(Kopie 1)

Semester fee and sometimes long-term fees

In principle, no fees are payable for first degree programmes in Lower Saxony. Only students who take significantly longer than the standard period of study are charged additional long-term fees in addition to the basic semester fees. We should therefore talk about:

  • Semester fee as a "minimum fee"
  • Study credit as time without long-term fees
  • Long-term fee

The semester fee is payable in different amounts at each university in Germany (e.g. University of Oldenburg: € 386 per semester, as of winter semester 2024/25). The amount and composition is shown on the pages of the respective university.

As you can see in the individual lists of the universities, the semester fee includes the semester ticket for local public transport as well as shares for the local student representatives and the student union. In addition, there is an administrative fee of €75 in accordance with § 11 NHG, which is waived if you are on leave of absence. The semester ticket can also be waived during the leave of absence upon application to the ASten.

You can also find the necessary forms for a leave of absence from your studies on the university pages linked above. A leave of absence is useful, for example, if you are studying abroad or taking a break to raise children or due to illness.

Note: The information on these pages does not apply to guest students, doctoral students and students aged 60 and over.

According to the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG), all students can study for a certain number of semesters without paying fees in addition to the semester contribution. The law refers to this number of semesters as "study credit". Roughly speaking, this credit for a Bachelor's degree covers the standard period of study + 6 semesters.

The study credit can be changed due to special circumstances. For example, it is extended by at least the duration of the Master's degree programme or reduced by semesters of a previous degree programme (§ 12 para. 2 NHG).

A judgement by the Lüneburg Higher Administrative Court clarified the following: If a study credit for the Bachelor's degree has already been used up and long-term fees have already been paid during this study phase, a line is drawn at the start of a subsequent consecutive Master's degree. There is then a new study credit in the amount of the standard duration of the Master's programme.

Key sentence from the judgement:
" (...) If the study credit according to § 12 para. 2 sentence 1 NHG is completely used up during the Bachelor's programme, a new study credit according to § 12 para. 2 sentence 2 NHG is available upon commencement of a consecutive Master's programme. The study credit for a consecutive Master's degree programme can therefore not be used up during the Bachelor's degree programme."
(OVG Lüneburg, 2nd Senate, judgement from 24.11.2021, 2 LB 127/21)

However, if the study credit from the Bachelor's programme has not yet been used up, any remaining credit from the Bachelor's programme can be carried over to the Master's programme. This is added to the credit balance of the Master's degree (standard period of study of the MA + remaining credit BA).

The following exceptions also exist:

Periods that do not trigger the utilisation of study credit

" 1Thestudy credit is not utilised in semesters (...) in which the student

1. is on leave of absence,
2. is actually caring for a child within the meaning of § 25 para. 5 BAföG who has not yet reached the age of 14 at the beginning of the semester (...),
3. is caring for a close relative within the meaning of Section 7 (3) of the Caregiver Leave Act and the need for care within the meaning of Section 3 (2) of the Caregiver Leave Act has been proven,
4. is active as an elected representative in a body of the university, the student body or the student union or
5. holds the office of Equal Opportunities Officer.

2Sentence1 nos. 4 and 5 shall apply for a maximum of two semesters (...)."

(§ 12 para. 3 NHG)

Once the study credit has been used up, a long-term tuition fee of €500 per semester is charged in addition to the semester fee. This amount is proportionally lower for part-time students.

Exceptions to the long-term tuition fee

"The long-term tuition fee is not charged for a semester (...) in which the student

1. is on leave of absence,
2. is actually caring for a child within the meaning of § 25 para. 5 BAföG who has not yet reached the age of 14 at the beginning of the semester (...),
3. is caring for a close relative within the meaning of Section 7 (3) of the Caregiver Leave Act and the need for care within the meaning of Section 3 (2) of the Caregiver Leave Act has been proven,
4. is completing a period of study abroad as stipulated in the study or examination regulations,
5. has completed a practical semester of study provided for in the study or examination regulations or
6. has completed the practical year in accordance with Section 1 (2) sentence 1 no. 1 of the Licensing Regulations for Doctors or has completed the practical training in accordance with Section 3 (1) sentence 5 of the Licensing Regulations for Doctors."

(§ 13 para. 1 sentence 2 NHG)

Hardship application

In addition, if the above exceptions do not apply or have already been used, an application can be made to avoid undue hardship(§ 14 para. 2 NHG, information on hardship in the case of disability or serious illness). The short list of regular hardship cases in § 14 para. 2 sentence 2 NHG is only to be understood as a concretisation. Other hardship situations are not excluded in principle, but must be presented in individual cases!

The hardship application must be submitted to the enrolment office of the respective university (see "Semester fee" above!).