Technical University Dortmund Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most funding you’ll see connected to TU Dortmund (e.g., the Deutschlandstipendium and several TU/DAAD support programs) is designed for students enrolled in a regular TU Dortmund degree program, not for stand-alone online short courses.

Both. TU Dortmund has many German-taught programs, and it also offers several English-taught (mostly Master’s) programs. For example, the university lists multiple English-taught Master’s options (with English proof requirements), and the Master’s in Data Science is described as an internationally designed program you study in English. In the scholarship stories, M. Zain Khalid prepared “specifically for the IELTS examination” for his international program pathway, while Girma Mulu Alemu targeted programs that waive language proof when applicants come from “English-instruction backgrounds.”

For major internal options like the Deutschlandstipendium at TU Dortmund, the published eligibility criteria focus on enrollment status and being within the standard period of study (and other criteria), and it does not advertise a general age cap. In practice, some external funders (outside TU Dortmund) can set age or career-stage limits, so you should always check the specific scholarship call you’re applying to.

Generally: TU Dortmund’s scholarships (especially the Deutschlandstipendium) are open across disciplines. TU Dortmund explicitly states it is for students “of all subjects and disciplines.” This includes STEM broadly (math, computer science, statistics, physics, chemistry), engineering (mechanical engineering; electrical engineering and information technology; architecture/civil engineering; biochemical/chemical engineering), business (business and economics), and humanities/social sciences (humanities and theology; cultural studies; social sciences; educational sciences and psychology).

Medicine: TU Dortmund is not known for offering the classic German state-exam “Human Medicine” degree, but it does offer medicine-related/health-adjacent fields (for example, an English-taught Master’s in “Medical Physics and Physics of Living Systems,” and it also has Rehabilitation Sciences). International students can compete for general scholarships (like the Deutschlandstipendium) in eligible TU Dortmund programs, including these health-adjacent fields, provided they meet the scholarship requirements.

Many opportunities are open internationally. For example, TU Dortmund’s Deutschlandstipendium FAQ explicitly includes “international students (regardless of permanent residence)” among those who can apply (as long as they are enrolled and meet other criteria). In GlobalScholarships recipient stories linked with TU Dortmund, M. Zain Khalid is from Pakistan and Girma Mulu Alemu is from Ethiopia, showing that successful scholarship pathways connected to TU Dortmund are not limited to one nationality.

It depends on the degree program’s language of instruction. For English-taught Master’s programs, TU Dortmund lists English proof requirements (often CEFR B2/C1) and even provides examples like IELTS/TOEFL ranges for some programs. For German-taught programs, TU Dortmund commonly expects proof such as DSH (typically DSH-2) or alternatives like TestDaF (e.g., a minimum total score) and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule.

That said, waivers/exemptions can exist in specific cases: Girma Mulu Alemu explained he looked for programs that waive requirements for “English-instruction backgrounds,” while M. Zain Khalid said he prepared “specifically for the IELTS examination” to meet English-language requirements.

Admission requirements vary by program. Some programs publish specific minimum academic thresholds. For example, the Master’s in Data Science states the Bachelor’s degree must be completed with at least a final grade of “good” (at least 2.7). Other programs can use different criteria, and some may be admission-free while others are competitive, so always check the program page for your subject.

For scholarships, the picture can be broader than grades alone: TU Dortmund’s Deutschlandstipendium FAQ says there is “no general answer” for a minimum GPA, because performance matters but other criteria (like engagement and circumstances) also count.

For the Deutschlandstipendium, TU Dortmund states scholarships are awarded based on “talent and performance,” while also considering factors like social commitment, responsibility, achievements/awards, internships, and special personal/family circumstances.

Real examples from TU Dortmund-linked recipient stories: M. Zain Khalid had a strong academic record (CGPA 3.85/4.00) and emphasized that he “went beyond grades” by highlighting hands-on research and fit with the program. Girma Mulu Alemu shared multiple strong GPAs (e.g., 3.56/4.0 and 3.73/4.0) and stressed planning. “That early engagement made a huge difference.”

If you apply via uni-assist (commonly used for non-EU/EEA applicants for many programs), TU Dortmund states that “all documents… must be uploaded” and it is “not necessary to send these documents by post.” TU Dortmund also lists common mandatory documents such as: highest school leaving certificate; subject/grade overview; subject/grade overviews of your studies; certificate of completion of studies; grading system information; sworn translations (German/English); and (if applicable) proof of German language skills.

Scholarship applications often add “story” documents: Girma Mulu Alemu said early outreach helped him tailor “my Europass CV, research concept notes, and letters of recommendation,” and M. Zain Khalid highlighted the impact of “extraordinary recommendation letters” alongside research and leadership.

In many cases (especially for non-EU/EEA applications), TU Dortmund applications are submitted via uni-assist, and uni-assist charges handling fees. uni-assist lists EUR 75 for the first chosen study course and EUR 30 for each additional chosen study course (in the same semester). If you are not routed through uni-assist (some routes/programs can differ), costs can differ, so confirm the application path for your specific program.