Students who meet the criteria set out in Section 4 of the fee schedule set by Saarland University’s official student representative bodies can apply for a full or partial refund of the semester travel ticket fee.

The following students are eligible for a full refund:

  • Disabled students who are entitled to the free use of public transport in accordance with Germany’s Disabled Persons Act (SchwbG) – or the equivalent legislation applicable in their country of origin – and who hold the corresponding disability card
  • Students who can show that they are taking leave of absence for one semester or who have enrolled on a post-graduate course of study
  • Students who can demonstrate that they will spend at least three months of the semester outside the area covered by the local public transport operator SaarVV.

Application deadline: 15 May (for the summer semester) and 15 November (for the winter semester)

Partial refunds will be made to students who enrol/re-register more than two months after the start of the semester or who deregister more than two months before the end of the semester.

In such cases of early deregistration or late enrolment, the refund application must be submitted no later than 14 days after deregistration or enrolment.

Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be processed!

Please refer to the table below for further details.

Students experiencing acute financial hardship may submit an application to have their semester travel ticket fee refunded under our exceptional hardship fund. Please make sure that you enclose all of the documents listed in the guidance document when submitting your request.

The form to be used to request a refund of the semester travel ticket fee (not through the exceptional hardship scheme) is available from the AStA office or can be downloaded. The form has two parts: the application (Antrag) and the notification of decision (Bescheid). In the second part of the form (Bescheid), all you need to do is fill in your address.

Important: All documents, including your student ID card, must have been received before the end of the application period. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applications can be handed in in person during AStA office hours or can be sent by post (see address on the application form). Students on the Homburg campus can hand in their applications at the AStA’s Homburg branch office.

We make every effort to deal with refund applications as quickly as possible, but due to high demand, it may take some time to process your application. In some cases, we may need to consult with other university departments, which may lengthen the processing time.

Refunds will be made by bank transfer to the account specified by the applicant. Payments will be made after 15 May for the summer semester and after 15 November for the winter semester. Exceptions may arise in the case of early deregistration or late enrollment.

Please make sure that you enter your IBAN (International Bank Account Number) correctly. The length and format of your IBAN will depend on the country in which the account is held. The country in which your account is held must also be a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

Important note: 

AStA accepts no liability for lost student ID cards. Although we will store your student ID card safely and return it to you when we send you the decision notification letter (Bescheid), there is always a small risk that your student ID card will be lost in transit. If you wish to avoid this risk, we would advise you to hand in your student ID card in person during the AStA office hours for semester travel ticket refunds and then to collect it again from the AStA office once the travel ticket function has been deactivated on your student ID card by the Card Issuing Office.

Since the winter semester of 2015/2016, we have no longer been granting refunds on the basis of ‘place of residence: Homburg’. Valid reasons for requesting a refund are listed in the table below and on the application form.

 

Deregistered before the end of the semester?

How to get a semester travel ticket fee refund:

If you deregistered before 30 September/31 March: Application to be submitted to the Admissions Office (https://www.uni-saarland.de/fileadmin/upload/studium/orga/rueckerstattung.pdf) Don’t forget to send your student ID card with your application! You will receive a full refund of the semester fee.

If you deregistered after 1 October/1 April: Application to be submitted to the General Student Committee (AStA) (https://asta.uni-saarland.de/der-asta/semesterticketrueckerstattung/) Don’t forget to send your student ID card with your application! You will receive a partial refund of the semester fee.

IMPORTANT

You are not entitled to a refund for the semester ticket if you cite the following situations as reasons:

  • You only live or work outside of Saarland without it being study-related,
  • You own a car and thus do not use the semester ticket.

Please note that only the reasons listed on the refund application qualify you for a refund. We regret to inform you that we must reject anything else.

Semester ticket refund

AStA office

office hours:

Monday: 10h – 13h

Tuesday: 10h – 13h

Wednesday: 10h – 15h

 

Contact:

Emily Dreßler

erstattung@asta.uni-saarland.de

0681 302 4322

Who’s entitled to a refund?

Reason Requirements Documents to be submitted with your application:

Disability

Deadline:
15 May (summer semester) or 15 November (winter semester)
  • Entitled to free use of public transport services in accordance with Germany’s Disabled Persons Act (SchwbG) – or the equivalent legislation applicable in your home country (restricted mobility user)
  • Student ID card (original)
  • Certificate of enrolment showing subjects studied (copy)
  • Disability card (copy)
  • Copy of the document ‘Beiblatt zum Ausweis des Versorgungsamtes‘ which is issued as a supplement to your disability card and must include a valid travel token (Wertmarke) permitting free access to public transport.

Leave of absence

Deadline:
15 May (summer semester) or 15 November (winter semester)
  • Staying for an extended period outside Saarland
  • Valid reason for leave of absence
  • Student ID card (original)
  • Certificate of enrolment showing leave-of-absence note (copy)

Study programme requires student to spend at least three months studying outside Saarland

Deadline:
15 May (summer semester) or 15 November (winter semester)
  • The extended stay must be a requirement of your study programme (e.g. mandatory work placement or internship, year of clinical practice, cooperation with a company outside Saarland as part of your doctoral research work, Erasmus stay abroad, etc.)
  • Invalid reason: You chose to reside outside Saarland due to the low number of in-person modules/courses requiring compulsory attendance
  • Student ID card (original)
  • Certificate of enrolment showing subjects studied (copy)
  • Copy of proof of residence outside Saarland (minimum three months)

Post-graduate courses and programmes

Deadline:
15 May (summer semester) or 15 November (winter semester)
  • Student is enrolled in one of the following professional study programmes:
    European and International Law (LL.M.), Commercial Law for Business Practice (LL.M.), Master of Laws (LL.M) Information Technology and Law (LL.M.), Evaluation (M.A.), European Management (MBA), Sport and Health Care Management (MBA), Ancient Greek
  • Student ID card (original)
  • Certificate of enrolment showing subjects studied (copy)

Deregistration

Deadline:
no later than 14 days after deregistration
  • Deregistration during the semester (before 31 July/31 January)
  • Partial refund based on the number of full calendar months
  • Student ID card (original)
  • Certificate of deregistration (copy)

Enrolment during the semester

Deadline:
no later than 14 days after enrolment
  • Re-registration or enrolment after 1 June (summer semester) or after 1 December (winter semester)
  • Partial refund based on the number of full calendar months
  • Certificate of enrolment showing subjects studied (copy)
  • Stamp of Saarland University’s Admissions Office confirming your enrolled status

Questions?

Requests for refunds will be processed in the AStA office. Questions can be sent by email to: erstattung[at]asta.uni-saarland.de.