Do you have any further questions? Then participate in our information events on living and working in Germany.
Health Insurance
In Germany health insurance is compulsory, i.e. all doctoral and postdoctoral researchers resident in Germany must have health insurance coverage. You will need proof of health insurance, e.g. when enrolling at the university or applying for and extending your residence permit.
Researchers with employment contract must take out statutory health insurance. An exception to the statutory health insurance obligation only applies if your annual income exceeds €69,300 (as of 2024). In this case, you can choose between private or statutory health insurance.
If you are obliged to take out statutory health insurance, you can choose the health insurance company yourselves. However, if you do not take out health insurance actively, your employer will register you with the AOK (local statutory health insurer). You can change insurers within 3 months of the start of your employment contract. Techniker Krankenkasse and AOK are statutory health insurance organizations, which both have a branch office on our campus. Bills for medical treatment and medication are paid directly by the insurer, i.e. you do not need to pay them in advance.
You can find further information on health insurance at EURAXESS Germany.
Your statutory health insurance premium is deducted directly from your gross salary and the payments are shown in your pay slip. An explanation of the pay slip in English can be found in our flyer "Understanding your Payslip".
If you are financed by a scholarship or yourself, you are still required to have health insurance. You must therefore take out your own health insurance. This also applies to shorter stays such as exchange semesters or internships.
For nationals of EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the health insurance of the home country may be valid in Germany. Please contact your health insurance provider in your home country before starting your stay in Germany. Doctoral students must prove that they have health insurance when they enrol. If the insurance from your home country is valid in Germany, you must present your European Health Insurance Card to a statutory health insurance company in Germany, which will confirm that you are exempt from compulsory insurance in Germany. You will find a representative of a statutory health insurance company on campus right next to the cafeteria (AOK office). They can issue you with a corresponding confirmation.
All other nationals must be insured in Germany with either a private or a statutory health insurance company. Whether insurance with a statutory health insurance fund is possible, however, depends on your individual residence status in Germany.
Comprehensive information on health insurance can be found at EURAXESS Germany.