Well, it depends on your goal: Do you want to attend a university and earn credit points for your studies in Dresden? Or do you want to combine your stay abroad with real life work experience? Your options are outlined below:

• Study Abroad / Semester Abroad (Exchange Program / Individually Organized): Study abroad at a university as an exchange student or guest student;
  When: At the earliest after completing your 2^nd academic year; Duration: 3-12 months
• Supplementary Course / Postgraduate Studies: Specialization or consolidation through master's, postgraduate, or graduate study,
  When: After completing your 1^st degree; Duration: 1–2 years
• Language Course: Language course at a private language school (possible at all times of year) or at a university (summer course), Duration: 2-6 weeks (max. 6 months)
• Specialized Course / Intensive Program: Participation in scientific professional development courses directly related to your studies (e.g. summer schools at universities), Duration: 1-6 weeks
• Internship: Practical experience at companies, research institutions, cultural institutes, schools, etc. to deepen and apply knowledge learned at university,
  When: Usually after completing the first four semesters of your studies; Duration: 2- 6 months 

We recommend that you start planning your stay abroad about 1½ years beforehand so that you can get information and advice on your options. This will give you plenty of time to research, prepare for, and apply to various grant and exchange programs. Some grants (e.g., Fulbright program) require you to apply up to 1½ years before you are scheduled to go abroad.
In general, we recommend studying abroad after completing your second year of university studies at the earliest. The exact time and duration of your stay will depend largely on how your studies in Dresden are structured and on your individual planning. In some degree programs, studying or doing an internship abroad is only recommended after the 6^th semester. But you can also schedule your stay abroad for the end of your studies and combine it with writing your final thesis. Be sure to talk to the lecturers in your department about your plans. The amount of time required will also depend on how many credits points you want to earn. Depending on whether you are aiming for full credit, additional credit or both full credit and additional credit, the length of time you need to complete your studies may increase.

To plan the costs of your stay abroad, you should find out in good time about any tuition fees payable and their amount, as well as the cost of living in the host country. A good source of initial information is the country profiles provided by  DAAD. Information on funding opportunities can be found under “Programs.” Of particular note are the Erasmus exchange program with partner universities in Europe and beyond, as well as TU Dresden's university collaborations with partner universities worldwide. They include a waiver of tuition fees and sometimes a partial scholarship.

If you would like to study abroad at a university of your choice, you may also organize your stay abroad independently. You can find out about the requirements for admission and enrollment procedures directly from your chosen university. Individual grants are a possible source of funding. For example,  DAAD awards annual scholarships for study abroad programs worldwide, and the Fulbright Commission awards scholarships for study stays in the USA. PROMOS supports shorter stays abroad of up to six months.

Students who receive BAföG (German federal student loans) for their studies in Germany have a good chance of receiving BAföG for their stay abroad. This is additional funding, i.e. the semesters funded abroad are not counted towards the maximum funding period in Germany. Even if you are not entitled to BAföG in Germany, it may make sense to apply, as the funding rate takes into account the higher costs associated with going abroad, in particular any tuition fees. Of course, you can also apply for BAföG for your stay abroad or an individual scholarship if you would like to complete your stay abroad as part of an exchange program.

When looking for a university, it is essential to find somewhere that offers a range of suitable courses that can be credited to your studies here or that complement them. You should also consider the following selection criteria:

• Opportunities for specialization or certificates that can be acquired as an additional qualification
• The reputation of the university
• The language of instruction
• Opportunity to obtain a grant from the target university

You should also find out how studies are structured in your target country / university:

• Is there a division into Bachelor's and Master's degree programs?
• What class levels are you interested in?
• When does the academic year begin?
• Are classes organized in semesters, as is common in Germany, or in trimesters?

DAAD provides country information that is very helpful in answering these questions. Here, you will find information on the higher education system and study conditions, broken down by individual countries. There are also lists of the universities in each country. For some countries, there are university search engines that filter potential universities by degree program. Once you have made your initial selection, you can check the International Office's database to see if there are any available places at the universities you are interested in. You may also consider an initial consultation at the Infocenter to help you decide. If you have more specific questions, it's best to contact the universities directly to obtain detailed information about the courses on offer, application requirements, deadlines and documents, etc.

Once you have decided which university you would like to visit, you should plan your studies as precisely as possible and compile a list of the courses and credits you would like to complete abroad. It is very important to consult with your lecturers and your Examination Office at TU Dresden. This is the only way to ensure that the credits you earn abroad can actually be recognized for your studies here.

In most cases, you will need to provide proof of language proficiency. In some cases, you will need to take a special language test (such as a TOEFL test for English-speaking countries). In addition to getting to grips with everyday life in the host country, you should definitely be able to follow lectures without major problems and work on academic content. To this end, you should attend language classes as early as possible, especially if it is your aim to earn a qualification in an additional foreign language. As part of language learning at TU Dresden, every TUD student can take up to 10 hours per week of language courses free of charge. Fee-based language courses at adult education centers and private language schools are also possible. Intensive courses offered by private institutions abroad or universities abroad during the summer break may also be an option.
For example, you can also apply for a PROMOS grant for language courses abroad lasting between 3 weeks and 2 months.

For exchange students, preparatory or study-related language courses at the host university are often free of charge or available at a reduced rate.

If you are interested in one-to-one language exchanges with native speakers, language tandems can also be a useful addition to language courses. The Cultural Office at the International Office will be happy to help you find a tandem partner.

Experience has shown that finding out as much as you can about the culture and living conditions of your target country is highly recommended! This may sound obvious – but experience has shown that you shouldn't underestimate the limitations of your own knowledge.

For instance, you could use TU Dresden's Erasmus initiative, the Buddy Program and the Cultural Office at the International Office to make contact with students from your target country who are currently studying at TU Dresden. TU Dresden's Career Service and the language courses at TUD also offer opportunities to develop intercultural competence. Reports from students who have already studied abroad are also helpful. Feel free to browse our collection of testimonials.

While applying for a grants or a study place, you should also find out what accommodation options are available from the host university. As there is limited availability in halls of residence, you may have to apply for a place before you start your studies. Free rooms in shared flats are often advertised on online student forums.

In most cases, a leave of absence at TUD is recommended for the period of your stay abroad. This means the semesters you spend abroad do not count as semesters of study. However, your work can be credited towards your studies despite the leave of absence. You can also complete study achievements and examined assessments at TU Dresden during your leave of absence. If you do not take a leave of absence, your semester count will continue. Problems such as exceeding the maximum period of study can arise if the examinations taken abroad are not recognized in here Dresden.

There is an insurance agreement with most European countries within the framework of statutory health insurance. However, you may still have to make additional payments for various services in other European countries. To keep these costs to a minimum, you should inquire about private insurance. For countries with which there is no insurance agreement (usually non-EU countries), you will generally need private health insurance. In any case, you should find out from your health insurance provider what benefits are covered in your particular case and what additional options are available.

Finally, you need to find out about the entry and residence regulations of the destination country. Countries outside the European Union often require a passport and a visa for study purposes. If you would like to work alongside your studies, you will also need to find out about the relevant regulations.  The first point of contact for these questions is the embassy of the host country.