Master Digital Transformation - MDT
Become a digital leader and transform the world into the digital future.
ACADEMIC DEGREE
Master of Science (M.Sc.) issued by FH Dortmund
LOCATION
Dortmund, Germany
STANDARD PROGRAMME DURATION
4 Semesters, starts in Winter
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English
ADMISSION
Unrestricted with pre-check
APPLICATION PERIOD FOR NON-EU CITIZEN
From 1 April to 15 June
(Application process)
APPLICATION PERIOD FOR EU CITIZEN
From Mid May to 15 July
(Application process)
90%
International students
≈ 7
Events per year
≈ 85%
Theses written with a real company
Programme Information
News
Why study Digital Transformation?
Bring the digital future into the real world – with all the tools to transform it.
- What is Digital Transformation, exactly?
Technology is evolving at a rapid pace – faster than many businesses and state organisations can keep up with. This makes digital transformation a big and important topic.
Digital transformation describes the successful incorporation of modern digital tools and technologies to transform, enhance, upgrade and even create new business processes. For creative perfectionists, it provides an opportunity to map and remap the processes within a system in a new way to make them more modern, efficient, and sustainable. Digital transformation specialists draw on their expertise in ongoing innovation, software architecture, and development to improve a business or to devise completely new digital innovations. The role demands managerial and technical skills combined with creativity and curiosity. You will develop an agile and innovation-focused mindset, setting you up to work well in fast-paced environments among fellow digital natives and entrepreneurs.
- How does a degree in Digital Transformation help me enter the high-tech sector?
Our graduates stated in a recent survey that they love how the curriculum of this programme reflects the current state-of-the-art in digital transformation. That is to say, students are learning about cutting-edge technologies used in high-tech industry and research in Germany and across the EU. The programme develops a range of advanced expertise in software engineering, digital innovation, and management with a unique interdisciplinary profile. Graduates with a Master Digital Transformation from FH Dortmund have all the skills and qualifications they need to thrive in the desirable and expanding European technology job market, equipped to find their niche in digital transformation in a wide range of sectors.
Why should I study Digital Transformation at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts (FH Dortmund)?
- Advanced skills for digital transformation with an international twist.
The Master Digital Transformation programme at FH Dortmund is based on an applied sciences approach: everything you learn will prepare you for working in the world of digital transformation. You’ll learn how to use the latest technologies and gain numerous essential skills that will enable you to master any cross-domain digital transformation project. Our learning trajectory guides you through digital technologies, advanced software engineering, digital solutions for society and industry, and managerial skills – equipping you to become a driver of digital transformation.
Your instructors are a mix of experts in a wide range of leading-edge technologies, including external consultant professors from the industry and full-time teaching professors with strong industry experience. You will be led by instructors who are actively driving digital transformation– scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The community of students and teachers works like a startup team – agile, creative, collaborative, and innovative.
Students also learn how to work effectively in international teams, making them especially valued in modern and often highly international work environments.
The Digital Transformation course at FH Dortmund includes an exciting opportunity to study at one of our partner universities during your time here, enriching your experience with the unique expertise found in our international partner universities.
Students graduate with all the necessary tools and methods to develop innovative digital transformation solutions by themselves and in teams, gaining a unique skillset that allows them to advance their specialisation in their main focus area.
- What are the advantages of studying in the Dortmund area?
There are many job and research opportunities right on your doorstep in the Dortmund area, and the larger Ruhr valley and North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) region. As one of Germany’s economic powerhouses, it is an administrative and research centre for many multinational corporations, research institutes, and international organisations. Dortmund is one of Germany’s leading IT cities and is situated in the heart of one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe. It combines a great industrial heritage with the ambition and innovation-driven mindset of the thriving tech and startup community. Dortmund and the Ruhr valley are the place to be for those who want to experience the future of Europe hands on.
- What makes studying at FH Dortmund such a valuable experience?
FH Dortmund is a modern and friendly university in the centre of Dortmund. You’ll feel welcome from the start. You’ll also receive plenty of assistance and tips to help you get to know the campus facilities and your new city.
As a compact city with a good public transport network, getting around is easy. And with the NRW-Ticket included in your semester fee, you have free access to public transport not just locally, but all across the state. You can even visit other great cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen, or Münster.
