A language level of at least B1 according to the European Framework of Reference is recommended. This refers to the language of instruction of the courses, which may differ from the national language.

The best way to find out about the exact requirements is to contact the Eramus coordinator of your faculty directly.

For your application you first have to fill in the online application form.

In addition, depending on the faculty requirements, further application documents have to be submitted (please ask the ERASMUS coordinator for these documents that are required in addition to the application form), such as:

• Letter of motivation
• Proof of previous studies (e.g. overview of grades)
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Proof of language skills in the language of instruction

Applications must be submitted between January and March for an ERASMUS stay in the following academic year (for both winter and summer semester) in the respective faculty to the faculty representative or subject coordinator. The exact deadlines can be found on the websites of the respective coordinators.

When planning to study abroad, it is important to keep in mind that the semester times abroad often do not match those in Germany. There are sometimes considerable differences. In Scandinavia in particular, the winter semester (often called the fall semester there) begins much earlier, sometimes as early as August. On the other hand, it often ends in December. In most countries, the winter semester begins in September and the summer semester in mid-February.
The exact semester dates should be requested directly from the universities or can be found in the experience reports.

However, good preparation and planning will also enable you to study abroad during the summer semester. Measures for this could be the following:

• Contact the examination office in good time.
• Bring examination dates forward, make arrangements with lecturers and professors in good time.
• Postpone exams until the end of the summer semester, since study abroad programs usually end in June.
• In the semester before the stay abroad, if necessary, only attend courses in which seminar papers are to be written or presentations are to be given.
• Take written work "abroad" and finish it there.
• Make use of the "committee semester" (Gremiensemester).
• Consult with partner university about a later start of studies, if applicable.
• Complete an internship in the preceding winter semester so that it would be possible to start studies abroad in January (e.g. at Scandinavian universities).

There is no legal claim to the ERASMUS place allocation or the ERASMUS funding. The allocation of an ERASMUS study place is made according to the decision and selection criteria defined in the faculties. The approval of ERASMUS funding is subject to the provision of funds by the funding body at the due discretion of the International Office.

Yes, with pleasure. As the application and funding process in the Erasmus programme is becoming increasingly digitalized, the digital signing of funding documents is desired. Please also take advantage of the opportunity to create your own digital signature via the ZIH. User certificates can be requested in the Self Service Portal in the user certificate administration.

The EU Commission recommends completing approximately 30 ECTS credits per semester or 20 ECTS credits per trimester or 60 ECTS credits per academic year during the Erasmus study visit (regardless of whether the credits can be credited).
The credits (subject-specific courses, possibly a language course in the national language) are recorded in the Digital Learning Agreement (DLA) via Mobility Online and should be agreed with the subject coordinator of your own faculty. The DLA must be signed by the following persons

• the student
• the ERASMUS coordinator of your own Institute/department at TUD
• the coordinator of the partner university

The fully signed DLA is part of the Grant Agreement (funding contract) and must be submitted before the start of studies abroad.

With ERASMUS, students can receive repeated funding:

• ERASMUS stays of at least 2 to max. 12 months (also multiple) during each study phase
• Up to max. 12 months of funding (studies and internship) in each of the Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate (in total max. 36 months of funding).
• Up to max. 24 months of funding (studies and internship) for single degree programs (Diplom, Staatsexamen, etc.)
• Previous ERASMUS funding will be credited to ERASMUS (including ERASMUS internship), if repeated funding occurs in current study cycle

Many TU Dresden students have already been abroad with ERASMUS. Benefit from their knowledge and experiences and have a look at individual testimonials.

Please inform yourself on the website of the respective university, as a guide you can also use testimonials from former students.

ERASMUS mobility grants are paid by country group and thus depend on the general cost of living in the host country. The exact calculation of the grants depends on the number of participating students in each academic year and will only be calculated at short notice. The current mobility grants are updated regularly.

In addition to study stays, Erasmus+ can also support study-related internships abroad. Please send your application directly to the LEONARDO-BÜRO SACHSEN.

In many countries, the semester periods differ from the German ones. For example, the winter semester ends in December or January and the summer semester begins immediately afterwards in January/February. At some British universities, the academic year is not divided into semesters, but into trimesters. Please find out about this on the websites of the partner universities as early as possible. Ask your Erasmus coordinator at the department when and in which semester it is advisable to study abroad.
 

The ERASMUS scholarship does not cover any insurance. Therefore, it is necessary that you provide yourself with sufficient insurance coverage for the duration of your stay abroad.

