Information for First-Year Students

All students must provide proof of adequate health and long-term care insurance cover upon enrolment.
International students enrolled at a German university are also required to have insurance. As this is a complex matter, we have prepared an information sheet.

Until the age of 25, enrolled students can be covered under a parent’s statutory health insurance in Germany at no cost. Family coverage is also possible through a working spouse with statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), in which case the age limit does not apply. Please note the income limit of 565€ per month or, in the case of marginal employment, 603€ per month. Maintenance payments from parents or the social welfare office and BAföG payments are not included in this calculation.

Students over the age of 24 can choose whether they wish to pay premiums for statutory student health insurance or private health insurance. It is worth comparing the premium amounts and the benefits offered in detail.

Statutory health insurance schemes have the advantage of covering the basic care required by law. The affordable student insurance remains valid until one month after the end of the final semester of study or until deregistration during the current semester, but no later than the end of the year in which the student turns 30 (except in exceptional cases). Those who leave student health insurance after that but continue to study can generally remain voluntarily insured with a statutory health insurance provider. You can find an overview of statutory health insurance providers nationwide online.

Those who opt for private health insurance must apply for an exemption from the insurance requirement within the first three months of their studies (or three months after the end of family insurance or statutory student insurance). This exemption applies for the entire duration of your studies and should therefore be carefully considered. Please note: Anyone who is privately insured through their parents must obtain their own private insurance once they exceed the age limit (25th birthday). As every private health insurance provider offers its own range of benefits, it is essential to carry out a detailed price-benefit comparison before signing a contract. You can find a list of private health insurance providers in Germany online.

To help you make an informed decision, we recommend seeking further information, for example on the websites of the German Student Services (Deutsches Studierendenwerk), our information sheet on health insurance, or the Studis Online homepage.

The Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Services Organisation offers approximately 2,750 rooms in 15 halls of residence across the university campuses in Chemnitz, Zwickau and Schneeberg for students. You can find information about our halls of residence and apply online for a place on our Housing Department’s website.

Alternatively, you can also look for a flat or a room in a shared flat (WG) on your own. Our student welfare officers will be happy to assist you.

Here are a few general tips for finding accommodation:

• Start looking for a room early enough. Accommodation is allocated in the order in which applications are received.

• Living in a shared flat (WG) not only saves money; it’s also a great way to make friends.

• Find out whether the room is furnished or unfurnished.

• For hygiene reasons, landlords do not usually provide bedding, towels or similar items.

• If possible, avoid arriving at the weekend or late at night. If there is no other option, please inform your student services office or landlord well in advance so that a key handover can be arranged.

• Set aside money for the annual utility bill for private flats.

Yes. Anyone who moves into a flat or a room in Chemnitz, Zwickau or Schneeberg must register in person at the relevant registration office within two weeks. The registration office must also be notified immediately of any moves within the city (Federal Registration Act, Section 17).

Detailed information on registration, change of address and deregistration, as well as the required documents and the relevant authorities, can be found on the websites of the City of Chemnitz, the City of Zwickau and the City of Schneeberg.

There is no second-home tax in Zwickau (as yet). It was introduced in Chemnitz in 2006. Students are not exempt from it.

The second-home tax amounts to 20% of the annual net rent excluding utilities. In Chemnitz, anyone who rents a flat is liable for the tax. Anyone whose primary residence is with their parents, who occupies only one room (‘children’s room’) there, and who does not have free use of that room, is not liable for the tax on their secondary residence in Chemnitz. Similarly, the tax does not apply to tenants with a primary residence in another city who occupy only a “room” at their secondary residence in Chemnitz.

Anyone who newly registers a secondary residence in Chemnitz will receive a letter from the city. Attached to the letter is a secondary residence tax declaration, which must be completed in all cases and sent to the Cash and Tax Office. This applies even if an exemption applies under the Secondary Residence Tax Ordinance.

Further information can be found on the City of Chemnitz website.

Since 2013, a broadcasting licence fee has generally been payable for every residence. It does not matter whether reception devices (TV, radio, etc.) are present or used in the household. The fee is 18.36€ per month

If you receive BAföG or vocational training assistance (Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe), you can apply for an exemption from the broadcasting licence fee. To do so, you must submit a written application and include the “Broadcasting Licence Fee Exemption” certificate that you received along with your BAföG notification. Exemption applications can be filed retroactively for up to three years. The exemption does not apply to other housemates, unless they are your spouse or registered partner.

If you live at home, your parents pay the fee.

For all other students, including those from abroad, the following applies: A broadcasting licence fee must be paid for each residence. A residence is defined as any structurally self-contained unit suitable for living or sleeping (the presence of a bathroom or kitchen is irrelevant) that can be accessed directly through its own entrance from a stairwell, a foyer, or from the outside—i.e., not through another living space.

