Funding

From Hong Kong to Førde: Three ways to go abroad

Whether it was Hong Kong, the megacity of Shanghai or Førde in the far north of Norway: Karl Märcz, Leon Dresel and Yannic Schena – all three students and graduates of OTH Regensburg – seized the fantastic opportunity in 2026 to go abroad and gain exciting and valuable experience in their specialism of ‘Digital Construction’ (Faculty of Civil Engineering).

And best of all: not only did they receive helpful support in the run-up to their trip from the Building Lab at OTH Regensburg, but their stay abroad was also fully or partially funded. – The three photo stories reveal exactly where, why and for how long the three of them were abroad.

Gathering new insights from around the world on digital construction

Master’s thesis: On the topic of automation and robotics in Shanghai

As part of his Master’s thesis, Karl Märcz spent 71 days in Shanghai, specifically at ‘Shanghai Intelligent Masonry Technology Development’, a company that develops robots to individual specifications. He funded his stay largely himself, in addition to a grant from BayChina and his local internship salary.
When asked what made a particular impression on him in Shanghai, he mentions the incredible warmth and the friendly welcome he received there. Although everything is different in Shanghai, he felt at home there straight away.
Karl Märcz at the “Shanghai Intelligent Masonry Technology Development” programme. – His advice to other students keen to study abroad: “Find a topic that interests you and take it to a professor in that field. They usually have excellent networks and can put you in touch with the right people.” Photos: OTH Regensburg/Karl Märcz

After the Master’s: For a research project in Hong Kong

Yannic Schena (on the right in the photo) spent two weeks in Hong Kong in the spring of 2026 as part of a research project. The Master’s graduate specialises in digital construction, with a focus on robotics, sensor technology and programming.
A view of Hong Kong. – The two-week stay abroad was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the ‘Hong Kong Project-Based Staff Exchange Programme from 2026’.
His most formative experience: a visit to the Hong Kong Centre for Construction Robotics. There, he also gained an insight into the start-up scene, with projects that were right up his street, such as a remote-controlled, automated mini-excavator and autonomous logistics systems. Photos: OTH Regensburg/Yannic Schena

After the Master’s: Research in the far north of Norway

In the spring of 2026, Leon Dresel spent three weeks at the HVL Robotics Lab on the Førde campus of the University of Western Norway. In the far north of Norway, the Master’s student helped to automate raspberry production. His stay was funded by the ARTEMIS programme.
After completing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Leon Dresel switched to the construction industry because he saw “great potential for automation using robots” there. During his time in Norway, he worked on developing and testing control algorithms for the project’s mobile robot platforms. The aim was to be able to spray plant protection products precisely onto raspberry plants.
And the highlights? – From a technical point of view, the day at the raspberry plantation in Leikanger was the highlight for Leon Dresel. There, he was able to test his control algorithms using real-world data. Away from work, however, it was above all the landscape that made a particularly strong impression on him. Photos: OTH Regensburg/Leon Dresel

There are many funding opportunities

There are many funding opportunities available to students at all stages of their studies or as part of a research project: from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) through to specific country programmes such as BayChina, right up to the ARTEMIS programme, which also provides financial support for international exchange.

Whether you’re interested in spending a semester studying at a university abroad, doing an internship in another country or spending time abroad as part of your final-year dissertation: if this sounds like something for you, the International Office at OTH Regensburg is the right place to go. Here, you can seek advice with no obligation and find out lots of useful information on the best way to proceed.