The International Centre has compiled information for academics affected by the war in Ukraine and its repercussions. This information is intended to provide an initial impression of Leipzig as a centre of science. We also provide assistance on topics such as working at Leipzig University, learning German and research funding.
The information below will be continuously updated to reflect the changing situation.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides an overview of support services offered by higher education institutions and partner organisations, including: Information about resuming/continuing studies, visa matters and residence permits.
DAAD OVERVIEW
Leipzig as a centre of science and Leipzig University profile
Leipzig University works together with numerous universities and non-university research institutions in Leipzig and Central Germany. It works closely with its partners in the fields of research, teaching and transfer. You will find information about Leipzig as a centre of science on the university website.
Leipzig Science Network e. V. (LSN) is a good place to start finding out about the important scientific institutions in Leipzig. The objective of LSN is to network the different academic institutions and research institutes in Leipzig and to identify and foster opportunities for cooperation. In this, LSN acts as a neutral, joint platform for exchange, cooperation and scientific exchange.
You can find information about the research profile of Leipzig University and its interdisciplinary centres on the university website.
Research at Leipzig University focuses on three strategic fields that address forward-looking and socially relevant issues. The areas of specialisation they cover comprise the humanities and social sciences, life science and natural science in roughly equal parts, which are investigated by means of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Detailed information on individual research activities (projects, publications, partnerships, events) is available on Leipzig University’s research portal, leuris.
Leipzig University has 14 faculties and 17 central institutes. If you wish to contact a faculty to discuss opportunities for collaboration or research, you will find the names of the person to contact on the faculty page.
Yes. Doctoral researchers have two options: You can do your doctorate individually or participate in a structured doctoral programme.
All information about these two paths, the application steps and scholarships can be found on the International Centre website.
The Chance-for-Science platform offers refugee academics and students a chance to contact universities and research institutes.
The Leipzig Science Network e. V. (LSN) is a very good starting point for getting to know important scientific institutions in Leipzig. The Leipzig Science Network supports its members in solving common tasks of the institutions in a cooperative manner and creates exchange formats for scientists and employees in administration and infrastructure. The network's activities create short distances between the participating institutions as well as synergies in research, teaching, transfer, administration and infrastructure.
Before my stay
I’m preparing for my stay at Leipzig University and have some questions about financing it.
Information about funding for Ukrainian academics has been compiled in the section entitled Research Funding.
Leipzig University also provides information about the Hilde Domin scholarship programme for students and doctoral candidates at risk.
Further links:
To apply for funding, you need to be in contact with a host institute, a professor or a mentor. It is best to apply with their help.
You will find an overview of the faculties and central institutes of Leipzig University on the university website. If you wish to contact a faculty to discuss opportunities for collaboration or research, you will find the names of the person to contact on the faculty page.
- The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides information and support services for students and academics (including in Ukrainian) on its National Academic Contact Point web page.
The DAAD itself offers the programme "Future Ukraine: Research Grants for Ukrainian Master's students and researchers". - Students and researchers from Ukraine can find an overview of paid academic posts in scientific fields (doctoral level and higher), study and research opportunities for doctoral candidates and students, as well as accommodation offers all over the world, on the Science-for-Ukraine website.
- You will find an excellent overview of funding and support offers all over Germany on the Erfurt University website.
- The University of New Europe has compiled offers from all over Europe.
- EURAXESS Germany provides information for refugees, international students and academics. Refugee academics can search for host academic organisations on this site.
- The Chance-for-Science platform provides a means for refugee academics and students to contact universities and research institutes.
Department 1: Research and Transfer will advise you on this. The people to contact there are Dr Sindy Schug and Dr Barbara Weiner.
During my stay
My stay at Leipzig University is starting and I have some questions about work and mentoring during that time.
The possibilities for working at the University of Leipzig include:
- Employment contracts: employment in the civil service (you will find further information in German in the Guide to Employment in the Civil Service)
- Fellowship agreement
- Short-term guest agreements, up to 22 days
- Guest agreements up to 3 months and exceeding 3 months
- Guest lecture agreement
- Visiting scholar status: being recognised as a visiting scholar secures your legal status at Leipzig University even if you are not employed here.
You will find detailed information on guest agreements and visiting scholar status on the website of the Leipzig University Welcome Centre.
