Short answer
The student broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag) applies as soon as you have your own flat. This includes a single room in a dorm apartment. You are only exempt if you do not live with your parents and you receive BAföG, vocational training allowance (BAB) or training allowance (Ausbildungsgeld). The fee is €18.36 per month per flat. You apply to the Beitragsservice.
The key facts at a glance
| Point | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee per flat | €18.36 per month (about €220 per year) | 16 January 2026 | Consumer Advice Centre (Verbraucherzentrale), information from the Beitragsservice |
| Requirement for exemption | Not living with your parents and receiving BAföG, BAB or training allowance | 16 January 2026 | Beitragsservice |
| Proof | Copy of the benefit notice | 16 January 2026 | Beitragsservice |
| Application | Form on rundfunkbeitrag.de, sent to the Beitragsservice in 50656 Cologne | 16 January 2026 | Beitragsservice |
Who pays the student broadcasting fee?
Adult students who move into their own flat, alone or with others, become liable to pay. Several single rooms with a shared kitchen and a shared front door count as one flat. Students and trainees are not exempt automatically, even if they earn little.
Dorm, flat share or own flat: who pays what?
| Living arrangement | Who pays | Exemption possible |
|---|---|---|
| Own flat | You, with your own fee | Yes, with BAföG or a comparable benefit |
| Single apartment in a dorm | You, because the apartment counts as your own flat | Yes, with BAföG or a comparable benefit |
| Flat share with a shared flat | One person is registered, and all residents are jointly liable | Only if all residents are exempt |
In a dorm, each resident pays for their own room or apartment. If one flatmate in a shared flat is not exempt, the full fee is due. If you can prove that you meet the conditions, you can be exempted retroactively.
How much does the fee cost per year?
- One flat: €18.36 × 12 months = €220.32 per year.
- Shared flat with three people, one without BAföG: the fee stays at €220.32 per year, because the flat is not exempt.
- Two dorm apartments, both residents receive BAföG: both exemptions apply and no fee is due. Without exemptions it would be 2 × €220.32 = €440.64 per year.
- Two dorm apartments, only one person receives BAföG: the other pays €220.32 per year.
The examples use the fee for 2026.
How to apply
- Check that your BAföG notice or a comparable benefit notice is current.
- Download the application form from rundfunkbeitrag.de or fill it in online.
- Enclose a copy of the benefit notice.
- Print the form, sign it and send it by registered mail to the Beitragsservice in 50656 Cologne.
- If you move out, notify the Beitragsservice in writing and give your new address. If you move into a flat share where someone already pays, that person’s contribution number is sufficient.
Frequently asked questions
Does the exemption apply retroactively?
The Beitragsservice can grant an exemption retroactively if you prove that you met the conditions. How far back it applies follows the rules of the Beitragsservice. Ask them before you wait a long time.
Does a student loan exempt me from the broadcasting fee?
No. The exemption depends on BAföG, vocational training allowance or training allowance. A loan does not count. The loan types are compared in the guide Student loans compared (in German).
Does a second home count?
The source this guide relies on does not cover second homes. Clarify this with the Beitragsservice before you move. The city’s second-home tax is a separate matter. For an overview, see Studying in Germany (in German).
Will the fee change in 2027?
The examples and amounts apply to 2026. What counts is the status of the Beitragsservice at the time of your payment.
Sources and checks
- Information on the broadcasting fee for students from the Beitragsservice, published by the Verbraucherzentrale, status 16 January 2026, retrieved 20 October 2026.
- Application forms at rundfunkbeitrag.de.
- Fee of €18.36 per month and flat, status 2026.
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
For a first check of your situation, use the online check.
Related guides
- Everything about BAföG: entitlement, amount and repayment (in German)
- Applying for BAföG: application, deadlines and documents (in German)
- Financing a degree over 30 (in German)
- Glossary: health insurance during studies (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
