Reimbursement of the mobility contribution

The semester contribution to be paid each semester also includes the mobility contribution, which is used to finance the semester ticket. There are various reasons that entitle you to apply for a refund of the mobility contribution. The possible reasons for reimbursement are listed below. Click on the corresponding tabs to find out more about the respective reasons and to go to the application website.

IMPORTANT:

Please note the relevant deadlines for submitting an application!

The application must be submitted by the respective deadline. This also applies if the attachments/proofs are not yet available! In this case, please write a short Word document stating that the attachments are unfortunately not yet available, but that you will submit them later. You can then simply send them by e-mail to semesterticket@asta.rwth-aachen.de and submit them later. For procedural reasons, the application will initially be rejected. However, this is not a problem and can still be changed with documents submitted later.

Possible reasons for reimbursement

Leave of absence

All students on leave of absence must also first re-register and pay the full semester fee. Those who do not wish to use the ticket during the semester of leave of absence can apply for a refund without providing any additional justification. Proof of leave of absence from RWTH must be provided. There is no entitlement to approval of the application. Applications submitted too late must be rejected.

๐Ÿ•The application deadline is 1 November (winter semester) or 1 May (summer semester), each at 11:59 pm.

In the case of a refund due to a leave of absence, the semester ticket can only be refunded for a complete semester. The ticket will be electronically deactivated until the end of the semester! If you are outside the area of validity due to your studies, a monthly refund is also possible (you can find more information under the corresponding section). In the event of a refund, you do not have to return the semester ticket to us, but should keep the e-ticket for use in subsequent semesters.

๐Ÿ“„Proof document: Enrolment Certificate with note of leave of absence

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

 


Note: Social contribution

In addition to the mobility contribution, the social contribution can also be waived in exceptional cases. Exemption is granted in the case of a leave of absence for the following reasons:

  • Completion of basic military service or civilian alternative service
  • Studying abroad
  • Illness, pregnancy or bringing up a child
  • Caring for a spouse, registered partner or a relative in a direct line (parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren)

If the leave of absence is approved before you re-register (and have paid the contribution), the amount to be paid will be automatically reduced in RWTH Online under “Tuition Fees”.
In the case of a leave of absence after re-registration, an application for a refund can be submitted to the RWTH Registrar’s Office: studsek@zhv.rwth-aachen.de

You can download the form you need to submit there here.

Study-related stay abroad (e.g. exchange programme, semester abroad, compulsory internship, external thesis, external doctorate)

A refund of the semester ticket fee is possible on a monthly basis in the case of a study-related stay abroad if the stay amounts to more than half of the days in the month. Study-related means that the stay was triggered by your studies. This includes e.g. a compulsory internship or participation in Erasmus. However, a voluntary internship or an employment relationship are not covered by this! The exception to this is an external doctorate. For this, a confirmation from the supervising professor must also be enclosed, stating that enrollment is mandatory. The semester contribution must first be paid in full.

๐Ÿ•The application deadline is 1 November (winter semester) or 1 May (summer semester), each at 11:59 pm.

The ticket will be deactivated in the corresponding months if you receive a refund! You do not have to return the semester ticket to us, but should keep the e-ticket for future use after it has been deactivated.

๐Ÿ“„Verification documents:

  • enrolment certificate of the RWTH of the corresponding semester

and at least one of the following documents:

  • a certificate of enrollment at the foreign university,
  • Certificate from the International Office or the supervising institute,
  • Certificate of participation in an exchange program,
  • Certificate of foreign student support payments, which provide evidence for the stay abroad,
  • Certificate of admission / letter of approval,
  • Visa for a study abroad stay (e.g. USA: J1),
  • Internship or doctoral contract
  • if applicable, certificate from the supervising institute that the work activity is being carried out as part of the degree program.

Tenancy agreements and registration certificates do not constitute proof of study-related residence.

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

Social hardship

In cases of social hardship, a refund of the mobility and student body fee can be requested from the Social Committee of the Student Parliament. Proof of the financial situation, in particular income, must be enclosed. There is no entitlement to a refund. The semester contribution must first be paid in full.

For your understanding: In this case the semester ticket fee will be paid from the hardship fund of the student body, so the ticket of the person remains valid and can be used to its full extent!

If you have further questions about social hardship, questions can be sent to haertefall@asta.rwth-aachen.de.

The application can be submitted at any time during the semester, but no later than the end of the current semester (WiSe: 31.3. and SoSe: 30.9).