To apply for a contract or guest agreement, you need to be in contact with a host institute, a professor or a mentor. It is best to apply with their help.
You will find an overview of the faculties and central institutes of Leipzig University on the university website. If you wish to contact a faculty to discuss opportunities for collaboration or research, you will find the names of the person to contact on the faculty page.
The Leipzig University Welcome Centre will help you with any questions you may have during your stay. You will find FAQs, information and networking offers on its website.
The Welcome to Leipzig project is a guide for international academics and researchers. In it, you will find information, advice, networking opportunities and FAQs.
Leipzig University offers refugees auditor status free of charge. Being an auditor (known in German as a Gasthörer) allows you to attend individual courses at Leipzig University without taking exams or earning a qualification at the end. Auditors are entitled to a library card for the University Library.
You don’t need a university entrance qualification to apply for auditor status. You do, however, require permission to remain in Germany pending the decision about your asylum application.
The Euraxess Network has compiled information for academics on getting their qualifications recognised.
A list of sworn translators can be found in this database.
You can take German courses at various institutions in our city:
- The interDaF association at the Herder Institute of our university offers courses for foreign academics and doctoral candidates.
- Volkshochschule Leipzig offers a variety of German courses.
- The City of Leipzig also has special integration and language offers, including integration courses for family members.
- An overview of more German language courses can be found on the City of Leipzig website.
- For information on how to access basic German courses, you can also contact the Welcome Center of the City of Leipzig
- You will also find comprehensive information about learning the German language in the information package provided by the Federal Employment Agency.
- The Leipzig University Welcome Centre organises German-language beginners’ courses for guest academics in collaboration with interDaF. If you are interested in taking part, please notify the Welcome Centre team.
After my stay
My stay at Leipzig University is coming to an end and I have questions about the next steps.
Please enquire about the funding opportunities available at Leipzig University in order to prolong your stay:
- Information about funding for Ukrainian academics has been compiled in the section entitled Research Funding.
- Further information on research funding can be found on the university website. Here you will also find information on funding databases.
The team at the City of Leipzig Willkommenszentrum (Welcome Centre) will gladly advise you on funding opportunities and job market prospects outside the university. The City of Leipzig Willkommenszentrum offers regular information events on integration into the labour market for Ukrainian refugees. In addition, regular counselling events are organised here, for example by the Job Centre.
If you are prolonging your research fellowship at Leipzig University (that is, your funding is already secured), you can contact the team at the Welcome Centre.
In all other cases, you can get advice from the staff of the Ausländerbehörde (Foreigners' Registration Office; information in German) in Leipzig.
If you are a private individual wishing to make accommodation available for guest academics, you can notify Leipzig Science Network e. V. directly.
The City of Leipzig centralises voluntary offers of assistance and donations (information in German).
Arrival in Leipzig and general guidance
I need help on questions about arriving in Leipzig and guidance in general.
Under the provisions of the Ukraine Transitional Regulation on Residence (UkraineAufenthÜV; information in German), which was extended on 8 April, refugees from Ukraine who entered Germany after 24 February 2022 may remain here until 31 August 2022 without a visa or registering their arrival.
- The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is a reliable source of information on these questions (also in Ukrainian and Russian).
- There is also reliable information on the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for Integration (also in Ukrainian and Russian).
For questions about residence rights, you can contact the Sächsischer Flüchtlingsrat (Saxony Refugee Council) or Refugee Law Clinic Leipzig.
- Information about finding your feet in Leipzig: City of Leipzig website
- Point of contact for initial orientation and for questions after you have arrived: Welcome Centre Leipzig website
- Overview of advisory services: City of Leipzig website
- Information, support and networking opportunities provided by Leipzig citizens:
- City map with support services and points of contact:
Afeefa Leipzig
The City of Leipzig Welcome Centre is the first place to go to if you have any questions on this subject.
- The City of Leipzig provides information about the initial reception centres for refugees across the Free State of Saxony.
- The Leipzig helps Ukraine network has an overview of available accommodation.
- Volunteers at the Kontaktstelle Wohnen provide support and assistance for anyone seeking accommodation in Leipzig.
- Unterkunft Ukraine is an online platform offering accommodation in private households throughout Germany.
- The Leipzig Science Network Guest can arrange private accommodation for guest academics. Please contact us with enquiries. If you have accommodation you want to make available, you can contact the Leipzig Science Network directly.