International Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes taught in English allow students to start studying in Germany without advanced German language proficiency and to prepare more efficiently for the demands of the labour market.

Studying and living in Germany can be challenging, especially for students coming from countries outside the EU or the EEA. They often have a lot of questions and doubts during the application process, when coming to Germany and throughout their studies. The purpose of the service fee is to help us create and expand our resources to meet this increased demand for assistance. We are also planning to create additional resources to facilitate integration and to better prepare the students for successfully entering the German labour market.

Please note that the service fee does not include support in finding accommodation. The OTH Regensburg does not have its own halls of residence and cannot provide student accommodation for degree-seeking students. We can also not help you find an apartment on the private market. You will be required to do your own research and apply for student accommodation by yourself. You are welcome to start by visiting theInternational Officewebsite. However, please note that they cannot provide any accommodation for you either. 

Nationals of countries outside the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) who started their academic studies in or after the winter semester 2024 / 25 in one of the following English language degree programmes at the OTH Regensburg.

• Bachelor of Science in International Computer Science
• Bachelor of Engineering in International Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Engineering in Electrical and Microsystems Engineering
• Master of Science in Mathematics in Business and Industry

Students who enrolled in an English language programme at the OTH Regensburg prior to the winter semester 2024/2025 are not required to pay the service fee for the rest of their studies in their current degree programme.

Based on section 9 of the Regulations for Fees and Charges at the OTH Regensburg, the following persons are exempt from the service fee:

1. Students who enrolled in an English-taught programme at OTH Regensburg before the winter semester 2024/2025
2. German nationals
3. Nationals of another member state of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA)
4. Nationals of another country that has signed corresponding agreements with Germany
5. Persons who have obtained their university entrance qualification (Abitur or Fachhochschulreife or Bachelor's degree or European Baccalaureate) in the German education system. Studienkolleg is not considered a German university entrance qualification. 
6. Persons with an established domestic connection (i.e. persons who have been living in Germany for at least 5 years and are legally employed or at least one parent has been in Germany for at least 3 years in total during the last 6 years and is legally employed)
7. Exchange students of the OTH Regensburg
8. Refugees entitled to asylum and recognised refugees living in Germany within the scope of the Geneva Refugee Convention, who have received a residence permit which entitles them to stay in Germany not only on a temporary basis

If one of the exceptions listed under 4, 6 or 8 applies to you, please submit a signed request for exemption and appropriate documentation together with your enrolment documents in the OTH Regensburg application portal. Should you become eligible for an exception as listed above after the start of your studies, please submit the signed form and the appropriate documentation before the following deadlines: 15 April for exemption in the summer semester, 31 October for exemption in the winter semester.

According to section 13 of the Regulations for Fees and Charges at the OTH Regensburg, the following persons can request a waiver of the service fee:

• Students who unexpectedly and without fault of their own find themselves in financial hardship after the start of their studies and are thus unable to pay the service fee
• Students whose studies are seriously affected by hardship, for example due to chronic illness or having to care for a child or a close relative
• Refugees from countries with protection rates of over 50%, even without an established connection to Germany ("gefestigter Inlandsbezug"). 

The service fee can only be waived if a student faces financial hardship unexpectedly after the start of studies. It is not possible to apply for a service fee waiver before the start of studies, for reasons of general financial distress. Students expecting to face financing difficulties are encouraged to research financing options and scholarship programmes online.

The request for waiver of the service fee according to section 13 of the Rules on Fees and Charges at the OTH Regensburg must be submitted as follows:

• Submission in writing / by e-mail to department-of-studies(at)oth-regensburg.de
• Application deadline 31 October (for the winter semester) or 15 April (for the summer semester)
• Required documents: signed request for service fee waiver, adequate documentation in German or English or accompanied by a notarised translation into German or English

It is not possible to apply for a service fee waiver based on section 13 before the start of studies or during the first semester. It is also not possible to request a waiver for the regular semester fee.

If you have officially been approved a leave of absence and do not take any courses or exams during the leave of absence semester, you can apply for an exemption from the service fee before 15 April (for the summer semester) or 31 October (for the winter semester). Please add your request for exemption to the request for leave of absence. Please note that you must still pay the semester fee during your leave of absence.

Students from the United Kingdom are exempt from the service fee if they established their residence in Germany before 31 December 2020.

Students from Turkey are exempt from the service fee if they have an established connection to Germany ("gefestigter Inlandsbezug"). Persons with an established connection to Germany have been living in Germany for at least 5 years and are legally employed or at least one of their parents has been living in Germany for at least 3 years in total during the last 6 years and is legally employed.

If one of these circumstances applies to you, please submit a request for exemption by uploading the signed request for exemption and appropriate documentation during enrolment.

The service fee is 500 € per semester and is charged in addition to the regular semester fee upon enrolment or re-registration. It is not possible to pay the fee in instalments or to extend the payment deadline. If you apply for termination of enrolment within 4 weeks after the start of the semester, you are eligible for a refund. If the enrolment is terminated after this deadline, the fee will not be refunded.

The fee must be paid in addition to the regular semester fee to the following bank account:

Recipient: OTH Regensburg
IBAN: DE90 7005 0000 2901 1903 15
BIC: BYLADEMM
Payment reference for transfer (not customer reference): matriculation number and name

The final deadline to pay the service fee is the enrolment or re-registration deadline, as determined by the Department of Studies.

The service fee will remain the same for the duration of the regular duration of studies established for your programme by the Study and Examination Rules, plus one additional semester. For example, if you are enrolled in a Master’s degree programme with a regular duration of study of 3 semesters, the fee will remain the same for 4 semesters, after which it may be raised.

Students who do not pay their due fees before the respective deadlines are not allowed to participate in lectures or exams. They are denied enrolment or their enrolment will be terminated by the end of the semester.