In principle, the following health insurance options are available:

• As a member of a statutory health insurance, you can also claim benefits abroad via form E128 or the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), depending on the applicable social security law in the respective country. Before your departure, you should find out from your health insurance company to what extent this agreement applies to your host country and apply for the necessary insurance form or card. The DAAD points out that with the introduction of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) often only emergency medical care is guaranteed in case of illness or due to an accident in the respective host country. Since the insurance coverage is therefore insufficient, the DAAD recommends a (private) supplementary health insurance abroad.
• Private health insurance companies usually do not have Europe-wide social security agreements. Please inform yourself in time at your responsible health insurance company about the insurance coverage abroad!
• Partner universities sometimes offer student health insurance as part of enrollment, which you can use in addition to your health insurance.
• It is also possible to participate in the DAAD group insurance for health, accident and liability insurance (information at the DAAD insurance office www.daad.de Tel. 0228/882-294).
• It is advisable to take out private supplementary international health insurance including travel repatriation insurance.

Further insurances:

• Personal accident insurance: if semesters abroad are required as part of the domestic university studies, accident insurance coverage exists during the stay abroad. However, the statutory accident insurance only covers those activities that have an internal causal connection with the university visit, i.e. the stay at the host university for the purpose of studying and the associated travel. Activities in the private sphere, e.g. buying books or food in a store are not covered by accident insurance! In this context, it is a prerequisite that students remain enrolled at their home university and that study achievements made abroad are fully recognized by the university. The extent to which the home university bears the organizational responsibility can only be assessed on the basis of the conditions in the individual case, cf. also the explanations under the keyword "Semester abroad" (p. 15/16) in the publication "Statutory accident insurance protection at universities".
• Please check whether your liability insurance also covers the period of study abroad.

The ERASMUS application is binding! If you withdraw from your ERASMUS place at short notice without a justifiable reason, so that the place can no longer be given to successors due to expired registration deadlines at the partner universities, this can be sanctioned with exclusion from university exchange programs.

Please refer to the DAAD's security advice regarding stays in crisis regions.

If you would like to get in touch with ERASMUS exchange students at the TUD before your stay abroad or to keep your language skills fresh after your stay abroad, you should drop by the weekly get-together of the ERASMUS Initiative TU Dresden. Information about the initiative and its events can be found at https://www.esn-dresden.de/.

The Erasmus+ mobility grant can be combined with the Auslands-BaföG; please note the uniform regulation on the crediting of Top Ups for students with lower chances of receiving the Auslands-BAföG, see BMBF decree on the Federal Training Assistance Act and the Erasmus Social Top Ups of 08.05.2024

Furthermore, many public (national) grants are compatible with ERASMUS if they have already been applied for and approved independently of the stay abroad. These additional grants must be included in the online ERASMUS+ mobility grant application. Some examples are

• Deutschlandstipendium
• German National Academic Foundation
• Franco-German University
• Study grants from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
• Study scholarships from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation

Further information:
Combining scholarships - What is allowed?

Yes - a stay is also possible with children. You should already inform yourself about the offers of the partner universities for students with children and the care possibilities / the school system in the respective host country when selecting the university of your choice.
There are special funding opportunities for students with children.

ERASMUS students are not obliged to apply for a semester of leave . Nevertheless, it is often taken, as the semester of leave is counted as a university semester but not as a subject semester and therefore no study time is "lost".

• Child benefit continues to be paid during a semester of leave.
• During the semester of leave, examinations can be taken both at the TUD and abroad, see Leave of absence.
• Application see Re-registration for the semester
• Waiver of the semester ticket fee (the student body fee must continue to be paid so that the enrolment status for the home university is maintained)

Alternatively, the semester ticket fee can also be refunded (pro rata) via the StuRa during the semester of study.

You can also find answers to the question of the advantages and disadvantages of taking a semester off in some of the experience reports .

Experience has shown that it is advisable to inform yourself as much as possible about the culture and living conditions of the destination country before departure! This probably sounds logical to most - but practice has shown that you should not underestimate your own ignorance.

Through the Erasmus Initiative of the TU Dresden, the Buddy Program as well as the Cultural Office of the International Office you can, for example, establish contacts with students from the 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 TUD offer possibilities for the development of intercultural competence. Experience reports from students who have already studied abroad are also helpful. Feel free to click through our collection of testimonials.

As an exchange student with EU citizenship you do not need a visa to study abroad.

As a foreign student at the TUD you have to inform the Foreigners' Registration Office about longer stays abroad, otherwise your visa for Germany could lose its validity! Please contact your embassy.
In principle, students with citizenship from outside the EU (third-country nationals) who are staying in the EU for the purpose of studying have easier mobility conditions within the EU. Information on the topic of "Mobility in the EU" can be found on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) under "Study Europe-wide".

ERASMUS scholarships are tax-free as mobility scholarships from public funds of the European Commission in the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with §3 No.44a EStG.
In addition, scholarships from the EU's ERASMUS program do not reduce the education allowances under § 33a para. 2 EStG (ruling of 17.10.2001 [III R 3/01], Federal Fiscal Court in Munich).
In principle, however, an ERASMUS scholarship must be reported to the responsible tax office, the child benefit fund and the health insurance fund.

