The number of first-year students has risen sharply compared to previous years. The largest increase was recorded by the group of new students from Ukraine, who are continuing their studies at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, for the most part online, as part of a support program for Ukrainian universities. The proportion of international students at the university thus remains high; it is just over 40 percent for face-to-face studies. Other frequent countries of origin of international students are, in addition to Ukraine, India, China, Iran and Europe. The proportion of German students has also stabilized.

"Welcome to an international university with tradition and a future," said the rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, welcoming the new students. "You are the professionals who will tackle global challenges of the energy and raw material turnaround, green chemistry, environmental protection and the circular economy in the future at one of Europe's leading resource universities. With us, you will receive an excellent education with which you will be involved in solving the key issues in society and the economy," said the rector.

Natural sciences in particular demand

The most popular subjects in the winter semester of 2023/24 include the bachelor's degree programs in Applied Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Engineering, as well as the Master's in Sustainable and Innovative Natural Resource Management and Metallic Materials Technology. Representing all new enrollees, six students from the six faculties personally signed the matriculation book at TU Bergakademie Freiberg.

As of November 1, 2023, Saxony's universities will collect the final data for the State Statistical Office. As in previous years, more students will be included in the statistics.

Awards for special student achievements

As in every year, TU Bergakademie Freiberg honored special student achievements at the Academic Ceremony. The Friedrich Wilhelm von Oppel Award of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg for exemplary commitment to the interests of students was awarded to Patricia Kaiser and Johannes Neidel. The university honored the outstanding achievements of Robin Frigge, Nathan Leubner and Anne Pfohl with the Werner Freiesleben Award. A Federmann Scholarship is awarded to Peter Fischer. The DAAD Prize and IUZ Prize of the International University Center were awarded to Sarada Prasanna Biswal and Shayak Majumder.