The New Academic Year at TU Dortmund University Kicks Off in Signal Iduna Park

At the start of this year's semester on 9 October, TU Dortmund University welcomed the new first-year students with a diverse program in the Borussia Dortmund stadium. Alongside the city, the theater, the opera, the General Student Committee (AStA), the Studierendenwerk and the BVB, the university rang in the new academic year. For the winter semester 2023/24, TU Dortmund University now has more than 5,200 first-time and renewed enrollments – slightly more than in the previous year.

TU President Prof. Manfred Bayer warmly welcomed the first-year students: “I wish you all the best and every success with your studies and hope that you find great friendships that will last a lifetime.” Mayor Thomas Westphal also warmly welcomed the first-year students in Dortmund. The AStA chairpersons Sarah Toepfer and Raphael Martin were happy to personally welcome their new fellow students.

Christoph Edeler, Head of University Sports at TU Dortmund University, moderated the event. The cello quartet of the Dortmund Philharmonic provided a musical accompaniment to the welcome event, and Mandla Mndebele from the Dortmund Opera sang the anthem “You'll Never Walk Alone”. Together, Johannes Zedel from the Studierendenwerk and surprise guest Marcel Schmelzer, a former BVB player, drew three first-year students for the raffle. Traditionally, Prof. Manfred Bayer gave the symbolic starting signal for the academic year and kicked a football signed by the BVB squad into the stands, which a lucky winner caught out of the air to raucous applause.

Drei Männer stehen vor einem Flipchart, Chrisoph Edeler ist in der Mitte. Der Mann rechts hält einen Dartpfeil und zielt auf die Flipchart. — As a surprise guest, Marcel Schmelzer (right) selected the winners by throwing darts.

More first-year students than last year

With around 5,200 first-time and renewed enrollments as of 9 October, TU Dortmund University is recording a slight increase in first-year students. This is already four percent higher than at the final reference date of the previous winter semester. There is also an increasing trend in international students: Overall, they currently represent 14.7% of the student body, which is already 1.5% higher than the same time last year.

The Bachelor’s degree program in Sociology, which was launched at the new Department of Social Sciences in 2021, is continuing to gain momentum in its third year: As of 9 October, a total of around 410 students are enrolled here, including 260 freshmen. Two completely new degree programs are starting this winter semester at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology: The Bachelor’s degree program “Sustainable Energy Systems” and the English-language Master’s degree program “Sustainable Energy Systems” deal with the challenges of the energy transition.

As of 9 October, the total number of TU students is still below the previous year’s, due to the lower number of responses from students who were previously enrolled. The impact of the Deutschlandticket (a subscription public transport ticket) and the shortage of skilled workers on student numbers have already been predicted throughout Germany. At TU Dortmund University, the Bachelor’s degree program in Computer Science is the most affected by a lack of feedback. However, with a total of over 2,800 enrollments, it remains by far the most popular program at the university – and it is also reporting an increase in first-time and new enrollments this year. The final student numbers will not be known until early December.

Impressions of the freshman welcome in the stadium:

President Prof. Manfred Bayer warmly welcomed the first-year students.
The cello quartet of the Dortmund Philharmonic provided a musical accompaniment to the event with “Nothing Else Matters”.
Christoph Edeler, Head of University Sports at TU Dortmund University, moderated the event.
The first-year students were invited to visit the theater and the opera in Dortmund by (from left to right): Fabian Schäfer (deputy opera director), Julia Wissert (acting director) and Dr. Volker Rülke (dramaturge at the Dortmund Philharmonic).
Anastasia Pässler (Konzerthaus Dortmund, right) surprised some lucky winners with cards under their seats.
Chairperson Sarah Toepfer (center) and deputy chairperson Raphael Martin (right) also warmly welcomed their new fellow students to the university on behalf of the General Student Committee.
Mandla Mndebele from the Dortmund Opera sang the anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
Alongside Johannes Zedel (Studierendenwerk Dortmund, left), surprise guest Marcel Schmelzer (right) selected three winners by throwing darts.
Alongside Johannes Zedel (Studierendenwerk Dortmund, left), surprise guest Marcel Schmelzer (second from right) selected three winners by throwing darts.
The Dean and heads of the 17 departments introduced themselves to the first-year students and warmly welcomed them to Dortmund.
President Prof. Manfred Bayer gave the symbolic starting signal for the academic year.