Tax recording and declaration obligations
Your responsible tax office (at your primary place of residence) will be informed by TU Dresden about the payment of the ERASMUS scholarship in accordance with the "Ordinance on Notifications to the Tax Authorities by Other Authorities and Public Broadcasting Organizations" (see Notification Ordinance). However, there is only an obligation to notify if the payments amount to EUR 1,500 or more in a calendar year (§ 7 para. 2 MV).
We would like to point out that you are responsible for keeping records and declaring income from ERASMUS+ to the tax authorities (§ 12 MV).

The following data will be transmitted to the responsible tax office
Address of the payee, reason for payment, payment amount, tax ID (identification number), bank details of the payee (account holder, IBAN, BIC, credit institution)

What is the tax ID (identification number)?
The tax ID (identification number) is issued by the BZSt (Federal Central Tax Office) and is an eleven-digit number containing personal data and information about the responsible tax office. German citizens receive the notification of their tax ID (identification number) after their birth has been reported. For all foreign citizens registered with the residents' registration office in Germany, a tax ID is created when they first register in Germany and is sent to the foreign citizen by post within 2-4 weeks of their first registration with a registration office in Germany.

Where can I find the tax ID?
Pay slip (top center), income tax assessment notice, income tax certificate

How can I (re)apply for the tax ID?
German citizens: If the tax ID has not been delivered or can no longer be found, the notification of the tax ID can be sent again via the Federal Central Tax Office by post only.
Information on issuing and applying for a tax ID can be found via this link: https://www.finanzamt.sachsen.de/lohnsteuer-6348.html

Foreign citizens: The application for the tax ID must be sent by email to with a copy of your passport or ID card. The International Tax Law Department (IStR) should be noted as the recipient in the text field of the e-mail. The processing time is approx. 10 working days.

Changes to the original Learning Agreement can be entered and signed in the digital Learning Agreement within 6-8 weeks after the start of studies abroad.
In consultation with the Erasmus subject coordinator, it may also be possible to agree on fewer credits, so that credits amounting to 25-30 credits per semester (or 50-60 credits per academic year) must be completed.

The ERASMUS mobility grant is transferred in 2 installments. The first installment of the mobility grant is 70% of the amount for the entire period and is transferred at the beginning of the stay abroad. The following documents are required for the transfer:

• Fully signed Digital Learning Agreement (Table A and B)
• Signed grant agreement in the original
• Certificate of enrollment from the TUD for the first semester abroad

The 2nd installment will be transferred after the stay, see also "When will I receive the 2nd installment?"

An extension of the ERASMUS+ stay is generally possible. Applications to extend the duration of the stay must be submitted at least 30 days before the end of the first semester:

• Agreement on extended stay with partner university
• Coordination with the ERASMUS coordinator at the home university
• Application for continued funding via Mobility Online using the form with details of the new desired period + fully signed DLA Changes no later than 30 days before the end of the first semester

In principle, it is possible to shorten the ERASMUS+ stay, whereby a minimum stay of 2 months must be given for eligibility in the Erasmus program.
If you wish to shorten your stay by more than one month, please inform the TUD International Office and provide proof of your stay abroad via the Mobility Online Workflow no later than 30 days after the actual end of your stay.

The following documents must be submitted to the International Office no later than 30 days after the end of the mobility period:

• Confirmation of Attendance
• Experience report online
• Submission of the EU Survey online (for ERASMUS worldwide already to be submitted at the end of the stay)
• Matriculation certificate of TUD for the duration of the stay abroad
• Copy of the academic achievements/Transcript of Records/Table E of the Learning Agreement (can be submitted later)
• Proof of credit for academic achievements abroad / Table F of the Learning Agreement (may be submitted at a later date)

At least 20 of the planned credits per semester should be proven as "successfully passed" in a Transcript of Records (ToR) issued by the host university at the end of the stay. Proof of failed examinations must be provided in the form of certificates of attendance. If less than 20 passed credits can be proven, please send a declaration including supporting documents (e.g. medical certificate) to immediately.

The Erasmus grant is only to be repaid (in full or in part) if the Erasmus stay is interrupted or no credits have been confirmed in the ToR or there is no acceptable reason for not passing credits (e.g. certified illness, strike at the partner university) (0 credits = 0 EUR).

You should therefore ensure that you attend courses and take the relevant examinations throughout your stay abroad.

You will receive the "Confirmation of Attendance" from your host university on site. It indicates the exact duration of your stay, which is used to calculate your mobility allowance.

You can find the template here.

The payment of the 2^nd installment of the mobility grant will be made after the International Office has received and checked the documents.

You can create your field report online. A template is available for this purpose.

There is no standardized regulation for grade conversion. Please contact the Examination Office of your faculty.
You can find a summary of general information on the recognition of credits earned abroad here on the website.
Some basics on the recognition of academic achievements are compiled in the factsheet Recognition for students (publisher: DAAD).