If several people live in a shared flat, the broadcasting fee for the household must be paid only once. An adult must register for this. The other flatmates should officially deregister under the payer’s fee number.

For rooms in student halls of residence that open onto a generally accessible corridor, the broadcasting licence fee must be paid. They are considered a dwelling—regardless of whether they have their own bathroom or kitchen. If several rooms are separated from a common corridor or stairwell by their own apartment door and are arranged like a shared flat, only one person needs to be registered for the broadcasting licence fee, and the shared flat can split the fee.

Under certain circumstances, you may also be eligible for a reduction in the broadcasting licence fee, e.g. due to a disability.

You can find further information and all application forms on the official website for the broadcasting licence fee.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Beitragsservice, the Student Services social counselling office, or the StuRa Chemnitz and StuRa Zwickau.

Especially when you start studying in a new place, it’s easy to feel lonely or lost at first. But it’s actually relatively easy to make new friends right at the start of the semester. That’s because there are lots of new people at the university right now, and they’re also looking to meet new people. That’s why it makes sense not just to focus on organisational and academic matters at the start of the semester, but also to invest a little time in making connections and getting a feel for the cultural scene.

There is a wide variety of opportunities at universities to get involved. From university sports and student clubs to student initiatives, everyone can find the right fit based on their interests and personality.

And if you ever feel like organising an event yourself, it’s good to know that the Studentenwerk can offer support through its cultural funding programme for planning and financing student events as well as sports and cultural groups.

Available at our campus dining halls and cafeterias! Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet or savoury, vegetarian or meat-based… there’s something for everyone. And all at great student prices!

Before you can get started, you’ll need a card for our campus dining facilities.

And by the way, the cafeteria is the perfect place to meet new people. So do pop in!

Statutory Accident Insurance for Students

Students are covered by statutory accident insurance provided by the Free State of Saxony for all activities directly related to their studies. This also applies to accidents occurring on the way to and from the place of study, as well as during university sports events. The accident insurance provider is the Unfallkasse Sachsen, PO Box 42, 01651 Meissen.

To claim insurance benefits, accidents must be reported immediately to the Dean’s Office of the relevant faculty.

In addition, student accidents must be reported to the following offices: Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz) or Zwickau University of Applied Sciences (WH Zwickau)

Student Services Leisure Accident Insurance

Accidents can occur whilst playing sports or engaging in leisure activities. For this reason, the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau has taken out group accident insurance for all enrolled students at TU Chemnitz, WH Zwickau, and the DHSN (Breitenbrunn, Glauchau, Plauen). The insurance cover includes all accidents during leisure time, during work placements, and whilst preparing for exams outside the university. Also covered are accidents occurring whilst working in a profession or trade—including as a working student—for which the relevant professional association is liable under SGB VII, provided that this activity forms part of the student’s studies. The cover applies worldwide and around the clock.

Excluded are internships and employment not related to your studies—i.e., voluntary internships and employment not provided for in the study and examination regulations. Also excluded from insurance cover is writing your thesis at a company WITHOUT integration into general work processes.

If you are involved in an accident and need to make a claim under this insurance, please be sure to consult a doctor and contact our student welfare offices immediately.

Both insurance schemes already provide a certain level of cover. However, taking out private accident insurance may be advisable, as it can be better tailored to your individual circumstances and offers higher cover limits.

Liability Insurance

You accidentally dropped a friend’s mobile phone, and it’s now damaged. Whilst cooking in your hall of residence, the food burnt and the fire brigade had to be called. It’s easy to accidentally injure someone or damage property. That’s why you should definitely have liability insurance to cover the damage. Unmarried German students are generally covered under their parents’ liability insurance until the age of 25. Please check with your insurance provider to see if this applies to you, and if not, take out your own liability insurance.

Home Contents Insurance

Taking out home contents insurance is recommended if replacing your household goods in the event of a total loss would be so expensive that you cannot easily afford it. In some cases, students who do not have their own household are still covered under their parents’ home contents insurance. However, you should verify this by consulting your parents’ insurance provider.

Disability Insurance

If you become unable to work before you have started working or contributing to the pension fund, you can expect little or no money from the statutory pension fund in the event of occupational disability and should therefore, if possible, make private provisions.

Other types of insurance

There are a variety of other types of insurance. Whether these are necessary or advisable in individual cases depends on your specific circumstances. For example, third-party liability and (partial) comprehensive car insurance are essential for anyone who owns a car. International travel health insurance, pet owner liability insurance, or legal expenses insurance may be advisable depending on your needs. Before signing a contract, you should definitely compare offers from different insurance companies, seek detailed advice, and, above all, pay close attention to the insurance terms and conditions. Consumer Protection Saxony offers independent advice for a small fee.