- Founded
- 2003
- Students
- 502
- International
- 23%
- Programmes
- 35
- Taught in English
- 8
About DIU - Dresden International University GmbH
Dresden International University (DIU) is a state-recognised private university founded on 11 April 2003, specialising in academic continuing education at bachelor's, master's, and certificate level. It operates as an affiliated institute (An-Institut) of TU Dresden and is organised across three departments: Management & Legal, Engineering & Technology, and Life Sciences.
DIU is headquartered in the World Trade Center building in central Dresden and offers around 30+ degree programmes, with several delivered entirely in English for an international student audience. The institution places strong emphasis on professional experience as a component of admission, targeting working professionals and career-changers alongside recent graduates.
As a private institution, DIU charges tuition fees for all programmes; fees vary by programme (for example, the Clinical Research M.Sc. costs €895 per month). DIU is not a tuition-free public university. Programmes are accredited by ZEvA or ACQUIN and the institution holds state recognition from the Saxon Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism.
Private, state-recognised university founded in 2003 as an affiliated institute of TU Dresden
Three departments: Management & Legal, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences
Several fully English-taught master's programmes targeting international students
Located in Dresden World Trade Center - strong links to Saxony's microelectronics and biotech industry cluster
Programmes accredited by ZEvA and ACQUIN; recognised by Saxon Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism
Tuition-based institution - not tuition-free; fees vary per programme (example: ~€895/month for Clinical Research M.Sc.)
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 2003
- Students
- 502
- International
- ~23%
- Faculties
- 3
- Programmes
- 35
Study programmes
35 accredited degrees at DIU - Dresden International University GmbH, 8 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–35 of 35 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
DIU is a private university and charges tuition fees for all programmes. Fees vary by programme. Example: Clinical Research M.Sc. - €895 per month (total approx. €13,425 for 15 months), with a €9,000 deposit required before the first course. DIU is not tuition-free. No semester administration fee (Semesterbeitrag) in the public-university sense is listed. Scholarships (Deutschlandstipendium, DAAD, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation) are highlighted as financing options.
Admission requirements
Bachelor's programmes require a general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulreife/Abitur or equivalent). Master's programmes require a completed first academic degree (bachelor's or equivalent, national or international). Applicants without Abitur who hold relevant vocational training plus at least one year of professional experience may qualify via an entrance examination. Professional experience is weighted heavily alongside formal qualifications. Individual programmes may require specific prerequisites - prospective students should contact the programme manager. APS certificate (required for applicants from India, China, Vietnam) is not explicitly addressed on the DIU website; international applicants should confirm with DIU's Study Advisory team. Language requirement for English-taught programmes: sufficient English proficiency (programmes are delivered in English; no specific IELTS band is published site-wide - confirm per programme). German-taught programmes require German proficiency.
Application deadlines
Varies by programme and intake. Example deadlines: Clinical Research M.Sc. (October 2026 start) - application deadline 14 August 2026. Programme starts are typically 1 April and 1 October each year. Entrance exam dates for alternative-entry applicants: 18 February 2026 and 12 August 2026. Check individual programme pages on di-uni.de for current deadlines.
How international applicants apply
Direct application - no uni-assist. Applications go through DIU's own 'Application Form for Admission' with personal advisory interviews (Study Advisory team, phone/e-mail/WhatsApp); the university guides international applicants onward through visa, insurance, accommodation and settling-in support. Access requirements are set per programme (bachelor: general/fachgebundene higher-education entrance qualification; master: first academic degree), and applicants without Abitur can qualify via DIU's own Hochschulzugangspruefung after 3 years of professional experience. uni-assist is not mentioned anywhere in the admission pages.
Languages of instruction
German and English. Several master's programmes are offered entirely in English (e.g. Clinical Research M.Sc., Logistics Management MBA, Industrial Management in Microelectronics M.Sc., Chiropractic B.Sc./M.Sc.).
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at DIU - Dresden International University GmbH
1 scheme run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Student accommodation
What DIU - Dresden International University GmbH publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
From the university
The university has a Student Service Center (Room 317) that supports enrolled international students with accommodation, residence registration, and healthcare guidance.
Campuses & locations
Freiberger Str. 37, 01067 Dresden - sole campus
Living in Dresden
Dresden is the state capital of Saxony in eastern Germany, with approximately 560,000 inhabitants. It is a major centre for microelectronics, semiconductor manufacturing (home to Globalfoundries, Infineon, and Bosch Semiconductor), and biomedical research, making it especially relevant for engineering and life-sciences students. The city offers a comparatively low cost of living relative to Munich or Berlin, a UNESCO-recognised historic old town, and strong public transport links. TU Dresden, one of Germany's TU9 research universities, is also located here.
Student life & support
DIU's campus is located in the World Trade Center in central Dresden, accessible by tram (lines 7, 10, 12) and S-Bahn. The university has a Student Service Center (Room 317) that supports enrolled international students with accommodation, residence registration, and healthcare guidance. An alumni network and community events are maintained. Many DIU programmes are structured for working professionals, with part-time and blended/online delivery formats common.
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