General FAQs
Decision
No. You don't need any special prior knowledge—with us, you'll learn the subjects from the ground up. Introductory courses on basic concepts and classes where you'll learn the working methods of your field will help you get started.
You don’t have to have been raised in a religious household—in fact, you don’t even have to be religious! Theology is a fascinating field that explores the structures of various religions, as well as ethical principles, history, language, and society. Even within Theology, you can focus on your own interests and choose topics for your papers that are personally relevant to you.
Depending on the type of school you want to teach at, you'll need to demonstrate proficiency in two languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew) by the end of your Bachelor's program. For example, if your university entrance qualification shows that you've earned a Latinum, that's great—if not, you can learn all of these languages during your studies.
More than any other subject: Religion is the only subject anchored in the Basic Law and must be taught upon request.
This question comes up often because there isn’t a set path, as there is, for example, in teacher training programs. However, there are many other possibilities. True to the motto “A philosopher feels at home everywhere,” the range of possible career prospects is also very broad. Whether in consulting, education, or administration: Philosophy graduates have a wide range of choices. During your studies, you’ll also be provided with useful support to help you with this. It’s important to stay on top of things and show initiative.
The answer is obvious: Faculty members and your future fellow students will be there to offer you advice and assistance and will support you in any way they can. The departments/institutes all have a very close-knit atmosphere. This makes personalized guidance possible, so you won’t get lost in the crowd of students. Rest assured that you won't have to navigate your studies alone.
Changing your major isn’t the end of the world—you can switch your areas of study even during your studies. So go ahead and dare to try something new! Even if you decide to leave the program, your time here isn’t wasted: no one can take away the new perspectives you’ve gained on yourself and the world. Plus, the knowledge you gain here provides a helpful foundation for many other (social) sciences as well.
https://eth.ht.tu-dortmund.de/institut/willkommen/ (German only)
https://kth.ht.tu-dortmund.de/ (German only)
https://ipp.ht.tu-dortmund.de/ (German only)
https://pcs.ht.tu-dortmund.de/
https://marepol.ht.tu-dortmund.de/en/
https://mapp.ht.tu-dortmund.de/ (German only)
If you have any further questions, you can contact Student Advisory Service or the respective student council. The student council is a group of students who, for example, organize the orientation week, act as a liaison between students and faculty, and, of course, provide (prospective) students with information.
Here’s how to contact the Student Advisory Services:
Philosophie und Politikwissenschaft
Religion, Ethics, and Politics
Here's how to contact the student councils:
Protestant Theology:
fs-evangelisch.ht@tu-dortmund.de
@fsevtheo auf Instagram
Catholic Theology:
@faschschaftkatholisch auf Instagram
fs-katholisch.ht@tu-dortmund.de
Philosophy and Political Science:
https://fsphilpol.fk14.tu-dortmund.de/
@fsphilpol auf Instagram
MaRePol:
You can contact any of the student councils listed, depending on which academic subject you have questions about.
Du kannst dich an alle genannten Fachschaften wenden, je nach dem, zu welchem Teilfach du Fragen hast.
Humanities:
https://ht.tu-dortmund.de/ (German only)
@human_theo
Application, admission, and enrollment
All degree programs presented here are currently (as of 2025) admission-free (no NC). For teacher training programs, enrollment is limited at least for the subject Educational Sciences. Click the link https://www.tu-dortmund.de/studieninteressierte/studienangebot/lehramt/ (German only) to find out about the requirements for your other desired subjects.
The NC (numerus clausus) limits admission to programs in which not all prospective students can be accepted. Depending on the grades on their university entrance qualification (e.g., Abitur), a certain number of applicants from each semester are admitted. Those with higher grades are admitted first. Therefore, the NC always fluctuates depending on the number of applicants and their grades. For this reason, it's not possible to make a general statement about the grade point average needed for admission. However, you can use the NCs from recent years as a guide. You can find an overview of the NC process here and click through more details.
