Information on health insurance for exchange students
Students from EU and EEA countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey or the UK
If you have statutory health insurance in your home country, apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a certificate of entitlement (E-111, AT 11, ATN 11 or BH6 form) before your mobility . You then take the relevant document to a statutory health insurance fund in Germany and apply for confirmation that you do not require additional insurance. The health insurance company will send this confirmation electronically directly to the university.
Important: You must still present the EHIC or forms E111 or other proof of entitlement when visiting a doctor or hospital!
If you do not have statutory health insurance in your home country, you must take out private health insurance in Germany.
Students who do not come from the EU
Students from non-EU third countries must take out German health insurance - usually statutory insurance. Information on statutory insurance providers and further information on insurance can be found on the DAAD website. If you have any questions about individual insurance benefits, please contact the providers directly.
The cost of statutory insurance is around EUR 135 - 150 per month, depending on which provider you choose and which services are included. We recommend that you take out the most comprehensive insurance cover possible, which also includes treatment for chronic illnesses, long-term hospitalisation, etc.
The health insurance provider will send proof of your insurance electronically directly to the university. Without the electronic notification, your enrolment cannot be finalised.
- Do you have to take out private health insurance?
Even if you choose private health insurance, for example because you are not entitled to membership of a statutory health insurance fund for legal reasons, you must apply to a statutory health insurance fund for a digital confirmation for the university stating that you are not subject to compulsory insurance.
Health insurance for travelling abroad is often approved when entering the country or for the issue of a visa, but is not sufficient for studying at a German university!
Health insurance & student registration procedure (SMV)
Overview of health insurance and student registration procedures (PDF)
EHIC
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be found on the back of your insurance card. It must be completed in full in order to use it abroad. If the reverse side is filled in with asterisks, the card does not authorise you to claim benefits abroad.