Visiting researchers from Eastern Europe

For over twenty five years, Saarland University has had cooperative links with universities in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, South-East Europe and the Caucasus. The cooperative agreements between Saarland University and the participating institutions have always aimed to encourage and promote a wide range of collaborative projects in both research and teaching. The partnerships are financed mostly by funds from the DAAD Programme for Eastern Partnerships (German Academic Exchange Service)  and the funding provides support to scientists and scholars from all academic disciplines.

How does the programme work?

  • Please apply to the international office at your home institution to request that your proposed project is included in the annual work programme.
  • If your project is accepted, you will need to coordinate and agree travel dates with your academic partner at Saarland University.
  • You should then contact the international office at your home institution and inform them about your planned travel dates. The international office at your home institution will notify us about your travel dates and they will also coordinate the administrative and organizational aspects of your stay.
  • Our Welcome Center will help you prepare for your stay and will assist you with the formalities, as well as (where possible) with arranging accommodation in the university’s guest houses. Notifying us of your travel dates well in advance increases the chances of a room being available in the guest houses for your desired period.
  • Travel fees will be covered by your home institution, while other costs for the visit (rent and the grant for your stay itself) will be paid by us.

The contact person for any inquiries regarding applications for the Eastern Partnerships programme is: Dr. Ekaterina Klüh: ekaterina.klueh(at)uni-saarland.de

What do I need to organize once I have arrived in Saarbrücken?

  • You will be given the keys to your accommodation and two copies of your rental agreement. Please sign both copies and return one of them to us.
  • Your maintenance grant will be paid to you by bank cheque. You can cash the cheque at the office of Bank 1 Saar, which is located on campus.
  • You will normally be given an appointment at which you will receive your grant cheque. You will be notified of your appointment in advance. If you have not received prior notification of your appointment, please call us after arriving in Saarbrücken.
  • Administrative formalities will be carried out at the Campus Center (Building A4 4) on the Saarbrücken campus.

How to get to Saarbrücken and Homburg

On this website we provide you with an overview of the nearest airports and how to commute from there, as well as the public transport in the city of Saarbrücken and Homburg.

How to get here

If you are travelling by public transport, it may be worth buying a so-called “Deutschland-ticket” for the month of your stay, as it gives access to unlimited regional public transport in Germany. Please do not forget to cancel the subscription for the ticket, it can basically be done right when you sign up for the month that you need the ticket for.

Information on the Deutschlandticket

Housing in Saarbrücken and Homburg

For shorter stay, such as DAAD Eastern Partnership visits, we recommend that you look into the option of hotels, holiday homes ("Ferienwohnung") or an AirBnB.
If you contact us in the Welcome Center we can verify the possibility of hosting you in the guesthouse of Saarland University. If this is possible, the costs for the guesthouse will be automatically covered by your grant and the difference will be paid to you.

In addition, Saarland tourism offers a list of holiday homes: https://tourismus.saarbruecken.de/uebernachten/ferienwohnungen

There are also a few guesthouses that are located close to the campus in Saarbrücken and Homburg. If you require more information on how to find accommodation for shorter stays, do not hesitate to contact us at welcome(at)uni-saarland.de.

Exploring the campus

Both Saarbrücken and Homburg have a campus that is worth a visit.
The Saarbrücken campus is set in a green, forested area and combines academic buildings with cafés, sports facilities, and student housing in a compact, lively setting.
The Homburg campus is integrated into the Saarland University Medical Center, bringing together teaching, research, and clinical practice in one place.

Libraries on campus

If you want to visit a library on campus, you actually have a great variety to choose from, in particular on Saarbrücken campus.

The SULB Central Library is located at the heart of Saarbrücken campus and offers books and materials for all subjects and departments, as well as larger rooms to read and study.
But there are several other libraries all over campus, as well as the Medical Library in Homburg.

Overview of libraries

How to spend your free time?

Tourist Offices

The tourist office can be a great start to learn about all tourist offers that the state of Saarland has to offer.

Tourist Office Saarbrücken

Tourist Office Homburg

What to see?

Saarland offers a mix of nature, culture, and cross-border experiences that are ideal for short stays. One of the region’s highlights is the Saarschleife, a scenic viewpoint over the Saar River, as well as the UNESCO-listed “Völklinger Hütte”, which showcases the region’s industrial heritage. The state capital Saarbrücken offers a charming old town, cafés, and cultural venues, while nearby France adds an international flair with easy access to French cuisine and culture. 

If you have the time to visit cities in the surroundings of Saarbrücken you could look at a visit to the city of Trier, which is also a partner of Saarland University within the University of the Greater Region.
Due to the proximity of Saarland to the borders of both countries, you can also easily take a trip to France and Luxembourg. Cities such as Metz, Nancy, Strasbourg and of course Luxembourg City are easy to reach by public transport.

Events throughout the year

Spring 

Summer 

Late Summer / Autumn 

  • Wine and regional festivals, especially along the Saar and Moselle regions
  • German Unity Day celebrations (October 03)

Winter

Point of contact

Your main point of contact will of course be your host and the faculty or department that you are planning to visit.

Nevertheless, you should know the Welcome Center, a part of the International Relations Department, and it is located inside the International Office on campus Saarbrücken.
The opening hours are Monday to Friday, 09:30 - 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:00.
You can visit the Welcome Center for questions about the campus or the city and our team will do its best to help you during your stay. All the formalities relating to your stay and the payment of the Eastern Partnership scholarship are handled by the Welcome Center.

Welcome Center