The RMV-AStA semester ticket
What is the semester ticket?
The semester ticket is available digitally via a RMV portal and is paid automatically with the semester fees when you enrol or re-register. With this ticket you can use all regional trains, suburban trains, subway trains, streetcars and buses in Germany.
The costs are included in the semester fee and are automatically paid together with the semester fee when you enrol or re-register.
Why does the semester ticket exist?
“In an effort to take care of the social and economic concerns of the students and to ensure the mobility of the students with environmentally friendly means of transportation, RMV and AStA conclude the following agreement: […]”.
reads the preamble of the agreement between AStA and RMV. The AStA, through the election of students and its status as a public corporation, has the ability to enter into a contract of this nature that provides significant financial benefits to students. It does not matter if some do not benefit from the deal if it can only be so cheap because all students buy the ticket. Since students use the ticket to varying degrees, they all pay the average price, so to speak. Even for those who use the ticket only rarely, there is a price advantage compared to the purchase of one-way tickets, even if the use is low. In addition, the ticket is subsidized by compensation payments for trainee transport, which makes the amount to be paid even lower.
Area of validity of the semester ticket
The semester ticket is valid for an entire semester. Any number of journeys are permitted within the period of validity.
The semester ticket is valid on regional trains, suburban trains, subway trains, streetcars and buses in Germany. You can use it not only in Darmstadt, but also throughout Germany as often as you like.
Frequently asked questions
How does it work with the AirLiner?
You can use the bus to Frankfurt Airport, but you need a surcharge ticket, which you buy when boarding. It’s still worth it, though, because you can get directly to Terminals 1 and 2 without changing buses and with WLAN. Real fare professionals who, for example, are leaving for a semester abroad and have applied for a refund of their semester ticket, then send their semester ticket by mail to the AStA.
Can I also travel on the Intercity with the semester ticket?
No, the semester ticket is not valid for long-distance trains (IC, EC, ICE). You may only use local trains, suburban and subway trains, streetcars and buses in Germany.
As mentioned at the beginning, the semester ticket is only so cheap because all students are obliged to buy it. Some, however, cannot use the ticket at all and so the RMV refunds the money in the following cases:
Proven stay outside the RMV area due to study abroad or internship of more than three months.
Semester off or postgraduate studies.
Severe disability with free travel on public transportation.
Double enrollment (the cheaper ticket will be reimbursed).
In order to make use of these regulations, a request for reimbursement must be submitted no later than 14 days after the start of the semester (Attention: Not start of lectures!). If the reasons given can be substantiated, the semester ticket will be cancelled and the money will be refunded. The application for reimbursement can be made online at https://semesterticket.asta.tu-darmstadt.de. Here you can also find out exactly what evidence is required for the application and what conditions must be met.
What if I have forgotten my semester ticket and am checked?
Then the RMV will charge you an increased transportation fee. You will receive a receipt with which you will be asked to pay. With this receipt, your semester ticket and a photo ID, you can go to an RMV mobility center to reduce the amount to a processing fee of. You can contact the AStA at if you have any problems.
Source: https://asta-tud.de/semesterticket (as of 08/08/2022)