Equal Opportunity Funding

The Department of Material- and Geosciences receives financial resources to promote equal opportunities for female students and staff. A commission, consisting of student, scientific staff and administrative-technical staff members, reviews the support applications.

The members of the commission are:

  • Sarah Diekmeier (Scientific Associate)
  • Dr. Leandra Weydt (Scientific Associate)
  • Dr. Gabriela Mera (Scientific Associate)
  • Gabriele Rühl (Administrative-technical Staff)
  • Ulrike Simons (Administrative-technical Staff)
  • Bai-Xiang Xu (Professor)
  • Isabel Armstrong-Cowell (Student/ representative of the student council)

The equal opportunity fund of the TU Darmstadt provides financial support to…

  • … promote equal opportunities
  • … improve the studying/researching/working conditions of women
  • … increase the amount of women in scientific and engineering study programs
  • … support women in science
  • … support networking amongst women
  • Female students
  • Female scientific staff
  • Female administrative-technical staff
  • Female professors

Applications for the grants from the equal funds and subsequent reimbursement of costs can be submitted online on this page. You can find a good overview of the application process and the subsequent reimbursement of costs in the diagram below.
Please note: If the intended event is not a women-specific purpose (e.g. conference participation) the applicant has to provide proof about the exploration of other funding options and that alternative funding applications were not successful.
The application must be submitted sufficiently in advance of the event/measure and should therefore be sent to the equal opportunities team at least 3 weeks in advance.

After the measure has taken place, the reimbursement of costs must be applied for as soon as possible. Unfortunately, costs that are only submitted 6 months after the measure has taken place can no longer be reimbursed.

In you have any questions, the Equal Opportunity Officers can be contacted by anytime.

Click here for the online application forms:Application for funding Application for reimbursement

Download forms: Business trip application Germany/abroad, Auszahlung unbar Reisekosten

Further information on the promotion of women can be found on the flyer of the Women's Representative: Flyer (opens in new tab) (unfortunately, flyer is only available in German).

Examples of possible funding

• Travel allowances for attending conferences, provided these are subject-related.

• Scientific excursions

• Study-related seminars and workshops at other universities or research institutions that offer further qualification beyond the scope of the degree programmes offered by TU Darmstadt (e.g. participation fee and travel expenses).

• Internal and external further training measures to promote the qualification level, if this is in the official interest (e.g. habilitation training).

• Programme participation (e.g. Mentoring Hessen, Femtec.Network) or seminars for female students to promote their studies and career entry (e.g. time and self-management, applicant training, profile building, presentation techniques, etc.).

• Professional networking

Examples:

-A joint trip by the women of FB11 to an exhibition in a museum in the area, where the exhibition has a thematic connection to ‘women’ or the department (e.g. trip to the Messel Pit). Travel costs and admission can be covered.

-Afternoon event in the FB11, to which members of the university and external parties are invited and which lasts into the evening (approx. 3-4 hours). Water, juice, coffee and biscuits can be provided.

Women from the FB11 attend a one-day workshop together within the university. Conference drinks and snacks can be covered. If the workshop takes place outside the university, the travel costs for travelling to and from the workshop can be covered. In this case, drinks and food are to be paid for by the participants.

• Training courses on intercultural competence

• Gender awareness trainings

• Awarding teaching assignments on gender-related topics

• Language courses, if these are not offered centrally (with certification)

• Job-related further training courses that are required in the working environment but are not offered centrally (e.g. office management, communication training, etc.)

• Indirect, i.e. indirect support for childcare for a group of employees and students as part of workshops or conferences. The Family Service of TU Darmstadt should be approached first, as it usually organises and finances childcare. The Familiy Service also organises a childminder in order to be able to attend a conference.