What is the insurance requirement for Studienkolleg students?

Studienkolleg students are considered to have university student status, therefore the same insurance rules apply:

#Mandatory Insurance

• GKV (statutory health insurance) registration is mandatory — required during Studienkolleg registration
• Under 30: Student tariff applies (~131 €/month)
• Over 30: PKV (private health insurance) is mandatory (~230-280 €/month)
• Visa insurance only for the duration of arrival in Germany (for visa application)

#Studienkolleg Specific Situations

#1. T-Kurs / G-Kurs / W-Kurs Students

• Same insurance, same premium
• Studienkolleg → GKV application to obtain certificate

#2. Studienkolleg Duration (1-2 Semesters)

• 1 semester (Kurzkurs): 6 months of insurance required
• 2 semesters (Standardkurs): 12 months of insurance
• Uninterrupted payments throughout the period

#3. Transition to Universität After Studienkolleg

• Insurance continues as is (GKV automatic)
• Switching from TK to AOK is optional (after 18 months)

#Werkstudent / Mini-Job Work

• Studienkolleg students gain Werkstudent status — the same weekly 20-hour limit applies
• Mini-Job (under 538 €) → Zero insurance premium
• Studienkolleg + Werkstudent combination is common (especially for T-Kurs)

#Exam Period (Feststellungsprüfung)

• The exam lasts 4-6 weeks
• Insurance continues during the exam period (no breaks)
• There should be no gap months during the transition period to Universität after the exam

#Special Cases

#If you had to return to Turkey before completing Studienkolleg

• Cancel your insurance (1 month prior notice)
• Unused months are refunded (generally)

#If you stayed in Germany after Studienkolleg rejection

• Insurance is mandatory — proof is needed for visa extension
• Insurance may also change when switching to a "Sprachkurs visa"

#Which GKV?

• TK: Modern + English support + app
• AOK Bayern/Berlin/NRW: Bundesland-based, physical branches
• Barmer: Family + academic-friendly

#Student Tariff (especially for Studienkolleg)

• TK + Barmer: General student tariff
• AOK: Small variations by Bundesland (e.g., AOK Bayern Studierende 130.50 €)

#Important Notes

• For Studienkolleg application, visa insurance is needed, after registration GKV is required — make the transition on time
• A GKV confirmation document is mandatory for Universität registration — visa insurance is not sufficient
• If your family is registered in Germany, Familienversicherung is possible (under 35 + income under 535 €)

Related: Monthly student insurance | Over 30 years old.