Contact

Exchange coordination, Summer Course

Christine Trappe

+49-441-798-4124

Advisor for international exchange students (during their stay in Oldenburg)

Christine Trappe

+49-441-798-4124

Office hours

Availability by phone
Mondays: 9 -12 a.m. and 14-15.30 p.m. 
Thursdays: 14 p.m.-15.30 p.m.

Online office hours
Tuesdays: 9.30 a.m.–10.30 a.m. in our virtual meeting room (BigBlueButton)

Office hours in presence
Tuesdays: 14.00 p.m.-16.30 p.m. (SSC)
Thursdays: 10.00 a.m.-12.30 p.m. (SSC)

Our team of tutors offers help and support with all general questions and about life in Oldenburg. The tutor team can be reached at

our facebook group International Students in Oldenburg

Health insurance - what do I have to do?

Proof of health insurance for international students

If you want to study in Germany, you need health insurance. You cannot be enrolled without health insurance. There is statutory health insurance (GKV) and private health insurance.

Which insurance can and may betaken out depends on various factors. But please note: The decision for a private or statutory health insurance applies to the entire period of study in Germany. We therefore recommend that you take out statutory health insurance if possible, because it is not possible to switch to statutory health insurance later on. Private health insurance can be much more expensive later than statutory insurance. The statutory health insurance settles with doctors directly. With private health insurance you have to pay for treatments/doctors' bills yourself before they are refunded by the health insurance.

Non EU applicants (Degree Seeking Students) < 30 years old
& Non EU Exchange Students & Freemover < 30 years old

Applicants under 30 years of age are subject to compulsory health insurance (GKV). Proof of statutory health insurance must be presented at the time of enrolment. This proof must be provided electronically as part of the reciprocal notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities through the official notification of a statutory health insurance company (§ 199a SGB V). If health insurance is taken out at the start of the study programme, the health insurance company automatically reports this to the university.

The largest statutory health insurance companies in Germany are TK-Health-InsuranceBARMERAOK and DAK. If a blocked account is to be set up in addition to the health insurance, it may make sense to look at providers such as ExpatrioCoracle or Fintiba.

Students who have private health insurance may want to apply for exemption from compulsory insurance. This requires a confirmation from a German statutory health insurance company that the private insurance is equivalent. Please contact a German statutory health insurance company for verification and proof. If the private insurance is recognised as equivalent, the German health insurance company must inform the University of Oldenburg electronically that you are exempt from compulsory insurance. Without this notification from the statutory health insurance provider, you cannot enrol. Simply write  to get the necessary information.

Non EU applicants (Degree Seeking Students) > 30 years old
& Non EU Exchange Students & Freemover > 30 years old

Applicants who have reached the age of 30 are also required to have health insurance in order to enrol. This age group does not normally have access to statutory health insurance, so you need to obtain private insurance.

Private insurances usually do not cover costs for preliminary examinations, chronic illnesses as well as pre-existing conditions in the cheapest tariff. They are therefore only recommended for very short stays.

EU applicants (Degree Seeking Students)
& EU Exchange Students & Freemovers

Students who are protected by the Sickness Insurance Scheme of the European Communities in the event of illness and have a European Health Insurance Card / EHIC are exempt from compulsory statutory health insurance. This exemption must be verified electronically within the framework of the mutual notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities by officially notifying a statutory health insurance company (§ 199a SGB V). Simply write , submitting proof of EHIC and specify the number of the University of Oldenburg (H0001293) for the electronic transmission of the confirmation. No contract is concluded. The statutory health insurance then reports your status to the University of Oldenburg. Without this notification from the statutory health insurance provider, you cannot enrol.

Students who are older than 30 do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. However, insurance is still compulsory.

Please note: If EU or EEA students take up a part-time student job or complete a paid internship in Germany, they must take out health insurance in Germany. There are only a few exceptions to this rule - please ask your health insurance provider.

Applicants (Degree Seeking Students) & Exchange Students & Freemovers from Great Britain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia/Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey, Tunisia

Students who are not subject to compulsory health insurance on the basis of a corresponding social agreement as well as students from the UK who have a GHIC are exempt from compulsory health insurance. Based on the official notification by a statutory health insurance provider, this exemption is granted electronically by way of the reciprocal notification procedure between health insurance companies and universities in accordance with Section 199a of the German Social Code (SGB V). The notification can be made easily , no contract is concluded. Please submit the relevant proof to the insurance company and specify the number of the University of Oldenburg (H0001293) for the electronic transmission of the confirmation. The insurance provider will then report your status to the University of Oldenburg. Without this notification, you cannot enrol.

The following documents are required:

  • UK: UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina: BH6
  • Serbia/Montenegro: Ju6
  • Croatia: D/HR 111
  • Macedonia: Ju6
  • Turkey: A/T 11
  • Tunisia: A/TN 11

Students who are older than 30 years do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. However, insurance is compulsory.

Please note: If you take on a part-time student job or complete a paid internship in Germany, you will probably have to insure yourself through a German health insurance company. There are only a few exceptions to this rule - check with your health insurance provider.

Participants of the Preparatory German Course

Participants of the preparatory German course are also required to have health insurance. However, they do not have to prove their insurance when enrolling. There is usually no access to statutory health insurance, so private insurance must be taken out.

Private insurance policies usually do not cover preliminary examinations, chronic illnesses or pre-existing conditions in the cheapest tariff. They are therefore only recommended for very short stays.

(Changed: 22 Mar 2024)  | 
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