The International Office offers the following support services for international guest researchers and for professors receiving them:
Current Announcements
- Hilde Domin Programme Call 2025: Master's students and doctoral candidates can be nominated by TUBAF for the next regular selection round (planned start of studies winter semester 2026/27) up to and including 15 September 2025. Nominations received after this date will be considered for the following selection round. A completed questionnaire on the nominee's vulnerability must be submitted with the nomination.
- Philipp Schwartz Initiative 16th call for applications: Application deadline for nominations by TUBAF: 22 August 2025, announcement of results: End of November 2025, start of sponsorship: from 01.01.2026; it is expected that up to 35 sponsorships can be approved;
The International Office offers the following support services for international guest researchers and their host researchers at TUBAF:
Guest Stay at TUBAF
- Support in preparing an invitation
- Advice on funding opportunities
- Preparations in the home country
Establishing a Research or Teaching Cooperation with Foreign Partners
- Conclusion of contracts and university agreements
- Funding opportunities in research and teaching
- Funding opportunities for events
Contact Persons at the International Office
Checklist for the reception of visiting researchers
Content: 1. Preparations for the guest stay, 2. Contract for a guest stay, 3. Accommodation in Freiberg, 4. Insurances, 5. User account and guest cards, 6. Register at the Citizens' Registration Office
Formalia
The German Federal Government provides information on the portal "" about the visa and entry process for researchers.
The compact step-by-step guide "Visa for research" describes the steps from the preparations to the application forms:
The stay of visiting scholar at TUBAF must be reported by the receiving professor to the Human Resources Department. For this purpose, a "Contract on a Guest Stay" (form see below) must be drawn up and submitted to the department.
If the guest is a citizen of a non-EU country, a copy of the visa must also be submitted.
(intranet document, can only be accessed from the campus network or from terminals with an existing VPN connection)
Funding opportunities
"The Philipp Schwartz Initiative enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk on the basis of a full fellowship. Accordingly, host institutions receive funding which is composed of two components:
Fellowship amount: Sponsorship covers a fixed-amount fellowship. It is earmarked for a period of up to 24 months; application may be made during the initial fellowship period for an extension of up to 12 months in the framework of a co-financing model."
"The MSCA4Ukraine Programme will enable academic and non-academic institutions in all European Union member states and in Horizon Europe-associated states to host doctoral students and PhD holders/postdoctoral fellows for a period of 6 to 24 months."
"The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) administers the scholarship programme “Hilde Domin Programme” with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA). The programme serves to support students and doctoral candidates from across the globe, who are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their country of origin, and to provide these students and doctoral candidates with an opportunity to begin or complete a study or research degree at a higher education institution in Germany."
Organisations and Initiatives
Financial support in research tasks of all disciplines, promotion of young researchers within the framework of qualification programmes and talent promotion.
Information and advice centre for mobile researchers who are coming to Germany or would like to go to another country. Part of a Europe-wide network of EURAXESS Service Centres. The aim of these centres is to facilitate the international mobility of researchers.
A pan-European initiative delivering information and support services to professional researchers.
Offers German researchers working temporarily or permanently in North America the opportunity to maintain their connection with Germany and German science, to communicate with each other and to network.
GAIN is a joint initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., the Helmholtz Association of German Research Institutions, the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Association, the German National Academic Foundation and the German Rectors' Conference are associate members.
A database with the profiles of excellent female researchers from all disciplines. It is intended to facilitate the search for suitable female scientists for scientific leadership positions.
The German Scholars Organization is a non-profit association with offices in Berlin and San Francisco. The network brings together over 4,000 German academics working abroad. The majority of them hold doctorates and work as postdocs or professors at elite universities. At more than 40 locations around the world, they meet for academic get-togethers to exchange ideas, network and stay in touch with their home countries.
"Wissenschaft im Dialog" (Science in Dialogue) is committed to the discussion and exchange about research in Germany, organises dialogue events, exhibitions and competitions and develops new formats of science communication. "Wissenschaft im Dialog" is supported by all major science organisations and foundations as well as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Scicomm Support is a service for scientists and science communicators who experience attacks and unobjective conflicts due to their science communication.
The Institute of International Education (IIE), based in New York, was founded as a non-profit organisation in 1919. Today it is the largest organisation in the international higher education sector worldwide and offers numerous services for higher education institutions, international students, graduates and researchers. IIE offers global networking within the international higher education sector.
As the oldest science academy in the world (founded in 1652), Leopoldina brings together around 1,500 researchers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and numerous other countries. As Germany's National Academy, the Leopoldina represents German science in international bodies and takes an independent stand on the scientific foundations of political and social issues. In addition to a variety of funding programmes, the Leopoldina provides information on current publications in the science sector, science topics as well as current events in the science dialogue.
Main areas are scientific recommendations and statements, knowledge transfer and networking of science and industry, promotion of young scientists in technical professions as well as the international representation of the technical sciences. In addition, the Academy pursues the goal of supporting the transfer of knowledge between science and industry and promoting the next generation of technical scientists.
Portal on the scientific research and funding landscape in Germany. International researchers can find out here about funding and career opportunities in Germany as well as the latest news in the field of science. In addition, they receive support in preparing a research stay. The portal is published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and edited by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Schooling of family members
Online registration portal for pupils
School attendance is compulsory in Germany. Since 26 February 2024, all newly arrived pupils must be registered via the of the State School Directorate ("Landesschuldirektion" – LASUB). The registration form is available in German and English.