Chemnitz University of Technology

Chemnitz University of Technology at a glance

Chemnitz University of Technology (Technische Universität Chemnitz, or TU Chemnitz) is a public technical university located in Chemnitz, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Indian students are drawn to its tuition-free engineering and computing degrees, taught in English or German.

Four things Indian applicants should know first:

• Zero tuition fees: Chemnitz University of Technology does not charge tuition fees for consecutive Master's programs. You pay only a semester contribution of €341.40 (winter semester 2026/27), which includes the nationwide Deutschlandsemesterticket for public transport.
• Two different application portals: While most international applications go through uni-assist, seven key English-taught Master's programs—including Web Engineering and Automotive Software Engineering—are handled directly through the university's EduApplication Portal.
• Language paths differ by program: M.Sc. Computer Science (Informatik) is taught entirely in German and requires DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4. If you want an English-taught computing degree, you should apply to M.Sc. Web Engineering or M.Sc. Automotive Software Engineering, which require an IELTS score of just 5.5 or a medium-of-instruction certificate.
• No German needed upfront for key degrees: Programs like Web Engineering and Automotive Software Engineering do not require any German proficiency at the time of application, because German language modules are integrated directly into the curriculum.

What it really costs

Tuition: €0. Under Section 13 of the Saxon Higher Education Act, Chemnitz University of Technology charges no general tuition fees for students completing a consecutive Master's program within the standard study period. Long-term study fees of €500 per term only apply if a student exceeds the standard period of study by more than four semesters.

Semester contribution. Every student must pay a mandatory semester contribution before enrolment or re-registration. For the winter semester 2026/27, the contribution is €341.40, broken down as follows:

The Deutschlandsemesterticket covers regional trains, commuter rails, buses, trams, and underground transit throughout Germany.

Living costs and blocked account. For your German national student visa, you must show proof of financial resources amounting to €11,904 for the first year (deposited into a blocked account releasing €992 per month).

In the university's official living cost publication, the International Office estimates average monthly expenses at €970, consisting of:

• Rent (including heating and utilities): €410
• Food: €198
• Health insurance: €100
• Transportation: €89
• Leisure activities: €65
• Telephone, internet, and broadcast licence (Rundfunkbeitrag): €31
• Study materials: €31
• Clothing: €46

Actual spending for students living in campus dormitories is often even lower. See our total cost breakdown for Germany.

Can you reduce the cost?

• Part-time work: Non-EU international students are legally allowed to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year. Chemnitz's industrial hub offers opportunities in automotive engineering, manufacturing, and IT services. Read our guide to German part-time work rules and Werkstudent student jobs.
• DAAD Scholarships: Indian graduates with exceptional academic records can apply for DAAD Master's scholarships before arriving in Germany. Explore our DAAD scholarships guide.
• Academic funding: Once enrolled, departments periodically hire student assistants (HiWi) for software lab maintenance, programming, and tutorial support.

Getting in: what Chemnitz looks at

Admission criteria depend heavily on whether your chosen program is taught in German or English:

1. Undergraduate degree: You must hold a recognized Bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS credits) in computer science, software engineering, informatics, or a related technical discipline from an institution recognized on Anabin. Both 4-year B.Tech/B.E. degrees and qualifying 3-year Indian degrees evaluated via Anabin are considered. Read our guides on ECTS credit mapping and 3-year Bachelor acceptance in Germany.
2. Academic grades: The Faculty of Computer Science notes that applicants for programs such as Automotive Software Engineering holding a Bachelor's degree with a German equivalent grade of 2.0 or better are strongly encouraged to apply.
3. English language proficiency: For English-taught Master's programs, TU Chemnitz requires CEFR B2 proficiency demonstrated by one of the following:

- IELTS Academic: minimum overall band score of 5.5 - TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 72 (or 4.0) - Pearson PTE Academic: minimum score of 59 - Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE): Grade B or C - Medium of Instruction (MOI): A confirmation letter stating that your Bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English is accepted as valid proof of English proficiency by TU Chemnitz.

1. German language proficiency:

- German-taught programs (M.Sc. Computer Science / Informatik): Direct admission requires DSH-2, TestDaF 4x4, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or Goethe-Zertifikat C2. Read our German language exams guide. - Exempt English programs: For M.Sc. Web Engineering, M.Sc. Automotive Software Engineering, M.Sc. Advanced and Computational Mathematics, and M.Sc. Neurorobotics, no German certificate is required at application, as German language courses form a mandatory part of the study program. - Other English programs: Programs such as M.Sc. Advanced Manufacturing and M.Sc. Embedded Systems require Goethe/telc/ÖSD German A1 at application and German A2 by the end of the third study term.

