Before your first semester, you need to sort out five things, namely your enrolment together with proof of health insurance, the semester fee, your funding, your accommodation and your bank account. This first semester checklist puts the tasks in order of urgency and lists the figures you need for each one. Two deadlines expire quickly. You must apply for exemption from compulsory insurance within three months of starting your studies. The study start grant of €1,000 must be claimed by the end of the month after your studies begin (for a start on 1 October, that means by 30 November).
Quick answer
Before your first semester you arrange enrolment with proof of health insurance, the semester fee, funding, housing and a bank account. Two deadlines are time-critical. One is the exemption from compulsory insurance, within three months of starting. The other is the €1,000 study start grant, by the end of the following month.
Key points at a glance
- When you enrol, you prove that you are either statutorily insured or exempt from compulsory insurance, and that you have health insurance cover.
- The exemption applies permanently for your entire course of study and must be applied for within three months of starting your studies.
- You apply for BAföG online via BAföG Digital. The maximum rate is €992 per month.
- A room in a shared flat costs €510 on average, and the BAföG accommodation allowance is €380.
- Your university sets the amount and the deadline for the semester fee.
What belongs on the first semester checklist?
Most of these tasks are the same at almost every university, but each university sets its own deadlines and procedures. The table shows what is due when and who is responsible.
| Task | When | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment (matriculation) | Within your university’s enrolment period | University |
| Proof of health insurance | At enrolment | Health insurer |
| Exemption from compulsory insurance (only for the route to private health insurance) | Within three months of starting your studies | Health insurer |
| Semester fee | By your university’s payment deadline | University |
| BAföG application | Ideally before the semester starts | Office for Training Grants at the Studierendenwerk |
| Study start grant (if eligible) | By the end of the month after your studies begin | BAföG Digital |
| Child benefit | At the start of your studies, application required | Family benefits office |
| Broadcasting fee | After moving into your flat | Beitragsservice |
Which documents do you need for enrolment?
Each university decides which documents enrolment requires. The list is in your admission notice and in the enrolment portal. Common documents include the following:
- Admission notice or offer of admission
- Identity card or passport
- Proof of your university entrance qualification, for example your Abitur certificate
- Proof of your health insurance
- Receipt for the semester fee, if your university requires one
For health insurance there is one firm rule. At enrolment you must prove that you are statutorily insured or exempt from compulsory insurance, and that you have other health insurance cover. Ask your health insurer which proof your university accepts.
Terms such as matriculation number, deregistration or re-enrolment will come up in your first few days. What they mean is explained in University terms explained (in German).
Which health insurance do you need as a student?
At the start of your studies you are either covered as a family member, compulsorily insured as a student or, if you apply for an exemption, privately insured. Which route suits you depends on your age and income. For a full overview, see the guide Health insurance for students. What you need to know (in German).
Family insurance through your parents
Family insurance applies up to age 23, or up to age 25 if you are still in school or studying. In 2026 your total income may be at most €565 per month. If you only have a minijob, the limit is €603. BAföG, maintenance from your parents and child benefit do not count as income.
Compulsory student health insurance
If family insurance does not apply, you insure yourself as a student in statutory health insurance. This requires enrolment at a state or state-recognised university, and during term time you may work at most 20 hours per week. Private universities and dual or part-time degree programmes do not qualify. The insurance ends in the semester in which you turn 30.
| Item (2026, per month) | Under 23 | From 23, without children |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance, basic contribution | €87.38 | €87.38 |
| Long-term care insurance | €30.78 | €35.91 |
| Subtotal without supplementary contribution | €118.16 | €123.29 |
On top of this comes the supplementary contribution of your health insurer. It is calculated on €855. At the average rate of 2.9% set by the Federal Ministry of Health, this adds €24.80, which brings the total to roughly €143 (under 23) or roughly €148 (from 23) per month. On average, however, insurers charge more than 3%.
Exemption and private health insurance
If you want private health insurance, you apply for exemption from compulsory insurance within three months of starting your studies. It usually takes effect retroactively from the start of compulsory insurance. Consider the consequences. If you study without interruption, the exemption applies permanently for your entire course of study, there is no free family insurance during that time, and returning to statutory insurance is possible only in narrow cases, for example with a job subject to social insurance. The guide Returning to statutory health insurance. Is it possible? (in German) explains how this works.
How do you pay the semester fee?
You transfer the semester fee to your university, quoting the reference it specifies. The amount, bank details and payment deadline are in your enrolment documents. A missed deadline can delay your enrolment or your later re-enrolment, so enter it in your calendar straight away.
Where a Germany semester ticket is offered, it costs €37.80 per month in 2026, or €226.80 per semester. For 2027, €40.08 per month has been agreed. Whether the ticket is included in the semester fee or booked separately is also stated in your university’s documents.
What do you need to clarify about BAföG, child benefit and part-time work?
Applying for BAföG
You submit the application online via BAföG Digital. It is processed by the Office for Training Grants at the Studierendenwerk. The earlier the application is complete, the sooner the office can review it. A step-by-step guide is available in Applying for BAföG (in German).
| Item (per month) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic need | €475 |
| Accommodation allowance, not living with your parents | €380 |
| Health insurance supplement | €102 |
| Long-term care insurance supplement | €35 |
| Maximum rate (under 30, own flat, own insurance) | €992 |
If you live with your parents and insure yourself, the maximum rate is €671. Half of the funding is paid as a grant, and the other half as an interest-free state loan of which you must repay at most €10,010. Your own income up to €603 gross per month is not counted, and assets up to €15,000 are exempt until you turn 29. Parental assets do not count. These figures come from the information provided by the Studierendenwerke.