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

Exmatriculation / Termination of Enrollment

Students who finish their studies can apply for a pro rata refund of the semester ticket fee for the full months remaining until the end of the semester. However, a refund for the last month of the semester only is not possible.
If you de-register before the start of the lecture period of the semester in question, you can apply to the Student Secretariat for a refund of the entire semester fee.

Information on exmatriculation can also be found on the corresponding RWTH website.

Click here for an overview of the amount of the refund.

๐Ÿ“„Proof document: Certificate of exmatriculation

๐Ÿ• The application deadline is the 1st of the requested refund month!

 

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

Late enrollment

In the case of late enrolment in the current semester, you can apply for a refund of the mobility fee for the full months not enrolled in the semester. However, a refund for the first month of the semester only is not possible.

Click here for an overview of the amount of the refund.

๐Ÿ“„Proof document: Certificate of enrolment with exact date of enrolment

๐Ÿ•The application deadline is 4 weeks (28 days) after enrolment.

 

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

Severely disabled persons with official ID, supplementary sheet and token

An exemption from the semester ticket fee must be applied for at the Student Secretariat. The amount then does not have to be paid. The exemption is then automatically taken into account for the following semester. Subsequently, you must submit the new proof to the Student Secretariat every year.

Severely disabled persons who cannot use buses and trains due to their disability

Initially, the entire semester fee must be paid. If a medical certificate proves that bus and train cannot be used, a refund of the mobility fee is possible. There is no entitlement to a refund.

๐Ÿ“„Proof documents:

  • enrolment certificate of the RWTH of the corresponding semester
  • Current medical certificate stating that bus and train cannot be used in the semester in question

๐Ÿ• The application deadline is 1 November (WiSe 23:59) or 1 May (SoSe 23:59).

If approved by the AStA in this case, you can only have the semester ticket refunded for a full semester. The ticket will be deactivated electronically until the end of the semester! You do not have to return the semester ticket to us, but should keep the e-ticket for use in subsequent semesters.

Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

Germany semester ticket already at another university

Firstly, you must pay the full semester contribution. If you are also enrolled at another university in Germany and already receive a Deutschlandsemesterticket there, you can have it reimbursed in full for one semester at one university.

๐Ÿ• The application deadline is 1 May for the summer semester/ 1 November for the winter semester.

 

๐Ÿ“„Proof of documents:

  • Certificate of enrolment from the RWTH
  • Certificate of enrolment from the other university
  • Proof of payment of the contribution for the Deutschlandsemesterticket
  • Proof of personal travel authorisation for the DE semester ticket (ticket, photo chip card)

 

The refund applies to the period of a complete semester. The ticket will be electronically deactivated until the end of the semester! You do not have to return the semester ticket to us, but should keep the e-ticket for potential use in subsequent semesters.
Applications must be submitted here:

 

โ†’ Online form

9-euro ticket

In the summer semester, the price for the NRW semester ticket was reduced to 9 euros in the months of June, July and August due to the introduction of the 9-euro ticket. For students who paid the mobility fee in the summer semester 2022 and were still enrolled in the winter semester 2022/23, the amount was already credited when they re-registered for the winter semester. Students who exmatriculated in the summer semester 2023 can apply for a refund of โ‚ฌ70.96 at the Registrar’s Office, which will provide a separate form.

 

No refund reasons

Non-utilization of the semester ticket

If you do not use your semester ticket because you have other means of transportation such as a car or a bicycle, the mobility fee cannot be reimbursed.
The semester ticket is a solidary financed ticket for which all regular students pay the same contribution. The semester ticket is available to all regular students and is only so much cheaper than conventional public transport tickets because of the solidarity financing – currently the prices differ by a factor of ten.
According to ยง 53 Para. 2 No. 5 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Higher Education Act, the student body is responsible, among other things, for the economic and social interests of its members – i.e. all students. On this basis, the student body has concluded a contract for the Deutschlandsemesterticket with Aachener Verkehrsverbund GmbH (AVV) and Aachener StraรŸenbahn und Energieversorgungs-AG (ASEAG).
This contract results in the obligation to pay the mobility fee. According to ยง 4 para. 1 sentence 2 of the Deutschlandsemesterticket contract, the following applies: “Non-utilisation of the Deutschlandsemesterticket does not entitle the holder to a refund of the transport fee.โ€‹

In case of technical difficulties with the online form, please send your request to semesterticket@asta.rwth-aachen.de before the deadline.

Helpful links for the semester ticket

Contact

The reimbursement of the mobility fee is done according to the social regulations of the student body of RWTH Aachen University. If you have any questions regarding the reimbursement, please feel free to send an email to semesterticket@asta.rwth-aachen.de.