Ticket Refund (from April 2024)

All information on ticket refunds can be found in the How To Ticket Refund.

This is how ticket refunds work:

  1. Select your refund reason.
  2. Fill out the application form.
  3. Upload all required documents.

The following file formats are accepted: pdf, png, jpg, jpeg.

Each file must not be larger than 5 MB. For larger files, you can simply upload them to a cloud service such as https://sciebo.de and attach the link to your text.

























    How To Ticket Refund (from April 2024)

    If you cannot use the semester ticket at all, despite all the advantages, because you…

    • are spending a semester abroad (at least 3 months during the semester)
    • are doing an internship outside Germany (at least 3 months during the semester)
    • as a severely disabled person you are entitled to free travel anyway
    • are entitled to free travel throughout Germany for other reasons
    • are unable to use public transportation due to a disability or have a medical certificate stating that you are unable to travel for at least 3 months
    • you have been exmatriculated
    • you are on leave of absence

    you can get a (partial) refund at the AStA. This means that you can also have the fee refunded pro rata for the period in which the reason for the refund applies, but can use the semester ticket as normal for the rest of the semester.

    The refund can only be applied for online via our “Ticket Refund – Application” page.

    This is how the ticket refund works:

    1. Go to the page “Ticket refund – application
    2. Select your reason for the refund
    3. Fill out the form and upload all required receipts

    The following are valid as proof

    • Documents with the note “on leave of absence” for leave of absence,
    • Letter from TU, host university or DAAD in the case of a stay abroad,
    • Certificate of internship or thesis with details of the location outside Germany,
    • Token for free travel authorization due to severe disability,
    • Medical certificate as proof of inability to travel or inability to use public transportation,
    • confirmation of removal from the register of students or
    • the certificate of enrollment dated after the start of the semester in the case of late enrollment.

    Deadlines for reimbursement of the semester ticket due to removal from the register of students are as follows
    in the summer semester: 15th of September
    in the winter semester: 15th of March

    Deadlines for the reimbursement of the semester ticket due to a free travel entitlement, non-usability due to a disability, semester abroad and a semester on leave are in each case
    in the summer semester: 30th of April
    in the winter semester: 31th of October

    Normally, a refund application is processed within one week. In exceptional cases, processing may take up to 2 weeks.

    The legal basis for ticket refunds is the Semesterticketrichtlinie adopted by the student parliament (only available in German).

    By the way: If you cannot afford the semester ticket at all, there is the so-called hardship compensation. You can find more information here.

    Semester Ticket/ FAQ (from April 2024)

    From the summer semester 2024, the Deutschland-Semesterticket will be available for all students at TU Dortmund University.

    This means that TU Dortmund University will continue to offer a jointly financed and, above all, affordable semester ticket! The regulations of the current VRR semester ticket still apply until March 31, 2024. You can find all the information here.

    With the new semester ticket, you can use public transport throughout Germany. The ticket is only valid in second class. As the tariff regulations of the Deutschlandticket unfortunately do not provide for this, there will no longer be any take-along regulations (person and bicycles). In principle, the fare regulations of the general Deutschlandticket always apply to the Deutschland Semesterticket.

    The semester ticket must be presented digitally in the TU Dortmund University app during inspections (in combination with an official photo ID).

    Students with a free travel entitlement, e.g. due to a disability, will continue to be able to have the semester ticket fee refunded. You can find all information on ticket refunds here.

    We have created an FAQ with the most frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions or problems with the ticket, you can contact us at any time.

    Further general information on the Deutschland-Ticket, which usually also applies to the semester ticket, can be found here:

    The semester ticket is valid on all public transport in Germany. This includes regional expresses (Regionalexpresse), regional trains (Regionalbahnen), suburban trains (S-Bahnen), light rail (Stadtbahnen), streetcars (Straßenbahnen), subway trains (U-Bahnen), buses (Busse), the H-Bahn, the Wuppertal suspension railroad (Schwebebahn) and the SkyTrain Düsseldorf. The ticket is only valid in second class.
    The semester ticket is not valid
    • in first class,
    • on (almost all) long-distance trains (ICE, EC, IC, Flixtrain),
    • on the AirportExpress and AirportShuttle to Dortmund Airport.
    The ticket costs 29.40 euros per month and therefore 176.40 euros per semester.
    No, the Deutschlandsemesterticket is personalized and cannot be passed on. Only the registered person may use the ticket.
    The ticket must be presented digitally in the TU Dortmund app. You are responsible for ensuring that your cell phone has enough battery power. There is currently no alternative way to show the ticket.

