Frequently asked questions from prospective students/companies

In the study program, a differentiation is made when enrolling between training-integrated and practice-integrated.

The training-integrated variant is aimed at students who are aiming for a dual qualification in the form of vocational training as an IT specialist in application development and a degree course.

The practice-integrated variant offers students the opportunity to extend their qualification by studying after completing their vocational training as an IT specialist in application development

In both variants, the duration of study is 9 semesters (4 ½ years) and leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree upon successful completion of the course.

In the first three years, the training-integrated variant includes vocational training as an IT specialist in the field of application development. Students conclude a training contract with their company for this period.

In addition, a study contract is concluded with your company for the period after the vocational training (from the 7th semester). This regulates the rights and obligations of the students as well as those of your company during the period of study.

The study program can be studied with proof of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification or the general higher education entrance qualification or the subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or an entrance qualification recognized as equivalent by the competent state authorities or an access option regulated by ordinance in accordance with Section 49 (4) and (5) HG. An additional requirement is proof of

• a training contract (training-integrated variant) as an IT specialist\in application development or
• completed vocational training (practice-integrated variant) as an IT specialist\in application development or comparable completed vocational training.

Your students will not attend vocational school. The content required for the IHK final examination at the end of the 6th semester is taught in additional courses and regular events at Fachhochschule Dortmund. In addition, students must prepare for the IHK examinations in the same way as all other trainees. The Fachhochschule Dortmund offers to provide support in the form of old exams for studying as well as an exam preparation course and further workshops.

The dual study program in Medical Informatics is structured in such a way that the students are usually at the university 3 days a week during the lecture period and at your company 2 days a week. During the lecture-free period, they are completely at the company except for vacation and examination periods, ensuring that there is enough time to prepare for exams. In this way, concepts and methods from the university are directly applied in the company and problems from the company are discussed in courses or worked on in final theses. The amount of time spent at the company is then gradually increased, as project-oriented learning, seminars, project work and theses play a greater role (see chapter "Course of studies").

There is a general attendance requirement for students on dual study programs. However, a legal basis for verification on the part of Fachhochschule Dortmund is only possible until the end of vocational training, i.e. until the end of the 6th semester. If events take place in your company that students absolutely must attend, their absence can be excused at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts. If events (special courses) take place outside the registered lecture times in which the student must participate, you will be asked by Fachhochschule Dortmund. If additional courses take place and attendance is voluntary, the student will not be contacted by the company.

The module structure is characterized by a grouping of courses such as lectures, tutorials, practicals or seminars into thematic units, the modules. In addition to the modules, subject areas have been introduced in the curricula for thematic structuring, which usually summarize 2-4 modules thematically and structure the content of the final certificate. Modules are completed by module examinations, which may be made up of partial examinations and thus allow students to monitor their individual academic performance very closely. For the successful completion of a module, the number of credits specified in the annex to the examination regulations is awarded, usually 5 ECTS points. There are only modules with 2.5 ECTS points in the area of extracurricular basics/supplements, which corresponds to the lower workload in these courses.

1. Online application(Opens in a new tab)  by 15.07. of each year
2. Online enrollment is possible online in the application portal (Opens in a new tab) 
3. Enrollment by date X (see dates in the portal(Opens in a new tab) ) of a year

In the admission-free study program Software and Systems Engineering, everyone who has submitted the online application(link(Opens in a new tab) ) in due form and time by 15.07. of each year and meets the admission requirements will receive a letter of admission.

• Deadline until 15.07 of the year.
• Complete and send the online application.
• Changes to your contact details can be made directly via the portal(link(Opens in a new tab) ).
• It is generally not necessary to submit documents during the application process.

You can retrieve and edit the letter of admission from the online application online in the study place portal (Opens in a new tab) by entering your e-mail address and the password assigned during the application.

• The letter of admission will not be sent by post!
• Studyplace portal(Opens in a new tab) : Log in with access data.
• After entering your data, you will receive a printable enrollment application.
• Please print out the application for enrollment for the winter semester and do not forget to sign it.

Please follow the instructions in the online enrollment and submit the documents listed therein in full by the specified date.

You must submit at least the following documents:

• Signed enrollment application (from the online enrollment)
• Insurance certificate for submission to the university (original)
• Copy of your identity card
• Officially certified copy of the certificates to determine the university entrance qualification

At least the following documents must be submitted by your cooperation partner:

• Confirmation from the company about the training and studies
• Confirmation from the company that it will pay the semester fees or a corresponding transfer receipt

Personal enrollment is not required!

Acceptance deadline: The date of the postmark at Fachhochschule Dortmund counts.

To start the dual study program, you need a training place or employment contract with a company that offers or is willing to offer the dual study program. Dual study places are also explicitly advertised.

You can find current partner companies, including contact details, on the partner page  of Fachhochschule Dortmund.

The prerequisite for applying for a dual study place is a (technical) university entrance qualification due to the course of study.

You can apply directly to the companies offering the dual study places. They are solely responsible for selecting your applicants.

That is no problem at all. If your company is willing to conclude a framework agreement with Fachhochschule Dortmund, we can accept new companies as cooperation partners at short notice. A dual study program with a company that does not wish to conclude this framework agreement is not possible with us, as we make sure that our students are legally protected.

