News from the Welcome Centre

Dear international academics,

A warm welcome to all our new researchers, PhD students and guests who have recently arrived in Passau. We are happy to have you here! And, of course, a big welcome back to all familiar faces as we start into the new Winter Semester.

For those who do not know us yet: We at the Welcome Centre are your first point of contact for all non-academic questions about life on campus and in Passau. If you need support, feel free to reach out to us. We are happy to help you and your family settle in and feel at home.

With autumn just around the corner, we have put together a selection of events and opportunities for you to join and get involved in. We would also like to invite you to our Welcome Centre's Semester Opening Event. Come by, meet some new people, catch up with familiar faces, and enjoy a relaxed afternoon with us. We hope to see many of you there!

Warm regards,

Your Welcome Centre Team

To kick off the winter semester and the autumn season in Passau, we would like to invite you to a cozy coffee get-together at Café Minoo.

Located right on Residenzplatz in the Old Town, the café provides a beautiful setting for meeting both old friends and new people. Together, we will take the opportunity to enjoy the German tradition of having "Kaffee and Kuchen" (coffee and cake) in the afternoon.

As always, we warmly invite you as well as your friends and families.

If you want to join us, please send us an email so that we can make a reservation: researchmobility@uni-passau.de.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Date and Time: 16 October 2026 at 15:00

Location: Café Minoo, Große Messergasse 2, 94032 Passau-Altstadt

The President of the University of Passau, Prof. Dr. Jan H. Schumann, is delighted to invite you, the international researchers, students and guests of the University of Passau, to a welcome reception given in your honour, on Thursday, 08 October 2026 at 18:30 in HS 10 AM.

Please register for the event here, if you wish to attend.

Date and Time: 08 October 2026 at 18:30

Location: Lecture Hall 10 in Audimax (HS 10 AM), Innstraße 31

The Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (PICAIS) at the University of Passau invites applications worldwide from internationally established academics as well as from promising junior researchers at the postdoctoral level for Research-in-Residence Fellowships and Academic Event Funding at the University of Passau, Germany.

Research-in-Residence Fellowship

• Funding of a visiting position for Junior or Senior researchers at the University of Passau
• Funding includes cost of accommodation and living expense, travel costs/mobility allowance, research cost contribution
• Duration: 2 - 6 months
• Eligibility: researchers/academics holding a doctorate
• Applications must be endorsed by a member of the University of Passau, who will act as their host

Academic Event Funding

• Funding of academic events to be held in Passau
• Aims at international networking and cooperation between researchers at different career stages; exchange of ideas on innovative research issues
• Eligibility: researchers/academics holding a doctorate
• Applications must include a member of the University of Passau who acts as the main organizer of the event, externals act as co-organizers

The next application deadline for the above mentioned PICAIS funding programmes is: Thursday, 15 October 2026

Please refer to the PICAIS website as well as the attached calls/guidelines for detailed information regarding the requirements of the application, eligibility criteria, selection procedure, and application forms.

The calls can be also found on LinkedIn.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the PICAIS office (picais-office@uni-passau.de) at any time.

On 29 October 2026, the Passau International Centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies (PICAIS) ist hosting the next edition of its event series: The PICAIS Alumni Talks 2026.

Former Fellows will share exciting insights into their research projects at the University of Passau – including new developments and findings that have emerged since their Fellowship.

• Discover innovative research approaches
• Experience international perspectives
• Engage in discussion and connect with researchers worldwide

Date and Time: 29 October 2026, 15:00 - 17:00 CET

Location: Online via Zoom

Please contact picais-office@uni-passau.de to receive the Zoom link. The event is open to everyone!

Please find more information about the speakers and their presentations in the event flyer.

"All You Can Do" (AYCD) is an intercultural volunteer programme where you can get involved in social projects in Passau together with fellow students and researchers from all over the world. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and locals, practise your language skills - and have fun along the way.

Choose from 21 local volunteering projects based on what interests you, and you will be matched with a team. One semester or longer, more or fewer hours – you decide.

Gain: A certificate for your CV and, in some degree programs, ECTS credits.

Curious? Registration is open until 18 October 2026. Please find more information on the AYCD website.

AYCD is a program run by International Support Services.

Questions?
allyoucando@uni-passau.de
DM us: @allyoucando.unipassau

Would you like to bring home a memento of your stay in Passau or a souvenir for your family and friends? With the official University of Passau merchandise, you now have the opportunity to purchase hoodies, T-shirts, caps, jute bags, or socks in a variety of colors. The materials are sustainable and produced under fair trade conditions.

Official University of Passau merchandise is available in the Pustet online shop and at the Pustet branch in Passau.

Free self-defence courses will be offered once again this semester. The training courses will teach you simple, easy-to-learn and, above all, effective techniques that can help you gain (some) control over a physically or psychologically violent situation and assert yourself. Coaches Bekim Prenaj and Federico Marrone both have many years of experience in self-defence under their belt. Kathrin Schopf will assist the two coaches and provide simultaneous interpretation in English.

The self-defence training sessions will take place on the following dates from 11:00 to 14:00 in the multi-purpose hall at the Sports Centre:

· 12 December: Female staff and students, Stud.IP 69038

· 13 December: Students (all genders), Stud.IP 69039

· 23 January: Staff (all genders), Stud.IP 69040

· 24 January: Female staff and students, Stud.IP 69041

· 30 January: Students (all genders), Stud.IP 69042

· 31 January: Female students, Stud.IP 69043

These training courses are free of charge and barrier-free and are offered in German and English. To register, and for further information, please visit the relevant Stud.IP page. Please note that the number of participants is limited.

V.i.S.d.P.: Universität Passau, Innstraße 41, 94032 Passau
Welcome Centre, Tel.:0851/509 -1169
Contact for any queries: researchmobility@uni-passau.de