    You must always have an official photo ID with you!

    The TU app is available in the Google Play Store and the App Store.
    For Android smartphones without access to the Google Play Store, TU Dortmund University offers a download option in the service portal.
    No. Unfortunately, the fare regulations for the Deutschland-Ticket do not allow you to take a bicycle with you free of charge. If you want to take a bicycle with you, you have to buy a bicycle ticket.
    The VRR offers a 24-hour bicycle ticket as well as subscription or monthly tickets.
    No. Passenger transport is not possible with the Deutschland-Semesterticket.
    Exception: Children under the age of 6 always travel free of charge. They do not need a ticket.
    Yes, at least in NRW you can take a dog with you free of charge everywhere. Outside NRW, different regulations apply depending on the transport association.
    Yes, the semester ticket is also valid on some routes in the border area. For example, you can travel to Arnhem, Enschede, Venlo and Hengelo. You can find detailed information on the area of validity of the Deutschland-Ticket on the Homepage of Deutsche Bahn (currently only in German).
    Basically no. However, there are a few exceptions. Please refer to the Homepage of Deutsche Bahn for more information (currently only in German). Currently (as of February 2024), for example, the Intercity trains Dortmund-Siegen-Dillenburg are also open to passengers with a Deutschlandticket.
    The Deutschlandsemesterticket is always valid for one semester. This means that it is valid from October 1 to March 31 in the winter semester and from April 1 to September 30 in the summer semester. The ticket cannot be canceled on a monthly basis.
    Once you have enrolled/re-registered and paid the full semester fee, TU Dortmund University will make your ticket available for download in the TU app. This can take up to two weeks after payment.
    It can take up to two weeks for your payment to be processed. As we have no insight into the payment of semester fees, please contact the Registrar's Office (regarding receipt of payment) or the ITMC (regarding ticket generation) if you have any problems.

    Contact options and further help with your ticket can be found here.
    If your semester ticket does not work, please contact the ITMC immediately so that they can help you with your problem as quickly as possible.
    It is important that you always object to this claim in writing in such cases! If you do not do this and the deadline set has expired, then in most cases you will have to pay the amount.

    Here you can easily file an objection with Deutsche Bahn. If, contrary to expectations, Deutsche Bahn insists on paying the fare surcharge, please contact us at the AStA.
    As you have a valid ticket, you will of course not have to pay the €60. You have 14 days after the fare supplement has been issued to submit your valid ticket, but you will have to pay a processing fee of €2.50 to €7 depending on the transport company. Where you have to submit the ticket is stated on the fare supplement.
    Yes, for holders of the Deutschland-Semesterticket, the NRW mobility guarantee applies for journeys in NRW.
    If the departure of the desired train deviates at least 20 minutes from the timetable, for example due to a delay or cancellation, you can either use a long-distance train (IC/EC/ICE), a cab, a taxi-like transport service provider, a sharing service (e.g. car, bike or e-scooter) or on-demand transport.

    The additional costs will be reimbursed on request - in full for long-distance travel (IC/EC/ICE) and up to the applicable reimbursement limit for cabs, transport services, sharing services or on-demand transport; this is up to EUR 30 per person during the day and up to EUR 60 per person in the evening and at night from 8 p.m. to 4.59 a.m. nationwide. If you use the mobility guarantee, you have to pay in advance for the use of an alternative means of transport. You can then simply submit a digital claim to have the costs reimbursed.

    You have 14 days to submit the application. You can find everything else about the NRW mobility guarantee here (currently only in German).

    Other federal states have different regulations!
    We recommend the purchase of a normal Germany ticket.

