Refund Applications
Here you can download the application forms for various refunds.
In particular, we carry out a semester ticket refund and a semester fee refund due to financial hardship every semester. You can find more information on these procedures below.
Students who exmatriculate for the winter semester 2025/2026 or change universities after enrolment or re-registration by 30.9.2025 at the latest can receive a partial refund of the semester fee. To do so, they must submit a written application to the Registrar’s Office. After this, the entitlement to a refund expires. These deadlines are cut-off deadlines.
For further information or queries, please contact the Registrar’s Office by email: studierendensekretariat@uni-rostock.de
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The nationwide semester ticket has been in use at the University of Rostock since the summer semester 2024. The area of validity of the semester ticket thus extends to the whole of Germany; the conditions of the Deutschlandticket apply. The cost of the current contract is €208.80 per student per semester.
As before, the semester ticket is still based on the principle of solidarity: every student pays the above-mentioned amount, regardless of whether they want to use the semester ticket or not. In this way, every fellow student finances the extremely favourable conditions under which the majority of students can use public transport.
In exceptional cases, however, a refund is granted by the Warnow Transport Association (VVW). Applications for reimbursement are processed by the General Students’ Committee (AStA) in accordance with contractual requirements and the student body’s fee regulations.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A REFUND?
A refund of the semester ticket can be requested if one of the following reasons applies exists:
right to transport according to SGB IX:
According to the Sozialgesetzbuch (Ninth Book), severely disabled persons are entitled to free travelon public transport if they have a token.
study-related stay abroad:
Students who spend at least three consecutive months of the semester abroad due to their studies can receive a refund of their semester ticket fee.
official leave of absence:
Students who are officially on leave of absence from their studies can have their semester ticket fee refunded. The leave of absence is noted on the certificate of study; this must be enclosed as proof.
exmatriculation:
In the event of exmatriculation after the start of the semester, a partial refund is possible for the full months of the semester remaining after the date of exmatriculation.
enrolment at another university with compulsory purchase of a Deutschland-Semesterticket:
Students who attend another university with compulsory purchase of a Deutschland-Semesterticket in addition to the University of Rostock can have the semester ticket fee refunded at one of the two universities.
part-time study program (while working):
Students enrolled in a part-time study program while working can apply for a refund of the semester ticket fee.
REFUND PROCEDURE:
1. APPLICATION:
The application for reimbursement must be submitted in writing to the AStA – using only the official application form (see below). Proof of the reason for the refund must be enclosed.
PLEASE NOTE:
The applicant must be enrolled at the University of Rostock – or have been enrolled in the case of exmatriculation. Applications submitted using an outdated form or without a form cannot be considered.
2. DEADLINES:
The application must be submitted no later than four weeks after the start of the lecture period. The deadline for the winter semester 2025/2026 is 10 November 2025, after which the entitlement to reimbursement expires (cut-off period). The postmark is decisive.
3. PROCESSING:
The AStA checks the application for completeness and legality. Missing documents must be submitted by the deadline.
The applicant has a duty to co-operate. They must provide all required documents and evidence that are necessary for an application review and decision.
4. PAYMENTS:
Payment will be made by 15 January 2025 at the latest for the 2025/2026 winter semester.
If you have any questions, please contact buero.asta@uni-rostock.de or drop by during our opening hours!
semester ticket refund
Applications for reimbursement of the semester fee for the 2025/26 winter semester can be submitted from August 1 to November 10, 2025.
If the semester fee is too expensive for you, you can apply for a refund. The completed document must be submitted in person to the office at Parkstraße 6, 18055 Rostock, or by email to soziales.stura@uni-rostock.de at the AStA.
Reimbursement of the fee on the grounds of social hardship does not mean the cancellation of the nationwide semester ticket or other benefits and discounts for students. These will then be covered by the student body. You can therefore continue to use your semester ticket and eat in the cafeteria at the student rate.
Here you can calculate whether you might be eligible for a refund. The calculator is not a complete substitute for reviewing the documents submitted with an application and does not provide binding information on whether you are entitled to a refund. If in doubt, it is best to submit an application for review.
Applications will be processed after the application deadline and according to the date of receipt, and then voted on by the Social Committee. We know that advancing the amount is a financial burden, but we must nevertheless ask for your patience. The Social Committee has only one part-time employee, and the committee itself is voluntary. We are therefore unable to speed up the process at this time.
See here for the relevant privacy policy.
From October 1 to November 1, enrolled and prospective students at the University of Rostock can submit a request with the Social Committee for their semester fees to be paid by the student body. The Social Committee may decide that the semester fee be paid partially or fully by student body if the applicant demonstrates social hardship. This applies if the applicant’s income is below the income limit (§ 4 Appendix 1 of the Social Statute [Sozialordnung]) through no fault of their own, and their wealth is below the wealth limit
If the cost of the semester fee is paid on the grounds of social hardship, the nationwide semester ticket and other benefits and discounts for students remain valid. This means that you can continue to use your semester ticket and pay student prices at the dining hall.
You can estimate whether you might be eligible for assumption of your fees here. The calculator is intended for self-assessment purposes only and is not a substitute for reviewing an application. It does not provide binding information as to whether an application would be approved.
It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they re-register at the University of Rostock by the deadline. There is no legal entitlement to a partial or full waiver of the semester fee. If a payment request or reminder is sent despite approval of the application, applicants are obliged to inform the Social Committee immediately. Failure to do so may result in exmatriculation!
Please note:
The application must be accompanied by bank statements for three full months prior to the application. If there are several accounts, statements for all accounts must be submitted. The respective cash inflow and outflow must be clearly identifiable.
The monthly income to be taken into account is:
a) the income of the applicant and their partner;
b) scholarships;
c) student loans and other educational grants or loans at 50%;
d) governmental or semi-public benefits, in particular benefits according to the Federal Social Assistance Act
(Bundesessozialhilfegesetz), Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz – BAföG),
Housing Assistance Act (Wohngeldgesetz) and statutory pension insurance, parental allowance (Elterngeld) and
child-raising allowance (Erziehungsgeld);
e) child support or alimony payments;
f) capital income;
g) child benefits, provided they are paid to the applicant themself;
h) other income, excluding transfer payments.
Important!
The application must be submitted by November 1!
Each application must be submitted with bank statements for the three full months prior to the application and the current rental agreement.
Applications will be processed after the application deadline and according to the date of submission, and then voted on by
the Social Committee of the StuRa.
The application form can be found here.