Study mathematics as an Erasmus exchange student

Professional preparation
Intercultural preparation
Language preparation
Financial planning
Recognition of academic achievements
Organizational and administrative matters
FAQS

Professional preparation

When searching for a suitable university, it is important to find an institution with a suitable range of courses so that you can take credits for your studies here or supplement them in a meaningful way.
In addition, you should find out how the studies in the target country or the target university are structured. When does the academic year begin? Is the study program organized in semesters, as is usual in Germany, or perhaps in terms?
How far along am I in my studies? Stays abroad are possible from the 3rd semester in the Bachelor's program and from the 1st semester in the Master's program.

Intercultural preparation

Find out as much as you can about the culture and living conditions of your destination country before you leave! Through the Erasmus-Initiative of the TU Dresden, the Buddy Program as well as the Cultural Office of the International Office you can establish contacts with students from your target country who are currently studying at the TU Dresden. Likewise, the Career Service of the TU Dresden or the language courses within the framework of the language training at the TU Dresden offer opportunities to develop intercultural competence. For more than 2 decades, the Ausländerrat Dresden e. V. has regularly invited students to the Intercultural Days, thus providing a platform for intercultural exchange. Reports on the experiences of students who have already studied abroad are also helpful.

Language preparation

In addition to finding your way in the everyday life of the host country, you should definitely be able to follow lectures without major problems and to work scientifically.
... more about language support at the TU Dresden

For exchange students, preparatory or study-accompanying language courses at the host university are often free of charge or reduced.
If you are interested in an individual language exchange with native speakers, language tandems can also be a useful addition to language courses. The Cultural Office in the International Office will be happy to help you find a tandem partner.

Financial planning

Foreign-BAföG - Erasmus Mobility Grant
Already 6 months before the beginning of your studies you have to apply for Foreign-BAföG (even if you do not receive domestic BAföG, you can apply for Foreign-BAföG).
Any student selected by the faculty can receive Erasmus mobility grant.

Recognition of academic achievements

It is advisable to think about the possible recognition of academic achievements in advance. You can find out more about this in the section worth knowing about exchange studies with Erasmus.

Organizational and administrative matters

Accommodation - Leave of absence - Health insurance - Entry and residence regulations

• At the same time as you apply, you should find out what accommodation options are available from the host university.
• The semester of leave is often used because it is counted as a university semester but not as a subject semester and therefore no study time is "lost". (Erasmus students are not required to apply for a semester of leave).
• The Erasmus funding does not cover any insurance. It is therefore necessary that you yourself provide sufficient insurance coverage for the duration of your stay abroad!
• Finally, you must remember to inform yourself about the entry and residence regulations of your destination country.

FAQS

Detailed information on the above points can be found at FAQS of the International Office of the TU Dresden.

All currently available seats and the most important key data on the partnership can be researched via the Mobility Online Portal.

• Information events on Erasmus study abroad take place once a year (usually in January) for students of the entire area of mathematics and natural sciences and are announced, among other things, on the area website International Affairs of the School of Science.
  Further interesting information events on studying abroad are offered by the International Office of the TU Dresden.
• Please inform yourself in advance about your preferred university (study program, language requirements, housing options,experience reports, etc.) in order to avoid false expectations and to find convincing arguments for your application.
  Attention: The start of the semester at universities abroad often differs from that at TU Dresden!
• Before you apply, compare the courses offered at your university of choice with the courses offered in your mathematics program at TU Dresden. Consult with your lecturers and module supervisors before creating your study plan (Learning Agreement). This is very important with regard to the later recognition of your study achievements abroad.
• Planning a mobility: In any case, it is helpful to have a well-informed contact person on site. Ask someone who knows the ropes. More than 470 TU alumni are available worldwide as regional ambassadors for your inquiries. They make it easier for you to get started on site, provide information about conditions in the host country, help arrange internships, and support you in making contacts.

• Enrollment as a student (including doctoral studies) at Dresden University of Technology for a full course of study.
• At least the first year of study must have been successfully completed (does not apply to Master's students).    
• You should have a good academic record at the time of application. Concrete grade requirements are not defined.
• There is a valid bilateral ERASMUS agreement between the Faculty of Mathematics and the desired partner university for the academic year in question.
• You have sufficient knowledge of the language in which the courses to be attended are held (B1 or B2 level is usually required).

The most important key data of the partner universities, such as required language, can be found in the Mobility Online Portal.

You will receive a monthly allowance (officially: mobility allowance) for the duration of your stay abroad. The amount depends on the cost of living in the host country and is graded according to country groups. This allowance is granted regardless of income.  
You can count on this support, divided into country groups.

In principle, it is possible that study achievements made abroad within the framework of ERASMUS can be recognized. The prerequisite for this is that there is a verifiable equivalence to the study content and examination modalities in the corresponding module at the TU Dresden and that the learning outcomes do not differ substantially.

What has to be done for the recognition of study achievements abroad?

• Before the stay
  It is advisable to think about the possible recognition of academic achievements in advance. For this purpose, consult the relevant module supervisors before the stay abroad in order to discuss the various possibilities and necessary documents.
  Note: As a rule, 60 credits are required for a full academic year, 30 credits for a semester and 20 credits for a trimester. Depending on the university and faculty, fewer may be required.

• During the stay
  If not already done: get the detailed course description in English from the course catalog of your host university.
  Obtain a Transcript of Records from the host university after taking exams abroad.

• After the stay
  In order to receive credit, the form for recognition of an examination achievement must be completed, signed and submitted to the examination office.

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Verification of previous study progress (e.g. overview of grades)
• Verification of knowledge of the language of instruction at the host university
• Possibly the Learning Agreement with your signature. As a rule, 30 ECTS credit points are required for one semester and 60 ECTS credit points for a full academic year,
  Information can be found at the International Office of the TU Dresden under General Information on the Learning Agreement or in the Guide for the Preparation of the Learning Agreement via Mobility Online.

• The application process is fully online via the Mobility Online Portal, described in the Erasmus+ Application Guide Mobility Online.
• Places will be allocated after the closing date for applications.
• With the positive feedback from the Erasmus officers you will be nominated at the partner university, i.e. your name will be forwarded to the partner university.
• You will then independently contact the partner university to be informed about the relevant registration formalities and finally complete the registration at the host university.

Only when you have received the acceptance of the partner university, you are admitted for the Erasmus study!

• Now you can apply for the Erasmus funding.

• Motivation & Reason
• Language Knowledge
• Academic performance
• Completeness of application documents