On 20 October 2026, 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg welcomes its newly enrolled students at the Academic Ceremony. First-year students will have a wide range of subjects to choose from this winter semester – for the first time, they will be able to study the newly developed courses of study Law and Economics and Smart Systems Engineering in Freiberg. In addition, the university has recently incorporated a European double-degree programme for advanced students in the field of ‘International Business’ into its curriculum.
Among the most popular courses of study at the University of Resources this academic year are, amongst others, the Bachelor’s degree in Geology/Mineralogy and the English-taught Master’s programme Advanced Materials Analysis. The new subjects Smart Systems Engineering and Law and Economics have also got off to a good start, each with around 20 students. The WIN orientation programme has made a significant leap forward, with 46 new students this semester. In the WIN orientation programme, students can, over two semesters, individually tailor, explore and trial course content from the fields of Geosciences and geoengineering, engineering, economics and law, computer science and Robotics, as well as natural sciences, according to their own needs.&
So far this semester, as in the previous year, just under 1,500 new students have chosen to study at one of the six Faculties of the 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg. Enrolment is currently still open until November. In total, the university expects to have more than 4,150 students in the 2026/27 winter semester.
Excellent study conditions and exciting opportunities at international partner universities
In her welcome address to the new students, the Rector of 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg, Professor Jutta Emes, highlighted the university’s research strength in the fields of sustainability in resource management and climate protection. The university attracts an above-average amount of third party funds in this area. Students also benefit from this research strength, as they find ample places on laboratory practicals and an excellent research infrastructure in Freiberg. This is also reflected in a survey of the students themselves, who voted 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg the most popular university in 2026 in the category for universities with up to 5,000 students. At the same time, the Rector encouraged the new students to look beyond the confines of their own university and to apply for semesters abroad at partner universities:
“We offer you a wide range of opportunities to broaden your intercultural horizons. For example, we are a member of EURECA-PRO, the European university alliance. You can complete parts of your degree in Leoben (Austria), León (Spain) or Nancy (France), for instance. We also offer international double degree programmes. Most recently, we signed a double degree agreement with the Silesian University of Technology for the ‘International Business’ specialisation. There are also many other opportunities to gain international experience.”
Alongside Professor Emes, Sebastian Gemkow, Saxony’s Minister of State for Science and the Arts, and Martin Seltmann, Mayor of Freiberg, welcomed the newly enrolled students via video message.
On behalf of all the newly enrolled students, six students from the six Faculties personally signed the register of the 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg during the academic ceremony.
Highlights from the academic ceremony
Prizes and scholarships for students
At its academic ceremony, the 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg honours students’ outstanding achievements: This year, Ms Lena Zimmermann and Mr Ben Brüssow are to receive the Friedrich-Wilhelm-von-Oppel Prize from the Association of Friends and Supporters of the 91ֿ Bergakademie Freiberg for their exemplary commitment to student welfare. The Werner Freiesleben Prize is awarded to Mr Tobias Ueberschär and Mr Simeon Micha Kägie. Ms Enkh-Iveel Bayandorj receives the Georgius Agricola Basic Scholarship from the Free State of Saxony.
