The Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt) is a public technical university in Hesse. In winter semester 2025/26 it had 24,437 students, of whom 28% were international students in the university’s count, and it offers 114 degree programmes.[1] The aggregator xuanxiao.org lists it at 250th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
The university’s fee page lists no tuition fee, only a semester contribution: €402.68 in winter semester 2026/27, which includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket (€226.80) and a €50 administration fee.[3] German-taught programmes require the DSH-2 exam or an equivalent; English-taught master’s programmes usually ask for IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 95.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Technische Universität Darmstadt |
| Location | Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (Karolinenplatz 5, 64289 Darmstadt)[4] |
| Type | Public technical university[5] |
| Founded | 1877 (as a Technische Hochschule); renamed Technische Universität Darmstadt on 1 October 1997[5] |
| Students | 24,437 in winter semester 2025/26 (33% women, 28% international students)[1] |
| Degree programmes | 114[1] |
| Professors | 350 (December 2025)[1] |
| Structure | 13 departments plus four engineering-oriented study areas; five campus sites[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 250th (score 51.3; aggregator, not confirmed by the university)[2] |
| Excellence Strategy | Two clusters of excellence (RAI, TAM); the Rhine-Main Universities alliance is funded as an Exzellenzverbund from 1 January 2027[6] |
| Semester fee, winter semester 2026/27 | €402.68 (€352.68 semester contribution plus €50 administration fee)[3] |
| Tuition fee | None listed on the university’s fee page[3] |
| German-taught programmes | DSH-2 exam or an exemption certificate[4] |
| Official website | tu-darmstadt.de |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About TU Darmstadt
TU Darmstadt is a public research university in Darmstadt, Hesse. It was founded in 1877, when the Grand Duke of Hesse raised the Polytechnische Schule to a Technische Hochschule; it received the right to award doctorates in 1899 and has been called Technische Universität Darmstadt since 1 October 1997.[5]
The university has 13 departments plus four engineering-oriented study areas and five campus sites.[1] Wikipedia lists three main campuses (Inner City, Lichtwiese and Botanical Garden) and memberships such as TU9, a group of leading German technical universities, and the UNITE! university alliance.[5] The postal address used for international admissions is Karolinenplatz 5, 64289 Darmstadt.[4]
How is TU Darmstadt ranked?
The aggregator xuanxiao.org lists TU Darmstadt at 250th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with a score of 51.3, up three places from 253rd in the 2026 edition. We could not read QS’s own table (topuniversities.com blocks automated access), so treat the figure as unconfirmed.[2]
On research excellence, the university’s own Excellence Strategy page says that TU Darmstadt leads the cluster of excellence Reasonable Artificial Intelligence (RAI) and takes part in The Adaptive Mind (TAM), which is led by Universität Gießen. The Excellence Commission decided on 2 October 2026 to fund the Rhine-Main Universities alliance (with Goethe University Frankfurt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) as an Exzellenzverbund, an excellence alliance, from 1 January 2027. The page calls it an alliance, not an excellence university.[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at TU Darmstadt?
The university offers 114 degree programmes, across 13 departments and four engineering-oriented study areas.[1] Wikipedia describes 10 departments in engineering, natural sciences and mathematics and 3 in social sciences and humanities.[5]
Most programmes are taught in German; English-taught master’s programmes exist and have their own language rules (see below).[4] For the wider picture, see our Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.
