Getting health insurance

If you wish to study in Germany, you must have sufficient health insurance. You will need to prove this, for example, when you enroll at Universität Hamburg orwhen you apply for your residence permit.

Travel health insurance does not generally meet the statutory requirements. At most, it covers your entry into Germany and/or a stay of up to 90 days.

Health insurance is divided into public (state) health insurance and private health insurance. As a student at Universität Hamburg, you can also find advice from the Counselling Centre for Social and International Affairs run by Studierendenwerk Hamburg and from Studierendenwerk Deutschland.

Proof of health insurance for enrollment

When enrolling at Universität Hamburg, you must provide evidence of sufficient health insurance coverage. Therefore, take out health insurance as soon as possible after you have received your acceptance letter. For international students in bachelor's, state examination and master's degree programs, different deadlines for submitting proof of health insurance may apply than for German students.

Statutory health insurance
If you take out statutory health insurance, the health insurance company will report your insured status directly to the Campus Center.

Private health insurance
If you take out private health insurance, a statutory health insurance company must confirm that you are exempt from statutory insurance. This confirmation is reported directly to the Campus Center by the statutory health insurance.

Private health insurance

Before you take out private health insurance, be sure to get advice from the Counselling Centre for Social and International Affairs (BeSI) at Studierendenwerk Hamburg.

Many private health insurance providers offer very cheap tariffs that only cover a few services. The local immigration authorities will not accept these cheap insurances when you apply for your residence permit. The BeSI supports you to find the right health insurance.