I have a valid student ID card – is that enough?
A quick answer: no! The expiry date of your student ID card does not mean that you still have student status – your student ID card may remain valid, but under the applicable law and ZUS regulations, you may no longer be a student at all.
So, when exactly does my status expire?
You lose your student status on the day you complete your studies or on the day you are removed from the student register. This particular date is very important for those who combine studying with work – from that day onwards, your employer must start paying full ZUS contributions for you.
What does the completion of studies mean – is it the defence or collecting the diploma?
The date of completion of studies is the date of passing the diploma exam. In simple terms, this is the day of your diploma thesis defence, but only if you receive a positive result in the examination.
Example: the date of your diploma thesis defence is 22 June. This is also the last day on which you hold student status. You happily go to sleep after your defence, and when you wake up on 23 June – you no longer have student status (but your degree and your wonderful memories from your studies remain).
But after my BA defence I am continuing with an MA degree. What then?
In this situation, the same rules still apply – your student status expires after the defence of your diploma thesis, regardless of whether you continue studying from October.
In the period between the defence of your thesis and the start of your MA studies, there is a so-called “insurance gap”, which simply means: you do not have student status.
I no longer have student status – noted. What if I am working under a contract of mandate?
During the months of the insurance gap, if you are working under a contract of mandate, your employer must register you with ZUS, and the following contributions will be deducted from your salary: pension, disability and health insurance contributions.
What does this mean in practice? Your take-home pay will be lower than during the academic year.
What about health insurance?
If you are covered by health insurance through your parents and the University of Lodz, your entitlement to insurance expires on the day you lose your student status; however, you are still entitled to free healthcare services for 4 months from the date of completion of studies or removal from the student register.
I no longer have student status, but can I still use discounts and my student ID card?
Yes and no!
When is the answer “yes”? After completing your BA/engineering degree, the lack of student status does not mean you cannot use your student ID card. Until its expiry date (31 October – you can check it yourself – it is the silver sticker on the card), you can still enjoy the benefits of holding this document.
When is the answer “no”? After completing your MA degree, you lose the right to discounts on rail travel (PKP) and public transport on the day of your defence. Ticket inspectors often only check the hologram on the student ID card, but this does not exempt you from complying with the law – formally, using discounts after your MA defence is unlawful and may result in a fine.
We hope all doubts have now been dispelled. All that remains is for us to keep our fingers crossed for your defences – you’ve got this, good luck!
Source: Gozych.edu.pl
