Starting Your Studies: 1st - 4th Semester

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Your studies begin! The best 3 tips for a smooth ride:

• Don't panic! There are support options for all situations!
• Read the study and examination regulations for your degree program at the beginning of your studies!
• Network with your fellow students!

You can find lots of information about the start of the semester here:
Welcome slide set | Website with tips & tricks

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All students must choose one of the offered focus areas the 4th semester.
Please keep an eye out for events of the Kompass Hauptstudium!

In the 4th and 5th semester, the curriculum includes modules for language training.

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All students must choose one of the offered Fields of Study the 4th semester.

Please keep an eye out for events of the Kompass Hauptstudium!

The FSR-website provides even more information.

1st semester
Lectures | Exercises

2nd semester
Lectures | Exercises

3rd semester
Lectures | Exercises

4th semester
Lectures | Exercises

Module descriptions (current version)
Study plan (current version)
Study schedule for part-time study (current version)

Study regulations (official announcement from 07.07.2022)
Examination regulations (official announcement from 07.07.2022)

Further documents and more information on the Regulations & Guidelines page.

Here you will find detailed information about course, core examination and lecture-free periods.

Winter semester 2024/2025 schedule

01.10.2024 to 31.03.2025

Courses:

Mon, 14.10.2024 to Sat, 21.12.2024 and Mon, 06.01.2025 to Sat, 08.02.2025

Lecture-free periods/holidays:

• 1.10.2024 - 13.10.2024
• Matriculation ceremony: Thu, 10.10.2024
• Reformation Day: Thu, 31.10.2024
• Day of Prayer and Repentance: Wed, 20.11.2024
• Turn of the year: Sun, 22.12.2024 to Sun, 05.01.2025
• Lecture-free period: Mon, 10.02.2025 to Mon, 31.03.2025
• Core examination period: Mon, 10.02.2025 to Sat, 08.03.2025

End of summer semester 2025

01.04.2025 to 30.09.2025

Courses:

Mon, 07.04.2025 to Sat, 07.06.2025 and Mon, 16.06.2025 to Sat, 19.07.2025

Lecture-free periods/holidays:

• Easter: Fri, 18.04.2025 to Mon, 21.04.2025
• May 1: Thu, 01.05.2025
• Dies Academicus: Wed, 21.05.2025
• Ascension Day: Thu, 29.05.2025
• Whitsun: Sun, 08.06.2025 to Sun, 15.06.2025
• Lecture-free period: Mon, 21.07.2025 to Tue, 30.09.2025
• Core examination period: Mon, 21.07.2025 to Sat, 16.08.2025

Key

Times of day

Courses are held in 90-minute double sessions (DS):
1. DS:   07:30 am – 09:00 am 
2. DS:   09:20 am – 10:50 am
3. DS:   11:10 am – 12:40 pm
4. DS:     1:00 pm –   2:30 pm
5. DS:     2:50 pm –   4:20 pm
6. DS:     4:40 pm –   6:10 pm
7. DS:     6:30 pm –   8:00 pm

Weeks

Some courses are held only every two weeks. In the timetable, a distinction is made between odd calendar weeks and even calendar weeks:
1^st week:   odd week, e.g. calendar week 41.
2^nd week:  even week, e.g. calendar week 42.
This web page lists the current calendar week.

Abbreviations

The letters in front of the course title indicate the type of course and its position in the curriculum:
          V lecture,   Ü exercise,   S seminar,   P lab course,   SP language course,   T tutorial

SWS semester periods per week,    PVL prerequisite for examination,    PL examination,     Kl. written exam,    Mdl. oral exam,     LP credit points     

          O obligatory (compulsory module),
          W optional (one of several courses must be chosen).

Compulsory and Elective Modules

• Compulsory modules = all students in a study program must attend the modules
• Elective modules = all students are able to select modules from a catalogue  according to their field of study and focus, which are then treated as compulsory modules.

Cannot find your rooms? The shortcuts of the rooms confuse you? We help you!

Lageplan/Orientierung

With the help of the CampusNavigator of the TU Dresden you will find any room, no matter how small.

© Agence Olloweb/Unsplash

ECTS credit points (LP) document the average workload of students as well as their individual study progress.
One credit point corresponds to a workload of 30 hours. As a rule, 60 credit points are awarded per academic year, i.e. 30 per semester.

