Technical University
of Chemnitz
Country/city
Chemnitz is a large city in the state of Saxony located near the central highland region of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). Its time-honoured industrial culture is still alive and well today. Chemnitz is known for mechanical engineering, its auto industry and microsystems technology. A long tradition of industrial culture has significantly shaped this “City of Modernity”. Many of the research activities take place at the Technische Universität (TU) Chemnitz. Several of its institutes even belonged to the prestigious German “Excellence Initiative”. Several well-known Fraunhofer Institutes also offer employment to researchers.
Until German reunification in 1990, Chemnitz was called Karl Marx City. Today the city’s most famous landmark is a gigantic sculpture of the philosopher’s head. The monumental bust is displayed on a pedestal in the middle of town. Residents of Chemnitz simply call it the “Nischel” – which means “head” in the Saxon dialect. Measuring seven metres in height, the bronze sculpture is allegedly the second largest portrait bust in the world – after the Sphinx.
Thanks to its familiar atmosphere it’s an ideal place to study. Chemnitz will be European Capital of Culture in 2025!
Monthly budget
€ 350
Accomodation
€ 0
Transport
Student prices
€ 160
Food
€ 100
Other expenses
Clothes, cleaning products, …
€ 65
Entertainment
€ 35
Telephone and Internet
The semester contribution must be paid by meta4.0 student: 286.10 €. This is not a tuition fee but benefits such as the Deutschlandticket.
Arrival by plane
The nearest airports to Chemnitz are Leipzig/Halle Airport and Dresden Airport. Also within easy reach are BER Berlin Airport and Prague Airport.
Arrival by train
Travel by train to Chemnitz main station, Bahnhofstr. 1, 09111 Chemnitz. From Chemnitz main station you can easily reach the city centre by tram or bus or on foot (15 min).
On site
Tramway, bus
In the city: Buses and trams of the Chemnitzer Verkehrs AG (CVAG). Travelling in the surrounding area: Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS).
As a student, you are entitled to free bus and train travel in Saxony with your semester ticket.
But for short journeys to the university and for your leisure time, it’s worth getting a bicycle.
Food
In Chemnitz there are lots of food varieties available serving many different tastes. You will find a large collection of inexpensive meals starting at €4 offered by kebap, falafel, pizza and asian stores & restaurants. You can also enjoy traditional German food like “Schnitzel”, “Roulade”, “Braten” und “Klöße” at more sophisticated restaurants. For these dishes you should calculate about €15-20.
In everyday life you should try some German bread and rolls. They are offered with all types of seeds. Foreigners usually find them far more filling. In addition Germans love their cake & coffee time in the afternoon. When strolling through the city, you should also stop for a «Bratwurst» (grilled sausage) at one of the small stands.
Accommodations
The Chemnitz housing market looks good, we would recommend a room in the Studentenwerk.
All information can be found here. Virtual tour of student residence.
Good to know! meta4.0 also has a partnership with Erasmus Play!
Erasmus Play is a search engine for student accommodation across Europe. It allows students to quickly and easily compare all available accommodation and book in safety as all the accommodations are 100% verified.
Things to do/see
You can learn more about the city’s industrial history at the Industriemuseum. In addition to steam-powered locomotives and many other exhibits, you can also admire the famous Trabi. This iconic car was originally developed in Chemnitz and dominated the streets of the former GDR.
Chemnitz proudly presents itself as the “City of Modernity” with a number of impressive buildings. For example, the “Stadtbad” (municipal indoor pool), built in the famous Bauhaus style, is definitely worth seeing. You can combine exercise and sightseeing in one visit.
The Theaterplatz is where the popular „Film Nights“ take place during the summer. You can get together with friends and watch the latest movies on a big screen under the open sky.
The Museum Gunzenhauser is a very famous Chemnitz museum which features the famous Expressionist painters. This and the König Albert Museum are definitely worth visiting.
We also recommend going to the opera on Theaterplatz. As a student, you normally receive a concession rate on tickets to the opera and ballet.
When the weather is nice, many residents of Chemnitz like spending time at the “Schlossteich” – a lake located in a park a bit north of the city centre. That’s where you can hang out, meet with friends or rent a rowboat in the summertime. The Küchwald at the north end of the city is an even larger recreational area. If you like jogging, the park has kilometres of paths perfect for running.