27.03.2026

Choosing the Right Major: TU Ilmenau’s 2026 Summer University – Orientation for High School Students

Schülerin experimentiertTU Ilmenau/ari

From 12 to 17 July, female students in grades 10 to 13 can experience everyday university life at TU Ilmenau during their summer holidays across all five faculties. Over the course of one week, participants from all over Germany explore all fields of study: engineering, computer science, natural sciences, mathematics, economics and media studies. This makes it easy for them to decide in favour of studying at TU Ilmenau. Participation costs €150 and includes accommodation, meals and a comprehensive orientation programme. Application deadline: 26 June.

Information and registration: http://www.thueko.de/schuelerinnen/sommeruniversitaet/

Instead of regular school lessons, the Summer University 2026 offers lectures, experiments and in-depth insights into research for female students in grades 10 to 13 during the summer holidays. As “trial students”, participants get to know all five faculties. They attend seminars, work in laboratories and gain behind-the-scenes insights into modern research.

In addition to the academic programme, the students also experience campus life – in the university library and the cafeteria, as well as through leisure activities such as the summer cinema organised by the student film club. In discussions with lecturers and students, they receive information about degree paths and future career prospects tailored to their personal interests.

Schülerinnen am Regiepult im Medienlabor 2TU Ilmenau/ari

To ensure the most intensive support and close interaction possible at the Summer University, enrollment is limited to 20 participants. For the organizer, Dr. Katja Tonisch, herself a former participant and now an electrical engineer and equal opportunity officer at the TU Ilmenau it is important to provide guidance that is as realistic as possible: “Many young women are interested in technical or scientific subjects, but they are unsure whether they should pursue this path. Experimenting together and exchanging ideas in an open and supportive environment help them recognize their own strengths and make an informed decision.”

Examples from past years demonstrate just how concrete the insights the students gain are. The participants learned how so-called “balcony power plants” work - small photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity and feed it directly into the home’s electrical grid via a power outlet. Or they tested applications in state-of-the-art virtual reality labs that are used to prepare astronauts for extravehicular activities under realistic conditions.

 

Contact

Nadine Heuchling
Division of Equality, Diversity & Health
+49 3677 69-2551
nadine.heuchling@tu-ilmenau.de