Health Insurance
Proof of health insurance is required for the residence permit, and if you are below 30 years old, it is also required to enroll at the University of Cologne.
I. General Information
I.I International PhD Students With a Scholarship
PhD students that come to Germany to earn their doctorate and receive a scholarhip must attain private health insurance. We recommend the group insurance scheme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or the framework agreement of the German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk). A list of all private health insurance companies can be found on the EURAXESS website. Once you have purchased private health insurance, you must take the insurance documentation to a statutory health insurance to become exempt from paying into the latter. Exemption documentation must be submitted during registration and enrollment.
PhD students who have been carrying a statutory health insurance in Germany for at least twelve months prior to receiving their scholarship have the option of keeping this health insurance coverage. The cost for this this type of voluntary insurance is approx. €150.
I.II International PhD Students with an Income below €400 or no Income
PhD students who receive less than €400 per month or no income in Germany must also obtain private health insurance unless they have been a member of a German statutory health insurance for the past twelve months and are able to keep it voluntarily (see above).
I.III International PhD Students with a Monthly Income above €400
PhD students who work as graduate research assistants or research aids at the University of Cologne or have a job outside the university must obtain statutory health insurance if their income is above €400 per month and below €49,500 per year before taxes. A list of all statutory health insurance companies can be found on the EURAXESS website. Students may select any statutory health insurance they like. The students must notify the HR department of the University of Cologne or their employer which health insurance they chose.
II. Exceptions
II.I International PhD Students from EU Countries or from Countries that Germany has a Social Security Agreement with
PhD students from the above-namd countries do not need to obtain health insurance in Germany unless they obtain employment that requires health and social security insurance (e.g. graduate research assistant or another job with an income above €400). However, they will need an exemption notice to register their residence in Cologne and to enroll at the university (unless the student is above 29 years of age. To obtain the exemption notice, please take your EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) to a statutory health insurance, for example AOK at the university, and request the required exemption notice.
II.II International PhD Students with Private Health Insurance from their Home Countries
Private health insurance that international students carry in their home country is generally recognized. However, the insurance must be valid in Germany and must offer the requisite benefits. To register residence in Cologne and to enroll at the University of Cologne, an exemption notice from the statutory health insurance is needed as well. Please note that patients with private insurance in Germany are required to pay for all their medical treatments and medication first and then are reimbursed by the insurance.
The International Office provides additional information, offers and addresses, and is happy to advise you in regards to obtaining health insurance.
Alongside this notice you will find an Information Sheet from the German Academic Exchange Service regarding the benefits of the statutory health insurance companies in Germany. Below you will find some helpful links providing additional information about the German health care system and private health insurance companies:
• DAAD
• EURAXESS