Statutory broadcast fee in Germany
A monthly broadcast fee of €18.36 is charged for every flat in Germany - regardless of how many people live in that flat or how many devices they use.
Students who move into their first own flat, a shared flat or a student hall of residence at the start of the winter semester 2022/2023 may also have to pay the broadcasting fee for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio for the first time.
In order to avoid unnecessary double registrations or possible additional payments, it is important to re-register your own place of residence in good time and to notify the Contribution Service accordingly.
The Contribution Service has bundled all information on the broadcasting fee for students as well as answers to the most frequently asked questions on the topic on its website at rundfunkbeitrag.de/studierende. The service is available in both German and English and is thus also aimed at international students.
Recipients of BAföG can apply to the Contribution Service for exemption from the obligation to pay broadcast fees.
Students from EU member states must generally have sufficient means of subsistence during their stay in Germany. Therefore, a hardship exemption is usually not possible. However, they can be exempted from the obligation to pay broadcasting fees as a special case of hardship if they receive a study support benefit comparable to BAföG from their home country.
In order to obtain a residence title, international students must prove that they have sufficient financial means to secure their livelihood. A hardship exemption is therefore not usually considered in these cases.
The necessary application form for exemption from the contribution fee can be conveniently filled out online at rundfunkbeitrag.de and then printed out. Together with the required official proof of benefit receipt, the signed form must then be sent by post to the ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio Contribution Service in 50656 Cologne.
Yes, in addition to flats, the monthly broadcast fee of 18.36 Euro must also be paid for rooms in student dormitorys
Shared flats can share the licence fee. In this case, only one adult resident must be registered with the contribution service. Who that is is decided by the flat-sharing community itself.
Address & Contact
Bergische Universität Wuppertal
Abt. 3.3 - Internationales Studierendensekretariat (student admission and registration)
Gaußstraße 20
42119 Wuppertal
Germany
Personal consultation hours in the Student Service Center (SSC) right at the main entrance (building G, room G.08.16):
Tuesday 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
For organisational reasons, office hours may change sometimes. You can always find the latest information about office hours on the Student Service Center page under "News".
Telephone consultation and advice:
Wednesday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
