Frequently Asked Questions about the current ticket

Here you can find frequently asked questions regarding the Semesterticket in Munich. If your question is not among them, additional information and contact details in case you need help with problems can be found here.

General

What is a semester transport pass? – A semester transport pass in general is valid for students during a semester. Every student makes a lower price possible for everyone due to being obliged to pay. It is very common in Germany.

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Why to pursue a semester transport pass for Munich? – Many institutes of Munich’s universities have been moved to suburbs. Also, many students live very far from their respective universities. This leads to high transport costs for most of them. To lower these, a semester transport pass has been pursued for years. The current model limits the particular cost.

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How did it start to establish the semester transport pass in Munich? – In 2009 a student vote on a proposal failed. In the following months, the student committee achieved a transport pass proposal with lesser solidary fee. In a new vote in 2012 a large majority at each of LMU, TUM and HM decided in favour. Everything regarding the semester transport pass history can be found here.

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The semester transport pass

What does the semester transport pass offer? – The total price is made up of an obligatory, solidary fare and an extra charge, the IsarCard Semester.
Upon payment of the solidary fee, every student gets a transport pass valid Monday to Friday, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays public holidays, December 24th and 31st.

Purchasing the IsarCard Semester is voluntary and gets you a 24/7 valid pass for all interurban trains, subways, streetcars, busses and regional trains in the entire MVV network.

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Why is only a split model possible in Munich? – With a split model, the total price is split into a solidary fee and an extra charge. Thus, the model is a compromise between students using the public transport frequently and those who do not.

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Why can’t I get to my classes using the solidary fee? – The solidary fee is supposed to enable a lower total price. As a compensation, you can use the entire MVV network during low-demand-hours. A solidary fee enabling you to use the system during the day would be very high and against Bavarian state legislation.

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What does entire MVV network mean? – With the semester transport pass, you can use all interurban trains, subways, streetcars, busses and regional trains in the entire MVV network.

For instance: travelling to Landshut the semester transport pass would be valid untill reaching Moosburg.

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Who can get a semester transport pass?– All students enrolled at the following universities get the semester transport pass:

Akademie der Bildenden Künste München
Hochschule für Angewandte Sprachen / Fachhochschule des SDI München
Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften München (Hochschule München)
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, Abteilung München
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Technische Universität München
Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, Standort W.
Hochschule für Politik München

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Why isn’t the semester transport pass available at my university? – To introduce the semester transport pass at an university, it must be serviced by the student union (Studentenwerk). Then the student representatives or the university president can pursue the introduction.
Best, you ask your local student representatives whether a participation is planned.

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In which cases can I be exempted from paying the solidary fee? – Taking a leave of absence is no reason for an exemption.

Only severely disabled, upon request, can be exempted from the payment of the solidary fee if they got a transport pass based on social law SGB IX. The request has to be submitted to the corresponding university admissions office before the fee is due.

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In which cases is a refund of the solidary fee possible? – If the enrollement is being revoked. Therefore, the student ID must be confiscated.

The IsarCard Semester cannot be returned in any case.

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Buying and using the semester transport pass

How and where do I get the semester transport pass? – Upon payment of the solidary fee you get the solidary fee pass (Sockelticket), valid in the evenings and on weekends. The MVV logo will be printed on the ID together with a identification number for the university. The ID is now a solidary fee pass with an official photo ID.

The extra charge can be purchased under the name “IsarCard Semester” at vending machines of the MVG, DB and BOB, in offices and vending points of the MVG and in regional busses of the MVV.
The enrollment number will be printed on. With the issued receipt you can get a replacement IsarCard Semester once if you lose it. A bank statement or booking confirmation won’t be sufficient.

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I have a student card of the “Hochschule München”. Which number do I need for the IsarCard Semester? – Buying your IsarCard Semester you have to type in the 11-digit number on the back of your student card.

If you have already bought an IsarCard Semester, using the 6-digit number on the front of your student card, it is possible to change it. Having an IsarCard Semester with MVG-logo, you are supposed to go to the service center at Poccistraße, main station or at Marienplatz. In case your IsarCard Semester ist printed with a DB-logo you have to go the the suburban-train-service-point at the main station or at the Ostbahnhof.

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When can I buy the solidary fee pass and the extra charge for a new semester? – Your student card is your solidary fee pass, which you get from your university and which you have to extend every semester. It is possible to get the extra charge – IsarCard Semester already one month before the beginning of the semester (09/01 or 03/01).

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When is the semester transport pass valid? – The semester transport pass is valid during the whole semester. This means you can use it from the first until the last day of the term, including the semester break. The first valid day of the winter semester ist the 1st of October.

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What happens if I forget my student ID and/or the IsarCard Semester during a ticket inspection? – If you can prove you possessed the valid documentation at a ticket office, you have to pay a reduced fine.

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What can I do if I lose my student ID and/or the IsarCard Semester? – With the receipt issued upon purchase of the IsarCard Semester you can get a replacement IsarCard Semester once if you lose it. A process fee has to be payed. A bank statement or a booking confirmation won’t be sufficient. Information regarding lost student IDs can be obtained at the corresponding university.

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Can I laminate my IsarCard Semester? – No! Laminating your ticket may accuse that you cannot read it, which makes it invalid. There are plastic covers for free which can get at the service centers of the MVG and DB als well as at the office of the student representation.

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What can I use as a photo identification? – Apart from taking with you your student card (and eventually your IsarCard Semester), it is also important to have an official photo identification. This may be a passport, ID card or driving license. Copies of such documents are not sufficient.

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Is it possible to validate the students ID card before the start of the new semester? [Regarding students of TUM, HM and KSFH] – The student ID card should be validated at the very latest of the new semester. To avoid problems regarding the period in between semesters, the cards can be validated even before the new semester begins using one of the machines stationed in the according universities, respectively. Please note that the ID cards do not become invalid for the current semester by this procedure.

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In fact and law

Why are the conditions in Munich special? – In Bavaria, there is no constituted student body. This is the reason why student union of Munich (Studentenwerk München) is in charge of a semester transport pass (cf. § 95 Abs. 4 BayHSchG). In the other federal states of Germany, student representations make contracts with the public transport companies.

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Who concludes the contract for the semester transport pass? – The contract is made between the student union (Studentenwerk) of Munich and public transport companies (MVG, DB, BOB, VBG) and the transport association MVV.

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