Topping-out ceremony for new student halls of residence: affordable living space for everyone!

Topping-out ceremony for new student halls of residence: affordable living space for everyone!

On June 16, 2025, the topping-out ceremony for the third of three new student residences on the campus of Saarland University was celebrated. This project is part of a comprehensive initiative to strengthen the university location in Saarland and offers a total of 234 residential places directly on campus. Representatives of the state government, Saarland University as well as WOGE Saar and GOLDBECK gave the starting signal for construction with a celebratory ceremony.

The crane lifted the first wall element onto the shell facade of the new student residence. The modern dormitories will offer furnished apartments, many of which are barrier-free and have a kitchen block and a shower. The monthly rent for these residential spaces will be less than 300 euros.

Financing and project status

The total costs of the project amount to around 24 million euros, with 11.65 million euros coming from federal and state funds. WOGE Saar not only acts as the building owner, but is also responsible for financing and project coordination. The first use by students is expected to take place in the summer semester of 2026.

In addition, an expansion to include a second construction phase with a further 300 residential spaces is planned. These new buildings will bring the total number of residence hall spaces on campus to over 600, including the existing 72-space Residence Hall E.

Improvement of study conditions

Science Minister Jakob von Weizsäcker emphasized the improvement in study conditions through the new dormitories. Building Minister Reinhold Jost emphasized the creation of affordable housing for students. University President Prof. Dr. Ludger Santen emphasized the importance of affordable housing options for students, while Anja Knura from Goldbeck praised the modern construction method, which enables living space to be created quickly.

The student halls of residence are not only designed for regular students at Saarland University, but are also aimed at students from other universities, such as the University of Technology and Economics and the University of Fine Arts. Various types of housing are also offered, including single rooms, single apartments and double apartments.

Living in detail

The components of the rental agreement include general rental conditions, HORUS regulations and the house rules of the dormitories. What is unique is that vacant dormitory places can also be rented out to people who are not entitled to live there, as long as the needs of those entitled to live there are respected. The rents consist of a basic rent and a flat rate for operating costs.

Particularly noteworthy are the barrier-free apartments in several dormitories. In addition, there are common rooms and facilities that are exclusively available to dorm residents, as well as washing machines and dryers that can be used with the university card or a corresponding app.

The Student Union ensures that every step in the housing process, from moving in to moving out, is coordinated. Registration at the residents' registration office is required within one week of moving in, and when moving out, appointments must be made with the caretaker.

Overall, the project not only shows how living space is created for students, but also how educational opportunities can be promoted through better living conditions. More information about housing options and subsidies can be found on the website Saarland state government and des Saarland Student Union to find.