The total workload for the course of study corresponds to 300 credit points and comprises the forms of teaching and learning specified in the module descriptions in terms of type and scope, the course and examination work, as well as the diploma thesis and the colloquium. The module descriptions indicate how many credit points can be earned in each module. Credit points are acquired if the module examination has been passed.

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In order to ensure the quality of courses, to create transparency, to generate insights, and provide meaningful feedback to instructors, our faculty takes great care to evaluate courses on a regular basis.

Therefore, you will be asked to fill out an online questionnaire in some courses towards the end of the semester. Your participation is very important - you can not only anonymously and confidentially share your perspective on teaching, but you will help to optimize teaching at the faculty with your honest and constructive feedback.

Several methods are used at the faculty:

• the TUD's own questionnaire
• the Bielefeld Learning Objectives Oriented Evaluation (BiLOE)
• TAP (Teaching Analysis Poll)

• Difference between examinations and preliminary examinations:
  no grading for PVL (only pass/fail), PVLs can be repeated as often as you like,
  maximum of 3 attempts for a PL.
• A module examination usually consists of several examinations which are specified in the module descriptions.
• The examination modalities are determined by the teacher and announced at the beginning of the semester.
• The following examination performances are offered:
  Written examinations, oral examinations, homework, complex performances, portfolios, scientific-practical performances, language examinations (only in language courses).

• For information on the examination dates and enrollment, please visit the website of the Examination Office.
• The examination period is the first 4 weeks of the lecture-free period.
• Selma enrollment for exams is necessary: enrollment in module and in exam.
• Stepping back is possible up to 3 working days before the examination date (civil law: without Sat and Sun) .
• In case of illness, accident, etc. (non-attendance of exams), please see website of the Examination office.

• Save/print overview of "Registered exams" for verification/ print/ keep ready at exam time.
• Exam results are available in selma, please save proof as PDF and archive (digitally)
• Repeat exams: The first repetition must be taken after one year, the second at the next possible time. (The enrollment for the second repetition counts as an application for the same).
• Free attempt: this means taking an exam ahead of time, the cancellation of the result is possible, but always related to the module exam! It is best to get information at the examination office!

Students with disabilities or chronic illnesses can apply for compensation, e.g. an extended exam time, or the use of aids. A medical certificate is required and the application must be submitted to the examination board in good time before the examination period.

You can find more information here.

© Tudias

Each student can take a total of 10 SWS (Bachelor/Diplom) or 4 SWS (Master) of foreign language training free of charge.  Language training at TU Dresden is provided by TUDIAS GmbH.

Overview and information on language training

© SLUB Dresden

In order to take advantage of the rich and interesting possibilities of the University Library, you can register online as a user here.

For example, you can borrow books and media, reserve work spaces and equipment in the SLUB-Makerspace, conduct research in the database and register for events and advisory services.
After you finish your studies, your SLUB user status will change and the Campuscard will no longer be valid for use as a library card. However, you can then receive a new SLUB card free of charge, allowing you to benefit from all the same SLUB services.

Don't worry. There a solution for every problem.

Have a look on our Counseling & Service website.

The TU Dresden implemented the Passt?!-Program as an early warning system for students in order to adequately react to challenging situations during your studies as needed. The participation is free, voluntary, and open to anyone.

© PASST?!

The goal is to timely identify challenges and offer customized support and counseling to students.

Participation

You can log in and out of PASST?! at any time in the selma portal:

• Log in to the selma portal with your ZIH-Login and your password.
• In the menu to the left click 'Account'.
• Scroll down to the section 'Additional personal details'.
• Here you will find your current PASST?! participation status (Registration for the PASST?! program). Click ‘Edit’ on the right side in order to change your status.
• Using the drop-down menu, choose ‘Ich nehme teil.’ (I take part.) if you wish to participate in the program. Choose ‘Ich nehme nicht teil.’ (I do not take part.) if you do not wish to participate or you wish to withdraw. Once you have done so, click ‘Save’.
• After the status change, there is no further confirmation.

Further informationen can be attained here.

If you have questions about studying with disability and/or chronic illness, you will be supported by the relevant representatives with deciding on and applying for a course of study, organizing and completing your studies, receiving individual advice on compensating for disadvantages in studying as well as in examination performance, digital and structural accessibility as well as support options in everyday situations.
You can find further information here.