Military service and studies overlap at several points: the questionnaire, the medical examination, a possible deferment and the question of how service and studies can be combined. This overview sorts the key topics and points you to the individual guides, where each question is answered in detail. Please note that the German guides linked below are currently available in German only.
Short answer: Since 2026, men born in 2008 must complete the military service questionnaire, while women may complete it voluntarily. The deadline is one month. After a reminder, a further two-week deadline applies. Failing to respond can lead to a fine. The Bundeswehr currently cites fines of up to 250 euros, and up to 1,000 euros is legally possible (source status: 19 December 2025).
The most important points at a glance
- Men born in 2008 must answer the military service questionnaire. For women, it is voluntary.
- The deadline for the questionnaire is one month. If you miss it, a reminder with a two-week deadline follows.
- Anyone who does not complete the questionnaire, completes it late or completes it incorrectly commits a regulatory offence. The obligation continues even after a fine.
- The medical examination follows the questionnaire. The Bundeswehr questionnaire page does not state when it takes place.
- A deferment because of studies is an application with its own requirements, and it is decided case by case.
- Separate guides cover conscientious objection, civilian service, studying abroad and training.
What does the military service questionnaire require from men and women?
The questionnaire is the first step in the procedure. The Bundeswehr makes a clear distinction: men born in 2008 must answer it, while participation is voluntary for women. The table shows the differences at a glance. The guide on completing the questionnaire online explains the steps in detail.
| Group | Obligation | Deadline | If the deadline is missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men born in 2008 | Yes | One month from the letter | Reminder with a two-week deadline, then a hearing and a possible fine |
| Women | No, voluntary | Not applicable | No consequences, because completion is voluntary |
If the reminder letter gets lost, you can request new access details via deinwehrdienst.de or by email. The original deadlines continue to run. It is therefore worth opening the letter immediately and noting the deadline.
What happens if the questionnaire does not arrive on time?
The procedure follows fixed stages. Each stage has its own deadline, and completion remains possible even after a fine. The list shows the sequence as the Bundeswehr describes it on its website.
- The one-month deadline runs from the date of the letter.
- After it expires, a reminder letter with a two-week deadline follows.
- If this deadline is also missed, the procedure begins with a hearing letter from the BAPersBw.
- A fine notice may follow. The obligation continues regardless, and you can complete the questionnaire at any time.
According to the Bundeswehr, the fine currently stands at up to 250 euros. The law allows up to 1,000 euros. If you have missed a deadline, do not wait. Submit the questionnaire as soon as possible.
When does the medical examination take place, and what happens there?
The Bundeswehr questionnaire page does not give a date for the medical examination. Depending on the length of the commitment you are considering, interested applicants are invited either to a career consultation or directly to an assessment at the career centre. The procedure includes a medical assessment and a computer test. The exact steps are described on a separate Bundeswehr page, which was not part of this overview.
For preparation, it is important to take the invitation seriously. The guide on the medical examination in 2026 explains which documents to bring and how the day typically runs.
Can I have military service deferred during my studies?
A deferment because of studies is an application that the competent authority decides on a case-by-case basis. Whether it is granted depends on requirements that you should check in advance in the law and on the Bundeswehr website. There is no guarantee. The individual guide on deferment explains the procedure and the points to watch when you apply.
Where military service, studies and training overlap
Many questions do not arise from the questionnaire itself but from the situation afterwards. The table below groups the most common overlaps. Each row links to the guide that covers the topic in depth.
| Topic | What it is about | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | Influence of service on BAföG | Military service and BAföG |
| Health insurance | Who pays contributions during service | Military service and health insurance |
| Studying abroad | Rules for leaving Germany during service | Military service and studying abroad (in German) |
| Master and doctorate | Whether the same rules apply | Military service in a master or second degree (in German) |
| Dropping out | What follows after leaving a course | Military service after dropping out (in German) |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to complete the questionnaire as a student?
Men born in 2008 must answer the questionnaire. The obligation depends on the birth year. The Bundeswehr page names no exception for students. If you are studying, treat the letter with the same seriousness as every other man in that year group.
I am a woman. Do I need to do anything?
