International networking – global cooperation between the sciences

Prof. Dr. Lu Yongxiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was awarded an honorary title by the TU Berlin in 2004

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© TU-Pressestelle/Böck

In this age of globalization, international cooperation between the sciences is more important than ever. This is not a new concept for the TU Berlin, inasmuch as ever since our inception we have maintained contacts with partners all over the world. We currently have a total of 111 cooperation agreements with foreign universities and colleges in 36 countries. These agreements usually seek to promote student exchange programs, as well as joint research endeavors and publications. Such activities include counseling and support for new projects, as well as support for existing cooperative efforts. Furthermore, we support university partnerships and guest scientists from other countries, we award dissertation fellowships and provide information about research grants and supporting programs, in addition to organizing visiting programs.

International and cosmopolitan

The TU Berlin is committed to providing its students with international experience and imparting cultural competencies through international exchange programs . This is not surprising given that nearly 5800 of our students come from other countries. They make up about 22 percent of the overall student population of our university; the average for the rest of Germany amounts to barely 13%. These students come from 130 countries, the majority of them from China, Turkey and Poland.

Nearly 1000 TU students take advantage of exchange programs offered by the university’s Akademische Auslandsamt (International Office) in association with more than 280 partner universities both in Europe and overseas. Most of our partner schools are located in France, Great Britain and the United States.
In close cooperation with universities in France, South Korea, China, Poland and Great Britain the TU Berlin offers more than 20 dual degree programs. Our “Career Center” offers further possibilities for our students to gain international experience by arranging traineeships all over Europe through the EU program “LEONARDO DA VINCI”.

We provide our international students with a number of support mechanisms: for instance individual counseling and specially-tailored courses. Even before officially starting their university studies, students have access to preparatory courses in language and specialized subjects. Our Modern Language Center (ZEMS) offers a wide range of foreign language courses.