Information about the semester ticket until  1.4.2024

The semester ticket allows you to travel free of charge on local public transport (not ICE/IC) throughout NRW. In addition, RWTH students can use certain lines in the South Limburg area with the semester ticket. The ticket is not transferable. You can find all important information about the semester ticket here and in our FAQ. If you have any questions, please contact us by mail.

Area of application

The semester ticket entitles you to any number of journeys on all bus and train lines within the tariff area of the Aachener Verkehrsverbund (AVV). This also includes the cross-border lines to Vaals (lines 25 & 33), Kelmis (line 24) and Kerkrade (line 34).

In addition, the semester ticket entitles the holder to use RE/RB/S trains, buses, streetcars, city trains and subways throughout NRW, which may be used with regional transport association tickets.

Excluded from this are the route sections Bad Laasphe – Marburg (Lahn), Rudersdorf (Siegen) – Haiger, Rudersdorf (Siegen) – Warburg (Westf), Niederdresselndorf – Haiger.

Campaign: Passenger / bicycle take-along

In the period from 20.01. to 31.03.2024, all RWTH students have the option of taking people and bicycles with them all day under special conditions at no extra cost. You can find a more detailed explanation here.

Bicycle transport outside the area of validity of the campaign

For bicylce transport outside the area of validity of the campaign, you will need a corresponding additional ticket for the transport association in which you are traveling. Some transport associations have restricted times for bicycle transport. If you are planning NRW-wide trips by bike, we recommend the DB FahrradTicket NRW.

Scope in the Netherlands

Students of RWTH can use the following local transport in South Limburg with the semester ticket.

  • RE 18 Aachen – Maastricht
  • RS 18 Heerlen – Maastricht / Maastricht-Randwyck
  • RS 15 Heerlen – Landgraaf
  • RS 12 Maastricht – Maastricht-Randwyck

In addition, the semester ticket is valid on cross-border bus lines:

  • 21 Aachen – Hoensbroek,
  • 27 Herzogenrath – Parkstad-Stadion
  • 43 Vaals – Simpelveld – Heerlen – Hoensbroek
  • 44 Aachen – Heerlen
  • 350 Aachen – Maastricht
  • 723 Übach-Palenberg – Mondo Verde

Weiterhin gilt das Ticket in allen Bussen und Bahnen in der Tarifzone 6600 Heerlen (Stadt)

The regulations on the scope of application in the Netherlands only apply in this form until April 1, 2024. The regulations that apply after April 1 can be found here.

Transport ticket

Within the AVV area, the ticket is valid as a ticket; only the BlueCard is required for legitimation. For the rest of the area of validity (NRW and the Netherlands), the ticket must be presented together with an official photo ID or international student ID. The travel authorization is valid for the entire semester – even during the lecture-free period.

Important for first semester students

The ticket is only valid from the official start of the semester, i.e. from October 1 or April 1. Please keep this in mind if you are traveling to or in Aachen before then. For everything before the start of the semester, you will either have to get individual tickets or you can buy the Deutschlandticket.

Loss of the semester ticket

If the ticket is lost, the ASEAG Service Point will issue a new pass for a fee.

Reimbursement of the mobility contribution

If you would spend a certain amount of time abroad, are exmatriculated or cannot spend this amount due to social hardship or cannot use the ticket because you are not in the area of validity for a longer period of time, you can apply for a refund of the mobility fee.

You can find more information about the refund of the mobility fee here.

Connection ticket

For journeys with Deutsche Bahn AG that go beyond the area of validity, a connecting ticket can be purchased from DB in accordance with the general DB tariff.

However, if the further route is completely within a transport association, this is not always possible in the transport association at the ticket machine and is difficult at the ticket office of other stations. A connecting ticket according to the DB tariff is often refused there on the grounds that it is “within a transport association”. Since the train conductors on the trains no longer sell tickets, the connecting ticket according to the DB tariff must be purchased before the journey begins in Aachen. The same procedure is recommended for the return journey to Aachen. It is best to buy a connecting ticket at the DB tariff when you arrive in Aachen.

Of course you can also buy a ticket for the additional journey at the station when changing trains or on your return journey. However, please remember to do so before you start your journey. Composite tickets are neither sold on trains nor can they be purchased there. The ticket must be valid from the last station in the “base” area. Therefore, you cannot use the semester ticket to travel beyond the limits of the area of validity.

If you have any questions about the semester ticket, you can look it up in our FAQ or contact semesterticket@asta.rwth-aachen.de if your question is not answered in the FAQ.