Frequently Asked Questions

To enrol at RWTH you need valid health insurance, or a record showing that you are exempt from the German health insurance obligation. Students insured under SGK in Türkiye can, if they meet the conditions, have their existing insurance recognised in Germany with the A/T 11 form.

Sending RWTH only an insurance card or a PDF is not enough. A German statutory health insurer must report your insurance status to RWTH electronically. RWTH's institution number for this is H0000784.

A Sperrkonto is one of the ways to show, for a student visa, that you can cover your living costs in Germany. For 2026 the amount required for a student visa is at least €11,904, which corresponds to €992 available per month.

You choose the blocked account provider yourself, and the account can usually be opened online. The provider's service fees are paid on top of the €11,904 that has to be blocked.

Important: this amount can change every year.

Turkish citizens normally need a student visa before entering Germany to study at a university. The German missions in Türkiye currently handle applications in the categories Studium and Studienplatzsuche digitally through the Auslandsportal.

Usually you are asked for the university admission, a valid passport, proof of funding, health insurance and, where required, proof of language skills. The exact list of documents depends on your personal situation, so follow the up-to-date list the Auslandsportal generates for your application.

Yes. You can apply to Studierendenwerk Aachen even if you have not yet completed your enrolment at the university. The admission letter or certificate of enrolment is only requested when the tenancy agreement is signed.

Applying early is especially important. According to the Studierendenwerk, the waiting time is about six months for an application open to all room types, and a year or longer if you only apply for certain room types.

The safest approach is to carry the physical originals with you: passport, visa, RWTH admission letter, previous diplomas and educational certificates, the required certified translations, health insurance documents, proof of funding or Sperrkonto documents, and your accommodation documents.

For the Anmeldung in Aachen you must present the original passport and the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung in particular. RWTH procedures may also require the originals of some academic documents.

Within two weeks of moving into an address in Aachen you must register your residence. A fully online Anmeldung is not possible for people who have just moved to Aachen from outside Germany; you have to go in person.

Basic documents:

• Passport or ID card
• The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung filled in by your landlord

A tenancy agreement on its own does not replace the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung.

If you have come to Aachen for the first time on a student visa, complete the Anmeldung first and then apply for the student residence permit at the responsible Ausländeramt unit of the StädteRegion Aachen. RWTH students are handled by the RWTH unit in the SuperC.

In general you need your passport, the application form, a digital biometric photo, your certificate of enrolment, proof of funding and health insurance. From the third semester onwards a current transcript of records is also requested. The current fee is €100 for the first application and €93 for an extension.

When you complete your first Anmeldung in Germany, the Steueridentifikationsnummer is created automatically. You do not need to apply for a tax number separately.

The number stays the same for life. If no letter arrives within three months of your first Anmeldung, you can ask the Bundeszentralamt für Steuern to send it again.

The documents banks ask for when opening a regular Girokonto vary, but usually they want your ID or passport, your address in Germany and sometimes your Anmeldung or certificate of enrolment.

If you are refused a regular Girokonto, you generally have the right to a Basiskonto as long as you have no other payment account in Germany and are legally resident in the EU. With a Basiskonto you can deposit and withdraw money, make transfers and direct debits, and use a debit card.

You can get a prepaid or a contract mobile line. For prepaid SIM cards in particular, identity verification is mandatory in Germany before the line is activated.

This verification can be done in a shop by showing your ID or passport, or with an online identification method accepted by the provider.

Enrolment is handled in RWTHonline. You need to upload the required documents, have your insurance status transmitted to RWTH electronically, and pay the Semesterbeitrag in full.

The general enrolment period runs from 1 August to 31 October for the winter semester and from 1 February to 30 April for the summer semester. In programmes with an NC, your admission letter may set an earlier deadline.

The payment details for the Semesterbeitrag are in RWTHonline under My Applications → Enrollment → Tuition Fees.

In the 2026/27 winter semester the total Semesterbeitrag at RWTH is €375.19.

Of this:

• €12.62 is the student body contribution,
• €226.80 is the Deutschlandsemesterticket,
• €7.77 is the Zuid-Limburg supplement,
• €128 is the Studierendenwerk social contribution.

Apart from the special programmes of the RWTH Academy, RWTH charges no general tuition fees; the Semesterbeitrag is not a tuition fee.

After enrolment you receive a ConnectMe Coupon. With this code you activate your RWTH Identity Management account and get your username in the format ab123456.

You can then upload your photo for the BlueCard in Selfservice. If you have a registered address in Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands, the card can normally be sent by post.

Course registration is done in RWTHonline. Sending a registration request for a course does not always mean you are definitely registered; many courses require the status Fixplatz / Assigned Confirmed Place.

Once you have a Fixplatz you are usually added to the corresponding RWTHmoodle room automatically. You log in to Moodle with your RWTH Single Sign-On account and MFA.

The Semesterticket is no longer on the BlueCard by default. Once new students have completed their enrolment and activated their ConnectMe code, ASEAG sends a linking code for the naveo app to their RWTH email address.