The university’s International Office serves as a central information point for all international students throughout their studies and organizes a variety of international events and activities.
Students who do not already speak native-level German are given intensive training in German at different levels according to their proficiency, even taking them up to C1. These courses are usually weekly, giving them the language skills, they need to participate in German cultural life – and potentially get a job in a German-speaking country upon graduation. Particularly attractive for those wishing to put their new language skills to good use is the cooperation with the Theater Dortmund, which offers students two free tickets for each theatre production upon presentation of their student ID. For active types, the ”Sportkarte” (sports pass) gives you subsidized access to a broad range of sports activities.
What costs are involved and what are the financial opportunities?
There are no tuition fees for the Master Digital Transformation Programme.
All students at the FH Dortmund just need to pay an affordable semester fee, known as a “Semesterbeitrag”, each semester. You can check the current semester fee on the Master Programme official website. A large portion of your semester fee is to cover the cost of your semester ticket – a free pass for the local public transport system. This ticket allows the holder to travel free of charge on all public transport, including buses, underground, tram, and local trains (2nd class) across the whole of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW).
Compared to other German cities, Dortmund is an inexpensive place to live in terms of the costs of accommodation, products, and other costs. This leaves students plenty of time and money to focus on studying and enjoying their new social life. While we encourage students to focus solely on learning during their time here, the size of the city does mean part-time work generally is available and they can earn a small amount per month without it affecting their status. No restrictions apply to students from within the EU, but please check with the International Office for the latest guidance on what is permitted with a student visa.
Please note that the FH Dortmund does not offer any scholarships. However, you can check the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) website, where you can find scholarships and graduation grants for international students. For more information about DAAD awards and other opportunities, please also visit the dedicated area on the FH Dortmund website.
How to apply?
Please refer to the FH Dortmund Website for the admission requirements and deadlines.
Pre-check submission process:
The managers of the course strongly recommend that you submit relevant documents for a pre-check to verify your eligibility according to our examination regulations, prior to submitting your full application. This would include your Bachelor’s degree or Diplom certificate, the corresponding transcript, your CV, and your language certificate. We start offering preliminary checks in April. You can submit your documents for the pre-check through the Pre-Check Service website.
Please check here for further information on applying to FH Dortmund.
You will receive the results of the preliminary check a few weeks later via email, including instructions for the next steps in your application process.
FAQ
- What is the course plan?
You can find a current course plan on the Master Digital Transformation – MDT – course website.
- How do I find accommodation?
FH Dortmund does not own any student accommodation facilities and is unable to offer any accommodation services for its students. Prospective students must find suitable accommodation for the duration of their studies by themselves. Please check the International Office website to find appropriate accommodation or use our informative accommodation website to find a lot of hints and useful links. Accommodation costs for a room in a dormitory or in a small private apartment in Dortmund and its surroundings currently range from around €200 to €500 per month “warm”, which usually excludes internet and electricity, but most often includes heating costs.
Note that rent in Germany is usually discussed in terms of “Kaltmiete” (cold rent) and “Warmmiete” (warm rent). The cold rent covers only the rent for the space – while the warm rent includes both the cold rent and all “Nebenkosten” (ancillary costs). The ancillary costs include things such as the property tax (or “council tax” as it is known in the UK, for example), water supply and sewage disposal, street cleaning and waste disposal, gardening and building maintenance, building lighting, pest control, and various insurances. You will still have to pay for your electricity, telephone, and internet costs. Heating is normally included in the warm rent, but you should clarify what is and isn’t covered when you sign the contract.
Please be alert to potential scams and do not pay any rent or deposits before you have spoken to the landlord, visited the property, and signed the contract. Be especially wary if you are asked to transfer money to an account with a non-German IBAN.
- Are there any internship opportunities?
Students are welcome to write their Master Thesis while working within a company during an optional internship. Please note that the university does not organise internships for the students. Students must take the initiative to find a suitable internship by themselves.
- Will the university help me settle in?
All new students are welcome to participate in the introduction week for international Master students – a week at the start of the semester where FH Dortmund organises a range of activities to help students find their way around the university, make new friends, and get to know their new city. We also offer a buddy programme, where new students are partnered with a student in a later semester, who will help them with general questions relating to life at FH Dortmund and their course.
