University in Germany
Ilmenau, Thüringen, Germany
University profile
Ilmenau University of Technology (Technische Universität Ilmenau) is a public technical university in Ilmenau, Thuringia. It was founded in 1894 as the private Thüringisches Technikum, became a Technische Hochschule in the DDR period and received the status of a Technische Universität in 1992. Its mission statement describes teaching and research in technology, mathematics, natural sciences, economics and media, with an emphasis on interdisciplinarity and Humboldtian ideals.
The university has about 3,968 enrolled students (winter semester 2025/26), of whom 2,154 are international students from about 100 countries. It employs 94 professors and 602 academic staff (1 December 2025) and offers more than 40 degree programmes and 12 double-degree programmes.
Study and research are organised in five faculties:
The university is based in the centre of Ilmenau and on a newer campus at the edge of the city, at Ehrenbergstraße 29. Historic buildings from 1894 sit alongside modern teaching and research buildings, with short distances between lecture halls, laboratories, the university library, the sports centre, the canteen (Mensa) and student clubs. Buildings are named after scientists, including the Humboldtbau, Newtonbau, Zusebau and Feynmanbau. The Universitätssportzentrum offers more than 140 courses in around 90 sports.
Research strengths include precision measurement (the university co-developed an industrial-grade Planck scale with the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), micro- and nanotechnologies, energy-efficient electronics, mobility and human-machine collaboration in production. The university is a member of the SUNRISE university alliance. Bachelor's and Master's programmes are taught in German and, for some, entirely in English.
Studying at TU Ilmenau is generally free of tuition. Each semester a semester contribution of about €300 is due, which covers the Studierendenwerk, the student body and the Deutschlandsemesterticket; this is not tuition. A one-off €20 fee applies for the student ID card at enrolment. The Academic Preparation Course and private Studienkollegs are fee-based.
€300 per month (€3,600 per year), regardless of income, funded equally by private or institutional donors and the federal government. Open to enrolled Diplom, Bachelor and Master students who meet grade-average, ECTS (at least 75% of credits) and regular-study-period criteria; social circumstances are also considered. Applications are submitted in German or English through the Mobility Online portal. There is no legal entitlement. Official page.
Includes a re-entry scholarship (Wiedereinstiegsstipendium, up to 12 months) for female researchers returning after a family-related break, and a doctoral completion scholarship (Promotionsabschlussstipendium, up to 6 months). Funding is €1,400 per month, plus €180 per month for one child and €90 for each further child, and optionally up to €100 per month for material and travel costs. Applications go through Mobility Online. Official page.
The Stipendienwesen office ([email protected]) advises on the Thüringer Graduiertenförderung, funding of stays abroad (DAAD projects) and further funding options. Scholarships and sponsors.
Deutschlandstipendium at TU Ilmenau →
Thüringer Graduiertenförderung (Doctoral Scholarship) at TU Ilmenau →
TU Ilmenau Scholarship: Doctoral Completion and Re-entry Scholarships →
Browse the scholarships listed for Ilmenau University of Technology and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Ilmenau University of Technology →Applications for winter semester 2026 are made through the TU Ilmenau Campusportal. For all semesters from 2027, applications from international applicants are made through uni-assist, which charges a processing fee of €75.
Applicants need a school-leaving certificate (Abitur, Matura or equivalent), proof of any entrance examination in the home country, records of previous university study where applicable, and German at least B1 at application. Direct admission requires a fully recognised school certificate and a C1 German certificate. Conditional admission with a language condition applies where C1 is still missing: it must be proved before the subject studies begin, via the university's fee-based Academic Preparation Course (Vorfachstudium) or another course provider. Where the school certificate is not equivalent to the Abitur, conditional admission to a Studienkolleg is possible, at the Thüringer Studienkolleg in Nordhausen (one year, including a language course up to C1) or at a fee-based private Studienkolleg. uni-assist checks the recognition of the school certificate and then the language certificate.
The Bachelor degree must be in the same or a similar field and meet the subject-specific prerequisites of the Master programme. Documents: secondary school certificate, list of all previous university study, Bachelor certificate, and a language certificate of at least B2 in the language of instruction of the programme. Direct admission requires C1 and the subject prerequisites; direct admission with conditions applies where prerequisites are only partly met, with additional courses expected to extend study by one to two semesters; conditional admission applies where C1 is still missing and must be shown before the subject studies begin. uni-assist assesses the certificates, then the responsible subject group reviews the Transcript of Records.
Documents not in German or English need a certified translation. Typical processing times are 4 to 6 weeks for Bachelor and 6 to 8 weeks for Master applications, and visa processing generally takes about 3 months, in some countries much longer. Enrolment becomes legally valid once the semester contribution is received.
Ilmenau (Ehrenbergstraße 29, 98693 Ilmenau): the university is located in the city centre and on a newer campus at the edge of the city.
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