Financial & Social Matters
In this section you will find information on residence rights and formal aspects of your stay, notes to finance and further information centres within the RWTH Aachen. Please use the navigation bar on the left.
Social Benefits
Social Assistance and Benefits
As a rule, students are not eligible for social security benefits according to the Federal Social Security Act. International students in need of financial assistance who wish to apply for social security benefits is strongly advised to contact the International Office before filing any application - according to the Immigration Act, international residents in Germany may forfeit their residence permit if they are unable to support themselves and their family.
There are, however, some opportunities to receive financial assistance in the form of allowances for low-income residents which international students may apply for, such as radio and telephone rates reductions (only for EU nationals), rent allowances, and others.
Legal Advice and Aid
According to the Act on Legal Advice and Representation for Citizens with Low Income (Beratungshilfegesetz), residents who cannot afford to pay a lawyer are offered legal advice free of charge. The applicant's month net income serves as a criterion for eligibility.
International residents also have the right to apply for free legal advice if their enquiry or concern relates to a legal situation in Germany. You may get legal advice on issues pertaining to Civil Law, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law and the Law of Administrative Offences. Free legal advice is not available for matters pertaining to Employment Law, Social Law, and Tax Law.
For a minor token fee, the Legal Advice Office of the competent county or district court issues an eligibility certificate for legal counsel.
Legal Advice Provided by the Students' Union (AStA)
Students at RWTH Aachen University may seek free legal advice from a lawyer acting on behalf of the Students' Union (AStA). International students and researchers seeking legal advice have to arrange an appointment with the AStA social department. Please present your student ID card at the appointment. Please note that typically there is a 7 to 14 days waiting period for an appointment.
Contact
Students' Union (ASta)
Turmstr. 3
(Mensa Academica)
Phone: +49 (0) 241-80 93792
Fax: +49 (0) 241-80 92394
Internet: www.asta.rwth-aachen.de
Certificate of Eligibility for Subsidised Housing and Housing Benefit
Residents who wish to apply for subsidised housing need to get hold of a so-called "Certificate of Eligibility for Subsidised Housing", in short, WBS permit (in German: Wohnberechtigungsschein). Recipients of a WBS permit are entitled to rent accomodation which is subsidised by Social Housing funds - thus, the rent is well below average compared to the free housing market. Applications for a WBS permit are to be made to the local housing authority. There are prerequisites for eligibility, however:
- the monthly net income must remain below a certain limit
- applicants cannot simply choose any accomodation - the size of the flat must be appropriate for the size of the household.
To apply, international students must bring:
- their passport together with a valid residence permit
- a certificate of enrolment (see also: semester documents) and your student ID card
- certificates and documents stating your income (such as bank account statements, etc.)
The WBS certificate is valid for up to one year.
Housing Benefit
Low-income persons and families are legally entitled to receive housing benefit, which is financed by public funds. As a rule, international students also have the right to apply for housing benefit. To be eligible, the following requirements must be met:
- Students are only eligible if they do not have a scholarship or other funding resources which already include an accommodation allowance, such as Bafoeg (i.e. funding through the Federal Education and Training Assistance Scheme)
- Unmarried students must provide evidence that they are not merely "temporarily absent" from their parents' home. They must provide an official certificate which states that they have already lived on their own (i.e. apart from their parents' home) before coming to Germany. Further, they must prove that they were financially independent from their parents' household at that time. Married students who live together do not have to provide these documents.
- Applicants must provide evidence of their total income.
They will receive a certificate of tenancy form which is to be filled in and signed by their landlady or landlord. The completed certificate form contains all specifications necessary for the application to be processed. The granted benefit will depend on the monthly rent and the applicant's income. Please note that sub-tenants (e.g. students who live in halls of residemnce) are also eligible for housing benefit.
A student's application for housing benefit must be accompanied by the following documents:
- A residence permit which is valid for a sufficient period of time
- Rental or subtenancy agreement and the most recent rent receipt
- Proof of income, e.g. a certificate on payments made by the student's parents
Applications are to be made in person to the Municipal Housing Office.