Last updated: March 2026 · Reviewed by Matthias Wolf, licensed insurance broker
Moving to Germany for your studies is an exciting step, until you have to deal with all the paperwork. Health insurance is one of those things you simply can't avoid: every student at a German university needs it. Once you start looking into it, you quickly realize it's not exactly straightforward. There are age limits, small print, and plenty of confusing terminology that doesn't make things any easier.
At Stay, 70% of our team moved to Germany from abroad, so we've been there ourselves and we know how overwhelming it can feel at first. In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know, whether you're 22 and starting your bachelor’s or are a 33-year-old PhD candidate.
Germany's student health insurance system comes down to one key number: 30.
If you're under 30 and enrolled in a recognised degree programme, you can access one of the most affordable options available: the student tariff in the public system (GKV), known as Krankenversicherung der Studenten (KVdS).
This rule is based on German social law (Sozialgesetzbuch V, §5(1) No. 9). In simple terms, it means that as long as you're studying at a state-recognised university, you're required to have public health insurance, but only until you turn 30 or complete your 14th semester, whichever comes first.
Once you cross that threshold, you lose access to the subsidised student tariff and your monthly costs can almost double. That's why timing matters more than most students expect, especially if you're starting a master's at 28 or a PhD in your early 30s.
💡 Key insight: The age limit is tied to your birthday, not the start of the semester. If you turn 30 during the semester, you can usually keep the student rate until the semester ends, giving you some extra time to plan.
If you need further information about how health insurance works in Germany for international residents, check out our complete guide to health insurance in Germany.
If you're under 30, this is the best deal you'll find. The Krankenversicherung der Studenten (KVdS) is the discounted student tariff within Germany's public health insurance system (GKV). You can get it through any public insurer (Krankenkasse), like TK, AOK, Barmer, or DAK.
| Component | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Health insurance (Krankenversicherung) | ~€85 |
| Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) | ~€25 |
| Total | ~€110/month |
The exact amount can vary slightly depending on the insurer because each fund charges a different supplementary contribution, but usually only by a few euros.
⚠️ Important: You cannot enrol at a German university without either an insurance certificate (Versicherungsbescheinigung) or an exemption certificate (Befreiungsbescheinigung). No certificate = no Immatrikulation.
The student tariff gives you the same coverage as any public insurance in Germany. This includes:
What it typically doesn't cover well: dental crowns/implants, vision (glasses/contacts), single hospital rooms, and treatment by the head physician (Chefarztbehandlung). For those, you'd need a supplementary policy (Zusatzversicherung).
Not sure which Krankenkasse to choose?
Our advisors help international students choose the right insurer clearly, in plain English.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationThis is where many international students get caught off guard. Once you turn 30 or finish your 14th semester, you lose access to the student tariff. From that point on, you'll need to choose a new option.
| Option | Monthly Cost | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntary GKV (freiwillige Versicherung) | ~€210–€230/month | Same coverage, nearly double the premium. Minimum income of ~€1,178/month assumed even if you earn less. |
| Private insurance (PKV) | €110–€400+/month | Premiums depend on age, health, and chosen plan. It can be cheaper than voluntary GKV for healthy individuals. |
| Transitional tariff (Übergangstarif) | ~€110 for 6 more months | Some Krankenkassen offer a 6-month extension at or near the student rate. This is not guaranteed, you have to ask your insurer. |
If you don't actively choose a different option, you'll automatically move into voluntary public insurance. Your Krankenkasse will usually notify you a few weeks before your 30th birthday. After that, you typically have two weeks to decide if you want to switch to private insurance instead.
🕐 In some cases, you may be able to keep the student tariff beyond 30.
This can apply if you experience disability, serious illness during your studies, pregnancy or childcare responsibilities, participation in voluntary social service (Freiwilligendienst), or care for a close relative. Each situation requires proper documentation submitted to your Krankenkasse for approval.
If you want further information, check out our detailed guide on PKV vs. GKV for international residents: which insurance saves more.
If you're from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you probably already have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). This can cover you in Germany, but only in certain situations.
