The short answer on part-time study
Part-time study is a regular degree programme at a reduced pace. Compulsory insurance as a student does not depend on whether you study full time or part time. BAföG is generally not paid for part-time degree programmes, so you usually finance part-time study through work, family or a loan. What matters for your insurance is whether you work alongside your studies, and how much.
| Point | Detail | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory insurance as a student | Independent of full-time or part-time study | Joint circular 2017, section 1.1.1 |
| Subject semester limit | Abolished since 2020 | Basic guidance of the umbrella associations, version 23 December 2025, section 1.1.5.1 |
| BAföG | Part-time degree programmes are excluded, exception for disability | § 2 para. 5 BAföG, accessed 20 October 2026 |
| Health insurance contribution without additional contribution 2026 | €87.38 per month | GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026 |
| Age limit | End of the semester in which you turn 30 | Circular 2017, section 1.1.4.1 |
Is part-time study insured the same way as full-time study?
In principle, yes. Under the joint circular, compulsory insurance does not depend on whether you study full time or part time. A distance degree at a university can also lead to student health insurance if the other requirements are met.
However, the health insurer also checks whether you still count as a student in appearance. This applies especially if you work alongside a part-time degree. The framework is the student job rule under § 6 para. 1 no. 3 SGB V. The article on private health insurance for part-time study explains what this means for status and contributions.
Which requirements do I have to meet?
You need enrolment in a degree programme that is offered part time. Whether and how this is possible is governed by state law, the study and examination regulations and the university. There is no uniform catalogue. It is therefore worth looking at the admission documents before you decide.
- Is the degree programme offered part time, and to what extent?
- Which deadlines apply to part-time students, and how are part-time semesters counted?
- Which semester fee applies, and which charges does the university levy?
- How much paid work do you plan alongside your studies?
- How old will you be at the end of the semester in which you turn 30?
What does part-time study cost?
Tuition fees depend on the university and the federal state. The semester fee is fixed, and it differs from university to university. An important ongoing cost is health insurance, provided you are insured as a student. The following example calculates student health insurance for 2026. It applies to students who do not live with their parents, and to people aged 23 or over without children.
- Contribution base: €855 per month, that is €475 basic needs plus €380 housing allowance.
- Health insurance contribution without additional contribution: 855 times 10.22% equals €87.38.
- Additional contribution at the average of 2.9%: 855 times 2.9% equals €24.80. Your insurer may differ.
- Long-term care insurance with childless surcharge: 855 times 4.2% equals €35.91.
- Total: €87.38 plus €24.80 plus €35.91 equals €148.09 per month.
How do I finance part-time study?
BAföG is generally excluded for part-time degree programmes. Only training that generally takes up the full working capacity of trainees is funded. There is an exception for students whose full-time study is restricted by a disability. For them, the entitlements remain unaffected.
Without BAföG, work, family and savings remain. The KfW student loan is available up to the age limit of 44 and is granted regardless of income and assets, with monthly amounts between €100 and €650. A loan costs interest and should therefore only serve as a supplement. The family benefit office checks whether child benefit continues in the individual case.
How long may I stay in part-time study?
Student health insurance ends at the latest with the end of the semester in which you turn 30. There is no longer a maximum number of subject semesters. The former limit of 14 subject semesters has been abolished since 2020 according to the basic guidance of the umbrella associations (version 23 December 2025). Only the age limit is decisive.
Frequently asked questions
Does a part-time semester count for the age limit?
Whether you study full time or part time makes no difference to the end. The age limit works as the end date: compulsory insurance ends at the end of the semester in which you turn 30.
Do part-time students receive BAföG?
As a rule, no. Only training that generally takes up the full working capacity is funded. There is an exception for a disability that restricts full-time study.
Does compulsory insurance also apply to distance study?
Compulsory insurance is not tied to attendance. A distance degree at a university can also lead to student health insurance. The health insurer checks the requirements in each case, especially when you are employed.
Can I receive child benefit during part-time study?
The family benefit office checks in each case whether part-time study is sufficient for the entitlement. In a first degree there is no earnings limit, while for a second degree the limit of 20 hours per week applies.
Here is what to do now
- Check whether your degree programme is offered part time, and clarify the standard period of study in part-time mode.
- Ask your health insurer before enrolment which status applies to you as a part-time student.
- Note your hours for work and study, so that the student job rule can be checked.
- Plan the financing for the whole length of your studies, not just the first year.
- Put the semester in which you turn 30 in your calendar, so that you can check in good time.
Related reading
- Private health insurance (PKV) for part-time study: what applies to status and contributions (in German)
- Studying at 30 and over: opportunities, financing and everyday life (in German)
- Student loan comparison: providers, interest and alternatives (in German)
- Glossary of health insurance for students (in German)
Sources and review
- Joint circular on the compulsory insurance of students dated 6 December 2017 (version as retrieved from the TK PDF), sections 1.1.1, 1.1.4, 1.1.4.2.1, 1.5.1.
- § 6 para. 1 no. 3 SGB V and § 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V, gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed 20 October 2026
- § 2 para. 5 BAföG, Studierendenwerke, accessed 20 October 2026.
- § 236 SGB V (contribution base €855 per month) and calculation parameters 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet, status 1 January 2026
- KfW student loan, information sheet, status November 2023.
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
To review your situation in part-time study in detail, the next step is the Academycon online check.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
