Coronavirus: Effects on our opening and consultation hours

We look forward to welcoming you again personally to the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau. Please inquire about the current office hours of the department of housing and BAföG as well as the counseling services.

Our canteens and cafeterias in Chemnitz and Zwickau as well as the secretariat of the canteen management in Chemnitz have been partially open with corresponding restrictions and look forward to your visit. Please protect yourself and others by respecting and implementing the necessary hygiene regulations accordingly. Further information on the mandatory regulations can be found in this news.

Do you have other questions about studying during the Corona pandemic? Then take a look at the FAQs during Corona below.

Your Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau

 

FAQs during Corona

Dear students,

We have recently received many requests concerning the reimbursement of semester contribution to Studentenwerk, reduction of rent, early departure, and much more as a result of the Corona pandemic. We would like to answer the most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find your question here, please send us an e-mail to info@swcz.de.

We are aware that many of you are unfortunately in a very difficult situation due to the current situation. Also Studentenwerk is itself in a difficult state. Due to the official decrees of the Free State of Saxony, some of our services, such as the operation of our canteens and cafeterias, are currently only possible to a very limited extent or not at all. Other services, such as Social Counselling, Psychosocial Counselling, BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) and Legal Counselling, are all the more needed and used for this purpose.

We do our utmost to provide you with the best possible support even under the current circumstances. In particular, our Counselling Services, our Finance & BAföG Department and our Customer Advisers as well as our Janitors within the student halls are still there for you and can be reached by phone or e-mail. On our homepage you will find continuously updated lists of available part-time jobs in the Chemnitz (PDF 134 kB) and Zwickau (PDF 108 kB) area. We are prepared to implement the Emergency Aid Fund for Students announced by the Federal Government as soon as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has defined the concrete procedure and criteria for the allocation of the emergency aid to students. We will actively inform you when the process starts and applications can be made.

 

FAQs

• Can I get a reimbursement for the semester contribution to Studentenwerk due to the Corona situation?

  In accordance with the Contribution Regulations of Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau, the semester contribution is charged from all students of the universities assigned to us, in order to cover the costs of Studentenwerk that are arising by fulfilling our tasks. The contribution is due upon re-matriculation or enrolment. For students of University of Applied Science Zwickau, this contribution also includes the contribution for the semester ticket. Enrolled students are also obliged to pay the semester contribution. The semester is not cancelled, but has started regularly. Due to the infection protection, the university management decided to offer online lectures instead of face-to-face lectures at the beginning of the semester and is now beginning to reopen the possibility for face-to-face lectures in cautious steps.

  The semester contribution is used to finance the wide range of services offered by Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau to all students. These services will continue to be offered, albeit sometimes in partially restricted manner or in different form due to the general decrees of the Free State of Saxony.

  An exemption or reimbursement of the semester contribution is only possible under the conditions of the Contribution Regulations of Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau (PDF 57 kB). This also includes the amount for the semester ticket, as the transport companies have agreed to the rules of our contribution regulations in the semester ticket contracts between them and us. No further exemption, reduction or delay of payment of the semester contribution is possible.
  
  The reason for these restrictive regulations is the character of the semester contribution and the semester ticket contribution as a solidarity contribution. This means that all students who are liable to pay contributions make their contribution to generate the general possibility of taking advantage of the services offered by the social infrastructure of Studentenwerk. This benefits all members of the solidarity community, but especially those students who are more dependent than others on the social support services. These regulations apply uniformly to all students. Exceptions are not possible. They would lead to an unequal treatment of students and, in addition, it would mean that the contribution for the range of services would have to be increased for the other members of the solidarity community. This would ultimately lead to the erosion of the solidarity community.

  Even if, due to the current situation, the range of services offered by Studentenwerk is limited in some areas, or if there is less demand from students due to a lower presence at the university campuses, this does not release them from the obligation to pay the semester contribution for the solidary financing of the social infrastructure at the university location.

  If you are experiencing financial difficulties due to the current situation, we are always ready to assist you (as already mentioned in the introduction) with our various counselling services, which are also financed proportionally from the semester contribution. We would like to explicitly draw your attention to the Social Counselling Service offered by Studentenwerk: Our social counselling team can provide individual advice and support, especially in questions of financing your studies, as well as advice on part-time jobs, funding opportunities, etc.
• Can I receive a reimbursement for my semester ticket for Zwickau?

  An exemption or reimbursement of the semester contribution is only possible under the conditions of the Contribution Regulations of Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau (PDF 57 kB). This also includes the amount for the semester ticket, as the transport companies have agreed to the rules of our contribution regulations in the semester ticket contracts between them and us. No further exemption, reduction or delay of payment of the semester contribution is possible.

