Frequently asked questions

For requirements to apply for MSc Tropical Forestry, please refer here. Requirements can change with respect to chosen study options. For more details, refer to corresponding requirements here.

Yes. You can apply for self-financed study option if you have relevant work experience in forestry sector. If you are applying for scholarships, selection process will strictly follow formal eligibility requirements and criteria due to high levels of competition

YES - due to the second masters academic title, the applicant will not be provided a student dorm under Studentenwerk

The application requirements and procedure vary depending on the chosen study option. Find out the application procedure for your chosen study option here.

For self-financed study option:

• For non-EU applicants :1st April - 31st May
• For EU applicants: 1st April - 15th July

For DAAD EPOS scholarship:

• 01^st September – 30^th October (one year prior to the beginning of the course)

For Erasmus Mundus scholarship:

• For non-EU applicants :15^th November – 15^th January
• For EU applicants: 16^th January - 1st March

• For DAAD EPOS scholarship applicants the results of admission can be obtained in March of the following year after applying.
• For self-financed applicants the results of admission can be obtained in July of the same year of applying.

No. Application is only accepted via the application portal. After completing your application, TU Dresden’s online application portal - SELMA may prompt you to send the documents via post. This is not necessary for our study programme. Instead, you can upload all the necessary documents to the online portal of M.Sc. Tropical Forestry programme.

Links to the application portal will be activated only during the application period. When active, you can locate the link here.

• In the online application portal of MSc Tropical Forestry programme, make sure you fill all the mandatory fields (marked with *) and upload all required documents (also marked with *). Incomplete applications will not be considered in the selection process.
• All documents must be uploaded in pdf format, except for the photograph which must be uploaded in jpeg/ jpg format.
• While preparing files for uploading, please use a scanner to prepare copies with good resolution. The content of the submitted documents must be clear and easy to read.
• While scanning, make sure the content of the whole document is captured.
• If the contents of submitted documents appear to be manipulated with, the application will be rejected.
• Each file must be named based on its contents (e.g.: Name of applicant_CV).

You can support yourself by applying for scholarships or by taking up a part-time job. Some of the available scholarships are:

• DAAD EPOS- scholarships: The Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers individual scholarships to participants from developing countries so that they may study development-related postgraduate courses. DAAD is the largest global support organization in the field of international exchanges for students and academics and is represented in 58 countries. You can get advice and help for financing your studies in Germany from the  DAAD information center in your home country.
• Erasmus Mundus scholarships: Global Forestry (GloFor) is a two-year English language world-class Erasmus Mundus MSc programme that prepares graduates to deal with forestry’s tremendous contemporary challenges and potentials in medium and low-income countries. A consortium of five European Universities with extensive experience in global forestry (including TUD) offers the programme. Through the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is possible to finance your studies in this program, as well as other possibilities showed in that link.

• Other scholarships: The International Office of TU Dresden provides information to interested applicants and students. More information available here: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/internationales/stipendien/stipendien
  • DAAD/STIBET scholarship
  • National Scholarship Program (Deutschland­stipendium)
• International collaboration: TU Dresden cooperates with numerous partner universities abroad. International students come to TU Dresden for one or two semesters as part of the following scholarship programs:
  • Georgius Agricola Scholarships (degree studies)
  • Georgius Agricola Scholarships (exchange students / non-degree studies)
  • DAAD KOSPIE program (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and India)
  • Erasmus+ and Erasmus+ partner countries
  • Research Experience Program (Australia, Canada, USA)

• External funding: Check out different funding opportunities in our list of funding bodies.
• Part-time job: As an international student in Dresden, it is possible to get part-time jobs as long as it will not jeopardize your studies. You can find more information about working and studying such as allowed working hours, minimum wages and more in the Federal Employment Agency website.

Self-financed option or self-funded option means the study model where a student financially ssupports themselves - either through their own funds or through external funding agencies or sponsors who are willing to fund their education. Unfortunately, the university cannot guide you in finding sponsors.

In addition to the semester contribution, there are many expenses one should account for such as rent, food, internet, telephone services, books and other bills (such as Rundfunkbeitrag). You need at least 700 - 850 EUR a month to live in Dresden.

At TU Dresden, students can enjoy a public university education without worrying about tuition fees. However, they must pay a semester contribution of 304,50 EUR (for 2023-24 winter semester) every semester of study. This enables students to use public transport in Dresden and all regional trains in Saxony.

For more information on how semester contribution is spent, see the website of student’s council: https://www.stura.tu-dresden.de/semesterbeitrag

Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) is a joint institution of the German Embassy and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It exists in China, Vietnam and India. Applicants originating from these countries must apply to the corresponding APS office, whom will check the authenticity of educational certificates of the applicant. If the result is positive, a certificate is issued (APS Certificate) which is a mandatory document that must be submitted while applying to a German university.