    If you are a first semester student, you can pick up an authorization certificate for a VRR pre-course ticket from us. This gives you a ticket valid in the VRR area to get to university before you enrol. However, this pre-course ticket costs 64.50 euros (as of February 2024) and therefore more than the Deutschlandticket. It is only worthwhile in a few exceptional cases: Unlike the Deutschlandticket, it is not limited to one calendar month - the period of validity is 30 calendar days from the first day of validity, which can be freely chosen.

    You will receive the eligibility certificate for the pre-course ticket from us on presentation of proof of your pre-course participation. You can either drop by our office during our opening hours (Emil-Figge-Str. 50) or send us an email with your address and proof to asta@asta.tu-dortmund.de.

    With the certificate of eligibility (stamped and signed by us with the AStA stamp) you can purchase the ticket from the public transport companies in the VRR, in Dortmund for example at the DSW21 customer centers.
    Just because you don't want to use your semester ticket doesn't mean you can "deselect" it. The semester ticket was introduced on the basis of a ballot of the student body and is a solidarity ticket. Because everyone pays, it is cheaper for everyone.

    If you are unable to use your ticket, e.g. because you are on leave of absence or spending a semester abroad, you can have the ticket refunded. You can find more information about this here.
    If you are entitled to free travel (e.g. due to a disability), you can have the cost of the semester ticket reimbursed. You can find the application here.
    Yes, the VRR offers 1st class supplementary tickets that allow you to use 1st class in the VRR area in conjunction with your semester ticket. You can find more information on the VRR homepage.
    If our FAQ did not help you, you can try to find an answer on the websites of VRR and Mobil NRW. Alternatively, get in touch with us (by phone, e-mail or drop by) and we'll be sure to find a solution together.

    HOW TO: 49-Euro-Ticket for students

    Warning about the Deutschlandticket-Update

    Attention: Due to the changeover to the Germany semester ticket on 01.04.2024, some sites are removing the update from their offer early! It is therefore possible that only the normal Deutschlandticket will be available. In addition, Deutschlandticket updates in the subscription must be paid for from the 12th of the month for the next month. Therefore, remember to cancel your subscriptions and not to book a new subscription! You can still find the single ticket update under the following link: here.

    How do I get the Deutschlandticket update?

    Students with a semester ticket can buy a Germany ticket upgrade.
    It currently costs €12.33 per month.
    The upgrade ticket is always valid for one calendar month, regardless of which day of the month you buy the ticket.
    There are two different ways to get the ticket: as a subscription model or as a single ticket.
    You can buy the subscription ticket in the VRR app, the Dotick app and the Mobil.NRW app. The ticket will be automatically extended if you do not cancel it by the 10th of the month.
    This also means that you have to buy the ticket for at least 2 months if you buy it after the 10th of the month. However, there are no termination fees.
    This option makes sense if you already know that you want to book the ticket for several months.
    You can purchase a single ticket via the Deutsche Bahn Online Ticket Shop NRW (here).
    The single ticket is also valid for the current calendar month. Termination is not necessary. You can also purchase tickets for a future month.
    This option makes sense if you only want to buy the ticket for a single calendar month.

    Problems with the semester ticket

    If you have received an increased transport fee (fine) despite a valid semester ticket, write to us using the form below!


    The following file formats will be accepted: pdf, doc, docx, odt, png, jpg, jpeg, gif, tif, tiff.

    If a file is larger than 5 MB, please upload them to a cloud service such as https://sciebo.de and insert the link into your text.


      Ticket Refund (until March 2024)

      If you have no use for your Semesterticket because of …

      • A semester abroad
      • an internship in a city outside of NRW
      • You are severely disabled and can use public transport free of charge anyway
      • You already have another type of VRR ticket due to another reason
      • you’ve exmatriculated
      • You’re taking a vacation semester

      you can get the cost for the ticket refunded, fully or partially, depending on how long you can proof having no use for the ticket.

      Come by the AStA Offices during our opening hours (Mo-Fr, 10AM-2PM), use the contact form below or send us your documents via Email or the post.

