Checklist for international PhD-students from other countries

2. After arrival

Step 1: Conclude a renting contract for your accommodation at Chemnitz. In coordination with the landlord this might also be possible before your arrival, if applicable. Please pay attention to our FAQ regarding accommodation.

Step 2: Register within a period of 14 days after arrival at the Citizens' Registration Office (Meldebehörde). A respective certificate of registration counts i.a. among the prerequirements for opening a bank account at a German bank (see step 4).

Step 3: Apply for a residence permit for the purpose of doctorate at the Immigration Authority. In case you would like to take up an employment parallely to your doctorate (see step 6), be aware of the necessity that the employment you would like to take up is explicitly permitted regarding type and scope in the supplementary sheet to your residence permit. Please also pay attention to our FAQ regarding residence permit and work permit. In case that you travel with family members, you are obliged to apply for a residence permit (for the purpose of family reunion) also for them.

Step 4: Open a bank account at a German bank. Please pay attention to our respective FAQ.

Step 5: Enrol as PhD-student at the Student Service of Chemnitz University of Technology and pay the semester contribution.

Step 6: In case that you have successfully applied for a position at Chemnitz University of Technology: Conclude your working contract with the Department for Human Resources. Please pay attention to our FAQ regarding employment at Chemnitz University of Technology.

3. During the stay

Step 1: In case of interest or demand, get informed about offers for linguistic further training, for the acquisition of generic qualifications as well as for networking and social integration of PhD-students. In this regard, you are welcome to i.a. register at the mailing list of the PhD-Assistants of the International Office. Please also pay attention to our FAQ regarding offers for support.

Step 2: Please check regularly your residence permit: In case that the duration of your PhD-project will be longer than the period of time indicated there, you have to apply for a prolongation of the validity of your residence permit. In case that you change the subject during the doctorate, you might have to apply for a new residence permit because this may be considered as change of purpose of stay. This applies also when you take up an employment during your doctorate with a scope of more than 120 full days or 240 half-days a year. Particularly in both last mentioned cases, please contact the Immigration Authority as soon as possible. In case that you are travelling with familiy members, please also remember to apply for prolongation of their residence permits in due time.

Step 3: Make up your mind about your plans for the future after completion of your doctorate in due time (f.e. Would you like to stay in Germany? In which sector you would like to work then?) and make the necessary provisions, if applicable. Thus, f.e. your residence permit can be prolonged for up to 18 months after successful completion of a university degree for searching for an employment adequate to your qualification. Our FAQ regarding ways of career might be helpful for that.

4. a) Remaining at Chemnitz/ Germany

Step 1: You are entitled to apply for a prolongation of your residence permit for up to 18 months after successful completion of a university degree at the Immigration Authority for searching for an employment in Germany which is adequate to your qualification.

Step 2a: You would like to remain at Chemnitz/ Germany after completion of your doctorate and you are striving for a scientific career? In this case, our FAQ for international postdocs might be of interest for you.

Step 2b: You would like to remain at Chemnitz/ Germany and you are striving for a professional career, f.e. in the private industry? In this case, maybe the offers of the Career Service of Chemnitz University of Technology for graduates might be of interest for you. 

Step 3: You would like to stay connected with your Alma Mater also after having left Chemnitz University of Technology and you would like to be kept on the run regarding the newest developments and offers for you? Then you are cordially invited to register at the Alumni-Database of Chemnitz University of Technology!

We wish you a successful career and would appreciate if you remain faithful to resp. stay connected with Chemnitz University of Technology!

4. b) Return to home country

Step 1: You would like to stay connected with your Alma Mater also after having left Chemnitz University of Technology and you would like to be kept on the run regarding the newest developments and offers for you? Then you are cordially invited to register at the Alumni-Database of Chemnitz University of Technology!

Step 2: Give notice regarding your accommodation at Chemnitz in due time. Please pay attention especially to the periods of notice in this respect fixed in your renting contract.

Step 3: Give notice also regarding your German health insurance in due time. Please pay attention especially to the periods of notice in this respect fixed in your contract with the provider.

Step 4: In case that you were enrolled as PhD-student, apply for de-enrolment at the Student Service of Chemnitz University of Technology in due time.

Step 5: De-register your residence at Chemnitz at the Citizens' Registration Office (Meldebehörde) in due time.

Step 6: De-register (and also travelling family members, if applicable) at the Immigration Authority.

Step 7: Close your German bank account within a personal appointment at the respective bank.

We wish you safe travels home, a successful career and would appreciate if you would stay connected with Chemnitz University of Technology!