We help you choose and apply for the medical insurance you need to enrol at a German university. Free advice in English, full management and personalised attention based on your profile: EU or non-EU.
Free service. No extra fee on top of the insurer's rate.
In Germany, health insurance is compulsory for all residents and, specifically, universities require an insurance certificate to formalise enrolment.
As a university student you have two main options: public student insurance (KVdS - Krankenversicherung der Studenten) or private student insurance. This decision matters because once you choose private, you can't switch back to public during your entire degree, except in very specific cases.
At Bramex we advise you for free so you can choose the right option based on your age, country of origin and type of university.
These are the two available options to meet the university requirement. Here are the key differences so you can make an informed decision.
The price is made up of €87.38 base contribution + additional fee depending on the Krankenkasse + €30.78 or €35.91 long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung).
Irreversible decision: if you sign up for private insurance, you can't go back to public for the duration of your studies.
The price of public insurance is calculated on the BAföG amount (€855) and is the same across all Krankenkassen, except for the additional fee (Zusatzbeitrag) set individually by each insurer.
The Zusatzbeitrag varies between insurers (approx. €18.64 - €37.62/month). At Bramex we compare the Krankenkassen so you only pay what is fair.
Not all students are in the same situation. These are the most common scenarios.
If you live in Germany and one of your parents pays into the German public health system, you can be covered for free on their Familienversicherung up to age 25, as long as your income stays below €565/month (€603 for minijobs).
If you come from an EU country, in theory your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers you. But not all doctors accept it and some universities require German insurance. We can help you find an affordable private policy as a top-up.
Mandatory to take out German insurance, public or private, before enrolling. We advise you on the best option based on your age and type of studies.
You can no longer join KVdS. Your options are: private student insurance (up to age 35) or freiwillige GKV (much more expensive, ~€230/month). We help you compare.
PhD candidates and students at institutions without state recognition cannot join KVdS. You will need private insurance or freiwillige GKV.
If you work more than 20 hours per week during term, you stop being a student for social security purposes. Your insurance is paid by your employer through your salary.
A simple process, in your language and completely free.
You tell us your age, university, country of origin and start date. All the information we need to advise you.
We compare public (KVdS) and private insurance based on your profile and send you a clear summary with prices and coverage.
You decide which option you prefer and we handle all the paperwork with the German insurer.
We send you the document the university needs to formalise your enrolment.
When you finish your studies, the student rate ends. The Krankenkasse will send you a letter asking about your new situation.
Important: don't forget to report your situation. If you don't, the Krankenkasse will keep charging the standard rate (much higher than the student one).
We answer the most common questions about health insurance for university students in Germany.
Yes. In Germany, health insurance is mandatory by law for all residents. The university will ask for an insurance certificate (Versicherungsbescheinigung) to formalise enrolment.
You can take out public (KVdS) or private insurance. Public is available up to age 30 and costs around €140-150/month in 2026. Private can be cheaper and is available up to age 35, but coverage tends to be more limited. At Bramex we advise you to choose the option that best suits you.
Yes. For public insurance, the limit is 30 years old. After that, you move to the freiwillige GKV rate (much more expensive, around €230/month). For private student insurance, the limit is 35 years old.
If you come from an EU country and you're under 30, in theory your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers you. But not all doctors in Germany accept it and some universities require a German insurance number. That's why an affordable private top-up policy is recommended. We can help you choose one.
No. Once you register with private insurance at the start of your studies, the decision is irreversible for the entire duration. Only in very specific cases (for example a long break between bachelor's and master's) is it possible to switch back. That's why deciding well at the start matters so much.
No. The student rate ends when you complete your studies. The Krankenkasse will send you a letter asking about your situation (employment, job-hunting, freelance, returning home) and recalculate your rate accordingly.
KVdS covers GPs, specialists, emergency care, hospitalisation, maternity, prescription medication and basic mental health care, among others. Coverage is very broad and the same for all insured members.
For a master's degree, you can stay on KVdS if you meet the requirements (age, university). A PhD is not considered "studies" for KVdS purposes, so you will have to switch to freiwillige GKV or private insurance. We can advise you.
Only if the private university has state recognition. If not, you can't access KVdS and will need private student insurance or freiwillige GKV.
For years we have been supporting international students arriving in Germany. Here's what makes us different.
We help you choose the insurance that best fits your student profile.
No surcharge on top of the insurer's rate. Free advice.
We work with 95 % of the best companies in the country.
We are with you before and during the entire process.
We keep you informed of changes that may affect your insurance.
100 % service in your language: Spanish, English or Romanian.
We handle German bureaucracy for you. You get the ready certificate.
Specialists in international students in Germany.
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