.png)
How much does Saxon Cooperative State University cost for international students?
There are no tuition fees at the DHSN, for EU and non-EU students alike. Under the fee schedule in force since 1 January 2026, only a second degree will cost 300 EUR per semester, from winter 2027/28. Students also receive a salary from their practice partner company for the length of the study contract.
Every student pays a semester contribution to the regional Studentenwerk, which depends on the campus. Only the Leipzig contribution includes the Deutschlandsemesterticket, because each campus votes separately on the ticket.
| Campus | Semester contribution (winter 2026/27) |
|---|---|
| Leipzig | 320.80 EUR, including the Deutschlandsemesterticket |
| Dresden | 112.73 EUR |
| Bautzen and Riesa | 95.53 EUR |
| Glauchau | 93.00 EUR |
| Breitenbrunn and Plauen | 9.10 EUR |
The amount can change each semester. A bill to introduce tuition fees of 1,500 EUR per semester for non-EU students in Saxony had not been put to a vote as of October 2026.
No tuition does not mean no proof of funds. For the student visa you still need to show 11,904 EUR for the year, usually in a blocked account, and that money has to be transferred months before the semester starts.
What are the application deadlines?
The DHSN publishes no fixed application deadline, for EU or non-EU applicants. Admission requires a study contract with a practice partner approved by the study academy, so in practice the timeline is set by the company's recruitment. You apply to the study academy at the earliest one year before the start, together with the signed study contract.
| Degree | Intake | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Bachelor's and Diplom (DH), all programmes | Winter (start 1 October) | No fixed deadline; apply with a signed study contract, at the earliest one year before the start |
Many companies recruit a year or more in advance. Non-EU applicants must show a residence permit for study purposes at enrolment, so find a practice partner, sign the contract and apply for your visa as early as possible, and confirm the timing with the study academy.
How many programmes are taught in English?
No programme at the DHSN is taught in English. All programmes are dual degrees taught in German, and applicants with a foreign school-leaving certificate need German at least at DSH-2, TestDaF level 4, Goethe-Zertifikat B2 or telc B2.
About Saxon Cooperative State University
The Saxon Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Sachsen) was founded in 1991 as the Berufsakademie Sachsen and has had university status since 1 January 2025. It has around 4,000 students and its seat is in Glauchau.
It teaches at seven state study academies in Bautzen, Breitenbrunn, Dresden, Glauchau, Leipzig, Plauen and Riesa, and offers more than 50 dual study tracks in business, engineering, and social and health sciences, leading to a Bachelor's degree or a Diplom (DH) in engineering. Every programme alternates between study phases at the academy and work phases at a practice partner company, which also pays a salary.
Because every programme requires a study contract with a German company, international students first need to find a practice partner before they can apply. Without such a contract, studying at the DHSN on a student visa is not possible.