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Health insurance
Health insurance is compulsory when you study in Germany. Without a proof of health insurance you cannot enrol. You can choose between a statuary health insurance fund or a private health insurance company. Statuary health insurance funds have a fixed student rate of approx. € 92, if you are younger than 30 years old and have no children.
However, doctoral students cannot get a statuary health insurance at a students' rate. If they have a working contract with the university (usually as "wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter", i.e. scientific staff), then they would pay around 7,3% of their brutto income for the health insurance. For PhD students with a scholarship it is usually cheaper to get a private health insurance contract (there is a great amount of them on the market, and one should carefully check their conditions and rates in order to find the most suitable one). Besides this, foreign PhD students with a scholarship could contact the local DAAD office and ask for advice.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland
EU citizens who are insured in their home country have to go to one of the statutory insurance companies (for example, AOK) and ask for a "Versicherungsbescheinigung" - a statement that you have a EU-wide health insurance. Please go there in person, there is no other way to get this statement.
Note: Students under the age of 30 who are members of a private health insurance company within Germany have to present a confirmation of exemption from the statuary health insurance fund. This exemption is irreversible during their time of studies in Germany, i.e. they will not be allowed to enter a statuary health insurance fund as a student after the exemption.
If you do not have health insurance coverage in your home country, you have to get health insurance within Germany. Until your 30th birthday or up to your 14th semester you can either choose a statuary health insurance fund or a private health insurance company. Beyond your 30th birthday you cannot get a statuary insurance at a student rate.
Citizens of all other countries
You have to get health insurance within Germany. Until your 30th birthday or up to your 14th semester you can either choose a statuary health insurance fund or a private health insurance fund. Beyond your 30th birthday you cannot get a statuary insurance at a student rate.
Note: Students under the age of 30 who are members of a private health insurance company within Germany have to present a confirmation of exemption from the statuary health insurance fund. This exemption is irreversible during their time of studies in Germany, i.e. they will not be allowed to enter a statuary health insurance fund as a student after the exemption.
Some statuary health insurance companies: have a special student service:
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) (online application is possible and BCCN Berlin has a contact person who is fluent in English)
BARMER Ersatzkasse (online appl. in German is possible)
University health insurance service centers:
Studenten-Servicecenter Humboldt Uni Berlin
Hegelplatz 1
10117 Berlin
Studenten-Servicecenter Technische Uni Berlin
Hardenbergstraße 8
10623 Berlin
The student union (Studentenwerk) together with Union Versicherungsdienst GmbH have set up a private health insurance tailored to the needs of international students within Germany. Further information can be found here.
Please note, that we do not recommend any specific insurance on this page. You need to decide by yourself what is suitable for you.