Regenerative Biology and Medicine Dresden University of Technology

Regenerative Biology and Medicine (RegBioMed) is an international Master's programme that has nurtured academia- and industry-ready graduates for over a decade.

Join us and discover how stem cells, molecular biology, and tissue engineering converge to shape the regenerative medicine of the future. Dive into one of the most rapidly developing fields at the interface of science and clinical practice.

During the course of the studies, you will be guided by renowned scientists from the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden. Their expertise is complemented by their colleagues from the Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), the Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, the Faculty of Mathematics and Science of TU Dresden, and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics.

The Regenerative Biology and Medicine programme is not your ordinary classroom experience. It is a fusion of theoretical classes and hands-on experience. On top of various lab practicals, you will have two extensive laboratory rotations in the second and third semesters. You will work on your individual lab project for 15 weeks side by side with leading experts at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) and its cooperating institutes and clinics.

After learning the fundamentals of regenerative biology in the first semester, you will transition to the second semester, where you choose one of three focus areas:

• Regenerative Cell Biology – offers in-depth knowledge of the central molecular and cellular mechanisms of development and regeneration of tissues and organs of the most important model organisms and the associated current experimental analysis methods.
• Regenerative Neuroscience – covers in-depth knowledge of cellular, molecular, systemic, and regenerative neurosciences and the associated current experimental analysis methods as well as the clinical concepts of diseases for which neuro-regenerative therapies exist or are in development.
• Regenerative Medicine – offers in-depth knowledge of the pathology of diseases and the affected organ systems as well as the associated clinical concepts of regenerative medicine including the translation process from bench to bedside.

The course structure is modular. The courses are evenly spread over three semesters. The entire fourth semester is dedicated to a Master's thesis. You can choose from a variety of research topics and work in the excellent research environment of the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) or reach out to research groups at other TU Dresden departments, the clinic, or partner institutes.

The programme comprises nine compulsory modules, one elective module, and a track that is chosen after the first semester. The tracks or focus areas are: (1) Developmental and Regenerative Cell Biology (DevReg), (2) Regenerative Neuroscience (RegNeuro) and (3) Regenerative Medicine (RegMed).

The students need to complete two lab rotations in the fields of (1) Molecular Biology Research and (2) Cell, Organ and Model Organism Based Research. These are part of the curriculum and comprise 225 hours each. The student office will assist students in finding a placement.

Our programme is targeted towards students who have:

• a first university degree in biology or medicine or a similar degree (e.g. biotechnology, biochemistry, etc.) qualifying for a profession where comparable previous knowledge is needed, especially in molecular and cell biology
• a strong command of the English language
• solid knowledge in biology or medicine and solid laboratory experience
• interest in cell and molecular biology research with a clinical connection in the field of regenerative medicine
• inquisitiveness, initiative, and independent thinking

Currently, students pay ~340 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport and regional trains in all of Germany ("Deutschlandticket"). Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 min. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.

Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.

In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.

Deutschlandstipendium, special grant opportunities for thesis semester by CRTD e.V.

General information on scholarships and funding for students is summarised on a dedicated web page of the TU Dresden.

TU Dresden offers plenty of counselling and training by the Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and help optimise their CVs.

Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.

It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.

TU Dresden is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany and is among the top universities in Europe: strong in research, it offers first-rate programmes with an overwhelming diversity, with close ties to culture, industry and society. As a modern comprehensive university with five schools (17 faculties), it offers a wide academic range of programmes. With approximately 29,000 students (20% international) TU Dresden is the largest technical university in Saxony. It enjoys an outstanding national and international reputation for research in natural and engineering sciences.

One of the most prominent characteristics of TU Dresden is its dynamic development – a process that has been going on for years and will continue into the future. As a collaborative university, TU Dresden closely cooperates with external research institutions as well as cultural, industrial, and social organisations. Students also benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration with a focus on practical outcomes. Teaching and research follow the principle of involving both students and graduates into current research early on.

The capital of the Free State of Saxony, Dresden, stands majestically on the river Elbe. The fourth-largest city by area in Germany, Dresden is home not just to riverside palaces, Baroque churches and world-class museums but also to a proud history of science and technology. This finds continuity into the present with the DRESDEN-concept, an alliance of 41 research institutions in and around Dresden of which TUD is a proud and prominent member.

Whether you are interested in theatre, opera, cabaret or cinema, or if you enjoy a stroll through museums or a night out at the pub, Dresden has something to offer for everyone. Students also get an opportunity to be active in the many sports facilities in Dresden, including TU Dresden’s own, or in the surrounding nature of the Elbe landscape, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains (Elbsandsteingebirge) or the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge). The surroundings of the city have plenty to offer and the city is an excellent hub from where to explore Berlin, Prague, Leipzig and Wrocław.