Student Health Insurance
Every student at the University of Cologne is obliged to prove that they have sufficient health insurance cover when enrolling and to maintain this cover during their studies.
For enrolment at the University of Cologne, you are required to request the electronic transmission of your current health insurance certificate or your exemption from compulsory insurance (e.g. EHIC) from a statutory German health insurance fund AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You should do this as early as possible, at the latest immediately after accepting an offer of admission. The electronic transmission of the insurance status must have taken place within our enrolment deadline at the University of Cologne.
Your enrolment is only possible if your insurance status is electronically transmitted to the University of Cologne by the statutory health insurance company in due time!
Exception: Doctoral students are exempt from the public health insurance obligation as well as students from the age of 30.
Overview
The insurance certificate will be provided digitally to the universities by the health insurance company.
As a student applicant, please contact your chosen German statutory health insurance/health insurance company as early as possible before enrolment and request the electronic transmission of your insurance status. Always inform the health insurance company that you wish to study at the University of Cologne. The transmission will then be carried out by the health insurance company.
The insurance card (EHIC) or a written membership certificate are not sufficient. You cannot be enrolled without the digital insurance certificate from your health insurance company.
Which insurance company can I contact?
1. I have an EHIC / GHIC / AT-11. How do I proceed?
Please submit the following documents to your chosen statutory health insurance by e-mail:
- a copy of your EHIC /GHIC / AT 11 (if possible, it should be valid for the entire 1st semester)
- a copy of your identity card / passport
- your German address (alternatively your home address)
- indication of the desired university (University of Cologne)
Your health insurance will now send a notification to the University of Cologne that you fulfil the insurance obligation.
If you want to work in Germany during your studies (mini-job, student job, self-employment, etc.) your EHIC is not sufficient. In this case, you must obtain a public insurance in Germany (point 2).
2. I am not yet covered by a German public insurance. How do I proceed?
Please contact your chosen public insurance by e-mail and submit a membership application. Please inform the health insurance company that you intend to study at the University of Cologne. As soon as you are insured, your health insurance company will send a corresponding notification to the University of Cologne.
3. I have a German public health insurance. How do I proceed?
Please send your membership number to your public health insurance by e-mail. Please be sure to state that you intend to study at the University of Cologne. Your insurance company will now send a corresponding notification to the University of Cologne.
4. I have a private insurance policy. How do I proceed?
Please submit the following documents to your chosen public health insurance by e-mail. They will check whether your private insurance has sufficient coverage to allow you to enrol at the University of Cologne.
- a copy of your private insurance
- a copy of your identity card / passport
- your German address (alternatively your home address)
- indication of the desired university (University of Cologne)
- students from non-EU countries must also submit an application for exemption. (Please have the application sent to you by your chosen insurance company).
The public insurance company you have chosen will inform you accordingly. If the insurance cover is not sufficient, you must take out insurance with a public insurance company in Germany (see point 2).
5. I have travel insurance. How do I proceed?
Travel insurance does not provide sufficient health insurance cover for the duration of your studies in Germany and is not accepted as proof of insurance. Travel health insurance is only valid for your visa and your entry into Germany as long as the semester has not yet begun.
You must take out public insurance (point 2).
My insurance details have not yet been sent. What is to be done?
In order to be enrolled, your digital health insurance data must have already been received electronically by the University of Cologne from a German statutory health insurance company.
What to do if the electronic transmission of your health insurance data has not yet been received by the University of Cologne?
Contact a German statutory health insurance fund immediately (again) within your enrolment period and, if necessary, apply again for the electronic transfer of your insurance data.
If your insurance data is not received / confirmed digitally by the University of Cologne within your enrolment deadline, unfortunately you will NOT be able to enrol.
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