      We need the following documents:

      1. Application for Ticket Refund (german or english) PLEASE also sign if you apply digitally!
      2. PDFs of the Tickets for the Semesters you’re applying for refund for
      3. Proof for reason why you have no use for the ticket (Only the above reasons or closely similar once apply!)

      As proof we accept among other things: documents from TU University about vacation semesters, studies abroad or internships, documents from your guest university or DAAD proof of staying abroad, letters proving your internship or proving you’ve spend time outside of NRW for your thesis, disability ID, exmatriculation documents or immatriculation after the official semester start due to being waitlisted.

      If you exmatriculate from TU Dortmund University to start studies at another University in NRW with a semester ticket, we must have the immatriculation document from your follow up University to refund you the full ticket. Without it, you will only get a partial refund.

      Deadlines for Semesterticket refunds are:

      • 15th of September for the Summer Semester
      • 15th of March for the Winter Semester

      The deadlines will change in the summer semester 2024 and still have to be decided by the StuPa!!!

      If you cannot afford the Semesterticket in its entirety, we also offer the so called “Härtefallausgleich” (Case of Hardship Balance). More Information can be found here.

      Contact Form

      Under normal circumstances it takes rougly a week for the refunds to be worked on, though it can take longer if there is an exceptionally large amount of applications.

      The following file formats will be accepted: pdf, png, jpg, jpeg.

      If a file is larger than 5 MB, please upload them to a cloud service such as https://sciebo.de and insert the link into your text.

        Pre-Course Ticket (“Vorkursticket”)

        The pre-course ticket for first-year students

        If you are a new student at the TU and attend a pre-course before the start of the semester (October 1. and April 1.), you can purchase a VRR-wide pre-course ticket (“Vorkursticket”). The ticket costs (as of August 2022) 62,15€ for one month.

        Validity

        The ticket is only valid in the VRR area, i.e. not in the AVV (around Aachen), VRS (around Cologne) and WestfalenTarif (Münsterland, OWL, Sauerland, …). You can find more information about the VRR-Vorkursticket here: https://www.vrr.de/de/tickets-tarife/ticketuebersicht/ticket/vrr/semesterticket/ (Only in German)

        If you don’t live in the VRR, you can find out from your public transport authority whether it is possible for you to purchase an AzubiTicket or similar as a pre-course visitor. This varies from transport association to transport association. If you need proof of this, you can have it stamped in our office.

        The VRR area (as of August 2022)

        How to get your pre-course ticket

        You will receive the authorization to purchase the pre-course-ticket (“Vorkursticket”) from us upon presentation of proof of eligibility. You can either come to our office (Emil-Figge-Str. 50) during opening hours or you can send us an email with your address and proof of eligibility to asta@asta.tu-dortmund.de.

        With the authorization slip (stamped and signed by us) you can buy the ticket at the public transport companies in the VRR, in Dortmund for example at both customer centers of the Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG (DSW21).

        Semester Ticket/ FAQ (until march 2024)

        From the summer semester 2024, the Deutschland-Semesterticket will be available to all TU Dortmund University students. This allows you to use all public transport (excluding IC and ICE) throughout Germany. Unfortunately, the regulations for taking bicycles and other people with you will no longer apply, as these are not covered by the Deutschlandticket. However, the ticket is cheaper, which reduces the overall semester fee. In general, the ticket price is 60% of the price of the normal Deutschlandticket.

        For the current winter semester 2023/24, the conditions of the NRW semester ticket continue to apply as follows:

        The SemesterTicket NRW/VRR is your ticket to travel throughout NRW. The ticket is valid in printed form or digitally as a PDF or in the TU app (in combination with an official photo ID). All TU Dortmund students have the ticket and can use it to travel all over North Rhine-Westphalia on all regional trains, S-Bahns, light rail, buses and H-Bahns. The ticket is only valid in second class.

        Depending on the semester, the ticket is valid from 01 October (winter semester) or 01 April (summer semester) for one semester (6 months). First semester students can get a discounted pre-course ticket (“Vorkursticket”) before the start of the semester.

