Training

Guides for your PhD time in Dresden

• PhD Survival Guide
• Welcome Guide for Researchers
• PhD Guide at TU Dresden

1. Sign the contract with TUD, Max Planck, or Leibniz
2. activate your ZIH account:
   1.  If you are employed at TUD, activate your ZIH account using the coupon received during contract signing.
   2. If you are employed by another Institution (i.e. Max Planck Institute, Leibniz IPF) then you will receive an invitation to set up a guest ZIH account from the coordinator to activate it
3. Submit the application document for the admission as doctoral candidate
   1. Register on Promovendus: https://promovendus.tu-dresden.de/home
   2. Filll out the forms with contact information and details about your former degrees, making sure to select RTG 3120 in the doctoral program section, and upload your certificates and transcripts, CV, and signed supervision agreement (https://tu-dresden.de/ga/ressourcen/dateien/mitgliedschaft/mitgliedschaftsdokumente/Supervision_Agreement.pdf?lang=en )
   3. Print out and sign the forms, in addition to signature of supervisors
   4. Submit the forms in person to the Doctoral Examinations Office of your faculty
   5. Once approval is received, you can now enrol at TUD (Matriculation)
4. Matriculation: Prerequisite for Matriculation as a doctoral student is the acceptance as a doctoral student by the Doctoral Committee of the faculty at which you wish to do your doctorate.
   1. Login with ZIH account to Selma Portal: https://selma.tu-dresden.de/APP/EXTERNALPAGES/-N000000000000002,-N000511,-ABUZ_welcome_extern_en
   2. Click on Application and Current Applications, answer the three questions:
      1. What kind of studies are you applying for?*
      2. What is your citizenship?*
      3. What kind of university entrance qualification do you have?*
   3. Click Save
   4. Click on Start Application
   5. Under Subject select your faculty (e.g. Physics or Biology) and under Degree Type select ‘Doctorate’ then click search
   6. Select your subject from the list (e.g. Biology) and then click on Apply.
   7. Make sure to save the application number (e.g BW-######) and fill in the sections individually (starting with ‘Selected degree programme’) then submit.
   8. Click on Health Insurance Data, Edit, and fill in the form, and save
5. Pay semester fee
6. Receive campus card in regular mail (use for public transport and eating in the student Mensa)

Select your contract start date to download the correct TAC report template

• April 1st
• May 1st
• July 15th
• September 1st
• September 15th

The structured nature of the research training group offers many opportunities, but also responsibilities of all participants. Therefore, the following list highlights the most important, but not all, duties to be fulfilled towards the RTG in order for the program to fulfil its mission. 

1. Inform yourself about TUD regulations on enrolment and graduation
2. Apply for acceptance as a doctoral student and enrolment (Matriculation) at TUD in the respective faculties
3. Attend and actively participate in organised teaching and training events (curriculum)
4. Present project plans and results (in PhD Seminars, Retreats, TAC meetings)
5. Submit TAC reports and organise TAC meetings in a timely manner
6. Inform the RTG coordinator about
   • publications of research done in connection with the RTG
   • relevant dates of doctoral proceedings at TUD after thesis submission
   • change of contact information, desk/bench location, or contractual conditions (pregnancy, parental leave, prolonged sick leave etc)
   • circumstances that may cause the student to terminate their affiliation to the program prematurely.
7. initiate doctoral proceedings at the faculty and complete thesis within forseen duration
8. Submit of a bound copy of the thesis to the RTG coordinator
9. complete the leaving questionnaire upon fulfilling all RTG requirements, including (tentative) future plans

Two students will be elected on an annual basis to volunteer in representing RTG students in the RTG committees (Teaching committee, Research Data management, and general assembly). It’s a chance to learn more about the inner workings of the research enterprise, bring forward the suggestions of peers, and improve communication, organisation, and argumentation skills.

The next election takes place on May 29th, 2026. Daria and Anastasiia have volunteered as candidates.

With acceptance of the position at the RTG 3120, you agree to:

• the publication of first name, last name, group, institutional affiliation and E-mail, year of graduation and title of thesis project
• the collection of personal and academic information in an internal database in order to administer the student’s progress within RTG and report to the funding agency (DFG)

After completion of the RTG requirements, including thesis submission within 4 years, and a successful thesis defence, a certificate is issued by the RTG to acknowledge the successful participation in the program and detailing the completed requirements.