TU Dortmund University Launches studium+ for Bachelor’s Students
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When they begin their studies, students have to get used to new ways of learning, demanding subject matter, and greater personal responsibility. With studium+, TU Dortmund University aims to make the transition into university easier and to take students’ differing academic backgrounds more fully into account, especially their prior knowledge of mathematics. TU Dortmund University President Manfred Bayer explains why this has been a priority for him since he took office: “Universities bear responsibility for training skilled professionals in the natural sciences and engineering. We must give those who have the confidence to take on such a degree the best possible support on their way to graduation. With studium+, we have developed an innovative approach to do just that.”
Additional Learning Opportunities and More Time for Course Content
Under the motto “More support. More breathing room. More success.”, studium+ combines subject-specific and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities with adjusted degree plans. These include, for example, supplementary tutorials, practice sessions, and workshops. The four participating departments each set their own priorities, based on their experience with typical sticking points: in Mathematics, students can deepen their knowledge of calculus with “Calculus plus,” among other offerings. The Department of Physics is offering a new lecture course on mathematical methods specific to the field. In Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, courses such as “Higher Mathematics 0” and “Thermodynamics Plus” supplement the regular curriculum. In the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, the program includes “ETIT Coaching.” In addition, there are cross-disciplinary offerings on topics such as organizing one’s studies, time management, and digital skills.
Another component is alternative degree plans, which are intended to ease the load, especially in the first semesters. To this end, the departments are moving individual regular courses to later semesters. This allows students to engage more deeply with the course content and take advantage of additional support services.
Participation in studium+ is voluntary. Students can generally join up until the end of their fourth semester in their degree program. Those who successfully complete the required coursework receive a certificate. Depending on how the program is structured, the individual standard period of study is also extended. Under certain conditions, this can also extend a student’s BAföG (Federal Training Assistance) funding. To make this possible, the program draws on a new provision in North Rhine-Westphalia’s Higher Education Act.
Expansion to Additional Departments Planned
studium+ builds on the experience gained in the joint project “beVinuS.nrw,” in which TU Dortmund University, together with the University of Wuppertal and RWTH Aachen University, designed an accompanying virtual “semester zero” from 2022 to 2025. As part of the project, the universities developed digital self-study resources that students can use to brush up on the fundamentals they learned in school.
With studium+, TU Dortmund University is expanding this approach with additional in-person offerings that are more closely linked to the regular curriculum. Over the coming semesters, the program is to be gradually rolled out to additional departments and degree programs. In the long term, TU Dortmund University aims to use it to promote student success and reduce dropout rates.
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