According to Section 12 (2), sentence 4 of the NHG, if you are studying several degree programmes at the same time, the longest standard period of study applies to you.

Semesters spent at higher education institutions are used to calculate your study credit. Semesters are regarded as all periods of study at universities within the scope of the Higher Education Framework Act (periods of study at universities in the Federal Republic of Germany).

No, periods of study at universities in other countries do not affect your study credit.

If you obtained your Bachelor’s degree (or, if applicable, your Master’s degree) required for enrolment in a consecutive Master’s degree programme at the University of Oldenburg outside Germany, your study credit amounts to twice the standard period of study for the Master’s degree programme.

Once you have used up your study credit, you will have to pay 500 EUR long-term study fee per semester. The regular semester contribution must also be paid.

 Semester contribution

Your study credit is not affected by semesters in which you

• are active as an elected member of a body of the University, of the student body or of the Student Administration and Social Welfare Organisation (Studentenwerk), or
• are serving as an equal opportunities officer.

This provision applies for a maximum of two semesters.

Students who are enrolled at the University exclusively for their PhD programme do not have to pay long-term study fees – as long as they are not enrolled in another degree programme.

You will not be charged long-term study fees in semesters in which you are on a leave of absence.

Caring for a child during the study period, who is under the age of 14 at the start of the semester

Evidence: 

• Birth certificate or certificate of parentage of the (youngest) child 
• Declaration of childcare provision covering the duration of childcare, since an extension to the study period is required

Caring for a close relative in need of care, in accordance with a report issued by the medical service 

Evidence: 

• Certificate from the nursing care insurance provider or assessment/ report by the health insurance provider's medical service confirming that you care for a relative who does indeed require care (care level 1) and that the amount of care you provide on a weekly basis corresponds to approx. 10 hours weekly / 12,5 care points
• Evidence of kinship

Paying long-term study fees at another university/university of applied sciences in Lower Saxony because you are enrolled on a degree programme that is jointly offered by several universities

Evidence: 

• Enrolment certificate from the other university/university of applied sciences 
• Bank statement confirming you have already paid the study fees for the semester concerned

Semester abroad, placement semester or placement year in accordance with medical licensing regulations 

Evidence: 

• Study and examination regulations that specify the length of the study period abroad or of the placement semester/year 
• A corresponding certificate from the institution or organisation stating the exact dates

Elected a member of a body of the University, of the student community or of the Student Administration or Social Welfare Organisation (Studierendenwerk) (extension of the study period by two semesters)

Evidence: 

• Certification from the relevant body confirming the election and duration/period of the activity

Deadline for exemption requests: see enrolment regulations 

An exemption or hardship request can be submitted online via Stud.IP – evidence can be uploaded: Stud.IP – Manage my studies/examinations – Anträge (request) – Refund of fees 

Important note: 
The long-term study fee must be paid by the end of the re-registration period, even if an exception or hardship application has been submitted and a decision has not yet been made by the end of the deadline. If your application is successful, you will receive a refund.

According to § 14 para. 2 NHG, the long-term tuition fee can be either entirely or partly waived upon request if payment would lead to undue hardship. The reasons are academic delay due to a disability, severe illness or due to being the victim of a crime. 

Academic delay due to a disability or severe illness 

Evidence: 

• Medical certificate confirming that the disability or illness has an impact on academic progress, stating the period and extent to which your ability to study (degree of disability as a percentage) is or was impaired by the disability or serious illness.
• If your degree of disability (German: GdB) is at least 50 percent, you do not have to submit a medical certificate. Instead, you are required to submit a photocopy of your disability pass and a statement on the impact of the illness/disability on academic progress. 

Academic delay due to being the victim of a crime Evidence: 

• Court decision or attestation from the public prosecutor as well as 
• a specialist medical opinion on the extent to which this particular situation has had an impact on academic progress.

Deadline for hardship requests according to §14 NHG: An application can be submitted no later than one month after the end of lectures in the current semester (see semester dates). 

An exemption or hardship request can be submitted online via Stud.IP – evidence can be uploaded: Stud.IP – Manage my studies/examinations – Anträge (request) – Refund of fees 

Important note: 
The long-term study fee must be paid by the end of the re-registration period, even if an exception or hardship application has been submitted and a decision has not yet been made by the end of the deadline. If your application is successful, you will receive a refund.

You can obtain the official medical statement from the Public Health Department responsible for you.

You can find out which Public Health Department is responsible for you on the website of the RKI (Robert Koch Institute) by entering your postcode.

Students aged 60 or over who already pay 800 EUR in fees are exempt from the long-term study fees.

An exemption or hardship request can be submitted online via Stud.IP (Studien-/Prüfungsverwaltung).
The path is as follows: Stud.IP – Manage my studies/examinations - Anträge – Refund of fees

The evidence to be submitted is listed in the respective upload field of the request.

Important note:
The long-term study fee must be paid by the end of the re-registration period, even if an exception or hardship application has been submitted and a decision has not yet been made by the end of the deadline.
If your application is successful, you will receive a refund.

Deadline for exemption requests: see enrolment regulations 

Deadline for hardship requests according to §14 NHG (sickness, disability, victim of a crime): An application can be submitted no later than one month after the end of lectures in the current semester (see semester dates).