the largest technology park in Germany and amongst the most popular departments are Computer Science, Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Business and Economics as well as Educational Sciences, Cultural Studies, Arts and Sports Sciences.

The language of our classes varies between German and English, but especially for students of Sciences, Engineering, and Economics, as well as Social and Cultural Sciences a wide range of courses in English is offered. Additionally, a pre-semester German intensive course of 4 weeks can be taken without a tuition fee for exchange students. Generally, I believe that the TU really cares about exchange students and wants them to feel comfortable in Dortmund. A buddy program pairs each exchange student with local students, so that they are picked up upon arrival in Germany, have a contact person and are quickly integrated into the new culture. I participated in this program myself a couple of times and it was always fun since we quickly formed an international group of students, organized excursions together and made sure that no one feels alone or cannot find their way around the new home. An academic advisor is also available for each exchange student and TU Dortmund takes care of all logistics such as dorm reservation, visa application, appointments in Dortmund, etc.

What makes studying in Dortmund most different for me compared to Lake Forest College, is that student life does not only take place on campus for the most part. The campus of TU is easily connected to Dortmund downtown by the university’s own S-Bahn station as well as various bus lines which makes it easy to enjoy the best of both. The Ruhr Area, in which Dortmund is located, is Germany’s most densely populated area with almost 6 million people from over 150 nations. Dortmund itself has nearly 600.000 inhabitants and a vibrant history. The green city is located on the Emscher and Ruhr rivers and known for its industrial heritage, soccer culture, many popular breweries, and various castles around. I like Dortmund, since it is a safe and multicultural place with a relatively cheap cost of living at a central location in Europe. With the “NRW ticket” that all students receive, the good public transport system in the state of North Rhine Westphalia can be used for free, which makes it easy to travel and explore many parts of Germany or even its neighboring countries. I also like using the Dortmund airport for traveling, which is easily accessible by public transport.

My favorite things in Dortmund are visiting local soccer games of the BVB in Germany’s biggest soccer stadium, relaxing at the Dortmund-Ems canal or the harbor, especially in summer, and of course visiting Dortmund’s famous Christmas market in the winter season. Also popular amongst students are the entertainment district called "Kreuzviertel" and the many spacious parks, which are perfect for playing spike ball after class or enjoying a typical

German after-work beer with friends. I also like the “Theater Dortmund” and the “Dortmunder U” Center for Arts and Creativity where TU students can get free tickets for performances and exhibitions. Getting involved on campus is also easy, like here at LFC. We can choose amongst over 75 different sports, go to the fitness studio on campus, join the musical life at TU or for instance the English Theatre Group, so that there is an option for everyone and no boredom.

For me personally, it is very exciting to now be able to compare two different universities in different countries and their respective systems and student life through my semester abroad here. If you have any questions about studying abroad or about Dortmund and the TU, please feel free to contact me and I will be happy to hear from you.