Semester Fee During a Semester Abroad: Paying or Being Exempt

Many students planning a semester abroad ask whether the semester fee at their home university continues to apply. The answer depends on whether you stay enrolled, take a leave of absence or are exempted, and it is set out in your university’s fee regulations. Two examples show how different the rules can look.

Key points at a glance

• Each university sets its semester fee in its own fee regulations, so rules differ between institutions.
• According to the University of Hamburg, students on leave pay the full semester fee, also during a semester abroad.
• Düsseldorf lists 129.51 euros for summer semester 2025 for students on leave and for a compulsory semester abroad.
• In Düsseldorf a leave of absence removes the semester ticket, while a compulsory semester abroad allows an exemption on application.
• The deadline and the form of the leave decide whether a special rule applies to you at all.

Do you have to pay the semester fee during a semester abroad?

There is no blanket answer, because the rules differ between universities. Your home university is the starting point. If you stay enrolled and do not take a leave of absence, you will usually continue to receive a fee notice. If you take a leave of absence, the University of Hamburg states that the full semester fee is due, even when the semester takes place abroad.

A semester abroad alone therefore does not automatically exempt you from payment. If you want to avoid paying, check whether an exemption applies to your situation and apply for it before the deadline runs out.

Which amounts do universities give as examples?

The table shows figures from the fee overview of the Hochschule Düsseldorf for summer semester 2025. It is an example only and does not apply to other universities or later semesters.

Important: these figures come from an overview for one semester. Other amounts may apply in winter semester 2026/27 or at your own university, so check your current fee notice or the fee regulations before you plan your budget.

When are you exempt from the semester ticket?

The semester ticket is a special case that is often regulated separately from the fee itself. The Düsseldorf overview describes an exemption for a compulsory semester abroad through an application for a ticket exemption in special cases. The University of Hamburg writes that an exemption is possible because of the leave of absence, and that the ticket may possibly be refunded by the student services organisation for a semester abroad. In both cases proceed as follows:

1. Clarify whether your semester abroad is compulsory, for example through your course regulations or the international office.
2. Submit the application for a ticket exemption in special cases, or the refund application to the student services organisation.
3. Attach the proof the university requires, such as confirmation of the stay abroad.
4. Keep copies and confirmations of receipt so that you can show what you submitted if questions arise.

What applies during a leave of absence?

A leave of absence is not the same as being removed from the student register. It requires an application and usually applies for one semester at a time. According to the University of Hamburg, a semester abroad counts as an important reason. The deadlines there are 31 January for the summer semester and 30 June for the winter semester, and late applications can trigger a late fee of 30 euros, unless the reason only arose after the deadline.

If you also want to know how health insurance works during a leave semester, read our article on this topic. Contribution duty and insurance cover are two separate questions, and you should clarify each of them on its own.

How to apply for a leave of absence for a semester abroad

The University of Hamburg describes the leave of absence as an application that must be made if, for an important reason, at least half of your working time cannot be spent on your studies. The page lists illness, caring for children or relatives, a study stay and an internship as reasons, and it names a study stay as a clear example. Leaves are usually granted per semester, and for a longer documented reason also for several semesters. Prepare the application in this order:

1. Check with the international office when your learning agreement is confirmed, and plan the leave date around it.
2. Check your university’s deadline. Hamburg names 31 January for the summer semester and 30 June for the winter semester.
3. Justify the application with your stay abroad and attach the documents your examination office requires.
4. Decide whether you intend to sit exams during the leave. According to the Hamburg page, exams during a leave are only allowed in exceptional cases, for example within a study stay at a foreign university.

Special cases you should know about

Two points from the Hamburg overview matter to many students. First, the administrative fee of 50 euros falls away for the same semesters if someone is on leave for several semesters in a row. Second, students with a residence permit face their own rule: one leave semester per bachelor or master programme is possible without prior approval from the immigration office, while several leave semesters need its approval.

Students from non-EU countries should therefore ask both the student administration and the responsible immigration office before applying, especially if the semester abroad is extended beyond the summer or falls within the period of a residence permit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay the semester fee if I study abroad?

This depends on whether you stay enrolled at your home university, take a leave of absence or receive an exemption. The University of Hamburg requires the full fee from students on leave, including for a semester abroad. Ask your university which case applies to you.

Do I pay twice if I am enrolled at the host university?

There is no general answer. Whether the host university charges fees and how they relate to the fee of your home university is decided by each institution. Clarify this in writing before you register, so that you know which payments you have to make.

What happens if I do not pay the fee on time?

If the fee does not arrive on time, your re-enrolment or registration can run into problems. The exact consequences and reminder periods are set out in your university’s fee regulations and on your notice. If in doubt, ask the student administration before a deadline passes.

Does the ticket exemption also apply during a leave of absence?

According to the Düsseldorf overview, the semester ticket falls away for students on leave. The University of Hamburg states that an exemption is possible because of the leave. Whether this applies at your university depends on its regulations and on the application form.

What to do next

1. Check whether you stay enrolled, take a leave of absence or qualify for an exemption for a compulsory semester abroad.
2. Read the fee regulations and your current fee notice.
3. Submit applications for leave or ticket exemption before the deadlines, with all proof attached.
4. Ask the host university whether additional fees apply, and keep the answer in writing.

Related articles

• Health insurance during a leave semester (in German)
• Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
• Learning agreement: getting abroad credits recognised
• Fitting a semester abroad into the standard period of study
• Semester Off and Health Insurance: What Applies

Sources: University of Hamburg: Beurlaubung (page last changed 24 March 2025); Hochschule Düsseldorf: Semesterbeitrag (overview summer semester 2025).

Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.