Key results of the Alumni Survey
This page presents key results of the Alumni Survey in the winter semester 2024/25. 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 460 Bachelor alumni (B.Sc., B.A., Joint B.A.) from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (323 cases), Natural Sciences (91 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (46 cases).
“From today's perspective, how satisfied are you with your Bachelor's programme at the TU Darmstadt in general?”
The vast majority (73%) of all Bachelor alumni surveyed stated being (very) satisfied with their completed studies. Natural Sciences graduates report the highest level of satisfaction with their studies.
The vast majority of the Bachelor alumni (88%) went on to study for a Master's degree, most of this group (also 88%) remaining at TU Darmstadt. 3% of the respondents stated 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, financial reasons and receiving an attractive job offer.
The results are based on the information provided by 491 Master alumni (M.Sc., M.A.) from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (366 cases), Natural Sciences (83 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (42 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 almost identical at 82% and 83% respectively. Among the graduates of the Humanities and Social Sciences, three quarters of respondents say they are (very) satisfied with their studies in retrospect.
One-fifth of all Master alumni decided to pursue a doctorate after completing their degree programme. In the Engineering Sciences, the proportion was 16%, whereas in the Humanities and Social Sciences it was only 2%. Among alumni with a degree in the Natural Sciences, the doctorate rate was by far the highest at 47%.
Of all Master alumni who had decided to do a doctorate, 58% began it at the TU Darmstadt.
Master alumni who entered the job market directly without pursuing a doctorate found their professional positions in different ways: The majority (65%) actively searched for employment. About one-fifth found a job without searching. A smaller proportion continued an employment they already had during their studies or became self-employed.
On average, the active job search lasted three months. The most common way (59%) of finding an employment was the application for an advertised position. A further 13% of respondents found their first job with the help of personal contacts. Unsolicited applications, the use of web-based networks and attending company career fairs also proved to be successful strategies for some alumni.
“How satisfied are you overall with your current job situation?”
Over three quarters (78%) 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 71 alumni with a teaching degree, 44 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 2022/23 to winter semester 2024/25 were analysed together.
Retrospective study satisfaction and reselection decisions
More than half (57%) of the graduates with a First State Examination (Teaching at Grammar Schools) were (very) satisfied with their studies at TU Darmstadt in retrospect. Around two thirds would (highly) probably choose the same degree programme again (64%) or would choose TU Darmstadt again as a place to study (67%).
Situation at the time of the survey
At the time of the survey, around one and a half years after graduation, 23% of the respondents were pursuing a doctorate. 67% were doing a teaching traineeship ('Vorbereitungsdienst'), 88% of them at their preferred teacher training college ('Studienseminar') and 56% at their preferred school. 64% 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 (52%) graduates with a Master of Education (Teaching at Vocational Schools) were (very) satisfied with their studies at TU Darmstadt. Given the choice again, 70% would (highly) probably choose the same degree programme and 73% would choose TU Darmstadt again.
Situation at the time of the survey
The vast majority of graduates (81%) 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 (78%) of the graduates in a teaching traineeship were (very) satisfied with their current professional situation.
The results are based on the information provided by 146 Ph.D. alumni from the three subject groups of the TU Darmstadt: Engineering (78 cases), Natural Sciences (50 cases) and Humanities and Social Sciences (18 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 (80%). The approval ratings for the same Ph.D. topic, for the general decision to do a doctorate as a continuation of the academic career and for the same advisor 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 (90%) were in regular, salaried employment. 8% were (additionally) self-employed. Individual mentions were other (additional) pursuits such as further training.
A total of 34% of respondents worked in an academic field, with just over half of them engaged in research and in a postdoctoral 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, about 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 similar: 75% 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.