Applicants from China, Vietnam and India are advised to have their APS certificate ready before applying.

Click on the links below to find information about the various APS procedures:

• Information for Chinese applicants
• Information for Vietnamese applicants
• Information for Indian applicants

The television and radio license fee has been in effect since 1 January 2013. It replaces all former similar fees – and the GEZ was renamed “ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice”. An all-inclusive fee is charged to every apartment so every household is required to pay a monthly fee of €18.36 – regardless of whether there are any TV or radio devices in the apartment in use or present at all. This fee covers all types of use, including listening to the radio in your car. The fee is paid once every three months. The fee is owed by the tenant of every apartment. A tenant is any adult person living in the apartment, nationality plays no role. To avoid problems of definition, each rent-paying adult person as well as all registered to the apartment are considered tenants.  If there are several tenants – as is the case in shared apartments (German: WGs) – they are considered jointly liable to pay the fee. This means that each and every tenant can be charged to pay the fee in full; it is then the responsibility of the shared tenants to compensate one another.

For more information, visit https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/english/wohnen/faq-21.html

Studying on top of caring for children and/or relatives in need of care requires good time management and courage to set priorities. TU Dresden has been a certified family-friendly university since 2007. We provide a number of services to support you in balancing your studies with your family life. For more information on this topic, please visit: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/rund-ums-studium/studieren-mit-familie

It is the proof of the eligibility for enrolling in the upcoming intake in the MSc Tropical Forestry programme. This is an obligatory document to submit for enrolment at the matriculation office of TU Dresden (for foreign applicants: at the international office). This document is issued by the admission committee of the MSc Tropical Forestry programme to the selected candidate.

The admission letter confirms that you have been admitted to the programme of your application. International students should use this admission letter to obtain their student visa from the German Embassy in their country of origin.

Student registration is the process of  Enrolment or Immatrikulation  of a student in TU Dresden. In this process, the admitted students will receive a student registration form from the relevant office (Immatrikulationsamt for German students and International Office for International students), which they must complete, submit and also pay the semester contribution. With this step, the student will be enrolled at TU Dresden and now, you can pick up your Campus card.

All regularly enrolled students have to pay a student semester contribution every semester. The contribution is not a tuition fee but a levy for the Studentenwerk, the student council and the so-called semester ticket. This payments enables students to use the services offered by the Studentenwerk, the Student Council and use public transportation. For more information on how semester contribution is spent, see: https://www.stura.tu-dresden.de/semesterbeitrag

In Germany, it is required by law you have a health insurance during your studies at TUD. Please read here for more information.

No. If you are already insured by a private health insurance provider, you can login into the website of a German statutory health insurance provider (such as, AOK Plus or Techniker Krankenkasse) and  apply for an exemption on their website. This will automatically send the required electronic confirmation from a German statutory health insurance provider to the International Office.

Yes, you can postpone your admission to next year through a process called repeat application. More detail on how to make a repeat application: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/vor-dem-studium/internationales/informationen-von-a-z

Yes. For a refund, please contact the Immatrikulationsamt (for German students) or International Office (for International students) responsible for dealing with your admission process.

• Studentenwerk: We recommend accommodation offered by studentenwerk – the student service organisation. This option enables international students to live with fellow students and enjoy short distances to the university at a reasonable cost. You will find all useful information on the student dormitories, their equipment and locations, on applying for a room and all contacts here:  https://www.studentenwerk-dresden.de/wohnen/
• Private shared apartments and rooms: You can also choose from a range of other options available in Dresden. Rooms in shared apartments are often furnished and rented out for short periods of time as well. See the list of useful links below for your search for the best accommodation:
  • www.wg-gesucht.de
  • www.studenten-wg.de
  • www.cybersax.de
• Hostels: If you cannot find the apartment you like right away, you can live in a hostel while you search for your apartment. Some options are:

• Mondpalast Dresden
• Lollis Homestay
• DJH Jugendherberge Rudi Arndt
• DJH Jugendherberge Dresden "Jugendgästehaus"
• A&O Hostel
• International Guesthouse

Find more information that will help you search for a new home here.

In this case, you can look for housing outside of the studentenwerk. Meanwhile, we advise you to contact the International Guesthouse of the Studentenwerk for short-term stays. There you can only stay for up to 3 months. This will give you time and better opportunities to find other accommodation within Dresden.

