Events & recreational activities
Information Events:
Our recurring event "Welcome Session" takes place every month as usual:
Events offered by the NRW-Event-Alliance:
Further events for the upcoming semester might be announced.
Please register via the event-specific registration forms.
All events are held in English.
This online information event provides an overview of the pension system in Germany and Europe. You will be given an introduction to pension provisions in Europe and the information portal “FindyourPension.eu”. Experts from the German Pension Insurance (DRV) will present key facts about the statutory pension scheme, including entitlements and refund options. The session will also cover occupational pension insurance with VBL, the supplementary pension institution for public sector employees in Germany. The event concludes with a Q&A session, offering you the opportunity to ask individual questions.
Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Cost: free of charge
Speakers: VBL (Versorgungsanstalt des Bundes und der Länder)
Target Audience: International Researchers with employment contract
Language: English
Registration: FULLY BOOKED
The Welcome Session is an online event designed to inform you about the first steps in Germany. Topics that are relevant for many researchers before the start of their stay and during the first weeks in Germany will be explained. You will also have the opportunity to ask general questions about your research stay at RUB and about life in Germany. You are welcome to attend a Welcome Session before your arrival, alternatively, we recommend that you attend the first Welcome Session after your arrival. The sessions are offered on a monthly basis.
Date: Tueday, September 22, 2026, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration: by Monday, September 21, 2026 via our registration form
More dates will be announced soon.
If you have come from abroad to teach and/or do research in NRW, particularly if you have not yet fully mastered the German language, some things in the work area may not be easy to understand. To support you and in order to prevent difficulties based on lack of knowledge, the Staff Council of UDE would like to inform you in English about your rights and obligations as an employee.
The following topics will be addressed in a short presentation: Staff categories, employment contracts, job descriptions, working hours (overtime, extra work, home office), teaching loads, leave, public holidays, interruption of work (temporary absences, maternity leave etc.).
There will also be room for your individual questions afterwards.
The event will be in English.
This event is organized by our partners of the NRW-Event-Alliance.
Date: Monday, September 7, 2026, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration by: Monday, August 31, 2026, via the Registration form
Germany has a reputation for having one of the best social security systems in the world. At its core, the social security system is based on five pillars: health insurance, long-term care insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance and accident insurance.
But how does the system actually work? Which insurances are available for international researchers? What differences apply to researchers with a work contract and those with a scholarship? What are the benefits of statutory health insurance? What do you need to consider when seeing a doctor? Which additional private insurances are beneficial for international researchers? All these questions will be addressed in this information session. Furthermore, the event will provide time to address participants' individual questions.
The event will be in English.
This event is organized by our partners of the NRW-Event-Alliance.
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration by: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, via the registration form
A variety of institutions with diverse objectives and interests characterise the German research landscape. In this seminar, participants will learn about the German higher education system, non-university research institutions as well as possible entry positions and support structures for (international) junior scientists. In addition, the seminar will also present career prospects in Germany beyond research positions.
The event will be in English.
This event is organized by our partners of the NRW-Event-Alliance.
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Format: online via Zoom
Costs: free of charge
Registration by: Monday, December 7, 2026, via the registration form
Further events for the upcoming semester might be announced.
We would like to point out that photos may be taken at all in-person events and that these photos may be used for the purposes of the Welcome Centre. If you do not wish to have photos taken of you, please contact us.