💡 Important: Even if you use EHIC, you'l usually need an exemption certificate (Befreiungsbescheinigung) from a German Krankenkasse for enrolment. This confirms you're exempt from local insurance.
One of the most common and costly mistakes we see at Stay involves cheap travel or "incoming" insurance. Here's how it usually works:
⚠️ Why incoming/travel insurance fails:
If you’re under 30 and enrolling in a degree programme:
If you're over 30 or in a non-degree programme (see Section 6), you'll need either voluntary GKV or a proper PKV policy, not an incoming plan.
Confused about which insurance qualifies for university enrollment?
We've helped 3,000+ international residents understand exactly this.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationHere's a tricky rule that often surprises international residents: the student GKV tariff is only for students enrolled at a state-recognised university (staatlich anerkannte Hochschule). This means:
| Programme Type | Eligible for Student GKV? |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's/Master's at a university | ✅ Yes |
| Private language school (Goethe-Institut, etc.) | ❌ No |
| Studienkolleg (university-affiliated) | ⚠️ It depends: some are, some aren't |
| University language course (DSH prep at uni) | ⚠️ It depends on enrolment status |
| Vocational training (Ausbildung) | ❌ No (different rules apply) |
If you're in a language course or Studienkolleg that doesn't qualify, you'll need either:
🎓 Our tip: If you're in a Studienkolleg programme, ask the institution whether it's affiliated with a university in a way that grants student GKV access and get it in writing.
PhD students in Germany fall into two very different insurance categories depending on their employment status:
If you have an employment contract with a university or research institute (e.g., a TV-L E13 position at a Max-Planck-Institut or Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft), you are treated as a regular employee. This means that:
If you receive a scholarship (Stipendium) from DAAD, a foundation, or your home country, you are not employed. This changes everything:
💡 Did you know? DAAD stipends usually provide a health insurance supplement of around €94 per month. When combined with the student tariff, this can cover most of your premium. However, if you're over 30, the supplement is generally not enough to fully cover the higher costs of voluntary GKV or PKV.
Many international students work while studying, but the type of job you have can change your health insurance status.
📌 Rule of thumb: As long as studying is your main activity and you work ≤20h/week (or only in a Minijob), your student insurance stays safe.
Every semester, German universities charge a Semesterbeitrag (semester contribution), usually €150-€400. Many students assume it includes health insurance, but it does not.
Here's what the Semesterbeitrag usually includes:
Health insurance is a separate, monthly payment directly to your Krankenkasse or private insurer. You have to budget for both:
| Cost Item | Frequency | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Semesterbeitrag | Per semester (6 months) | €150-€400 |
| Student GKV (under 30) | Monthly | ~€110 |
| Voluntary GKV (over 30) | Monthly | ~€210+ |
Turning 30 soon? Don't let insurance costs catch you by surprise.
We'll compare your options (GKV vs. PKV) and help you choose the best plan based on your exact situation.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationIf you've recently graduated, you might be wondering what happens to your health insurance between your last semester and your first job.
When your student status ends (exmatriculation / Exmatrikulation), your student GKV tariff ends too. If you don't have a job lined up immediately, you enter a transitional period:
Once you start employment, there are two possibilities:
💡 Planning ahead: If you're in your final semester, don't wait until graduation to think about insurance. Start researching 3 months before your Exmatrikulation date. A single month without coverage can cause problems with the Ausländerbehörde.
👤 Profile: Priya, 24, from Mumbai. Starting an M.Sc. in Computer Science at TU Berlin. No prior insurance in Germany. Has a DAAD scholarship.
The situation: Priya bought a €40/month incoming insurance policy online before flying to Berlin. At the Studierendensekretariat, she's told the policy isn't accepted for Immatrikulation.
What she should do:
Cost: ~€110/month, of which ~€94 is covered by DAAD → Priya pays ~€16/month out of pocket.
Timeline: Priya is 24, so she has 6 years of student tariff ahead of her: more than enough for a 2-year master's programme. If she continues to a PhD and stays enrolled as a student, the tariff holds until age 30.
