The semester contribution is a mandatory fee that you have to pay in order to be able to study at Bielefeld UAS. About two thirds of the contribution are used to pay for your semester ticket; the rest goes towards the student service (Studierendenwerk) and the student union (AStA). 3–4 working days after you have paid the semester contribution, you can download the semester ticket, which enables you to use local public transportation in the region free of charge. We will provide you with instructions on how to pay the semester contribution several weeks before your arrival in Bielefeld. For more information, you can also go to https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/studium/semesterbeitrag.
Q: To download the semester ticket, I need to enter a matriculation number. Where can I find that?
A: Your matriculation number is a student ID number that you receive for your time at Bielefeld UAS. You can find this number in the PDF file that we will send to you along with the instructions on how to pay the semester contribution. As you will need this student ID number for many things in your student life at the university, please remember it or write it down somewhere.
Q: Which student ID do I need to show when I travel with my semester ticket?
A: When you are asked to show your semester ticket on public transportation such as buses or trains, please show it to the ticket inspector along with your FH Card and your passport.
Q: I have transferred the semester contribution today. Can you confirm the receipt?
A: We cannot confirm whether the money has arrived or not. Please try downloading the semester ticket after 3–4 working days. If your money has been transferred successfully, you will be able to do so.
Q: Where do I find the IBAN that I should use for the transfer of the semester contribution?
A: The IBAN is printed on the transfer form that you will receive from the International Office together with the instruction sheet about the semester ticket. You will also find the IBAN at https://www.fh-bielefeld.de/rueckmeldung. Please bear in mind: You need to use the reference number printed on the transfer form when you make the money transaction for the semester contribution.
Q: Is it possible to simply show my mobile phone with a PDF version of the semester ticket?
A: Yes! After you have transferred the semester contribution, you can enter your matriculation number (student ID number) at http://fh-bielefeld.de/studium/ticket and download a PDF with your semester ticket. Make sure that the QR code is visible when you show this version of the ticket.
Q: Which means of transport may I use with the semester ticket?
A: Your semester ticket will allow you to use all local public transportation (Nahverkehr) in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) free of additional charges, including buses, trams, city railways and local trains (e.g. Regionalbahn (RB), S-Bahn and Regionalexpress (RE)).
Please note: The faster long-distance trains, such as the InterCity (IC), the EuroCity (EC) or the InterCityExpress (ICE), are exempt from this and need to be paid for separately.
Q: The information printed on my semester ticket is incorrect. Will this be a problem?
A: If you notice any errors in your personal details on your semester ticket, kindly contact the International Office as soon as possible. We will be able to correct the information.
Q: I do not have a bank account. Can somebody else pay my semester contribution for me?
A: As long as the person paying for you enters the correct reference number, a third party can transfer the money for you.
Q: I will come to Bielefeld early. Can I pay the semester fee in person?
A: It is not possible to pay the money in cash. Kindly transfer the semester fee to the bank account mentioned in the enrolment e-mail you received. Bear in mind that there is a deadline also stated in our message to you und that you will be able to use the ticket 3–4 days after your money transfer at the earliest.
Q: I have tried to print my semester ticket but I am receiving an error message regarding my name. I have entered my correct, full name. What can I do?
A: It may be that your name contains special characters that the system cannot work with or that a typing error has occurred during the registration process. Please make sure that the name you enter into the relevant field is spelled exactly the way it is spelled on the transfer form that you received with your enrolment e-mail – even if it is slightly different from the correct spelling.
Q: Can I transfer the fee for the semester ticket after I arrive in Germany or is this too late?
A: The advantage of paying the semester contribution early on is that you can use your semester ticket immediately after you arrive in North Rhine-Westphalia (the region of which Bielefeld is a part). As public transport is rather expensive in Germany, this is a great opportunity for students to save money during their arrival. If you would like to benefit from this, kindly transfer the amount until the date that is specified in the enrolment e-mail you received. If you do not want to transfer the money in advance, you can do it when you are here in Bielefeld and have opened your German bank account. Please note: You will only be able to access the wireless network at Bielefeld UAS when you have paid the semester contribution.