Application for exemption: Frequently asked questions

What is an exemption from the semester ticket?

If you are exempted from the semester ticket, your travel entitlement no longer applies and the fees for the semester ticket will be refunded.

If your CampusCard has already been validated, i.e. if the travel authorization for the semester of application is already printed on it, you must send us your CampusCard so that we can remove the travel authorization when approving the application.

If you have not yet validated your semester ticket for the semester of application, it is not necessary to send us your CampusCard. In this case, it is sufficient to enclose the CampusCard number with the application. In this way, we can withdraw the travel authorization via ZEDAT and the next time the CampusCard is validated at the machine, only the semester without travel authorization will be printed.

What do I have to consider when applying?

It is important that you submit the application (and the CampusCard if applicable) to us in good time! The semester ticket should be validated by September 30 at the latest for the winter semester and by March 31 at the latest for the summer semester, as this is the only way to guarantee a full refund of the price paid. After this date, fees will only be refunded pro rata for the unused months (see other questions for more information).

If your study documents arrive after the start of the validity period (from 01.04. for the summer semester and from 01.10. for the winter semester), we require proof of the late arrival of the documents (e.g. by print date on your study book page or postmark...) for a full refund. In these cases, the ticket must be received by us no later than 14 days after receipt.

Exemptions from the payment obligation are only valid for the current semester or from the start of the re-registration period for the next semester. A retroactive exemption from the payment obligation will not be granted.
Who is entitled to apply for an exemption?

All students can apply for a full or partial exemption if they...

...are studying outside Berlin for at least 3 months, e.g.

Practical semester or internship

as part of the final thesis

semester abroad

...are on leave of absence

...are unable to use public transportation due to a disability or for health reasons

..are in possession of a disabled person's pass with a token

..have been enrolled late

..are also enrolled at another university and receive a semester ticket from this university

What evidence must be provided?

This varies depending on the reason for the application and can be found on the back of the application form.

Regardless of the reason for the application, we also need a notification of fees for the semester of application. This serves as proof that the fee for the semester ticket has been paid to the FU. This current fee receipt can be downloaded as a "Beitragsquittung" from the ZEDAT portal (where enrollment certificates can also be retrieved).
I have exmatriculated during the current semester. Will my ticket fees be refunded?

Students who exmatriculate during the current semester (be it dropping out or graduating) do not need to submit an application: Student Administration will automatically forward the respective student's de-registration application to us and we will take care of the partial refund. "Broken" months of the semester will not be refunded.

Can I be exempted due to Corona?

Corona is not a reason for exemption: Unfortunately, the VBB is not cooperative in negotiations and has not agreed to any goodwill regarding the reasons for exemption. Since the machines for validating the Campuscards are accessible again, all students are able to use public transport in Berlin. Even if it is no longer necessary for everyone due to online studies, the service is still available. Personal life decisions, such as changing your place of residence due to the pandemic or not using public transport, are not grounds for application within the meaning of the semester ticket statutes.

If you cannot provide evidence of any of the above reasons for exemption, we will unfortunately have to reject your application.
 

Can I be exempted for part of the semester?

Under certain conditions, yes, for example if

   you have subsequently applied for a semester of leave in accordance with FU Berlin regulations (you are entitled to be granted a semester of leave retrospectively if, for example, you have unexpectedly fallen ill for a longer period of time or had an accident),
   the reason for the application occurred late (e.g. if the confirmation of an internship did not arrive until after the start of the semester or you suddenly fell ill), then we need proof that the reason for the application occurred late and the application for exemption must be submitted 14 days after the reason for the application occurred
   you were enrolled at least one month after the start of the semester, as we cannot reimburse for partial months. In the event of late enrolment, the travel authorization on the student ID card will of course not be invalidated or

Can I be exempted before transferring the semester fees?

All students must transfer the normal fees and apply to us for a subsequent refund.
 

What are the deadlines for applying for exemption?

The application for exemption from the obligation to pay the fee must be received by the Semesterticket Office by

   Students who are re-registering and
       are on leave of absence: up to six weeks after the start of lectures,
       are outside the area of validity for at least four - in justified exceptional cases also three - consecutive months of the respective semester during an internship semester, a semester abroad or as part of their final thesis: by September 30 for the winter semester and March 31 for the summer semester, or 14 days after the reason for the application arises,
       exmatriculate during the current semester: by the last day of the penultimate month of the semester of application.
   Students who enrol for the first time: within 14 days of the date of enrolment.

For other students within the meaning of § 2 (2) of the semester ticket statutes, an application can be submitted at any time, but no later than 2 weeks before the end of the semester.

Thereafter, an application with effect from the beginning of the semester or the completion of the application documents is only permitted if the student is not responsible for the reasons.

When can I expect the refund to be paid?

You will receive a notification from us after your semester ticket has been validated. As we have fixed cycles of processing steps, this can take up to two weeks after you have visited us or sent your ticket. After receiving the notification, it can take up to six weeks for the money to arrive in your account. This can take so long because we only initiate the transfers - they are then made by the Studentenwerk, which is also the sender on your bank statement. So it's all a bit bureaucratic and complicated. Shortly before the beginning/end of the semester, it can also take longer, as we always have a lot to do then.