Insurance for international Students
Osnabrück University requires proof of your insurance status from a German statutory health insurance company at the latest at the time of enrollment. We cannot enroll you without this proof.
Germany has social security agreements with a number of countries. This applies, for example, to most EU and EEA countries. Such agreements currently also exist with some countries outside the EU. The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs provides an Overview of bilateral social security agreements (in German), whether an agreement exists with your country and whether health insurance is covered. If so, your health insurance will usually be valid in Germany.
If a social security agreement exists, your health insurance may be recognized by a statutory health insurance company in Germany. In most cases, you will need an EU/EEA European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). All other students can obtain the necessary documents for recognition from their health insurance company in their home country.
Foreign private health insurance is sometimes recognized. For more information, please contact a statutory health insurance company.
We would like to point out that the costs of medical services received in Germany may not be fully covered by the health insurance in your home country! It is therefore advisable to check with your foreign health insurance company as to what services, if any, are covered in Germany!
If your foreign health insurance is not recognized in Germany, you will need to take out health insurance immediately upon your arrival in Germany. To do this, present your letter of admission to the health insurance company of your choice.
You can also take out your German health insurance during the Welcome Week.
Student health insurance
There is a special student rate for health and long-term care insurance that is particularly good value. Statutory health insurance companies are required to offer this low rate of approximately €125-145 per month to students up to the age of 30.
Students over the age of 30 are not eligible for the reduced student rate. However, all residents of Germany are required to have health insurance. You can either voluntarily take out health insurance with a statutory health insurance company or choose a private health insurance plan. In either case, you must inform the university of your insurance status before enrolling.
To confirm your insurance status with the university, submit an "Application for confirmation of insurance" to a statutory health insurance company. Please give the number H0001356 and the company number of Osnabrück University (28739476) to the health insurance company (reference numbers).
The statutory health insurance company will then automatically and digitally inform the university in a so-called M10 whether you are covered by statutory health insurance or exempt from compulsory insurance (over 30 / your foreign health insurance has been recognized).
You will also receive a letter from your statutory health insurance company informing you of the information they have provided to Osnabrück University.
International students from EU/EEA countries / Switzerland who are working or doing a paid internship in Germany in addition to studying must also be insured by a German health insurance company. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is no longer valid, although there are some exceptions. For more information, please contact your health insurance company or refer to the Flyer “Job regulations for international students in Germany” published by the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW).
Third-party liability insurance
Students are not covered by third-pary liability insurance upon enrollment. The university will not be liable to students for claims such as bicycle accidents or theft of or damage to borrowed equipment. To cover this type of situation, it is recommended that all students purchase third-party liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung).
