Student Discounts

You are studying at Potsdam University or Fachhochschule Potsdam? Then you can get advice from the Verbraucherzentrale for free – thanks to a cooperation between your student union and the VZB!
You received a mysterious bill? You are wondering which insurance policies are really necessary? You are thinking of taking up a loan to finance your studies? Then the consumer advice center Verbraucherzentrale Brandenburg is your go-to address! These are their areas of expertise:

• Contracts and complaints
• Travel & Mobility
• Internet & Phone Plans
• Broadcast License Fee
• Copyright
• Financing (Loans, Bank Accounts)
• Insurance Matters

Since 01.08.2021 the broadcast license fee is charged per residence. A lump sum fee of 18,36 Euros per month (respectively reduced 6,21 Euros for people with disabilities) and per residence has to be paid. The number of persons living in the apartment does not matter. Also the number of receivers does not make a difference for the amount of the broadcast license fees.

Living with your partner
From 2013 only one license fee has to be paid for the apartment. In case one of the partners receives BAföG funding and is therefore exempted from the license fee (submit an application!), this exemption applies to both partners if they are married or live in a registered civil partnership.

Living in a shared accommodation
The new broadcast license fee is actually an advantage for flatmates, as the fee only has to be paid once. But students who do not own a television, radio or who do not use the internet have to pay nevertheless. If more than one flatmates paid the fees before moving into the shared accommodation, all but one can sign off. The name of the flatmate that pays the license fee in the future needs to be given when signing off.
BUT: If one of the flatmates of a shared accommodation is exempted from the license fee due to a BAföG decision, this only applies to the single flatmate, not to all the flatmates of the shared accommodation. The remaining flatmates have to split up the license fee.

Residential hall
Here, the structural factors have to be considered. As far as the students live in a 1 bedroom apartment, this is counted as a whole apartment and the monthly contribution of 17,98 Euros has to be paid. In shared apartments usually only one fee is due, please see “Living in a shared accommodation”.

Living with the parents
If students live with their parents, only one fee has to be paid.

Telephone, mobile phone, internet: Almost no one can keep track of all the providers on the market nowadays. But it’s worthwhile to compare conditions and look for a possible discount for students in order to save money. But before you do, take a look at your telephone and internet habits first. Only then can you find a suitable rate and search for an appropriate provider.

Telekom social rate
The provider Telekom is currently the only telecommunication provider that offers a social rate. Students with a landline provided by this company can apply for it. Although they have to pay the full basic fee of their rate, they receive a discount on the telephone calls that are made.

Most bank accounts for students are free of charge. Moreover, a free debit card is offered by many bank institutes. It is usually sufficient to submit a valid certificate of enrolment each semester as supporting document. Please note that this reductions ends at the age of 27 or

You can save money just by having the status of a student. For example, the subscription of a newspaper or magazine is cheaper for you: www.studentenpresse.com.

And you should always ask for a student rate at cultural institutions such as theatres, cinemas or exhibitions. Many institutions offer such a

BahnCard 25 or 50
Student in Brandenburg usually have a semester ticket that allows them to use public transport in Berlin and Brandenburg. But if you also want to use the train, you can save here too: When purchasing a BahnCard 25 or 50 the Deutsche Bahn offers a substantial discount. And for everyone under 27, you will receive another discount with My Bahn Card 25.

Coach transport
Coaches have been enjoying an increasing popularity in the past years. Even if they already offer a cheap alternative, some providers attract with even more discounts for students. As most university locations are on the coach network, this way of travelling is even more attractive for students.