How much does TU Darmstadt cost?
| Item (winter semester 2026/27) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €352.68 |
| Administration fee | €50.00 |
| Total payable | €402.68 |
| Erasmus, exchange and cooperation students (no administration fee) | €352.68 |
The university’s fee page, “Semesterbeiträge und Rückmeldung”, lists a total of €402.68 for winter semester 2026/27 if payment arrives between 6 July and 15 September 2026; a late-payment fee of €30 applies after that.[3] The page names no tuition fee. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) says there are generally no fees for bachelor’s courses or most master’s courses at state institutions, with Baden-Württemberg and possibly Bavaria as exceptions for non-EU students; Hesse is not named as an exception.[7]
What the semester contribution covers
The €352.68 includes the Deutschland-Semesterticket (€226.80), the Studierendenwerk (€103.00), the student body (€16.00), a Call-a-Bike/DB Rent item (€2.98), legal insurance (€2.00) and several smaller items for the hardship fund, the national student association and cultural cooperations.[3] The semester fee is set anew each semester.[3]
Living costs are on top. See the Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.
How do you apply to TU Darmstadt?
Applicants with a German or a foreign university entrance qualification apply through the online portal TUCaN, with the same deadlines. After the online step, TUCaN shows whether a printed application must be mailed; the application becomes binding only when the printed form has arrived within the deadline.[4]
- Master’s: the online step alone is not enough. Paper copies and the printed cover sheet go to the Zulassung International office at Karolinenplatz 5, 64289 Darmstadt.[4]
- Documents: they may be in English or German; other languages need a certified translation. Notarisation is not required.[4]
- Degrees from China, Vietnam or India: an APS certificate is required.[4]
- Studienkolleg: applicants who do not meet the direct-entry requirements can attend the one-year (two-semester) Studienkolleg bridging course, which ends with an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung).[4]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Check the application dates of your programme before you start.
Which language level do you need?
German-taught programmes: you need the DSH-2 exam or an exemption certificate. Goethe-Zertifikat B2 or TestDaF with TDN 14 or 15 counts as proof for admission to the exam. TestDaF TDN 16, Goethe-Zertifikat C1 and DSD-II exempt you from it.[4]
English-taught master’s programmes: the standard proof is IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or PTE Academic 76, among other tests. The Master’s programmes in Mechanics, Mathematics and Particle Accelerator Science accept lower thresholds, such as IELTS 5.5 or PTE Academic 59. A confirmation that English was the language of instruction of your degree is an alternative.[4]
For the Studienkolleg, examples of accepted German proof are Goethe-Zertifikat B1 and TestDaF with at least TDN 12.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TU Darmstadt charge tuition fees?
The university’s fee page lists no tuition fee, only a semester contribution of €352.68 and an administration fee of €50 for winter semester 2026/27 (total €402.68).[3]
How much is the TU Darmstadt semester fee?
Do I need German to study at TU Darmstadt?
How is TU Darmstadt ranked?
An aggregator lists it at 250th in the QS World University Rankings 2027.[2]
How do I apply as an international student?
Through the online portal TUCaN, followed by a printed application where TUCaN asks for one. Master’s applicants must also send paper documents to the Zulassung International office.[4]
More about studying in Germany
- Germany: best universities
- Study in Germany: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Heidelberg University
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- RWTH Aachen University
- Technical University of Berlin
- Technical University of Munich
- TU Dresden
- University of Bonn
- University of Cologne
- University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
- University of Freiburg
- University of Göttingen
- University of Hamburg
- University of Mannheim
- University of Münster
- University of Stuttgart
- University of Tübingen
Sources
[1] TU Darmstadt: Our self-image (facts and figures) (figures for winter semester 2025/26; page without a date)
[2] xuanxiao.org: Technische Universität Darmstadt (aggregator; QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (QS 2027 rank 250, score 51.3; the site states its rankings were fetched on 30 Sep 2026)
[3] TU Darmstadt: Semesterbeiträge und Rückmeldung (page without a date; amounts for winter semester 2026/27)
[4] TU Darmstadt: International students, application and admission (page without a date; refers to the summer semester 2027 application window)
[5] Wikipedia: Technische Universität Darmstadt (history, departments and memberships; secondary source)
[6] TU Darmstadt: TU Darmstadt and RMU in the Excellence Strategy (page without a date; latest event mentioned is the decision of 2 Oct 2026)
[7] DAAD: Costs of education and living (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.