FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

After you have been accepted as an exchange student at TU Chemnitz you will receive a Welcome-E-Mail from the International Office including a document named 'Invitation Letter', which you will have to provide to CAPES. Additionally, you will receive the following four documents attached:

• Application form for exchange students at TU Chemnitz (needs to be signed by you and your home university in Brazil ‘Point 8’ - Sending Institution)
• Learning Agreement (needs to be signed by you and your home university in Brazil)
• Application form for German Language Course
• Application for Student Residence is done online

You can send all the forms dully filled back via email to the CsF-Coordinator at the International Office, Mrs. Susan Kuchs. Please note that there is no need to send any documents by airmail!

It is normal that your visa expires after a certain time in Germany (generally after roughly 6 months). For this reason it is important to visit the Foreigners’ Authority (‘Ausländerbehörde’) early enough to get a visa extension. In general two cases are possible (please note that the regulations and procedure explained hereafter are subject to change. We strongly recommend to check the information with the Ausländerbehörde Chemnitz or with the Federal Foreign Office):

1. Your visa expires before your arrival at Chemnitz.

In this case you have to go to the Ausländerbehörde of the city you are currently living in. There you have to get a so-called ‘Fiktionsbescheinigung’, which is a temporary residence permit. After your arrival at Chemnitz you have to go to the ‘Ausländerbehörde’ again to get a “regular” visa extension for the time you are studying at TU Chemnitz.

2. Your visa expires after your arrival in Chemnitz.

In this case you have to visit the Ausländerbehörde of Chemnitz as soon as possible to get your extension.

Here in Chemnitz, new students have the opportunity to be attended by buddies of the Student Buddy Program of the International Office at TU Chemnitz, who help them dealing with all the required documents and language difficulties. To find a buddy you are very welcome to register with our Student Buddy Program before your arrival at TU Chemnitz.

We recommend to register with the Student Buddy Program at TU Chemnitz so that your personal buddy can assist you during your first days in Chemnitz. As soon as you know the exact date of your arrival please inform your buddy or the CsF-assistant. Apart from that we offer a checklist with all procedures that need to be done before you arrive and what you have to do once you are in Chemnitz (register with the city, getting enrolled at TU Chemnitz, etc.). You can pick up this list at the International Office or download it here.

This is a very good choice! There are several options to improve your German language skills at TU Chemnitz (for free):

1. 3-week preparatory German language course prior to the lecture period

You can register for that course with the International Office. You will receive the application form together with your invitation letter and other application forms by email from the International Office. Classes are offered for levels A1 to B2 (subject to change) daily from Monday to Friday, also an excursion is included. You can obtain a maximum of 4 credit points if you participate regularly.

2. German language classes during lecture period at the Language Center at TU Chemnitz

You can register for these courses online during your first week of studies, please find further information here: https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/sprachenzentrum/kurse/daf/kursangebot.php.en

Classes are offered for levels A1 to C1 (subject to change) from Monday to Friday (2 classes per week). You can obtain 4 credit points if you participate regularly and pass the exam.

Please not that you will have to bring the certificates issued by the Language Center to the Central Examination Office in order to get your credit points and marks included into your transcript of records (accounts for any language classes offered by the Language Center).

3. Tandem Project

The goal of the language tandem program is to match native speakers of two different languages who learn from each other and help one another to learn about language and culture. You can meet new students, improve your German language skills and help someone to learn your mother tongue.

As part of your application at TU Chemnitz you handed in a Learning Agreement (LA). Any changes you want to make concerning this LA (taking part in differing courses, doing an internship etc.) need to be discussed with your supervisor of your degree program and she/he has to agree to your new choices. These changes have to be listed in the form ‘Changes’ (2^nd page of your LA), which needs to be signed by your supervisor and by the International Office, so that all records are up-to-date.

At TU Chemnitz the Central Examination Office is the first point of contact for students concerning examination issues. Please note that you need to register for every exam you are planning to take before the examination period starts (you can find detailed information about the important deadlines here). If requested, the Central Examination Office also provides you with a transcript of records. Please keep in mind that both, a regular attendance and active participation in class are necessary to pass the exams at the end of each term.

Please note that an extension/a third term at TU Chemnitz represents an exceptional case and does always require the prior approval of the Student Service. You should therefore contact your supervisor at the beginning of your second term in order to discuss your plans with her/him. Then, you will have enough time to obtain all documents required for an extension, e.g. the form ‘Changes’. Please be advised that the decision about an extension is always made on a case-by-case basis. Thus, the possible result cannot be predicted.

Your first contact when it comes to questions about your studies/academic issues is always your supervisor. You will have received an email by her/him when you were accepted at TU Chemnitz or her/his name was given to you by the International Office. The list below is subject to change and might be incomplete, please contact the International Office if you do not know who your supervisor is:

• Systems Engineering: Dr. Jens Schütze
• Mechanical Engineering: Marek Schmidt, Dr. Thomas Hänel
• Mathematics: Prof. Peter Stollmann
• Information and Communication Systems: Prof. Thomas Bauschert

Please, do always go to your supervisor first or write her/him an email. If they cannot solve the issue directly, they will tell who is in charge and assist you in finding a solution for your problem/inquiry.

If you have any question or problem regarding your well-being or other non-academic matters, you can always contact the CsF-assistant as well as the International Office. If they cannot solve the issue directly, they will tell you who is in charge and assist you in finding an answer or solving the problem.

As soon as you know the exact date of your departure, please inform the CsF-Coordinator of the International Office, Mrs. Susan Kuchs. She will issue a document named ‘Confirmation of Stay’, which you will have to provide to CAPES back in Brazil. Apart from that, we offer a checklist with all procedures that need to be done before you leave (notice of departure at the citizen service center, etc.). You can pick up this list at the International Office or download it here.