<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
TCW\DW TERM TRUST 2003
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,192,109,100
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,177,531,091
<RECEIVABLES> 5,854,982
<ASSETS-OTHER> 19,841
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,183,405,914
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (356,416,564)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (356,416,564)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 792,298,987
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 81,557,980
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 83,895,940
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 54,152,760
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (4,884,388)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (14,578,009)
<NET-ASSETS> 826,989,350
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 40,812,976
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (14,850,872)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 25,962,104
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,834,801)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 18,078,871
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 42,206,174
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (25,223,924)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,337,960)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4,327,957)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 53,414,580
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (3,049,587)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (1,070,587)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> (11,869,022)
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (2,981,850)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 819,028,304
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.22
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.30)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.73
</TABLE>
