TU Darmstadt Guide
For international students & researchers
TU Darmstadt Campus Lichtwiese — GeraldGauert / CC BY-SA 3.0
Starting at Technische Universität Darmstadt? This guide covers everything you need in your first weeks: enrollment, the TUCaN student portal, library, canteen, the International Students Service, and the Studentenwerk — with direct links to all the important places.
Enrollment (Immatrikulation)
"Immatrikulation" and "Einschreibung" are the same thing: your official registration as a student. Once enrollment is complete, you receive your student ID number (Matrikelnummer) by post and also in TUCaN.
Enrollment Office — TU Darmstadt
Forms, deadlines, re-registration: tu-darmstadt.de → Immatrikulation
TUCaN — The Student Portal
TUCaN (tucan.tu-darmstadt.de) is TU Darmstadt's central platform for everything academic:
- Course registration: All lectures, seminars and labs are booked here.
- Exam registration: Every exam must be individually registered within the deadline — missing it means you cannot sit the exam that semester.
- Grades: All completed exams and credit points (ECTS) are displayed here.
- Study progress: Check your overall credit status at any time.
Your TU account (TU-Kennung) — used for TUCaN, Moodle and campus Wi-Fi — is issued by the IT centre (HRZ): hrz.tu-darmstadt.de
eLearning — Moodle
Many professors post lecture materials, assignments and forums on Moodle (moodle.tu-darmstadt.de) — log in with the same TU credentials as TUCaN. Subscribe to all your courses on day one.
Library (ULB Darmstadt)
The Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek (ULB) Darmstadt is your primary academic resource:
- Locations: Stadtmitte (city campus, Magdalenenstraße) and Lichtwiese
- Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8:00–22:00, Sat 10:00–18:00 (ULB Stadtmitte — check website for current times)
- Online access: Thousands of journals and databases via ULB e-resources — free with TU login
- VPN required for off-campus access: Activate the TU VPN (HRZ)
- Book loans: Use your student card — it doubles as a library card
ULB Darmstadt
Opening hours, catalogue, e-resources: ulb.tu-darmstadt.de
Canteen & Cafeterias (Mensa)
The Studentenwerk Darmstadt runs the university canteens:
- Mensa Stadtmitte (Alexanderstraße 4) — largest canteen, city campus
- Mensa Lichtwiese — for students at the Lichtwiese campus
- Prices: Student prices are heavily subsidised (e.g. main dish ~€2.50–4.50)
- Vegetarian/vegan: At least 1–2 vegetarian and vegan options daily
- Menu: View in advance at studentenwerkdarmstadt.de
International Students Service (ISS)
The International Students Service (ISS) is TU Darmstadt's dedicated support office for international students:
- Advice in English on visas, residence permits, health insurance
- Orientation events for new international students at the start of each semester
- Help navigating German bureaucracy related to your studies and stay
- Appointments and office hours: tu-darmstadt.de → International Students
International Students Service (ISS)
Advice in English — visa, studies, daily life: tu-darmstadt.de/internationales
Language Courses — Sprachenzentrum
The Language Centre (Sprachenzentrum) of TU Darmstadt offers:
- German courses: All levels A1–C1, including intensive courses before semester start
- Foreign languages: English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and many more
- Cost: Many courses are free or heavily discounted for TU students
- Online self-learning: Access to language learning platforms included
Language Centre — TU Darmstadt
Course catalogue and registration: sprachenzentrum.tu-darmstadt.de
Studentenwerk Darmstadt — Housing, BAföG, Counselling
The Studentenwerk Darmstadt is an independent social services organisation (not part of TU itself):
- Student housing: Affordable halls of residence (high demand — apply as early as possible): studentenwerkdarmstadt.de/wohnen
- BAföG: German student financial aid — available to EU citizens under certain conditions: BAföG information
- Counselling: Psychological support, financial hardship advice: Counselling services
First Steps Checklist
- Complete enrollment (Immatrikulation) → receive Matrikelnummer
- Activate TU account (HRZ portal)
- Log into TUCaN → register for courses
- Subscribe to Moodle courses
- Register your address at Darmstadt's Bürgerbüro → our registration guide
- Open a bank account → our banking guide
- Activate your semester public transport ticket → our transport guide
- Attend ISS orientation events: ISS dates
Frequently Asked Questions
After enrollment is complete, your Matrikelnummer is sent by post to your registered address. You can also find it in TUCaN once your account is activated.
Winter semester: lectures start around mid-October. Summer semester: around mid-April. Exact dates are published on the TU Darmstadt semester dates page.
Yes — this is mandatory. Without registering in TUCaN within the deadline, you cannot sit the exam that semester. Deadlines are visible in the TUCaN calendar.
Yes. The International Students Service (ISS) provides advice in English. The Language Centre and ULB also have English-speaking staff.
The Studentenwerk Darmstadt is an independent social services organisation — not part of TU itself. It handles canteens, dormitories, BAföG and psychological counselling. TU Darmstadt is responsible for academic matters: courses, exams and teaching.
Looking for a furnished apartment near TU Darmstadt?
CampusStay Darmstadt offers fully furnished studios at the ORO complex — just 8–12 minutes on foot from TU city campus.
Enquire about an apartment