Welcome to the 2026–27 winter semester: The Faculty of Medicine welcomes about 400 first-year students

Plenty of advice, high spirits, and a clear mission: On October 5, 2026, approximately 400 students began their first semester at the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine of the TUD Dresden University of Technology.

The largest group is in the Human Medicine degree program, with about 230 students. In addition, there are 50 students in the MEDiC pilot program and 56 first-semester students in dentistry. The faculty also welcomed 27 students to the Bachelor’s program in Midwifery, 27 to the Master’s program in Public Health, and 12 to the Master’s program in Medical Radiation Sciences.

The medical students’ band, The Big Band Therapy, provided the perfect start to the event. Afterward, Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, welcomed the new students with a message that looked beyond class schedules and exams.

“Studying at a medical school means far more than simply accumulating knowledge,” the Dean emphasized. It is about taking on responsibility, thinking scientifically, and making evidence-based decisions. Especially at a medical school with such a strong research focus as Dresden’s, she said, it is important to remain curious and to critically question the status quo.

Prof. Troost encouraged the students not only to get to know the campus and their fellow students, but also to get to know themselves: “No matter what lies ahead, hold on to your joy and your curiosity.” At the same time, she referred to the faculty’s guiding principles: scientific integrity, respect, and cosmopolitanism. Medical care must be accessible to all people: regardless of origin, religion, or other personal characteristics.

Petra Köpping, Saxony’s State Minister for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion, emphasized the importance of the healthcare professions in her video message: Students can look forward to careers with a promising future, great responsibility, and high social recognition. Doctors are particularly needed outside of metropolitan areas. In this context, she referred, among other things, to Saxony’s general practitioner scholarship program for future work in rural areas.

Afterward, the Deans of Studies, without being overly preachy, provided entertaining insights into the various degree programs: Prof. Steffen Heide encouraged the freshmen to set aside enough time to unwind despite the expected heavy workload; Prof. Nicole Passia, speaking on behalf of Prof. Christian Hannig (Dentistry), Prof. Klaus Zöphel (Model Degree Program), and Prof. Pauline Wimberger (Midwifery), highlighted the high proportion of practical training in the somewhat smaller degree programs. The two master’s programs Medical Radiation Sciences and Public Health and Health Sciences were also introduced to the first-year students by the Deans of Studies, Prof. Christian Richter and Prof. Andreas Seidler.

Moritz Winter, along with the Faculty Student Council for Medicine and Dentistry, concluded the official welcome ceremony. Afterward, the first-semester orientation week began: Through informational sessions, group activities, and parties, the Faculty Student Councils in Dresden and Chemnitz ensure that the many new faces quickly come together to form a community.

We wish all students a successful start to the 2026/27 winter semester, many meaningful encounters, and, in addition to their studies, plenty of reasons to stay curious.

Contact:
Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit for Public Relations, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine
at the TUD Dresden University of Technology
+49 (0) 351 458 17903