To apply to the university, you'll need:
- Your high school diploma (Abitur) or an equivalent school-leaving certificate. (This does not include the Fachabitur.)
- If you have completed a volunteer service, you will need proof of this.
- Proof that you meet any additional subject-specific requirements.
The application process takes place via the Campus Portal.
- For Teacher training, it's important to first research the possible subject combinations available for your chosen school type (elementary school, German secondary schools, etc.) Some subjects have their own NCs; otherwise the NC applies to the required program Educational Sciences.
- Next, register on TU Dortmund University's “Campus Portal”. Then open the welcome email and confirm the registration link.
- You can now complete and submit your online application through the “Campus Portal”.
https://dokoll.tu-dortmund.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/bewerbung/bewerbung-1-fachsemester/ (German only)
https://www.tu-dortmund.de/en/prospective-students/application-and-enrollment/
Wait. Some time after you apply, you'll be notified whether you have been admitted or not. Admission and rejection notices are usually provided on the “Campus Portal” in early August. (Info DoKoLL website)
Once you have been admitted, you mus enroll—that is, you accept your admission to the program and officially register.
https://www.tu-dortmund.de/infohotline/faq-erstauskuenfte-studierendenservice/faq-einschreibung/-immatrikulation/ (German only)
Finding a place to live and financing
The most common way is to search for apartments online. Another option is to ask about a room at the Catholic dormitory in town. You can also look into housing options offered by the Studierendenwerk Dortmund.
https://www.stwdo.de/wohnen/ (German only)
https://www.tu-dortmund.de/en/campus/accommodation/
You can also search for apartments on the AStA website: https://jobsundwohnungen.asta-dortmund.de/ (German only)
Of course, you can check to see if you’re eligible for BAföG; otherwise, there’s also the option to apply for a scholarship. You’re also allowed to look for a part-time job, but you’ll need to check how many hours per week you’re allowed to work as a student and how much you’re allowed to earn. You can find job postings, for example, on the bulletin board in EF 50 (across from the security service desk). In some cases, job postings are also sent out via the email mailing lists of individual faculties.
The AStA also provides information about jobs: https://jobsundwohnungen.asta-dortmund.de/ (German only)
Start of studies
Course schedule counseling is typically offered by the student councils (see link). In addition, the module manual can be viewed here (see link). The respective student council can also answer any further questions you may have.
https://eth.ht.tu-dortmund.de/studium/studienordnungen/ (German only)
fs-evangelisch.ht@tu-dortmund.de
@fsevtheo
fs-katholisch.ht@tu-dortmund.de
@faschschaftkatholisch
The AStA is the General Student Council and is responsible, for example, for representing students' interests in higher education policy and providing advice on social, legal, financial, and other issues. The AStA also organizes events related to academics and leisure and provides opportunities for you to get involved at the university.
MaPP FAQs
Genereal questions about your studies
The Master's program in Philosophy and Political Science (MaPP) typically lasts four semesters. During these four semesters, you'll earn all the credits required for your degree.
Yes, it is possible to pursue the Master's program on a part-time basis. This can be particularly beneficial if you need to balance work commitments or other personal circumstances.
To successfully complete the master's program, you need a total of 120 ECTS credits.
Organization of studies
Yes, at the beginning of each semester, there is an orientation week during which new students receive important information about the degree program and have the opportunity to network with their fellow students.
You can register for exams through the “Campus Portal”. There you'll also find deadlines and additional information about the exam regulations.
International issues
Yes, as part of the MaPP, there are various exchange programs and partnerships with international universities. Students are encouraged to gain international experience.
Many courses are offered in German; however, there are also English-taught courses. Please check the Module Manual for specific offers.
Financing and scholarships
There are various scholarship programs specifically designed for students in the social sciences or humanities. You can find more information on the website of the Studierendenwerk Dortmund and at the Advisery Services.
Yes, many students work they're in university. However, it's important to make sure this doesn't lead to burnout. Working up to 20 hours a week is often recommended.