👤 Profile: Carlos, 33, from Colombia. Starting a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen. Funded by a Colombian government Stipendium of €1,500/month. Not employed by the university.
The situation: Carlos is over 30, so the student GKV tariff is not available. He's enrolled as a PhD student but has no employment contract.
His options:
| Option | Monthly Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntary GKV | ~€210–€230 | Comprehensive coverage, no health questions, easy to switch to employee GKV later | Expensive relative to stipend; minimum income assumed even if stipend is lower |
| PKV | €110–€350 | Can be cheaper for healthy 33-year-olds; faster specialist access; customisable plans | Health check required if no proof of medical record; pre-existing conditions may increase premium |
Our recommendation for Carlos: Since his stipend is €1,500/month and he's healthy with no pre-existing conditions, a basic PKV plan at ~€120/month could save him €120–€140/month compared to voluntary GKV. However, if Carlos plans to stay in Germany long-term and work as an employee after his PhD, he would normally have a ststus change and could then choose again whether he wants to be privately insured or with the GKV, If he earns under €77,400 per year in his first employment he will have to insure himself in the GKV.
This is exactly the kind of decision where a 15-minute consultation saves hundreds of euros per year.
"The biggest mistake I see with over-30 PhD students is waiting too long to make a decision. The two-week window after losing your student tariff is short, and being automatically moved into voluntary GKV isn't always the cheapest path. Come talk to us before your 30th birthday, not after."
— Matthias Wolf, Licensed Insurance Broker & Co-Founder, Stay
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No. German universities require proof of insurance from a recognised German Krankenkasse (GKV) or a German-regulated private insurer (PKV). Travel or incoming insurance does not qualify for Immatrikulation. You'll either need a Versicherungsbescheinigung from a Krankenkasse or a Befreiungsbescheinigung if you've opted for PKV.
Yes, most likely. When you turn 30, the student GKV tariff ends (at the end of that semester). For your remaining semesters, you'll move to voluntary GKV (~€210+/month) or switch to PKV. Plan your budget accordingly, the jump from ~€110 to ~€210 per month is significant.
Generally, no. Once you've opted out of GKV with a Befreiungsbescheinigung, the exemption is valid for the entire duration of your studies. You cannot reverse it. This is one of the most important decisions you'll make, so don't take it lightly. The main exception is if you start a new employment relationship that makes you compulsorily insured in GKV (e.g., a full-time job after graduation).
No. If you have an employment contract, you are insured as an employee, not a student, even if it's only a 50% position. Your employer pays half your GKV premium, and your contribution is based on your salary (roughly 8% of gross income including the Zusatzbeitrag).
No, as long as you work no more than 20 hours per week during the lecture period. The Werkstudentenprivileg keeps you exempt from health, long-term care, and unemployment insurance contributions. During the vorlesungsfreie Zeit (lecture-free period / semester break), you can work more without losing the privilege, but check the exact rules with your Krankenkasse.
When you're exmatriculated, your student tariff ends. If you were in GKV, you're automatically enrolled in voluntary GKV at the higher rate (~€210+/month). If you were in PKV, your policy continues. Either way, you remain insured: Germany's Versicherungspflicht (mandatory insurance obligation) means there's no gap, but you do need to keep paying premiums.
Basic dental care (check-ups, fillings, extractions) is covered. However, crowns, implants, and orthodontics are only partially covered. Glasses and contact lenses are generally not covered by GKV (with exceptions for severe vision impairment). Many students add a Zahnzusatzversicherung (supplementary dental insurance) for €10-€20/month.
Only if you're from an EU/EEA country and your parents' insurance issues an EHIC that covers you in Germany. Even then, you'll likely need a Befreiungsbescheinigung from a German Krankenkasse for university enrollment. For non-EU students, home-country insurance is not recognised by German universities or the Ausländerbehörde.
Still have questions? We get it, insurance in Germany is complicated.
70% of our team moved to Germany from abroad, so we speak your language, literally and figuratively.
Book a Free 15-Min ConsultationThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Insurance regulations change — always verify current rates and rules with your Krankenkasse or a licensed insurance broker. Last reviewed: March 2026.