        In the VRR area there are additional transport regulations. Here you are allowed to take one bicycle with you all day and one additional person after 7 p.m. or all day on weekends and holidays. Outside the VRR area only you can ride with the ticket!

        On the following map you can see where you are allowed to ride with your semester ticket:

        If you have any questions or problems regarding the ticket, you can contact us at any time.

        The semester ticket is valid on all public transportation in North Rhine-Westphalia. This includes regional express trains, regional trains, suburban trains, city trains, streetcars, buses, the H-Bahn, the Wuppertal suspension railroad and the SkyTrain Düsseldorf. The ticket is only valid in second class.
        The semester ticket is not valid in the first class, in (almost all) long-distance trains (ICE, EC, IC, FLX), in the AirportExpress and AirportShuttle to Dortmund Airport as well as outside the area of validity.
        The semester ticket is valid for one semester. This means in the winter semester from 01 October to 31 March and in the summer semester from 01 April to 30 September. The ticket is not valid before or after the date printed on it!
        In the VRR area, you may take a bicycle with you all day, provided there is space for it in the vehicles. In the NRW area, this regulation does not apply. Here you need an additional bicycle ticket.
        In the VRR area, you are allowed to take one additional person with you from 7 p.m. (until the end of service) and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. In the NRW area, this passenger regulation does not apply.
        You can either print out the ticket or show it digitally. You must always have an official photo ID with you. If you print the ticket, it must be in original size (cutting is ok). Also, you may not laminate it. Envelopes for the ticket are available in our office. If you show the ticket digitally, it must either be in the TU app or as a .pdf file. You are also responsible for making sure your phone has enough battery.
        Generally not, but there are exceptions. With the VRR semester ticket you can travel to Arnhem, Venlo and Nijmegen in the Netherlands. With the NRW semester ticket, you can travel on individual transit routes. For example, you can travel to Osnabrück, Hameln, Betzdorf (Sieg) or Enschede in the Netherlands. Only trains may be used in each case. You can find the exact transit routes here: https://infoportal.mobil.nrw/fileadmin/02_Wiki_Seite/05_NRW_Tarif/01_Ticketinfos/SemesterTicketNRW_NRWupgradeAzubi_GueltigkeitAusserh_2021-9.pdf
        Yes, with the VRR semester ticket you can travel to Arnhem, Nijmegen and Venlo. With the NRW-Semesterticket you can travel to Enschede.
        Yes, but only on the routes to and from Osnabrück and Hameln, which are designated as "transit routes". The ticket is not valid on city buses in the cities. More info about the transit routes can be found here: https://infoportal.mobil.nrw/fileadmin/02_Wiki_Seite/05_NRW_Tarif/01_Ticketinfos/SemesterTicketNRW_NRWupgradeAzubi_GueltigkeitAusserh_2021-9.pdf
        Yes, but only on the routes around Betzdorf (Sieg), which are called "transit routes". More info about the transit routes can be found here: https://infoportal.mobil.nrw/fileadmin/02_Wiki_Seite/05_NRW_Tarif/01_Ticketinfos/SemesterTicketNRW_NRWupgradeAzubi_GueltigkeitAusserh_2021-9.pdf
        Generally no, but there is one exception. All IC trains that run between Dortmund and Siegen are approved for local tickets. You can only use your semester ticket on these trains of IC line 34, otherwise unfortunately not (not even for a surcharge). Attention: You are not allowed to take a bicycle on the released trains between Dortmund and Witten, even if the connection is in the VRR. More information about the local transport release of the IC 34 can be found here: https://www.bahn.de/service/individuelle-reise/bahn_und_fahrrad/nahverkehrsfreigabe
        Once you have enrolled/registered and paid the full semester fee, the TU will send you the ticket to your UniMail address, and it will also be available for download in the TU app. This can take up to two weeks after payment. If you have lost the email, you can also generate a new ticket in the service portal. You can do that here: https://service.tu-dortmund.de/group/intra/organisation
        It can take up to two weeks until your payment is processed. Since we have no insight into the payment of semester fees, please contact the Student Secretariat (regarding the receipt of money) or the ITMC (regarding ticket generation) in case of problems.
        At https://service.tu-dortmund.de/group/intra/organisation you can have the ticket sent to you again.
