Key results of the Alumni Survey
This page presents key results of the Alumni Survey in the winter semester 2023/24. The respondents provided information about their retrospective assessment of their degree programme or doctorate, as well as their further academic and professional career.
The results are based on the information provided by 424 Bachelor alumni (B.A., Joint B.A., B.Sc.) from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (272 cases), Natural Sciences (82 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (70 cases).
From which regions did the former Bachelor students come to study at the TU Darmstadt?
Regional mobility before starting a degree programme is measured using the location or country of the higher education entrance qualification (HEEQ). The analysis on the level of the subject groups shows that the Bachelor Engineering programmes attract the most students from more distant regions of Germany and from abroad.
“From today's perspective, how satisfied are you with your Bachelor's programme at the TU Darmstadt in general?”
The vast majority of all Bachelor alumni surveyed stated being (very) satisfied with their completed studies. The graduates of the three subject groups are very similar in their assessments.
The vast majority of the Bachelor alumni (88%) went on to study for a Master's degree, most of this group (84%) remaining at TU Darmstadt. 3% stated that they were still considering doing a Master's programme and 1% had started a different degree programme.
9% ruled out further study for themselves. The most frequently cited reasons for this were the desire to gain work experience, an attractive job offer and financial reasons.
The results are based on the information provided by 601 Master alumni (M.A., M.Sc.) from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (439 cases), Natural Sciences (104 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (58 cases).
“From today's perspective, how satisfied are you with your Master's programme at the TU Darmstadt in general?”
The study satisfaction of Engineering and Natural Sciences graduates is on a par at 78%. A slightly lower, but still high level of satisfaction is found among graduates of the Humanities and Social Sciences (73%).
Almost a quarter (24%) of all Master alumni decided to take up a doctorate after completing their degree programme. In the Engineering Sciences, the proportion was 20%, in the Humanities and Social Sciences 12%. Among alumni with a degree in the Natural Sciences, the doctoral rate was significantly higher at 50%.
Of all Master alumni who had decided to do a doctorate, 69% began it at the TU Darmstadt.
“How satisfied are you overall with your current job situation?”
Over three quarters (77%) of all employed Master alumni stated that they were (very) satisfied with their current employment situation. This includes all those who entered the labour market without taking up a doctorate and are in regular employment. The highest level of job satisfaction was reported by the Engineering alumni.
The results are based on the information provided by 72 alumni with a teaching degree, 45 of whom have a passed the First State Examination (Teaching at Grammar Schools) and 27 of whom have a Master of Education (Teaching at Vocational Schools). Due to the small number of cases, the data from the surveys in the winter semester 2021/22 to winter semester 2023/24 were analysed together.
Retrospective study satisfaction and reselection decisions
Around two thirds (62%) of the graduates with a First State Examination (Teaching at Grammar Schools) were (very) satisfied with their studies at TU Darmstadt in retrospect. A similar number would (highly) probably choose the same degree programme again (65%) or would choose TU Darmstadt again as a place to study (62%).
Situation at the time of the survey
At the time of the survey, around one and a half years after graduation, 29% of the respondents were pursuing a doctorate. 58% were doing a teaching traineeship ('Vorbereitungsdienst'), 88% of them at their preferred teacher training college ('Studienseminar') and 52% at their preferred school. 68% of the graduates in a teaching traineeship were (very) satisfied with their current professional situation.
Retrospective study satisfaction and reselection decisions
Around one in two (54%) graduates with a Master of Education (Teaching at Vocational Schools) were (very) satisfied with their studies at TU Darmstadt. Given the choice again, 69% would (highly) probably choose the same degree programme and 64% would choose TU Darmstadt again.
Situation at the time of the survey
The vast majority of graduates (80%) were doing a teaching traineeship ('Vorbereitungsdienst') at the time of the survey around one and a half years after graduation, all of them at their preferred teacher training college ('Studienseminar') and 81% at their preferred school. A good three quarters (77%) of the graduates in a teaching traineeship were (very) satisfied with their current professional situation.
The results are based on the information provided by 157 Ph.D. alumni from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (86 cases), Natural Sciences (52 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (19 cases).
“Looking back, if you were free to choose again, would you choose…?”
Given the choice again, what decisions would the Ph.D. graduates make regarding their doctorate? The vast majority would (highly) probably choose to do a doctorate again in the same subject area (88%) and at the TU Darmstadt (81%). The approval ratings for the same Ph.D. topic (78%), for the general decision to do a doctorate as a continuation of their academic career (78%) and for the same advisor (71%) are also high.
At the time of the survey, around one and a half years after completing their doctorate, the vast majority of the Ph.D. graduates (94%) were in regular, salaried employment. 5% were (additionally) self-employed. Individual mentions were other (additional) pursuits such as further training or a longer period of travelling.
A total of 28% of respondents worked in an academic field, 72% of whom held a postdoc position.
“To what extent do you use the skills and knowledge acquired during your course of studies and the doctorate?”
“How appropriate is your current employment to your level of education?”
Asked about their current employment, three quarters of the Ph.D. graduates stated they were able to use the qualifications they had acquired through their studies and doctoral work to a (very) high extent.
The assessment of the appropriateness of their professional situation in relation to their level of education was even more positive: 86% rated their situation appropriate to a (very) high extent.
Would you like to know more?
Then take a look at the Master report (opens in new tab) of the survey in the winter semester 2023/24.
The assessments of the Bachelor alumni of their studies and their transition to a Master's programme, as well as information about their professional activities can be found in the Bachelor report (opens in new tab) of the survey in the winter semester 2021/22.
