The hejmint programme at a glance

hejmint combines study guidance, practical experience and authentic university teaching. During the orientation programme, you’ll attend courses at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and gain an insight into potential study and career paths in the STEM fields.

The programme combines guidance, practical experience and personalised support to help you better assess your interests and strengths and make an informed decision about your future path.

This is how hejmint is structured

The orientation programme is divided into three phases:

I. Welcome Weeks

We start with a 6-week onboarding phase. You’ll get to know the university and the other participants, and explore issues relating to choosing a degree subject, your interests and career prospects. You’ll brush up on your basic knowledge in suitable preparatory courses.

Introduction and Career Guidance

Over the first few days, you’ll get to know Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and each other asthe hejmint group. It’s easier to settle in when you familiarise yourself with your new surroundings and have people to share the experience with, which is why your hejmint journey begins with team-building activities and campus tours. :)

To choose a career that’s right for you, you need – as well as knowledge about different professions – above all clarity about your own potential, interests, aspirations and expectations. To help you better assess whether the degree programmes and apprenticeship roles you’ll discover during your hejmint semester are right for you, you’ll first get to know yourselves better through simple group coaching exercises . :)

Fit for Studies

Studying at university is very different from learning at school. To ensure you can get off to a smooth start with your degree or vocational training, you’ll learn all the key essentials in short ‘Fit for Studies’ workshops: from the structure of the university, through self-management and learning strategies, to university etiquette.

STEM Insights

What STEM degree programmes are actually available at h_da? And what do the practical aspects of these programmes involve? Through lab visits and small-scale experiments, you’ll gain practical insights, enabling you to decide more effectively which degree programmes you’d like to explore in more detail during the hejmint semester.

Introductory STEM courses

Mathematics plays a central role in all STEM degree programmes , as does physics in engineering degree programmes. To help you get off to a good start with your studies, you have the opportunity to refresh your knowledge of mathematics and physics in the relevant preparatory courses at the university. For those of you interested in degree programmes related to chemistry and computer science, h_da also offers preparatory courses in chemistry and computer science. This way, you can be sure that you have the level of knowledge required for your future studies and training.

II. Lecture period

During the lecture term, you will attend specific hejmint modules and selected courses at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. This will give you a realistic insight into everyday student life and allow you to gain an authentic understanding of the subjects and subject areas of your choice.

hejmint courses

Find your bearings & make a decision

This course brings together everything you need to make your own career choice.

➜ Through excursions to businesses and companies, you’ll get to know different areas of work and career fields.
➜ Discussions with experts, apprenticeship ambassadors and students will give you personal insights into apprenticeships, degree programmes and careers.
➜ Through accompanying one-to-one and group coaching sessions , we ’ll support you in your personal decision-making process.

hejmint Practical Project

Thehejmint practical project is at the heart of your orientation semester.

From a total of five different practical projects on the theme of ‘Mobility of the Future’, you will select two projects based on your interests. In these projects, you will work in a team throughout the semester on application-oriented topics such as autonomous driving, alternative energy sources and the sustainable redevelopment of urban neighbourhoods.

MatheFit for hejmint

By refreshing your basic maths skills and working on practical projects, you will be prepared for the demands of university-level maths in STEM degree programmes.

Topics covered:
Mathematical fundamentals and algebraic manipulations (fractions, powers, logarithms, roots), equations and inequalities, trigonometry, linear algebra (vectors, systems of linear equations, matrices), as well as functions and the fundamentals of differential and integral calculus.

Compulsory elective module

In the compulsory elective module, you can, depending on your interests, attend modules from various STEM degree programmes and set your own individual areas of focus. You can have the examinations you sit in these subjects recognised as credits towards your future studies.

You can find an overview of the modules offered in the compulsory elective section here.

III. Lecture-free period

Once the modules have been completed, there is a break from lectures, followed by the examination period and an industrial placement. During this phase, you will gain further practical experience and deepen your understanding of potential fields of study and career paths.

Examination period

The lecture-free period begins with the examination period, during which you can sit exams in the modules you have previously attended. You decide for yourself whether and in which modules you wish to sit exams. Exams you have passed may be recognised towards a future degree programme.

Industrial placement

After your exams, you will have the opportunity to undertake an industrial placement at one of our partner companies or at another company of your choice. You can have this placement recognised as a pre-study placement should you go on to undertake further studies. If you decide to pursue vocational training or a dual study programme, you can use the placement to get to know potential training companies or partner organisations.

Personal support throughout the semester

Throughout the trial study period, you’ll be supported by personal contacts. As well as offering organisational support, hejmint provides a space for discussion, orientation meetings and individual enquiries about your studies and career paths.

Rosanna Jering will be your personal contact person throughout the entire semester. Our student mentors, Nam, Sophia and Tim, will also help you find your feet in the new world of higher education.

Which degree programmes and career paths can you find out about?

During the orientation semester, you’ll gain an insight into various STEM degree programmes and training opportunities. From computer science and mechanical engineering to biotechnology, you can explore different disciplines, fields of application and career prospects, and discover which topics and areas of work best suit your interests

Degree programmes	Apprenticeships
General Mechanical Engineering (B .Eng.)	Industrial Mechanic or Precision Mechanic
Applied Mathematics (B.Sc.)	Mathematical and Technical Assistant
Civil Engineering (B.Eng.)	Technical Draughtsman/Draughtswoman
Biotechnology (B.Sc.)	Biology Laboratory Technician
Chemistry – dual (B.Sc.)	Chemist or Chemical Laboratory Technician
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (B.Eng.)	Electronics Technician
Building Services Engineering (B.Eng.)	Electronics Technician for Energy and Building Services Engineering
Computer Science (B.Sc.)	IT Specialist
Computer Science, specialising in Communication and Media in Computer Science (B.Sc.)
Information Science (B.Sc.)
Plastics Technology (B.Eng.)	Process Mechanic for Plastics and Rubber Technology
Mechatronics (B.Sc.)	Mechatronics Technician
Optical Engineering and Image Processing (B.Sc.)	Physical and Technical Assistant
Technical Chemistry (B.Sc.)
Environmental Engineering (B.Eng.)
Industrial Engineering (B.Sc.)

Good to know

Many of the STEM degree programmes featured here can also be studied as dual-track programmes at h_da. This gives you additional work experience and allows you to be financially independent.