Deutschlandsemesterticket: Final draft contract and summary of the planned introduction

The final draft contract for the Deutschlandsemesterticket including reasons for exemption is available. Find out here for whom and where the ticket applies and who can be exempted

UPDATE : All current Informationen are available at https://www.stura-btu.de/en/topics/semesterticket

Do you have any questions about the semester ticket? Please send them to semesterticket@stura-btu.de !

The Germany semester ticket - conditions at a glance

  • The Deutschlandsemesterticket is equivalent to a Deutschlandticket. This means that all means of transport on which a Deutschlandticket is valid can also be used with the Deutschlandsemesterticket.
  • The ticket costs 60% of the Deutschlandticket price
  • In the summer semester, the ticket is guaranteed to cost €29.40 per month - i.e. €176.40 per semester
  • The contribution of €176.40 will be paid in one lump sum when you re-register for the semester
  • ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS are obliged to pay the ticket fee upon re-registration when the ticket is introduced.
  • However, there are some reasons for exemption, according to which you can apply for a subsequent refund of the ticket fee from the StuRa
  • The ticket is provided to us digitally via the service provider RIDECampus. We will receive a link per E-Mail to be able to view / show the ticket.

Regarding the provision of the Deutschlandsemesterticket:

  • The link we receive can be called up in any Internet-enabled browser - a cell phone is therefore not absolutely necessary.
  • After accessing the link, you will need to log in. You will then be given access to a QR code that represents your Deutschlandsemesterticket.
  • In order to be able to use the ticket without an internet connection, it can also be saved in the Google / Apple Wallet. We assume that people who do not have a cell phone can also print out the ticket.

But: Some students are not entitled to purchase the Deutschlandsemesterticket from the outset and therefore have to not pay the ticket fee of 176.40€. This applies to:

  • Doctoral students and students who are enrolled in supplementary, additional or postgraduate courses or who are enrolled in participate in continuing education programs
  • Students on evening, online or distance learning courses
  • Students on executive degree programs ( this is only one studyprogram at BTU )
  • Students on vacation or a semester abroad
  • Severely disabled students who are already entitled to public transport
  • Students who are completing a degree program with fewer than 15 credit points per semester,

If you fall into one of these groups, the semester fees you have paid in excess will of course be refunded, after the contract is signed.

Reasons for exemption from the Germany semester ticket

Selected students can be exempted from the Germany semester ticket. For this, an application must be submitted to the Student Council - an application template will be prepared in the near future. Students who are exempt from the semester ticket will be refunded the costs for full, unused months BUT will then also lose the right to use the Deutschlandsemesterticket for the rest of the semester. The following are grounds for exemption from the semester ticket:

  • for students who spend at least three consecutive months of the respective semester outside the area of validity of the Deutschlandsemesterticket due to their studies, an internship semester, a semester abroad or as part of their final thesis,
  • students who are enrolled at two universities with a Deutschlandsemesterticket can be reimbursed at one university,
  • for students who are demonstrably enrolled more than one month after the start of the semester, are exmatriculated in the current semester, withdraw their enrolment, are granted a leave of absence with retroactive effect in the current semester or are demonstrably so seriously ill in the current semester that they would be entitled to a semester of leave,
  • students who are unable to use public transportation due to their disability. This also includes temporary disabilities if they also preclude the use of local public transport for the semester. The requirements must be verified by a medical certificate.

The following circumstances are not grounds for exemption:

  • There is NO reason for exemption for people who have a company ticket. At €29.40 per month, the Deutschlandsemesterticket is often still cheaper than the Job-Deutschlandticket (with the minimum subsidy from the employer, this is still €34.30. You should also ask your employer if they want to sponsor your semesterticket instead.).
  • There is NO reason for exemption for people who have a Bahncard 100.
  • There is NO reason for exemption for people who simply do not need and/or do not want to use the Deutschlandsemesterticket.

What to do if the price goes up?

The Deutschlandticket itself is now less than a year old. When this nationwide ticket was introduced, there was already much discussion about its financing. Above all, the question arises: How long will the price of €49 per month remain? According to the latest reports and statements, the price of €49 will not change, at least not this year. (see Tagesschau ). If this is the case, then the price of the Deutschlandsemesterticket would still be €29.40 per month in the winter semester. However, it is always possible in the future that a price increase of the Deutschlandticket will also affect the Deutschlandsemesterticket, which always costs 60% of the Deutschlandticket price. However, we are not completely at the mercy of these price increases. The price of the Deutschlandticket will never change within a semester. Between semesters, we also have the opportunity to discuss the ticket at the new prices again within the student body and in parliament and to cancel the semester ticket contract in an emergency.

Consultation or ballot?

Anyone who took a closer look at the first announcement of the current vote in December will notice that there was actually talk of a ballot. Anyone familiar with the statutes and regulations of the student body will know that these are two very different things. In fact, a ballot vote was actually planned, which, if enough votes were cast, would lead to an OBLIGATORY result for the student parliament. However, there were several legal issues and problems that gradually made this project more difficult. Finally, a legal review by the Legal Department of the University has now revealed that a ballot on the semester ticket issue is not possible at all, as it is a financial matter. Therefore, a simple survey of the student body will now be carried out, which will not oblige the parliament to take action, but will nevertheless leave a lasting impression if the result is clear.