1. APS Certificate: Mandatory for all applicants presenting qualifications from India. Your paper or digitally verifiable APS certificate must be submitted alongside your application. See our APS certificate verification guide.
2. GRE / GATE: The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and GATE are not required for Master's admissions at TU Chemnitz.

How to apply and deadlines

The application pathway depends on your chosen Master's degree:

1. Check your application portal:

- EduApplication Portal: Applications for seven pilot Master's programs—including Web Engineering, Automotive Software Engineering, Advanced and Computational Mathematics, and Advanced Manufacturing—must be submitted directly through the online EduApplication Portal. - Uni-assist: Applications for other international degree programs must be submitted through uni-assist, where your academic credentials and APS certificate will be processed before being forwarded to TU Chemnitz.

1. Application windows and deadlines:

- Winter Semester: Application period opens 1 April; application deadline is 15 July. - Summer Semester: 1 October–15 January (programs with restricted admission, via uni-assist). - All documents (including the APS certificate and certified translations) must be received by uni-assist or the EduApplication Portal by these cutoff dates.

1. Application fee: Direct submission through the EduApplication Portal is handled as a university pilot service; for programs routed through uni-assist, the standard uni-assist evaluation fee applies (€75 for the first university, €30 for each additional institution).

Popular Master's programs for Indian students

• M.Sc. Computer Science: A 4-semester, research-oriented program covering parallel programming, simultaneous computers, computer networks, and operating systems. Note: The language of instruction is German (requires DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4).
• M.Sc. Web Engineering: A 4-semester, English-taught Master of Science focusing on cloud and web applications, software service engineering, database systems, model-driven development, and parallel programming. English B2 (IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 72, or MOI letter) is required; no German certificate is needed at the time of application.
• M.Sc. Automotive Software Engineering: A 4-semester Master's program taught in English and German, specifically designed for graduates in computer science, software engineering, and electronics who wish to specialize in embedded automotive control, software architecture, and automotive bus systems.
• M.Sc. Advanced and Computational Mathematics: A 4-semester, English-taught Master's combining applied mathematics, scientific computing, numerical analysis, and algorithm design.

Compare technical Master's programs across Germany in our MS in Computer Science in Germany directory.

Where you'll live

Student accommodation in Chemnitz is organized by Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau (SWCZ), which operates approximately 2,750 rooms across 15 modern halls of residence located either directly on campus or a few minutes' walk away:

• All-inclusive rent model: SWCZ rents operate under an all-inclusive concept covering heating, electricity, water, high-speed 100 Mbps internet, and cable television, meaning students receive no unexpected end-of-year utility bills.
• Rental costs:

- Single rooms in shared flats (sharing a kitchen and bathroom with one other student) at Vettersstraße start from €274.50 per month. - Single rooms with exclusive use of a kitchen and bathroom start from €314.50 per month.

• Security deposit: A refundable security deposit of €380 is required upon signing the tenancy agreement.

After you graduate

Under German immigration law, non-EU graduates of Chemnitz University of Technology are entitled to an 18-month job-seeker residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis zur Arbeitsplatzsuche) to secure employment related to their degree. During this job search period, you are permitted to take up any type of work.

Once you find qualified work you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card. See our guides to the German job seeker visa and the EU Blue Card pathway.

Who Chemnitz University of Technology is a good fit for

• A strong choice if: You want a recognized German technical university degree with zero tuition fees, Studentenwerk rooms from €274.50 a month, a modest English barrier (IELTS 5.5 or English MOI letter accepted), and direct specialization in web engineering, automotive software, or computational engineering without upfront German certification.
• Think carefully if: You expect to study general Computer Science (Informatik) in English without German language proficiency (Informatik requires DSH-2 / TestDaF 4x4), or prefer living in a bustling international metropolis rather than a quieter Saxon university city.

Sources

Every figure, fee, score, and deadline on this page comes directly from these official pages, checked on 22 October 2026:

• TU Chemnitz: Tuition Fees and Regulations
• TU Chemnitz: Semester Contribution Breakdown
• TU Chemnitz: Application Process for Bachelor and Master
• TU Chemnitz: International Office Monthly Cost of Living (PDF)
• TU Chemnitz: M.Sc. Web Engineering Degree Description
• TU Chemnitz: M.Sc. Automotive Software Engineering Degree Description
• TU Chemnitz: M.Sc. Computer Science (Informatik) Degree Description
• Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau: Student Housing Overview
• Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau: Vettersstraße 52 Dormitory
• Make it in Germany: prospects after graduation
• TU Chemnitz: academic calendar and application periods 2026/27

Fees and rules change. Always confirm on Chemnitz University of Technology's own pages before you pay or apply.