Which insurance do researchers at universities in Germany need?
In short
Which insurance do researchers at universities in Germany need? It depends on status. Researchers on fixed term contracts need occupational disability insurance (BU) first, often from under EUR 30 to 50 a month. Professors with civil servant status need service incapacity cover, private health insurance alongside state aid (Beihilfe) and official liability cover for about EUR 19 to 33 a year.
Service incapacity, higher service, 30, EUR 2,500 pension
from about EUR 98 a month
Private health insurance, 30, single, 50 percent Beihilfe
about EUR 260 to 370 a month
Official liability, add-on only
about EUR 19 to 33 a year
Personal liability for singles
about EUR 40 to 120 a year
As of October 2026, from the sources listed.
The amounts in the worked example are guide values from our quoting practice.
Your premium depends on age, health and job; we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Postdoc in chemistry, 31, three year contract, EUR 4,200 gross
Statutory health and accident insurance, no cover for permanent occupational disability.
BU, EUR 1,800 pension to 67, lab work
guide value about EUR 60 to 95 a month
Personal liability with official liability
about EUR 6 to 10 a month
Legal expenses with employment law
about EUR 21 a month
About EUR 87 to 126 a month in total.
Employee or civil servant: two paths for researchers
Doctoral researchers and postdocs are mostly employed on fixed term contracts. The Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz allows up to six years before and up to six years after the doctorate, in medicine up to nine. A move to another university or abroad often follows.
In many federal states professors are civil servants (Beamte). State aid towards medical costs, a civil servant pension and official accident care apply to them, so their priorities differ.
Risk
Fixed term employee
Civil servant
Medical costs
statutory health insurance, or private above EUR 77,400 salary
Beihilfe plus private top up plan
Income if ill long term
occupational disability insurance
service incapacity insurance
Damage to university equipment
employee liability, official liability cover
liability under section 48 BeamtStG, official liability cover
Lab accident
statutory accident insurance
official accident care
Fixed term contracts: why BU comes first for researchers
Moving from contract to contract means no secure post waits for your recovery. BU pays regardless of the employer. For young people with office work it starts from under EUR 30 to about EUR 50 a month. If you work with hazardous substances or in the field, describe this precisely in the application.
Take out BU before becoming a civil servant and look for an option to switch to service incapacity cover later.
Professors: service incapacity, Beihilfe and official liability
Civil servants usually get a pension for service incapacity only after five years of service, unless it results from an accident at work. Professors starting on probation or for a fixed term therefore need service incapacity cover with a real DU clause. In the higher service it costs from about EUR 98 a month at 30 for a EUR 2,500 pension.
Under section 48 of the Civil Servant Status Act, civil servants are liable to their employer for intent and gross negligence. A damaged measuring device or a lost master key can be costly. Official liability cover costs about EUR 19 to 33 a year as an add-on. For employees, the collective agreement refers to the same rules.
What university researchers usually do not need
Professors with civil servant status do not need daily sick pay, as their salary continues. Financial loss liability is only needed for expert reports or consulting on your own account; see our pages on business types for the self-employed.
Step by step
Clarify your status: fixed term employee, civil servant on probation, for a term or for life.
As an employee, take out BU with a precise job description.
Before becoming a civil servant, plan service incapacity cover and private health insurance.
Add official liability cover for equipment and keys.
Checklist
BU or service incapacity cover
Private health insurance alongside Beihilfe if a civil servant
Official liability with key loss
Personal liability
Health cover abroad for research stays
Common mistakes
Waiting with BU because the contract is fixed term
Starting as a professor on probation without service incapacity cover
Assuming expensive equipment is covered without checking official liability
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
How long can researchers be on fixed term contracts?
Under the Academic Fixed Term Contract Act up to six years before and up to six years after the
doctorate, in medicine up to nine.
Do professors need service incapacity insurance?
Especially in the first five years of service,
as the civil servant pension for incapacity usually only arises after that.
Are researchers liable for broken lab equipment?
Civil servants for intent and gross negligence,
employees under the same rules via the collective agreement.
Official liability cover pays.
Are lab accidents covered?
Employees through statutory accident insurance, civil servants through official accident care.
How much is private health insurance for professors?
At 30 with 50 percent Beihilfe about EUR 260 to 370 a month in published examples.
