§ 18d AufenthG ("researcher residence permit")

Campus

About the TRC

Tübingen is a research city. One of Germany's oldest and most renowned universities and a wide range of top-level research institutes, including several Max Planck Institutes, the Leibniz Association and the Helmholtz Association, are located here. Together, they make Tübingen an ideal place for science and research.

The Tübingen Research Campus aims to further intensify cooperation among local research institutes and to offer joint services to scientists interested in joining us.

Partner Institutions

Tübingen's research institutions have joined forces in the Tübingen Research Campus (TRC), bringing together 13 institutions from different areas of science with one common goal: collaborating to produce outstanding research.

Industry Liaison Office

Identify innovative research, find partners, share scientific knowledge: With its extensive intra- and extra-university networking, the Industry Liaison Office offers individually tailored support for innovative and transfer-oriented research topics. This can include, for example, finding suitable partners from business, politics and society and advising on collaboration.

Research

Research in Tübingen

Tübingen is a special place for research. Very few locations offer such a wide range of research areas in such close proximity - both physically and figuratively. Not only are all of Tübingen's research institutions just a stone's throw away from each other, they also collaborate closely within the Tübingen Research Campus.

Excellence Strategy

Tübingen's unique research environment provides an ideal ground for collaborative projects in various areas. This is one of the many reasons why Tübingen is receiving funding from the German Federal and State Governments Excellence Strategy. As a consequence, excellence attracts further excellence: Over the years, more and more top-level research institutions have come to the city, forming the rich and vibrant academic community of the Tübingen Research Campus.

Joint Initiatives in Tübingen

Tübingen is an ideal place for collaboration due to the physical proximity of the partners of the TRC, which are further embedded in regional, national and international networks. Graduate and PhD programs also benefit from the presence of top-level experts at different research institutions, making Tübingen a hotspot for interdisciplinary graduate training. Here, you find a list of examples of local cooperation projects.

Tübingen Neuro Campus

Resources for Researchers

Information on the German research system and funding organisations.

Discover the Projects of our Researchers

Life in Tübingen

Life in Tübingen

Life in Tübingen is life in the heart of Europe and in one of Germany's most scenic and economically competitive regions. It's a bustling mediaeval town with a young, international, and vibrant population and a rich cultural and artistic scene. Lectures, concerts, film festivals, and more: life in Tübingen never gets boring.

General Information

Paperwork

Preparing Your Stay

Before you come to Tübingen, there are some things you can already do. And should you have to leave again, it's time to consider a few more things.

Accommodation

Daily Life

Personal Support

Depending on the TRC partner institution where you will be based, you may be able to receive personal support to help you organize your stay and settle in Tübingen. Please check this page to find out how to find your point of contact.

Contact

§ 18d AufenthG ("researcher residence permit")

You are here:

Are you a PhD student or a postdoc with an employment contract aiming to complete a research stay at the University of Tübingen or its related institutions? Then the appropriate residence permit for you is the residence permit according to § 18d AufenthG ("researcher").

Requirements

In order to obtain a § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit, you will be asked to provide a hosting agreement upon your appointment at the German embassy or consulate. Within Tübingen University, only the Welcome Center is authorized to issue this hosting agreement.

For more information, please visit the Welcome Center homepage.

Are you looking for the Welcome Center of the Max-Planck-Institute? You can find it here.

What opportunities does the § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit offer?

The § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit offers many advantages over other types of residence permits. It is advantages include:

Under certain conditions you are entitled to get child benefits. Your spouse won’t have to prove German language ability if you want to bring your family with you.
The § 18d AufenthG ("reseacher") visa is issued much faster than any other visa.
The immigration office cannot deny your § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit if you have a valid hosting agreement. The hosting agreement gives you a legal entitlement to this residence permit.
No enrollment at the University is needed. You do not have to pay the semester fee if you choose not to enroll during your doctoral studies.
Eligibility to obtain a settlement permit after four years in Germany.

Possible disadvantages of the § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit

Higher financial requirements than other types of residence permit, such as the § 16b AufenthG ("student") residence permit.
Your employment is tied to the University of Tübingen or its related institutions. You therefore cannot take up a part-time job at an employer outside of the University.

The § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit ties you to the University of Tübingen much more than any other type of residence permit. Please keep in mind that you will need

A host at the University or its related institutions
A work contract at the University or its related institutions / a scholarship / sufficient private funding
A valid research project

at all times during your stay in Germany. If you fail to provide the above-mentioned, your residence permit cannot be extended!

Can I get a § 18d AufenthG ("researcher") residence permit without a work contract?

Yes. PhD students and Postdocs without a work contract can obtain a hosting agreement if

they can prove that they are the recipient of a scholarship or
they can prove sufficient private funding (e.g. bank statements) in EUR

to cover the cost of living during the entire duration of their research stay.

Pages of Interest

Research in Tübingen

Visit page

Life in Tübingen

Visit page

Tübingen Neuro Campus

The Neurosciences in Tübingen with more than 100 active research groups have the potential to rank among the most successful neuroscientific sites in Europe.

Visit page