Yes, you need a partner company for the entire duration, i.e. from the first to the ninth semester, otherwise it is not a dual study program.

In principle, you should complete the dual study program at one company. In exceptional cases, such as insolvency, it may be necessary to change companies. If there are other reasons for a change, please contact us first for advice.

Training-integrated: As soon as you have signed the training contract with a company, the application to the university of applied sciences follows.

Practice-integrated: As soon as you have signed the employment contract with a company, you must apply to the university.

The application is only possible online on the University of Applied Sciences website for the winter semester and must be completed by yourself.

Applications are submitted annually between the end of May and July 15. Applications received after this date cannot be considered.

After completing the online application, you do not need to come to the Office for Student Affairs in person to enrol.

You will also receive all this information by post after completing the online application.

You can submit all documents by post. You can also use our in-house letterbox in the Sonnenstraße 96 building (all day) or in the Emil-Figge-Straße 38 building (from 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.) to hand in your documents.

The deadlines for applying to the companies are determined by the companies themselves. You should find out in good time when the application phase begins at the individual companies. As a rule, this starts after the summer vacation for the start of training in the following year, especially for the larger companies.

When applying to a university of applied sciences, it is important to note that this can only be done by July 15. Later applications can no longer be considered for a completed study program, even in individual cases. Not all documents need to be submitted with the application. These are only required for enrollment.

Missing the application deadline may result in the termination of your training contract.

You will not attend vocational school. The content required for the IHK final examination will be taught in regular courses and through additional courses offered by Fachhochschule Dortmund. In addition, you must prepare for the IHK examinations in the same way as all other trainees. The Faculty of Computer Science provides old exams to study for and offers an exam preparation course as well as additional workshops.

The dual study program in Software and Systems Engineering is structured in such a way that you are usually at the university 3 days a week and at the company 2 days a week (depending on the semester).

During the semester break, you will usually work 5 days a week at your company.

There are periods before the exams when you are released from work to study for your exams. Whether you do this at home, in study groups or at the company, where you are released from day-to-day business during this time, can be decided by the company as required.

There is a general attendance requirement for students on dual study programs. However, a legal basis for verification on the part of Fachhochschule Dortmund is only possible until the end of the vocational training, i.e. until the end of the 6th semester. If there are events at your company that you absolutely have to attend, you can excuse your absence at the university. If events (special courses) take place outside the registered lecture times that you must attend, your company will be contacted by Fachhochschule Dortmund. If additional courses take place and participation is voluntary, you will not be contacted by your company.

In case of illness, you must send an excuse to the Fachhochschule Dortmund (by e-mail or telephone). In the case of prolonged illness, which also requires a medical certificate from the employer, a copy of this certificate must be submitted. The university reserves the right to request a doctor's certificate for individual days of illness in individual cases with prior agreement (e.g. if you are absent too often).

About 8 weeks before the start of the new semester, the dates for the upcoming semester fees are published in the student portal. Here you will not only find the date by which the amount must be transferred, but also where and how much the amount is exactly.

You have the following options:

1. You pay the semester fee yourself: You must ensure that your re-registration is received on time and in the correct form.
2. The company pays your semester fee. You must use the re-registration confirmation email to check whether the re-registration for the following semester has been submitted on time and in the correct form. Your company must transfer the semester fee to Fachhochschule Dortmund, stating the reference number. If this is not the case, you must contact your company (accounting department) and the Office for Student Affairs immediately.

Late re-registration will incur surcharges. If you do not re-register, you will automatically receive a notification of de-registration.

The vacation available to the company should be taken in the weeks in which lectures are not taking place so that it can be taken consecutively.

Vacation should serve your recovery and should therefore be taken consecutively at best. As you have to attend lectures during the semester, you cannot take leave during these periods. However, there are plenty of lecture-free periods in which you can take your vacation in consultation with your company.

By the way: Fachhochschule Dortmund always has a week off at Christmas and Easter.

You must register for the exams online within the deadlines. The same applies here: If you miss the registration deadline, you will not be able to register later. You can only register for the exams that are scheduled according to the curriculum.

If you do not appear for an exam (e.g. silent withdrawal, illness, etc.), you must inform your employer immediately.

You can send us an e-mail with the information for the seminar or elective subject. They will then check whether it is available for you.

This situation is certainly not desirable for anyone, neither for you, nor for us, nor for your company. But rest assured, you wouldn't be the first or the last person to experience something like this. However, as this situation is always very individual, there is no one-size-fits-all answer at this point. We would certainly find a solution with you and the relevant advice centers in the company. This could be, for example, that you only want to continue your training in your company or perhaps switch to a face-to-face course.

No.

In this constellation, there are at least two contracts:

The IHK training contract is concluded by you with the company and regulates the period until you complete your training. As you do not attend a vocational school, the Fachhochschule Dortmund must be entered as the training institution (vocational school).

The study contract is concluded between you and the company and regulates the time between the end of your training and the end of your studies.

After successfully passing the IHK final examination, you will work as an employee in the company and continue to attend the University of Applied Sciences. The training contract is terminated, the study contract applies from now on. Payment may also change, e.g. if you are then paid like a working student in your company.