According to the AStA, this code usually arrives 4–6 working days after the ConnectMe activation.

You apply through the online dormitory application portal of Studierendenwerk Aachen. There are different options such as single rooms, shared flats (WG), apartments and family flats.

Submitting an application does not automatically guarantee a room.

Yes. You can apply for a dormitory without an admission letter or Immatrikulationsbescheinigung.

These documents are only needed once you are offered a room and the tenancy agreement is signed. It is therefore usually wiser to apply without waiting for the admission letter.

There is no single fixed waiting time. According to the Studierendenwerk's current application portal, the wait is about six months for applications open to all room options, and a year or more for specific options such as apartments only.

You also have to confirm within 10 days of the email sent on the 15th of each month that you still want a room. If you do not confirm, your application may be removed from the list.

In Studierendenwerk Aachen dormitories the deposit is twice the monthly rent and is paid before the tenancy agreement is signed.

The Studierendenwerk also states that no interest is paid on this deposit. This rule applies to Studierendenwerk dormitories; contracts with private landlords have to be looked at separately.

A WG (Wohngemeinschaft) is a flat shared by several people. Usually everyone has their own room, while the kitchen and bathroom are shared.

The AStA Aachen lists platforms such as WG-Gesucht, Immowelt, ImmobilienScout24 and Kleinanzeigen for the housing search.

Do not limit your search to the centre of Aachen. The AStA recommends also considering areas reachable by public transport, such as Laurensberg, Haaren, Richterich, Würselen, Brand, Eilendorf and Herzogenrath.

Until you find a permanent place, short-term subletting (Zwischenmiete or Untermiete) is an option. For the short term the AStA also suggests temporary solutions such as the Aachen Jugendherberge.

Yes. To enrol at RWTH and keep your student status you must have valid health insurance.

Your insurance status has to be transmitted to RWTH electronically; sending only the insurance card or a written membership certificate is not enough.

Under certain conditions, yes. Germany and Türkiye have a social security agreement that covers health insurance.

According to the DVKA, the A/T 11 form can be accepted in place of the German student health insurance obligation if your centre of life remains in Türkiye, you are in Germany temporarily for your studies, your insurance entitlement in Türkiye continues and you are not working in Germany. The form must be recognised by a German statutory health insurer.

One of the basic conditions for using the A/T 11 as a student is that you do not work in Germany. Once you start a job or an internship, your insurance status can change.

So before starting any job or internship, have your insurance status checked with a German gesetzliche Krankenkasse and, if necessary, with SGK. The AStA also states clearly that students who work or do an internship in Germany may need German health insurance.

For students who get exempted from statutory health insurance at the start of their studies and choose private insurance, this decision generally cannot be reversed for the rest of the same course of study.

So before opting for private insurance purely because of the monthly premium, it is important to weigh the long-term consequences.

For ordinary, non-life-threatening health problems the first point of contact is usually a Hausarzt, a general practitioner. In Germany you are free to choose your doctor; those with statutory insurance can choose doctors who work with the insurance system.

You usually need to show your electronic health card at the doctor's. For some specialist fields a referral may be required.

RWTH's current estimate for international students is to budget at least around €1,100 per month in Aachen, about €13,200 per year, including rent, insurance and daily life.

This is a minimum planning figure; the real cost varies, especially with rent and lifestyle.

No. The purpose of the Sperrkonto is to prevent the whole amount from being used at once and to give you access to a fixed amount of living money each month.

Since the 2026 student funding amount is €11,904, the basic monthly amount is €992. The conditions and extra fees of the blocked account depend on the provider.

No. The Sperrkonto is only one of the ways to prove funding.

Funding can also be shown in other ways, such as a suitable Verpflichtungserklärung, recognised scholarships, in certain cases the parents' financial situation, or a bank guarantee. Check the official list in your visa process to see which method is accepted for your file.

Being a student does not in itself exempt you from income tax. However, the Grundfreibetrag for 2026 is €12,348; if your taxable annual income stays below this basic allowance, normally no income tax is due.

This figure is not the same thing as your gross salary; your personal situation and deductions affect how taxable income is calculated. Social insurance contributions also follow separate rules from income tax.

The current Rundfunkbeitrag in Germany is €18.36 per month for each home. If several people live in the same WG, only one person pays for the home and the residents can share the cost among themselves.

People receiving BAföG can apply for an exemption. In student dormitories, self-contained rooms that open directly onto a shared corridor may count as separate homes for the Rundfunkbeitrag.

Students from countries outside the EU/EEA, such as Türkiye, may generally work 140 full days or 280 half days per year under the student residence permit. Alternatively, a model of up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period can be used.

A working day of up to four hours counts as a half day. Always check the specific conditions in your residence permit or its Zusatzblatt as well.

A Werkstudent is an employment status in which a university student works regularly alongside their studies and benefits from certain social insurance advantages.

