What the state’s financial plans mean for Saxony’s Studierendenwerke depends on the various locations. In Saxony, the Studentenwerk Dresden, the Studentenwerk Leipzig, the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau and the Studentenwerk Freiberg are responsible for providing services to a total of 15 universities. All of them are threatened with similar effects due to the cutback plans.
Increase of semester fees
The further increase in semester fees is the most effective way of maintaining the current services offered by the Studierendenwerke in the long term without the necessary subsidies. At the same time, this measure also represents the greatest burden for all students.
The Studentenwerk Dresden is currently facing a fee increase of €47. At other locations, not much less would be necessary. This would be one of the highest fees for the work of student services organisations in Germany!
In addition, from the winter semester 2025/2026, the semester fee for the Deutschlandsemesterticket will increase by €32.40, which has already been decided.
Increase in dormitory rents and prices in canteens and cafeterias
Higher prices in canteens and cafeterias can at least partially compensate for the lack of subsidies in this area.
However, it can be assumed that fewer students will want to or be able to use the canteens.
Price increases for university employees would probably also lead to lower sales figures and ultimately lower turnover.
Covering funding gaps via the rents in halls of residence would shift the problem of underfunding onto a small number of students. Even though there are relatively many places in student halls in Saxony, only around 16% of students in Dresden, for example, live in a hall of residence run by the Studentenwerk.
Rents in halls of residence are relatively cheap compared to the normal rental market, but even there higher rents can become a burden for those who are dependent on affordable housing. International students are particularly affected by this.
In Leipzig, the student services organisation was recently forced to enact the fourth rent increase in four years – without sufficient funding, this is unlikely to continue.
Cancellation of services
Closing cafeterias or entire canteens would of course save money. However, this would not only decimate the supply at the respective campus, numerous jobs would also be lost. The trip to get a quick snack or lunch would take longer, just as the queues at checkouts and serving points would grow. At locations with only one offer, such as Zittau or Freiberg, there would no longer be any supply at all.
Alternatively, services such as opening hours at weekends or in the evening would have to be restricted. However, all of this contributes to an attractive range of services and a lively campus life.
A reduction in social, psychosocial and legal counselling services would be fatal. The counselling centres are already overcrowded and should actually be significantly expanded to meet demand. Fewer counsellors would mean longer waiting times for counselling requests, which would have a catastrophic impact on individual students, especially in urgent cases such as psychological or financial emergencies.
Workshops on topics such as exam anxiety or stress during studies would also no longer be able to take place.
Cuts in the area of culture would affect popular large events, such as the night hike through the student clubs in Dresden or the band and DJ competition ‘Uni Air’. Cultural funding for small events or student clubs is also up for debate. Drinks would have to become more expensive in the clubs or they would even have to close completely.