A reform is available as a government draft and has not yet been passed. Under it, the accommodation allowance would rise from €380 to €440 at the earliest on 1 April 2027.
Study start grant
The study start grant is a one-off payment of €1,000. You receive it if you begin a full-time course before your 25th birthday and you, or your family, received social benefits in the month before your studies began, for example social assistance, housing benefit or the child supplement. You can apply only online via BAföG Digital, and you need a BundID for this.
Child benefit
Child benefit is paid for children in training or studying until their 25th birthday. In 2026 it is €259 per child per month. It is paid only on application to the family benefits office, which parents usually submit. The detailed conditions are in the guide Child benefit during your studies (in German).
Part-time work
The minijob limit in 2026 is €603 per month. If you work as a student employee for at most 20 hours per week during term time, you remain exempt from health, long-term care and unemployment insurance, but pension insurance remains compulsory. If you are looking for a job, Part-time work during your studies (in German) offers guidance.
What does housing cost, and which contracts come with it?
In university towns, a room in a shared flat costs €510 per month on average. In Munich the figure is €850, in Berlin and Hamburg €650, and in Cologne €640. In 76 of the 90 cities surveyed, the average is above the BAföG accommodation allowance of €380. The figures come from the 2026 university town scoring by the Moses Mendelssohn Institute, as reported in a press release from the German National Association for Student Affairs.
Example. A room in a shared flat in Munich for €850 is €470 above the accommodation allowance, while a room at the average price of €510 still costs €130 more. Tips for your search are in Affordable housing during your studies (in German), and the comparison Student hall or shared flat. Which suits you better (in German) weighs the options.
After you move in, further tasks follow:
- Register your new address with the registration office.
- Clarify the broadcasting fee. It is charged per flat and amounts to €18.36 per month. If you receive BAföG and do not live with your parents, you can apply to the Beitragsservice for an exemption, which can be backdated by up to three years.
- Open a current account through which your BAföG, rent and semester fee are paid.
- Check your personal liability insurance. Children are usually covered free of charge under their parents’ policy as long as they are unmarried and in their first training. The conditions depend on the tariff. More on this in Liability insurance for students (in German).
What comes up again at the start of every semester?
After your first semester, part of the list repeats itself. At the start of each semester, the main points are:
- Re-enrolment. Note the re-enrolment deadline in your calendar and pay the semester fee on time.
- Download your enrolment certificate, since authorities and insurers often ask for it.
- Submit your BAföG follow-up application on time. The end of the approval period is stated in your notice.
- Draw up your timetable and note the deadlines for exam registration. How to plan your schedule and learning routine is shown in Organising your studies (in German).
- Use your student ID. Canteen card, library and discounts are covered in Benefits for students (in German).
Frequently asked questions
What belongs on the checklist for starting university?
Enrolment with proof of health insurance, the semester fee, the BAföG and child benefit applications, your accommodation including registration and the broadcasting fee, and a current account. Time-critical are the exemption from compulsory insurance (three months after the start of your studies) and the study start grant (by the end of the following month). Everything else depends on your university’s deadlines.
Which documents do I need for enrolment?
Each university sets this itself, and the list is in your admission notice and in the enrolment portal. Typical documents are the admission notice, an ID, proof of your university entrance qualification and proof of health insurance. Ask your health insurer for the insurance certificate early.
When and how do I pay the semester fee?
Transfer it to your university by the deadline in your enrolment documents at the latest. The amount, account details and payment reference are listed there too. The same applies to every re-enrolment in later semesters. Enter the deadline in your calendar straight away.
Do I need health insurance before I start studying?
You must prove at enrolment that you are statutorily insured or exempt. If you are covered as a family member through your parents, ask your insurer for the right certificate. Otherwise, register for student health insurance with a statutory health insurer. The exemption in favour of private insurance must be applied for within three months of the start of your studies.
How to proceed now
- Read your admission notice and note the deadlines for enrolment and the semester fee.
- Clarify your health insurance. Check family insurance, or register for student insurance with a statutory insurer. If you are considering an exemption, count three months from the start of your studies and remember that it applies for your whole course of study.
- Submit your BAföG application via BAföG Digital, apply for the study start grant by the end of the following month if you are eligible, and register your child benefit with the family benefits office.
- Arrange your flat, registration, broadcasting fee, current account and liability insurance.
- Do not forget the social side. How to meet people and plan your first weeks is covered in Tips for freshers (in German).
Sources
- Section 8 SGB V, exemption from compulsory insurance (in German), retrieved on 25.10.2026
- German National Association for Student Affairs, BAföG FAQ (January 2026, in German), retrieved on 25.10.2026
- German National Association for Student Affairs, press release on rent burden (in German)
- GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 reference values (in German)
Related articles
- Tips for freshers (in German)
- Benefits for students (in German)
- Organising your studies (in German)
- Using AI as a study aid (in German)
- Switching health insurer as a student (in German)
- AOK for students. Regional differences, contribution and admission (in German)
- Health insurance at enrolment (in German)
- Glossary of student health insurance terms, A to Z (in German)
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- When your child starts university. Checklist for parents (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
