International Guests
Welcome to the School of Science at TU Dresden!
We look forward to welcoming you to Dresden for a research or teaching stay.
The unique feature of Dresden as a science location is the close networking and the lively exchange between the University and the research institutions based in the region. This is reflected in the DRESDEN concept research alliance.
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Funding opportunities
International visiting scientists planning a research or teaching stay at the School of Science at TU Dresden have the opportunity to receive funding or scholarships for their stay in Dresden.
Visiting scientists and non-academic staff from our European partner universities who want to come to Dresden via the ERASMUS mobility program should contact the International Office of their home university.
Funding programs for international visiting scientists
You can search for scholarships for a study, research or teaching stay in Germany in the DAAD scholarship database. In addition to the programs mentioned here, many country-specific or subject-specific funding opportunities can be found in this database.
As a rule, scholarships must be applied for at the funding institutions by the international scholars themselves. The DAAD has regional offices worldwide for this purpose.
Details are available at DAAD – Scholarship database.
As part of the DAAD Bilateral Exchange of Academics, funding can be provided for research and study stays lasting at least 14 days and no more than 3 months for international scientists, preferably with a doctorate, who are working at a university or research institute in their home country.
Details are available at DAAD – Bilateral Exchange of Academics.
International university teachers and scientists working at universities/research institutions in their home country have the opportunity to carry out a research project at a state or state-recognized German university or non-university research institution (for 1 to 3 months).
Details are available at DAAD – Research Stays for International University Academics and Scientists.
Through the Humboldt Research Fellowships for postdocs and experienced researchers, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation enables academics from abroad with above-average qualifications - who completed their doctorates no longer than 4 years ago (for postdocs) or 12 years ago (for experienced researchers) - to embark on long-term research stays (6 to 24 months) in Germany. Details of the research project, including information on the planned duration of the fellowship must be agreed with the intended host prior to application.
Details are available at Humboldt Research Fellowships.
In tandem with the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, TU Dresden supports scientists at risk with a full fellowship for 24 months. TUD was successful in the 2nd and 4th rounds of applications. The Philipp Schwartz Initiative was launched by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation together with the German Federal Foreign Office and allows universities, universities of applied sciences and non-university research institutions in Germany to award fellowships for research stays to researchers at risk.
The DRESDEN-concept Welcome Center at TU Dresden is responsible for submitting the applications from TUD as well as for handling the projects. It also provides support for the hosts and scientists.
Details are available at Philipp Schwartz Initiative for Scientists at Risk.
Preparation in the home country
A prerequisite for your stay is the confirmation of supervision or a letter of invitation from a scientist from one of our Faculties.
You are required to contact directly a scientist who is suitable in terms of their subject at the School of Science. For this purpose, you can use the internet presence of the individual Faculties of the School.
As soon as you have received a confirmation of supervision from a scientist in Dresden, you should coordinate all details of your stay with them (subject-related content, duration of the stay, invitation, etc.).
Nationals of EU countries do not require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
For all other international guests, visas are required for stays in Germany. You have to apply for a visa at the German mission abroad or embassy in your home country before starting your journey. It is important that you do not apply for a tourist visa.
You can find further information on visa issuance on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Please make sure you have sufficient health insurance before traveling to Germany.
Finding support
The International Office at the School of Science is a reliable partner for international guests during their stay in Dresden (and also before). We offer individual, tailor-made support in all areas of life. In our regular events (workshops, field trips, etc.), we create spaces for networking, intercultural exchange and more.
The team of theDRESDEN-concept Welcome Center at TU Dresden supports international researchers and their families in planning and carrying out their research stay of three months or more. As a service point, the Welcome Center team provides advice on all non-academic and practical issues to make your stay in Dresden as easy and pleasant as possible – whether you are coming for a semester or a permanent position. A broad network of internal and external partners provides a wide range of administrative and social support services.
Planning a move abroad: In any event, it is helpful to have a well-informed contact person at your destination. Ask someone who knows their way around. For your inquiries, more than 470 TU alumni are available worldwide as regional ambassadors. They make it easier for you to get started when you arrive, provide information about conditions in the host country, help arrange internships, and support you in making contacts.
Intercultural encounters and the exchange between international guests and Germans: International guests will find a wide range of offers at TU Dresden’s Cultural Office.
Making new friends – to this end, Studentenwerk Dresden and Café Lingua, the regulars’ table for language lovers, have interesting projects on offer.