No, the questionnaire is voluntary for women. If you want to complete it, you can do so through the Bundeswehr. The guide on the questionnaire for women describes the details of voluntary completion.
How quickly do I need to respond to the questionnaire?
The deadline is one month from the date of the letter. If you receive a reminder afterwards, a second deadline of two weeks applies. The original deadlines continue to run even if you request your access details again.
What does it cost not to complete the questionnaire?
The Bundeswehr currently cites a fine of up to 250 euros. The law allows up to 1,000 euros. The obligation continues after a fine, so you can still complete the questionnaire. Check the current fine amount on the Bundeswehr website.
What you should do now
- Check whether you belong to the 2008 birth year and keep the letter at hand.
- As soon as the letter arrives, note the deadline and add it to your calendar.
- Complete the questionnaire before the deadline. If your access details are missing, request them again via deinwehrdienst.de or by email.
- Clarify open questions on deferment, the medical examination or studies in the individual guides before a deadline passes.
Related guides
This overview is grouped by subtopic. Each guide answers one specific question in full, following the procedure from the questionnaire through the medical examination to special cases.
Questionnaire and deadlines
- Military Service 2026: Questionnaire Mandatory for Men Aged 18
- Military Service Questionnaire: Deadline, Reminder and Next Steps
- Military Service Questionnaire: Fines and Consequences
- Military service questionnaire online: step-by-step guide
- Wehrdienst-Fragebogen: Was passiert, wenn der Brief fehlt?
- Wehrdienst-Fragebogen für Frauen: Pflicht oder freiwillig?
Medical examination
- Musterung 2026: Procedure and Duration
- Musterung from Birth Cohort 2008: Who Has to Attend
- Musterungsbescheid erhalten: Was jetzt zu tun ist
- Tauglichkeit bei der Musterung: Welche Untersuchungen gemacht werden
- Musterung nicht wahrgenommen: Was bei Nichterscheinen passiert
- Musterungszentren: Wo die Musterung 2027 stattfindet
- Musterung in der Schulzeit: Wann die Einladung kommt
- Musterung für Frauen: Freiwillig hingehen und was dafür gilt
Deferment, studies and training
- Deferral from Military Service Because of Studies: Applying
- Wehrdienst und BAföG: Hat der Dienst Einfluss auf die Förderung?
- Wehrdienst und Krankenversicherung: Wer zahlt während des Dienstes?
- Wehrdienst oder Studium: Vor- und Nachteile im Vergleich (in German)
- Wehrdienst und Ausbildung: Lässt sich beides kombinieren? (in German)
- Wehrdienst und Auslandsstudium: Was bei der Ausreise gilt (in German)
- Wehrdienst im Master oder Zweitstudium: Gilt die gleiche Regel? (in German)
- Wehrdienst und Promotion: Was Doktoranden jetzt wissen sollten (in German)
- Wehrdienst bei Studienabbruch: Was auf dich zukommt (in German)
- Wehrdienst im Lebenslauf: So gibst du den Dienst richtig an (in German)
Conscientious objection
- Applying for conscientious objection: step by step
- Conscientious objection after screening: what an application does
- Conscientious objection application: structure and reasoning
- Kriegsdienstverweigerung: Warum die Anträge 2026 so stark steigen
- Kriegsdienstverweigerung abgelehnt: Widerspruch und nächste Schritte
- Gewissensentscheidung beim Wehrdienst: Was Studierende wissen sollten
Voluntary service, civilian service and the future
- German military service 2026: voluntary or compulsory?
- Conditional compulsory service: when conscription could return
- Military service length: how long the new service lasts
- Wehrdienst-Gehalt: Was Freiwillige im neuen Wehrdienst verdienen
- Applying for military service: requirements and process overview
- Freiwilliger Wehrdienst: Wie der Vertrag abläuft
- Zivildienst 2026: Kommt er zurück oder bleibt er ausgesetzt? (in German)
Sources: Bundeswehr, questionnaire on the new military service (page status: 19 December 2025), bundeswehr.de.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. Deadlines, fines and procedures may change. The current position at the Bundeswehr and in the law is decisive. For your personal situation, you can get advice from Academycon.
