New hardship regulations have been in effect since July 17th, 2026. Due to limited capacity, we won't be able to provide detailed information regarding the changes here until September. If you have any questions please reach out to us via email.
Under our Hardship Regulations, students experiencing particularly severe financial hardship can apply to be recognized as a hardship case. If your application is approved, you can receive a one-time grant each semester equal to the semester fee.
To assess your financial situation, you’ll need to explain your circumstances and the steps you’ve taken to improve them. You’ll also need to provide bank statements from the past three months showing your income and certain expenses (rent including utilities, electricity, health insurance, internet costs, and the broadcasting licence fee). If your net monthly income is below the income threshold (currently €450), your application may be approved.
Please send your application by email at haertefall@stura.tu-dresden.de. Applications for the Winter Semester 2026/27 must be submitted by 31 March 2027.
All members of the TUD student body are eligible to apply. This means all enrolled students, including those on a leave of absence. If you are studying for a second degree (excluding postgraduate programs), you can only be recognized as a hardship case in justified exceptional circumstances.
Your application must include the following:
a signed application form
a certificate of enrollment for the relevant semester
a copy of your current BAföG award or rejection notice, unless it is obvious that you are not eligible for BAföG (for example, international students)
uninterrupted bank statements for all of your personal bank accounts covering the last three months
If the following expenses are not already evident from your bank statements, you should also provide separate proof of:
housing costs (basic rent, utilities, and electricity)
internet costs
health and long-term care insurance contributions
your current broadcasting licence fee notice, if applicable
You must also include a brief explanation of your financial hardship and describe the steps you are taking, within your means, to improve your situation.
Your financial need is calculated based on the following:
a personal allowance of €450 for each member of your household
reasonable housing costs (based on Rent Level III)
utility costs (heating, electricity, and water)
internet costs for your apartment
the broadcasting licence fee, if applicable
health and long-term care insurance contributions, if you pay these yourself
If your income is below your calculated financial need and you meet all other eligibility requirements, your application may be approved.
If you are unable to pay your semester fee, we can pay it directly to TU Dresden on your behalf as part of the hardship case. The application process and eligibility check are the same as for a regular hardship application. The only exception is that you will not yet be able to provide a certificate of enrollment for the semester you are applying for. You must submit this document as soon as you have re-registered.
You can submit a new hardship application every semester. However, the number of approved hardship grants is limited to no more than half of the standard duration of your degree program (in semesters). If your program has an odd number of standard semesters, the limit is rounded up to the next whole semester (e.g., maximum of 4 approved hardship grants for a degree program with 7 semesters standard duration). Exceptions apply to students without a work permit, students with a chronic illness or disability, and students with family responsibilities (particularly children).