Semester ticket office

As AStA, we run SemTix – the student semester ticket office, which takes care of applications for subsidies for semester tickets. You can find out whether you qualify for a grant and how to apply here.

Note: The deadline for grant applications for SoSe 2025 expired on April 15, 2025. Grant applications for the winter semester 2025/26 can be submitted starting September 01, 2025.

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What is it about?

The semester ticket is your ticket for public transport. With it, you can use all local transport vehicles throughout Germany – a Germany semester ticket, so to speak. As a face-to-face student at HTW Berlin, the semester ticket is mandatory for you due to the solidarity model. Under certain circumstances, however, you can receive a financial subsidy from the AStA, whereby your semester ticket remains just as valid.

Who is responsible for what?

It is important to know that we as the AStA SemTix office only provide possible subsidies for the semester ticket; for other concerns, the HTW Student Services is your contact.

Subsidies

SemTix Office of the AStA

The subsidy is a financial support for students who have considerable difficulties in covering the costs of the semester ticket themselves. This subsidy is not granted automatically, but must be applied for each semester. The application can only be made for the current semester, retroactive or future applications are not possible.

If you have any questions about applications for a subsidy for the semester ticket, we are your contact. You can reach us via the contact form.

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Exemption

Student Services at HTW

Exemption means that under certain conditions (see here) students do not have to pay for the semester ticket at all. This can apply to students with a severe disability, for example, if they are already entitled to free travel. An exemption must be applied for before the start of the semester. Exemption at a later date is not possible.

If you have any questions about exemption from the semester ticket, please contact the Student Service Center at HTW Berlin.

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Reimbursement

Student Services at HTW

If students have already paid for the semester ticket but are unable to use it due to special circumstances such as exmatriculation, illness, semester abroad, etc., they can apply for a reimbursement of the semester ticket at the HTW Berlin Student Service Center. A reimbursement is only possible if any special circumstances like described are present.

If you have any questions about reimbursement of your semester ticket, please contact the Student Service Center at HTW Berlin.

More Information

How do I apply for a subsidy for the semester ticket?

If you want to apply for a subsidy for your semester ticket, check beforehand whether you meet all the requirements. We explain what these are and what you need to take into account here:

What are special hardships?

A subsidy for the semester ticket can be granted due to special hardships. Some of these hardships are, for example:

  • restricted work permit
  • special costs for medical or psychological care
  • expensive nutrition (e.g. medically necessary)
  • pregnancy (after the 12th week)
  • raising children
  • final thesis started at least three months before re-registration and not yet completed
  • unpaid or low-paid internship (study-related)
  • or comparable other hardships

Requirements

  1. First requirement: a particular hardship must have existed for a certain period of time before re-registration or enrollment and must be proven when submitting the application.
  2. Second requirement: your monthly needs (your expenses) demonstrably exceed your monthly income. If this is not the case, your application cannot be approved. A grant can only be considered if there is a particular hardship AND insufficient income.

Both requirements must be met and must be proven. A calculation period of three full months before the grant application is opened is decisive. The evidence must be valid for this calculation period. Please bear this in mind when compiling your application documents.

The following periods apply for the respective semesters. Please note that these are not the deadlines for submitting your application:

  • December 1 to February 28 for applications for the summer semester
  • June 1 to August 31 for applications for the winter semester

The requirements for a subsidy for the semester ticket are regulated in the social fund statutes.

To the Social Fund Statute

Application

You can apply for a semester ticket subsidy until the 15th of the second month after the end of the regular re-registration period. Please inform yourself about the requirements and the evidence to be submitted before submitting your application. Your application will be processed as soon as it has been submitted to the semester ticket office together with all the necessary supporting documents.

You can find the application form here and in the LSF.

To the application document

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the semester ticket subsidy?

    The semester ticket subsidy is a financial support for students of HTW Berlin who have considerable financial difficulties in covering the costs of the German semester ticket themselves. The subsidy is not an exemption or refund, but merely serves to partially relieve the financial burden. Applications for exemption or reimbursement can be submitted to the Student Service Center (SSC).

    The grant is awarded once per semester and must be reapplied for each semester. The application can only be submitted for the current semester; retroactive and future applications will not be processed. Approval depends on defined criteria (see „Who can apply for the grant?“).

  • How do I apply for the semester ticket subsidy?

    To ensure that your application for the semester ticket subsidy is processed smoothly, follow these instructions:

    1. Where can I find the application form?
      • You can find the current application form on the LSF portal of HTW Berlin or on the website of the semester ticket office.
      • The LSF has many sections – you can find the form in the “Student Administration” section under “Applications and Certificates”.
    2. How do I fill out the application correctly?
      • Make sure that all mandatory fields are filled in and that no information is missing. Incomplete or incorrect information may result in the application taking longer to process.
    3. What documents do I need to submit?
      • The required documents are listed in the application form (see „What documents are required?“).
      • Pregnancy can serve as an example of additional proof: A medical certificate from the 12th week of pregnancy is required here.
    4. How and where do I submit the application?
      • The application can be sent to us by e-mail or alternatively by post (e-mail is preferred).
    5. When will I receive a confirmation?
      • After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail.
      • You will be informed if any documents are missing. Processing will only begin after the deadline for submitting applications has passed.
    6. When and how is the grant paid out?
      • If your application is approved, the grant will be transferred directly to your account.

  • Until when can I submit the application?

    The application deadlines are:

    • Summer semester: March 01 to April 15
    • Winter semester: September 01 to October 15
    Applications submitted later will not be processed! It is therefore strongly recommended that applications are submitted in good time.

  • Who can apply for the grant?

    The basic requirement for an application is that you are enrolled at HTW Berlin and have a semester ticket. Exchange students, guest students and distance learning students are not eligible to apply.

    According to the social regulations of HTW Berlin, the following reasons for an application are possible:

    • Significant financial difficulties (e.g. benefits for living expenses according to SGB II/XII or health costs over €300)
    • Pregnancy (proven by medical certificate from the 12th week)
    • Restricted residence permit
    • Other social hardships (according to the social regulation)

    The exact conditions are regulated in the social fund statutes!

  • What documents are required?

    General documents for all applications: completed application form, rental agreement, bank statements for three full months and health insurance, certificate of enrollment

    In addition to the general documents, application-related proof is required. For example, in the case of pregnancy, a medical certificate from the 12th week of pregnancy is required. Further information can be found in the application form or in the social fund statutes of the HTW Berlin semester ticket office.

  • How long will it take to process my application?

    Typical processing times are between 1 and 3 months.

  • What are the tasks of the semester ticket office?

    The semester ticket office is only responsible for processing subsidy applications. All other requests, such as exemptions or refunds, must be forwarded to the relevant departments at the university.

Contact

We speak German, English and Turkish.

Postal Address

HTW Berlin
Studentisches Semesterticketbüro
TA A K041
Treskowallee 8
10318 Berlin

E-Mail

semesterticket@students-htw.de

Office hours

Every Tuesday 19:00 – 20:00
by phone (03050192388), Zoom or in person at Campus TA Building A Room K041

Prior registration is not mandatory, but is desired so that we can best prepare for our consultation meeting. If you would like a consultation on a different day or time, please contact us by e-mail.

Deadlines

Grant applications winter semester 2025/26

Deadline for the winter semester: 15.10.2025

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