  A refund of the ticket on the basis of our Contribution Regulations (PDF 57 kB) is possible if you can prove that you have been absent from the area covered by the semester ticket for at least 15 consecutive weeks during a semester for one of the following reasons:

  • compulsory study-related internship
  • compulsory study-related thesis
  • study at a different university
  • disease
  • leave of absence

   

  In these cases you can send us a request for refund.
• I can't pay my rent due to lack of income. Can my rent be reduced or waived?

  In principle, you are still obliged to pay your rent and will be in default if you do not pay. For international students with a residence permit according to §16b AufenthG (or §16 Abs. 1 AufenthG aF), the credit balance of the blocked account must be retained and used for the payment of rental costs, or in case of a declaration of commitment by the guarantor, who is financially responsible.

  If you are no longer able to pay your rent, please contact the Student Housing Department immediately: by mail via wohnen-chemnitz@swcz.de or wohnen-zwickau@swcz.de.

  You can also get support in finding alternative financing options from our Social Counseling Service for International Students. To make it easier for you to find new part-time jobs, we have compiled a list of current part-time job offers.

   
• My courses will take place online this semester. Can I withdraw from my rental contract or cancel my room early?

  Crucial for the fulfilment of the rental contract is, on the one hand, that the contractual use of the room within the student hall of residence of Studentenwerk is guaranteed even during the Corona crisis and, on the other hand, that you as a tenant are not prevented from using your room by the fact that there is temporarily no classroom teaching.

  Whether and how long courses take place online is a decision of the respective university. This does not constitute a reason for the right to reduce rent or a special right of termination for the rental contract with Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau (or any other landlord). We as Studentenwerk continue to provide our rooms in accordance to the contract with full service. The rooms can be used without limitations – also for studying online.

  
  For a termination of contract the regular possibilities according to our rental conditions apply:

  • A proper notice of termination must be submitted at the latest by the third working day of a calendar month for the end of the following month. The minimum rental period of 12 months must be fulfilled.
  • You can conclude a cancellation agreement before the end of the minimum rental period with a compensation payment to Studentenwerk of 380.00 euros. The termination agreement must be concluded at the latest on the third working day of the month preceding the month in which the rental contract is to be ended. The compensation payment is due upon the return of the rental object, notwithstanding any outstanding payments of rent and security deposits of the tenant, and notwithstanding any compensation obligations of the tenant due to damage to the rental object.
  • In the event of exmatriculation, you can cancel the rental agreement, unless you are re-enrolling at one of the universities located at the respective location assigned to the landlord. The landlord must receive proof of the exmatriculation at the latest by the last day of the rental contract.

  
  In all cases, please contact our Customer Advisers of the Student Housing Department in good time.
  
  Even if you are unable to pay your rent, the tenancy law does not give you the right of extraordinary termination as a tenant.

  If you are no longer able to pay your rent, please contact the Student Housing Department immediately: by mail via wohnen-chemnitz@swcz.de or wohnen-zwickau@swcz.de.

  You can also get support in finding alternative financing options from our Social Counseling Service for International Students. To make it easier for you to find new part-time jobs, we have compiled a list of current part-time job offers.
• Can the rent deposit be refunded more quickly?

  As a rule, the deposit will be returned to you within 8 weeks after the end of the rental period, provided that no claims against you are outstanding. For a refund of the deposit before the end of the 8 weeks, please contact your Customer Advisers.

   
• I can't travel. Can I cancel my place in the student hall again?

  The entry to Germany is connected with border controls, but if there is a good reason for travelling, it is not prohibited. Matriculation and a valid rental contract are a valid reason for entry. If there are exit restrictions for your country of origin that prevent you from entering Germany, please contact your Customer Adviser individually.
• Where can I find information about studying during the Corona pandemic?

  Frequently asked questions on study-related topics are collected and answered on the webpages of Chemnitz University of Technology and University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (only available in German). In addition, the student representatives of the respective universities also provide information on this topic: Student Council Chemnitz and Student Council Zwickau (only available in German).
• Where can I find information about COVID-19 in English or other languages?

  The health project "MiMi" of the Ethno-Medical Center Germany provides practical advice and information on the corona virus available in 15 different languages.

  The Federal Centre for Health Education has compiled tips on hygiene in Turkish, Arabic, Persian, English, Russian and French.

  The Free State of Saxony provides the general regulations, measures and restrictions for Saxony in 10 languages on an especially created homepage.

  Current information from the Robert Koch Institute on Covid-19 is available in German and English.