As first-year students—or “freshmen,” as they are affectionately known—there are a few things you need to take care of in the weeks leading up to the start of your studies. We will try to give you a brief overview of these below. You will also find an invitation link to our first-year WhatsApp group. Sign up using your @tu-dortmund.de email address!
Before we even begin with the procedures, you should first enroll in the degree program. At TU Dortmund University, this is expected to be possible until the beginning of October 2025 (subject to change). However, your actual information events and our orientation programs will start a little earlier. In general, the beginning can be a little overwhelming, so it's easy to lose track of things, but that was probably the case for all of us. You will receive important information from us via a WhatsApp group, which you can access via a form on our website (coming soon), which you can find here and on the orientation phase page. As soon as you have received your “@tu-dortmund.de” email addresses from the university, you can use your university email address to subscribe to our email distribution list, where we send out emails relevant to all physics students.
Once you have successfully enrolled, you can participate in the programs. The first step is to take the mandatory math self-test on the faculty website. You do not have to “pass” this test; it is merely intended to help you assess your level of proficiency in basic mathematical techniques for the upcoming semester. This test is followed by a wide range of courses offered by the faculty, known as preparatory courses.
The preparatory courses are not only intended to refresh your knowledge of school material if you did not perform well on the test, but also to help you practice new basics specifically for the coming semester. Regardless of how well you did on the test, participation in certain preparatory courses is definitely recommended. You can find more information on this really important topic on the Preliminary Courses page or under the tab First Semester –> Preliminary Courses.
Our orientation program, or orientation phase, runs parallel to the preliminary courses. During this time, we provide you with important information for the early stages of your studies. We will also take you on a tour of the campus, organize small game nights, and hold many other small events so that you can get to know your future fellow students and us better. You may also be able to make contact with students in higher semesters, who can give you an insight into what to expect later in your studies. You can find more information on the orientation phase page.
This is roughly what will happen in the few weeks before you actually start your studies, but we may have forgotten something, so be sure to check the faculty website to make sure you don't miss any other events. You can usually find our events in our calendar.
Please feel free to subscribe to our email distribution list so you don't miss anything important. Also, take a look at the sidebar on the right under “Social Media” on Instagram or our Telegram group, where we actively share information!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send us an email at “fs.physik@tu-dortmund.de”! If you would like to contact a specific person at our company, you will find all the relevant contact information in the Contact section.
WhatsApp invitation link request form
You will receive all important information about orientation week in the WhatsApp groups. You can also ask questions about your studies, the orientation week schedule, or anything else there, and we will be happy to answer them. You may even be able to chat with your future fellow students. The dates for orientation week and further information can be found in the group descriptions!
We have set up separate groups for physics students and medical physics/teacher training students. Please join the appropriate group as soon as you receive the links. 🙂