        Contact details and further help with your ticket:
        https://www.tu-dortmund.de/en/students/start-of-studies/study-formalities/
        If your semester ticket is not working, please contact the ITMC immediately so they can help you with your problem as soon as possible.
        A possible solution could be:
        Log in to the Service Portal of the TU-Dortmund under the following link, there you can generate your semester ticket again and have it sent to your UniMail address as a PDF file:https://service.tu-dortmund.de/group/intra/organisation
        If the ticket still cannot be scanned by the controller, delete the cache and cookies in your web browser once, wait 20 minutes and then request the ticket again in the service portal. A new QR code will then be generated in the ticket.
        It is important that in such cases you always object to this claim in writing! If you do not do this and the deadline has expired, then you must pay the amount in most cases.
        At https://www.db-fahrpreisnacherhebung.de/kontakte/kontaktformular you can easily file an objection with Deutsche Bahn. Should Deutsche Bahn, contrary to expectations, insist on the payment of the supplementary fare, please contact us at AStA.
        Of course, since you have a valid ticket, you don't have to pay the 60€. You have 14 days from the date of issue of the supplementary fare collection to submit your valid ticket, but you will have to pay a handling fee of €2.50 to €7, depending on the carrier. Where you have to hand in the ticket, is stated on the fare supplement.
        Yes, the mobility guarantee NRW also applies to holders of the semester ticket. From 20 minutes delays at the departure station, you can apply for reimbursement of costs for ICE/IC tickets or up to 30€ (during the day)/60€ (at night) for other mobility services such as cabs. You have 14 days to submit your application. You can find more information about the Mobility Guarantee NRW here: https://www.mobil.nrw/fahren/mobigarantie.html
        If you are a first semester student, you can pick up a VRR pre-course ticket ("Vorkursticket") from us. This will give you a VRR-wide ticket to get to the university before you enroll. You can find more information here: https://asta-dortmund.de/en/2019/06/07/pre-course-ticket/
        Just because you don't want to use your semester ticket, you can't "opt out" of it. The semester ticket was introduced on the basis of a ballot of the student body and is a solidarity ticket. Because everyone pays, it is cheaper for everyone. And from a sustainability point of view, traveling to the university by public transport is also highly recommended. If you can't use your ticket, e.g. because you are on leave, abroad or on an internship outside NRW for a longer period of time, you can have the ticket refunded. You can find more information here: https://asta-dortmund.de/en/2019/06/07/ticket-refund/
        If you have a free ticket (e.g. due to a disability), you can be reimbursed for the ticket. You can find the application here: https://asta-dortmund.de/en/2019/06/07/ticket-refund/
        If our FAQ did not help you, you can try to find an answer on the websites of VRR and Mobil NRW. Alternatively, you can contact us (by phone, e-mail or by visiting us), together we will surely find a solution.
        Students with a semester ticket can buy a Germany ticket upgrade.
        It currently costs €12.33 per month.
        The upgrade ticket is always valid for one calendar month, regardless of which day of the month you buy the ticket.
        There are two different ways to get the ticket: as a subscription model or as a single ticket.
        You can buy the subscription ticket in the VRR app, the Dotick app and the Mobil.NRW app. The ticket will be automatically extended if you do not cancel it by the 10th of the month.
        This also means that you have to buy the ticket for at least 2 months if you buy it after the 10th of the month. However, there are no termination fees.
        This option makes sense if you already know that you want to book the ticket for several months.
        You can purchase a single ticket via the Deutsche Bahn Online Ticket Shop NRW (here) .
        The single ticket is also valid for the current calendar month. Termination is not necessary. You can also purchase tickets for a future month.
        This option makes sense if you only want to buy the ticket for a single calendar month.

        More information about the ticket can be found here as well as in our FAQ: (only in german)

        VRR: https://www.vrr.de/de/tickets-tarife/ticketuebersicht/ticket/vrr/semesterticket/

        Mobil NRW: https://infoportal.mobil.nrw/nrw-tarif/ticketinfos-im-detail.html#c1024