About the university
TU Dresden began in 1828 as the Saxon Technical School and grew into one of Germany's largest technical universities. Unusually for a technical university it covers almost every field, from engineering and computing to medicine, the humanities and economics. It is a member of TU9 and has been one of Germany's Universities of Excellence.
Dresden is the centre of 'Silicon Saxony', Europe's largest microelectronics cluster, with chip plants from companies such as Infineon, GlobalFoundries and Bosch, and new investment from TSMC's joint venture ESMC. TU Dresden is especially strong in microelectronics, materials, computer science, biotechnology and water engineering, and works closely with Fraunhofer, Max Planck and Leibniz institutes on campus.
Dresden, the capital of Saxony, lies on the Elbe river and is known for its baroque old town, rebuilt after the Second World War. Living costs are noticeably lower than in Munich, Frankfurt or Berlin. The main campus is south of the centre and easy to reach by tram.
For Indian students, TU Dresden combines no tuition fees, a good range of English-taught master's (notably Nanoelectronic Systems, Computational Modeling and Simulation and Computer Science) and lower living costs. Admissions usually go through uni-assist, and you should follow the Saxon state's debate on possible future fees for non-EU students.
- Founded
- 1828 as the Saxon Technical School; a university since 1961
- Type
- Public comprehensive technical university, a member of TU9 and one of Germany's Universities of Excellence
- Students
- 20,696 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data
- International students
- 20% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 20.4 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Tuition
- No tuition fee for a first degree; semester contribution €361 (winter 2026/27)
- Intakes
- October (winter); some master's also start in April
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
185th in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=168th in the world
Excellence Strategy (German federal and state governments) 2019
Selected as a University of Excellence
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter); April (summer)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
MSc Computational Modeling and Simulation
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
MSc Organic and Molecular Electronics
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
MSc Advanced Computational and Civil Engineering Structural Studies (ACCESS)
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
MSc Hydro Science and Engineering
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
MSc Water Security and Global Change (with RWTH Aachen)
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €722
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter)
- English
- English at B2–C1 level (IELTS or TOEFL); each programme sets the score
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Computer Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Computational Modeling and Simulation | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Nanoelectronic Systems | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Organic and Molecular Electronics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Advanced Computational and Civil Engineering Structural Studies (ACCESS) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Hydro Science and Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Water Security and Global Change (with RWTH Aachen) | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
| MSc Molecular Bioengineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €722 | ≈ ₹76,532 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled students, all subjects
Deutschlandstipendium at TU Dresden
Value: €300 a month
Eligibility: High-achieving enrolled students, including international students. Apply through TU Dresden when the round opens.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's and doctoral students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; check the database for awards open to Indian applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Non-EU master's and doctoral students
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom scholarship
Value: €992 a month, with health insurance contributions covered
Eligibility: Applications and interviews are in German; deadlines are 30 April and 31 October.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- TU Dresden bachelor's and Diplom programmes are taught in German (C1 level needed).
- An Indian Class 12 certificate on its own does not usually give direct entry; you typically need one or two years of a related bachelor's in India or a Studienkolleg year.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a related subject, checked against the programme's admission rules.
- International applicants usually apply through uni-assist; allow several weeks for the check.
- Deadlines depend on whether the programme has restricted admission; check the date for your intake well ahead.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Documents
- Valid passport
- APS certificate (required for Indian applicants with an Indian degree)
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts (or an interim transcript with your current average if you are in your final year)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score (IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT), or a medium-of-instruction certificate where the programme accepts one
- CV in tabular format
- Statement of purpose or letter of motivation
- Letters of recommendation, where the programme asks for them
- GRE or GATE score, only for programmes that ask for it
- Course module descriptions, for programmes that check your subject credits
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Level needed | English-taught master's ask for B2 or C1 level, for example the MSc Computer Science asks for C1. Proof is IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or similar. |
| German | Not required for English-taught programmes; German helps a lot with student jobs in Dresden. |
Accommodation and living costs
Dresden is one of the more affordable big student cities in Germany. The Studierendenwerk Dresden runs many halls close to campus; apply as soon as you are admitted. Shared flats are also easier to find than in Munich or Berlin.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| TU Dresden semester contributionWinter 2026/27; includes the semester ticket | €361per semester | ≈ ₹38,266 |
| Room in a student hall (Studierendenwerk)Dresden halls are usually at the lower end of the German range | €250–450per month | ≈ ₹26,500 – ₹47,700 |
| Room in a shared flat (WG)Typical German range including bills. | €350–750per month | ≈ ₹37,100 – ₹79,500 |
| Food and groceriesCooking at home and eating in the university canteen (Mensa) keeps this low | €200–300per month | ≈ ₹21,200 – ₹31,800 |
| Statutory student health insuranceAbout €118–€123 base contribution plus each insurer's extra contribution in 2026 | €135–150per month | ≈ ₹14,310 – ₹15,900 |
| Phone, internet, study materials and leisureOur total of typical monthly costs from the Germany guide | €95–185per month | ≈ ₹10,070 – ₹19,610 |
Campus and location
Dresden is a city of about 570,000 people on the Elbe, known for its rebuilt baroque centre, art collections and green river meadows.
- The main campus is south of the old town, with research institutes of Fraunhofer, Max Planck and Leibniz close by.
- Silicon Saxony's chip and electronics firms offer internships and working-student jobs.
- The semester ticket covers public transport in the region.
- Prague and Berlin are about two hours away.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Graduates in microelectronics, computer science and engineering are in demand in Dresden's semiconductor cluster and across Germany. German language skills widen your choices considerably. The figures below are general rules and statistics, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search permit after graduating | Up to 18 months, for bachelor's and master's graduates | Make it in Germany |
| Work allowed while studying | 140 full days or 280 half days a year (student assistant jobs at the university don't count) | Make it in Germany |
| Statutory minimum wage, 2026 | €13.90 an hour | Federal Government: minimum wage |
| International students at TU Dresden | 20% | Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does TU Dresden charge tuition?
Not for a first degree as of 2026. You pay the semester contribution (€361 for winter 2026/27). Saxony has discussed fees for non-EU students, but none are in force.
Which master's are taught in English?
Among others: Computer Science, Computational Modeling and Simulation, Nanoelectronic Systems, Organic and Molecular Electronics, Molecular Bioengineering and Hydro Science and Engineering.
Is Dresden good for electronics and chip design?
Yes. It is the centre of Silicon Saxony, Europe's largest microelectronics cluster.
How do I apply?
Most international applicants apply through uni-assist. Get your APS certificate first.
Is Dresden cheaper than other German cities?
Generally yes, especially for rent, compared with Munich, Frankfurt or Berlin.
Sources
- TU Dresden: range of study programmes (opens in a new tab)
- TU Dresden: MSc Computational Modeling and Simulation (opens in a new tab)
- Gabble: TU Dresden guide (semester contribution 2026/27) (opens in a new tab)
- TU9: English-taught master's programmes 2026/27 (brochure) (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: TU Dresden (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: TU Dresden (opens in a new tab)
- Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom: scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government): visa and residence for studying (opens in a new tab)
- APS India: academic evaluation centre for Indian applicants (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Government: minimum wage 2026 and 2027 (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD scholarship database (opens in a new tab)
Official website: tu-dresden.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details