Before arrival

Health Insurance

All students must have adequate health insurance cover. You can only enrol or re-register at the university if you have valid health insurance.

As a rule, foreign health insurance policies or private insurance policies with an agreed maximum amount cannot be recognized.

You must maintain your insurance cover for the entire duration of your studies (including semester breaks or during your stay abroad). If you stop paying your premiums, the insurance company will notify us and we will de-register you. This means that you may lose your visa because it is linked to the purpose of your studies.

Compulsory health insurance is designed to protect students. Because if you need medical treatment without health insurance, the costs can quickly explode.

It is also highly recommended that you take out private liability insurance, which covers many damages caused by the insured person.

What you should know

  • Students from countries that have a social security agreement with Germany (all EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) only need the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a corresponding proof of insurance in their home country. Please note, however, that you will have to submit your insurance details to a German statutory health insurance fund and apply for exemption from the German compulsory insurance requirement. The health insurance company will then confirm to OTH Regensburg that your insurance is valid in Germany. The exemption is valid for the entire duration of your enrollment.

    There is a limited insurance agreement with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey and Tunisia, which only covers absolute emergencies. In this case, it is advisable to take out German health insurance.


  • All other students whose countries of origin do not have a social security agreement with Germany must take out health insurance in Germany. Please follow the link and read the further information on our website.


  • We strongly recommend that students under the age of 30 take out statutory student health insurance, which covers the costs of medical treatment, medication, hospitalization, preventive measures and rehabilitation. It also ensures entitlement to continued payment of wages in the event of illness. You will need to provide proof of insurance for your visa application, so blocked account providers can recommend insurance companies to you. Please choose your health insurance company carefully, as you can only switch to another company after one year at the earliest. For statutory health insurance, you must first find accommodation, open a bank account and register with the city. Until then, you should be covered by travel insurance. Please note that once your insurance has been activated, you will have to pay the premiums from the first day of insurance cover (i.e. from the first day of the semester at the latest), not from the day you arrive in Germany.

    Students under the age of 30 can also take out private insurance if they wish. However, private insurance is usually either more expensive than statutory insurance or, if it is cheaper, it does not usually offer the same level of cover. Once you have opted for private insurance, you cannot return to statutory insurance for the entire duration of your enrollment.


  • Students over the age of 30 cannot be insured at the student rate. They must take out private health insurance. Privately insured persons must also apply for exemption from statutory health insurance by sending proof of insurance to a statutory health insurance fund.


At a Glance: Before Arrival