Exemption from Germany semester ticket and social contributions

If you spend a semester abroad or are absent from your place of study for at least four months for study-related reasons, you will also be exempt from paying the contribution for the Germany semester ticket on application without being on leave of absence. A corresponding certificate from the training centre for the internship semester at the foreign institution or a certificate from the training centre for the internship semester/internship is required as proof. The respective training centre must not be based in North Rhine-Westphalia.

In the case of a leave of absence due to voluntary service or study abroad, including study-related stays abroad, as well as due to illness, you will also be exempt from paying the Studierendenwerk social contribution.

All applications must be submitted within the re-registration period for the semester in question. If the fact of a semester abroad or a study-related absence from the place of study outside North Rhine-Westphalia of at least four months only becomes known after the re-registration deadline, the application for exemption from the Germany semester ticket and the application for reimbursement can still be submitted until the start of lectures in the relevant semester.

If the application for reimbursement of the Germany semester ticket is submitted after re-registration has already taken place, it is expressly pointed out at this point that the entitlement to use the Germany semester ticket expires and the entitlement to travel is cancelled!