Or you can go for other private student housing options such as:

• https://www.np-one.de/en/
• https://www.wg-gesucht.de/
• https://wunderflats.com/en/furnished-apartments/dresden/student-housing?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=de_demand_search&utm_content=de_tenant_search_dsa_catchall_en&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuMTRhuv1-AIVpgMGAB1e8wR7EAAYAiAAEgI8k_D_BwE
• https://studenten-wohnheim-dresden.de/en/
• https://www.nidoliving.com/en/germany/dresden/

Once you arrive in Dresden,

• Get a suitable SIM card for your mobile phone
• Enrol in the Immatrikulationsamt (for German students) or International Office of TU Dresden. For this, set up your appointment in advance.
• Obtain your Campus card
• Get your apartment keys from studentenwerk or your landlord. For this, set up your appointment in advance.
• Register your address at the Citizens' Office of the City of Dresden. For this, set up your appointment in advance. More information: https://www.dresden.de/de/rathaus/dienstleistungen/wohnsitz_meldung_d115.php
• Open a bank account
• Apply for Residence Permit at the immigration office in Dresden. For this, set up your appointment in advance. More information: https://www.dresden.de/de/rathaus/aemter-und-einrichtungen/oe/dborg/stadt_dresden_6350.php?pk_campaign=Shortcut&pk_kwd=auslaenderbehoerde

If you move into an apartment or room (student dormitory, shared flat) in Dresden, you must register with the local registration office within two weeks.

• Before you visit the one of the many Citizens’ Service Center, please check the address and business hours. Set up your appointment in advance. More information: https://www.dresden.de/de/rathaus/dienstleistungen/wohnsitz_meldung_d115.php

• Please bring all the relevant documents with you.
  • Filled and signed registration form downloaded from their website.
  • Passport or national identity card
  • Written declaration and rental agreement from your landlord or Studentenwerk
• Once you register your address, inform TU Dresden using Studierendenportal (SELMA). For this purpose, please use the function “change of address” in the Studierendenportal (SELMA).

The orientation week is designed with an aim of introducing new students to different aspects of living in Germany and studying TU Dresden, based on the feedback from our current international student community. It consists of a mix of formal and informal events. The formal sessions focuses on providing essential information on living in Dresden and studying in TU Dresden, and covers important topics such as immigration, settling down in Dresden, employment, hints about navigating German bureaucracy and introduction to TUD's academic regulations, good scientific conduct etc. and prepares students to study in an international setting. Informal activities such as guided tours and dinners are also organised to introduce students to the city of Dresden, promote interactions amongst the student and staff members. The orientation week usually takes place at the beginning of October, every year.

SELMA is the self-management portal of TU Dresden for applicants, students and lecturers, where a variety of functions are available: e.g. Access to personal documents and data, as well as online application. The portal can be used for registering and de-registering from examinations, printing examination certificates and viewing study results for various degree programmes.

Every year, classes for M.Sc. Tropical Forestry start in winter semester. For important dates of the academic year, see: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/studienorganisation/studienjahresablauf?set_language=en

https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/forst/studium/beratung-und-service-pruefungsamt/studienordnungenforst

At TU Dresden, you will use a variety of portals for learning, study and exam management, access the library etc. More information here: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/studienorganisation/portale

OPAL is the central digital teaching and learning platform of TU Dresden.  The platform provides information, scripts and teaching materials for courses and examinations, and students can enrol on their courses. OPAL not only enables eLearning that is independent from time and place, but also collaborative work in wikis, forums and groups. More information: https://bildungsportal.sachsen.de/opal/shiblogin?2

ZIH provides IT services to students and staff of TU Dresden. The ZIH operates the central identity management system of the TU Dresden. Each user receives a ZIH user login, which is mandatory for almost all other services offered by the ZIH. More information: https://tu-dresden.de/zih/dienste#intro

Please contact the Service Desk for IT/ ZIH login related issues. More informationhttps://tu-dresden.de/zih/dienste/service-desk/service-desk

TU Dresden provides free software access (eg: Microsoft Office 365) to its affiliates. More information: https://campussachsen.tu-dresden.de/office365/

You will find answers to most of your questions in one of TU Dresden’s elaborate webpages. Please explore our website carefully. If you have unresolved issues, you are welcome to contact the ServiceCenterStudies via the service hotline or in person at the Servicepoint.  All questions are answered in German and English. More information: https://tu-dresden.de/studium/im-studium/beratung-und-service/servicecenterstudium

You can also write to our experienced student assistants via their email address studentstutor@tu-dresden.de

After successfully defending your thesis, your supervisor will sent your results to the examination office. From this point onward, the preparation of your final degree certificate will take around one month to complete. After one month, you will receive an email informing of your certificates availability from us. You can either choose to collect your certificate personally or have it sent to you by post.

Within this time frame, for job application purposes, if you require a preliminary certificate of successful completion of the MSc. course at the examination office (pruefungsamt.forstwissenschaften@mailbox.tu-dresden.de), please contact them directly with your request.