Germany's Rundfunkbeitrag: The Broadcasting Fee Every Student Household Must Budget For

What the Rundfunkbeitrag pays for

The Rundfunkbeitrag funds Germany's public broadcasters, ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio. It replaced the old per-device TV license fee, so you owe it regardless of whether you own a TV, radio, or only a laptop and phone. Every household pays automatically once registered at an address in Germany, according to rundfunkbeitrag.de , the official site run by the Beitragsservice. The fee amount is set by the German states through an interstate treaty and reviewed periodically. The Rundfunkbeitrag is separate from your semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) to your university's Studentenwerk, do not confuse the two invoices, since one funds public broadcasting and the other funds student services like the cafeteria and public transport ticket.

How much you pay and how billing works

The fee is 18.36 EUR per month, charged per Wohnung (residential unit), independent of how many people live there, according to rundfunkbeitrag.de . In practice, you get billed for a full quarter at a time, so expect an invoice of roughly 55 EUR every three months for your address.

In a shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft), only one resident needs to register and appear as the payer. The Beitragsservice does not split the bill among flatmates automatically, so agree with your roommates on who registers and how you divide the cost.

Splitting the cost fairly in a shared flat

Divide the 18.36 EUR monthly fee by the number of registered residents and add it to your shared utilities transfer, the same way you split electricity or internet. Set up a standing order or shared expense app so the payment does not depend on one person remembering each quarter. If a flatmate qualifies for the BAföG exemption individually, that only removes their own share if they are also the named payer, so coordinate exemption applications with whoever is registered as the account holder.

Do you owe it if you already pay at your parents' address?

If you keep your main residence registered with your parents and only rent a room in your university city as a secondary address, you avoid a second Rundfunkbeitrag charge for that address in most cases, since the fee applies to your primary Wohnung. Once you register your student flat as your primary residence (Hauptwohnsitz), that address becomes liable for its own fee.

Exemption for BAföG recipients

Students who receive BAföG and do not live with their parents can apply for a full exemption from the Rundfunkbeitrag, according to rundfunkbeitrag.de's student information page . The exemption also covers a spouse or registered life partner living in the same household, but not other flatmates, who still owe their share unless they separately qualify.

To apply, fill in the exemption form online, print it, sign it, and send it to the Beitragsservice together with your BAföG award notice (Bewilligungsbescheid) as proof.

Hardship exemption if you do not receive BAföG

Students who do not qualify for BAföG, for example because they are on a second degree, changed program, exceeded the standard age limit, went over the maximum funding period, or cannot provide required progress documentation, can still apply for a hardship exemption (Härtefallbefreiung) if their income is low. The Beitragsservice defines financial need as income that falls below the subsistence threshold once housing costs and insurance are deducted, per rundfunkbeitrag.de .

How to apply for an exemption

1. Go to the exemption/reduction application on rundfunkbeitrag.de.

2. Fill in the form with your address and household details.

3. Print and sign the completed form, since digital-only submission is not accepted.

4. Attach your proof document, a BAföG notice or hardship evidence.

5. Mail the form and proof to the Beitragsservice address listed on the form.

Apply as soon as you move into your first independent flat, since an approved exemption applies from the date the Beitragsservice receives your request, not retroactively to when you moved in.

What happens if you do not pay

The Beitragsservice, still commonly called GEZ from its old name, automatically registers new addresses using resident registration data shared by city registration offices, so you rarely need to sign up yourself, the invoice simply arrives. Ignoring invoices leads to reminders, then a late payment surcharge, and eventually debt collection (Vollstreckung). Register any address change quickly, and apply for an exemption before your first invoice if you expect to qualify, rather than waiting for a debt notice.

Moving between student flats

If you move flats during your studies, update your registered address with the Beitragsservice as soon as you sign a new lease, rather than leaving your old registration active. Two active registrations at once creates duplicate invoices, and getting a refund for an overlap period takes longer than updating your address before the move.