Werkstudent is not a separate "visa type". For social insurance the basic rule is that studying remains the main activity, so working time during the lecture period should normally not exceed 20 hours per week. In that case the Werkstudent privilege can apply to health, long-term care and unemployment insurance, while pension insurance is generally paid.

In 2026 the regular monthly earnings limit for a Minijob is €603.

A Minijob and the working limits of your student residence permit are separate matters. The idea that "a Minijob does not count towards the work allowance" is wrong.

According to the federal government's current guidance, student assistant work at universities (studentische Hilfstätigkeiten), for example as a student research assistant, is not subject to the general limit of 140 full or 280 half days.

Still, if your residence permit contains a specific restriction, the safest way is to check it and, in case of doubt, ask the Ausländerbehörde.

Internships are possible, but whether an internship is compulsory or voluntary can affect how the working time is counted.

Freelance or self-employed work is not automatically covered by the student residence permit. International students may need the permission of the Ausländerbehörde for such activities, so check your permission before starting.

Yes. Students in higher education abroad can have their military service deferred on the basis of their student status, provided that the institution and their student status are recognised by the competent Turkish authorities.

This recognition is handled through the Education Counsellor's Office or Education Attaché abroad, or, where there is none, through the consulates.

According to current information from the Ministry of National Defence (MSB), students at faculties and colleges can defer their military service, as long as they remain students, until the end of the year in which they turn 28.

This age limit applies to bachelor's studies; the deferral rules for master's, doctoral studies or after graduation are different.

Generally no. According to the MSB, people who became yoklama kaçağı or bakaya before the date of their university enrolment cannot have their service deferred on the basis of studies that started later.

That is why it is important to check your military service status before enrolling at the university.

Yes. Turkish citizens in higher education abroad can apply for a KYK scholarship or loan.

Applications are submitted through e-Devlet on the dates announced for each academic year.

Students abroad whose student status does not appear in YÖKSİS must have a Private Student File (Özel Öğrenci Dosyası) opened through the Education Counsellor's Office, Education Attaché or consulate, and complete the Private Student Recognition Form (Özel Öğrenci Tanıma Fişi).

Students abroad who are awarded a scholarship or loan must also confirm the undertaking (taahhütname) on e-Devlet and have a notarised guarantee issued through a guarantor resident in Türkiye. Academic performance is checked while the scholarship continues; with an average below 2.00 on the 4-point scale or below 53.33 on the 100-point scale, the scholarship can be converted into a loan.

Yes, on the local and regional public transport where the Deutschlandticket is valid.

It can be used across Germany on RE, RB and S-Bahn trains as well as local transport such as buses, trams and the U-Bahn.

RWTH students can use all Arriva buses and regional trains in South Limburg with the Semesterticket. Cross-border routes within the AVV area, such as to Vaals, Kerkrade and Sittard, are included as well.

For Belgium, the whole country or all Belgian public transport is not included. For example, line 24 within the AVV area is covered as far as Kelmis Bruch. For journeys further into Belgium a separate ticket may be needed.

Normally, no.

The Semesterticket is not valid on ICE, IC, EC, Eurostar and other long-distance trains, and it does not cover first class. You need a separate ticket for these trains; the only exceptions are routes that are specifically announced.

RWTH students can pay with the BlueCard in the Studierendenwerk's Mensa and cafeterias.

The BlueCard works like an electronic wallet. You can top it up at the loading machines in the canteens; some machines in the Mensa Academica also accept debit or credit cards for topping up.

RWTH students have access to the eduroam network across the campus.

First create device-specific credentials in RWTH's eduroam Device Manager, then set up your device following RWTH's instructions for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS or Linux.

112 is for life-threatening medical emergencies and fires.

Call 112 for example in cases of severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, signs of a heart attack, sudden signs of a stroke, serious injury or severe poisoning. The line is free and available around the clock.

116117 is the number of the ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst, the on-call medical service, for health problems that are not life-threatening but too urgent to wait for normal surgery hours.

It can be used, for example, for a high fever at night or at the weekend, signs of a serious infection, severe throat or ear pain, or acute but non-life-threatening pain. The number is free and available around the clock.

In short:

• Life-threatening → 112
• Urgent but not life-threatening → 116117

The police emergency number is 110.

Call 110 for a crime in progress, a threat, violence or immediate danger. For medical emergencies or fires, use 112. Both emergency numbers are free.

Some non-urgent incidents, such as theft or online fraud, can also be reported through the Polizei Onlinewache.

Germany has the Apotheken-Notdienst, a rota of pharmacies that are open at night, on Sundays and on public holidays.

You can find the pharmacy currently on duty in Aachen through the official Notdienstsuche on aponet.de by entering your location or postcode. The pharmacy on duty changes all the time, so it is best to use this search every time.

The StädteRegion Aachen offers the procedure "Übertragung/Neuausstellung bei … Verlust" for a lost electronic Aufenthaltstitel. As soon as you notice the loss, contact the Ausländeramt to have the card reissued.

If the card was stolen, it is also advisable to report it to the police. If your passport was lost or stolen as well, the passport matter is handled separately through the Turkish consular authorities.