To date, nearly 6,000 new students from 98 nations have enrolled at TU Dresden for the 2021/22 winter semester. This represents a decrease in the number of first-year students compared to previous years. The final status will most likely be announced on November 1.

Encouragingly, after a drop in the last winter semester caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international first-year students has risen significantly again.
Nevertheless, the consequences of the pandemic are now affecting student applications from within Germany. The number of first-year students from the new and old federal states has declined noticeably. This tendency can be observed all throughout Saxony. In addition to demographic reasons, uncertainty about how the academic year will pan out after the experience of COVID-19 in the last two academic years was probably a reason that made many hesitate to apply. Even the efforts of the Extended University Executive Board to provide planning security at an early stage could not affect this situation.

The guiding principle at TU Dresden is to ensure the best possible health protection with as little interference as possible with regard to learning. Seminars and practicals are therefore possible on-site in most cases. A partial hybrid program is available especially for international students who are not yet able to enter the country. The lectures are mostly held in a hybrid or online format and are available on the Video campus Sachsen portal. The 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested) applies at TU Dresden for participation in courses.

To minimize the burden on students, the university, alongside with the city of Dresden and Johanniter-Unfallhilfe, is offering vaccination services on the main campus in October and November. The Johanniter-Unfallhilfe will also be offering cost-free tests in the Auditorium Center until October 8. “Self-test centers” are being established on the campus of TUD “where self-tests can be conducted under supervision and free of charge, so that students do not have to incur the financial burden themselves. Students at the main campus can still go to the Auditorium Center to be tested.

For a successful start for all "freshmen" - despite COVID-19 - there are many support services. The first-semester programs of the faculties and the Central Academic Units offer the most important information on the course of studies as well as on the organization of studies. Additionally, students active in the individual student councils organize campus tours and help with class schedules.

The Vice-Rector Academic Affairs, Prof. Michael Kobel, would like to thank all those active in ensuring that the "freshmen" get off to the smoothest possible start and is looking forward to a campus that is buzzing with life once again: "We finally want to see each other in person again, exchange ideas with each other, formulate theses, discuss, try out, and discover. Students with lecturers and, of course, students with each other."

Furthermore, on October 7, starting at 1:00 pm, many contacts will be available at the virtual info market to answer questions about starting a degree program. Afterwards, TU Dresden invites all "freshmen" to the ceremonial enrollment starting at 4:00 pm - via live stream on YouTube.

The new image video of TU Dresden also has its premiere at the ceremonial enrollment. In this video, students of TUD present themselves in all their diversity.

Info market and welcome video of the Vice-Rector Academic Affairs:
https://tud.de/studienstart/infomarkt

Live stream of the enrollment ceremony:
https://youtu.be/KBATpicTbn8

More information:
https://tud.de/studienstart
https://tud.de/ese
https://tud.de/immafeier

Media Enquiries:
Press Office of TU Dresden
Telephone: +49 351 46337155