Better chance for the summer semester
“In recent years, demand for the winter semester has always exceeded the number of available places,” said Sebastian Hollnack from the Thuringian Student Union (STW). This is why the Student Union is in contact with local housing companies, among others, in order to provide as many students as possible with accommodation. According to Hollnack, the Student Union currently offers a total of 7,700 places in 71 dormitories throughout the state. Two facilities are currently being renovated. In order to get one of the places, the Student Union says it is important that students look for accommodation as early as possible.
Price increase in construction
The rents for dormitory rooms are also attractive in Thuringia: at 260 euros rent including heating, the Thuringian average is well below the BaföG housing allowance of 380 euros. But here too, the general price trend means that adjustments are constantly necessary. Because most dormitories were built in the 1990s, renovations and modernizations are unavoidable in order to continue to meet the needs of students, the ministry said. The ever-increasing construction costs in particular are causing challenges in this area.
Funding also needed from the federal government
A key factor in covering the costs of the renovations are subsidies from the federal and state governments. For example, the student union is supported by the federal “Young Living” program. According to the ministry, the Free State has invested over 27 million euros since 2015 in the renovation, modernization or partial replacement of 14 dormitories with 1,550 places – the total investment was around 71 million euros. By 2030, the federal government will invest around 24 million euros in the renovation of a further four dormitories with a total of 502 places.
“This support will also be needed in the future in order to renovate the dormitories in line with demand and to maintain the existing stock,” said Hollnack. The renovation of the House D dormitory in Ilmenau is currently underway and is due to be completed in the autumn. In Erfurt, the Plauener Weg dormitory will be renovated over the next few years, and a new building is planned in Nordhausen. Further renovations are planned in Jena, among other places.
