Winter semester 2024/25 starts with semester kick-off in the stadium

TU Rector Prof. Manfred Bayer warmly welcomed the first semester students. "The most important thing is that you enjoy your studies," he said and encouraged them to think outside the box and take courses beyond their own subject - for example in the new "Entrepreneurship" certificate program. He also recommended: "Work together with your fellow students, network - that definitely contributes to success."

TU Dortmund University is becoming increasingly international

TU Dortmund University is offering two new degree courses from this winter semester: The Bachelor's degree course in Business Informatics, which has been very well received with 210 enrolments to date, and the now 15th English-language Master's degree course in Mechanics of Sustainable Materials and Structures - a multiple degree offered jointly by the TU Dortmund University's Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, the University of Trento (Italy) and the Ecole Centrale de Nantes (France). 5,102 people (as of October 9) started studying at TU Dortmund University in the winter semester 2024/25, almost as many as in the previous year. This means that 29,407 people are currently studying at TU Dortmund University in the winter semester. The proportion of international students has risen to 16 percent. The figures are still provisional; the final student statistics will be published in December due to outstanding feedback and enrollments.

At the semester kick-off in the stadium, Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal also welcomed the new students via video: "Dortmund is the right place for you and TU Dortmund University is the right place for you anyway. All the best to you!" Deputy AStA Chair Darius Weitekamp was delighted to welcome his new fellow students in person. In his welcoming address, BVB Managing Director Thomas Treß remembered the victims of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which was triggered by the attack on Israel by the terrorist militia Hamas on October 7, 2023.

BVB star Patrick Owomoyela as a surprise guest

Christoph Edeler, Head of University Sports at TU Dortmund University, hosted the event. The cello quartet of the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra provided musical accompaniment to the freshers' welcome with an adaptation of a Metallica song and Mandla Mndebele from the Dortmund Opera sang "Toreador" from the opera "Carmen". There were also some lucky winners in the stands: Burkhard Schwemin from Studierendenwerk and surprise guest Patrick Owomoyela, former BVB player, drew three winners for vouchers from Studierendenwerk by throwing darts. Free tickets for the Dortmund Konzerthaus were hidden under some of the seats and, as a symbolic starting signal for studying, Rector Prof. Manfred Bayer shot a soccer signed by the BVB professionals into the crowd, which, with a deft catch, passed into the hands of one lucky winner.

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