Information on starting your studies
The orientation session at the Institute of Protestant Theology for the winter semester 2026/27 for all first-year students of Protestant Theology (teaching degree and bachelor's degree) will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 1:00–2:30 p.m. in room ABS/E04/U at August-Bebel-Str. 20.
This event will be held in German.
Welcome to the Institute of Protestant Theology!
You have chosen a field of study that is more diverse than almost any other. We are delighted to welcome you.
To help you get off to a good start, we’d like to provide you with the following information. If you have any questions, please contact the academic advisors at the Institute.
Table of contents
First-Semester Orientation (ESE)
The First-Semester Orientation Week will take place from October 1 to 9, 2026. General information about starting your studies can be found on the websites of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science and the Center for Teacher Education, School, and Vocational Education Research (ZLSB). There you will also find the ESE events organized by the Faculty Student Councils (campus rally, pub crawl, class schedule brunch, and much more).
In addition to the central events, the Institute of Protestant Theology is also offering an orientation session. There, you’ll not only receive an official welcome but also get important information about the structure and planning of your studies. For example, after the session, upperclassmen will be on hand to help you create your course schedule.
Save the date:
October 6, 2026
1:00–2:30 p.m.
ABS/E04/U
Academic Organization
Please be sure to enroll in the OPAL course “Information for Students” to stay up to date. All important information from the Institute is distributed through this course.
1. Courses
During your studies, you must attend various courses, which are assigned to different modules. To complete your degree, you must independently plan each semester which of the offered courses you will take until you have completed all required modules.
To create your schedule for each semester, you must first find out which courses you should and can take and when.
You can find information about the modules and their corresponding courses, as well as a study plan, in the academic regulations for your respective fields of study. Click here for an overview of the academic regulations for Protestant Theology.
You create your schedule by selecting from the available courses those that are specified in your study plan for the respective semester. You can find the list of courses offered here. In particular, the Annotated Course Catalog (KVV) will help you correctly match courses to modules.
2. Registration
Enrollment in the various courses takes place via OPAL. You can also find the link to the respective OPAL course in the KVV.
Please note that there are registration deadlines for some seminars and introductory courses!
3. Instruction
The winter semester begins on October 1 of each year. Courses for the Winter Semester 2026/27 begin on Monday, October 12, 2026. Tutorials begin on October 19, 2026. Start dates may vary for individual courses. You can find this information in the KVV.
For information on lecture-free periods and exam periods, please refer to the page on the academic calendar.
4. Exams
If you wish to take an exam in a course you are taking, you must register for it on selma.
Attention! There are two registration periods for teacher education courses. Late registration is not permitted.
|
Registration Period 1 (for exams taken during the semester, e.g., portfolio or presentation) |
October 26, 2026–November 13, 2026 |
| Registration Period 2 (for exams at the end of the semester, e.g., written exams or term papers) | January 11, 2027–January 29, 2027 |
Overviews and Additional Resources
| Courses | The annotated course catalog and the overview schedule are available each semester on the Institute’s website |
| Academic Advising |
If you have questions about your degree program, please contact the Central Student Information and Counseling Service; for questions regarding teacher education , the Academic Affairs Office will assist you If you have questions about your major, please contact the respective academic advisors If you have questions about courses, please contact the respective instructors |
| Student Representation |
Program coordinators at the Institute of Protestant Theology Faculty Student Council of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science |
| Information on OPAL (Learning Platform) | |
| Information on IT Services | You can find an overview of the most important IT services (zih login, email, Wi-Fi, Datashare, available software, etc.) at TU Dresden here |
| Information about the SLUB (library) | |
| Information on TUDIAS |
Here you’ll find information on language courses at TU Dresden |
| Campus Navigator | Here you’ll find a guide to help you locate buildings and rooms on campus |
| Additional Contacts |
You can find information about TU Dresden as a family-friendly university here Coordinators for Students with Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses If you’re going through a difficult time during your studies, the Student Services Dresden’s Psychosocial Counseling Center will be happy to help |
Checklist for Starting Your Studies
- Read the academic regulations and examination regulations
- Read the annotated course catalog and check enrollment deadlines
- Create a class schedule and register
- Select and register for language courses
- Sign up for the “Information for Students ” course in OPAL
- Find out about registration deadlines for exams (and internships)
- Set up your university email address on your personal computer
- Set up VPN on your personal computer
- Set up eduroam access on your laptop, tablet, or cell phone
- Download software (e.g., Microsoft Word, PowerPoint)
- Register at the SLUB
- Download your semester ticket to your smartphone or request a paper semester ticket