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All chip cards are sent by mail. Even after the semester has started, the chip cards are mailed to the address provided by the student. Once your payment for the semester has been received by the university, the chip card is created and mailed within several days. As soon as the chip card has been mailed, you will receive an e-mail. It is therefore very important that you provide the University of Potsdam with your current address.
No. Your PUCK will be with you throughout your entire studies at the University of Potsdam (unless it is lost or damaged). On the bottom of your card, there is a rewritable area for an imprint. Each semester, after re-registration, you can use the validation stations to print the current validity period on your card.
* Since several types of identification can be used for the same purpose, the PUCK Service Point accepts the following documents as equivalent forms of identification: identification card, temporary identification card, driver's license, or passport.
The validity period is printed each semester on the designated strip on your chip card.
You have updated your chip card but the imprint from the past semester is still visible, or the imprint has disappeared entirely? What should you do?
Please go to another validation station and try again to print the validity period on the card. (Please note: do not damage or remove the thermochrome coating!) If the validity period is still illegible, please contact the PUCK Service Point!
The PUCK Service Point can test whether your chip card functions properly. If there is a technical defect, you will receive a new PUCK free of charge. Please come to the Service Point during office hours and bring the completed Request Form for a Replacement Chip Card (PDF), a current passport photo, and a government issued photo ID.
If the card has been damaged due to improper handling by the user (e.g. it is broken or bent, etc.), you will be charged a fee of €10.00, which can be paid by girocard (a debit card formerly known as ec-card) only!
The chip card contains your first name, last name, a passport photo, your student ID number, and your 7-, 8-, or 10-digit card number as security feature for legitimation, all visible on the card. The validity period and your semester ticket are also visible, and they are printed on a rewritable thermochrome strip.
In addition, older chip cards have a bar code of the student ID number. The bar code is no longer included on cards issued after September 2009.
The processing of any personal data stored on the chip card strictly follows all legal regulations for protecting personal data.
A non-contact chip is integrated in the card and therefore not visible.
The charging stations for adding money to your electronic wallet can be found at the following locations:
Services for students with disabilities: if you require assistance in charging your chip card with money, please contact the ZIM office or a tutor in the computer rooms.
The remaining funds in your electronic wallet expire if a claim is not filed within the semester following deregistration. The remaining funds can be redeemed in cash or as a bank transfer. Any bank transfer fees are to be paid by the claimant and they will be applied against any remaining funds. The student receives the remaining funds from Potsdam's Association of Student Affairs only after the application has been processed by the PUCK Service Point.
Application for Return for Remaining Funds (PDF)
No, you do not need to apply for a new PUCK. The chip card with the bar code can still be used at the library without any problems.
You can print certificates of enrollment for previous semester through the PULS portal. The certificates contain a verification key that allows authorities to verify the authenticity of the certificate.
Changes of address can be made through the PULS portal.
To receive a new chip card, please go to the Office of Student Affairs to change your name and afterwards come to the PUCK Service Point during office hours. You should bring the completed Issue Request Form for a Replacement Chip Card (PDF), a current passport photo, a copy of your marriage license, your government issued photo ID and your girocard (a debit card formerly known as ec-card). A fee of €10.00 is charged for a replacement card, which can only be paid by girocard!
* Since several types of identification can be used for the same purpose, the PUCK Service Point accepts the following documents as equivalent forms of identification: identification card, temporary identification card, driver's license, or passport.
With heavy usage, the card number may become illegible over time. If that is the case, you can contact the PUCK Service Point to find out your card number.
Yes, you may use the wallet function of your PUCK for paying your library fees. All campus libraries accept PUCK payments. In addition, there are automated pay stations available in Babelsberg, at the Neues Palais in Building 10, and in Golm in Building 22.
Please note that the "Semesterticket" is a pure public transport ticket and not valid in the long-distance trains of Deutsche Bahn AG (EC, IC, ICE) and other providers such as the Flixtrain or the ÖBB Nightjet. However, some long-distance trains are also available for use with VBB season tickets - including the semester ticket. An overview of these trains can be found on the homepage of the Deutsche Bahn.
This messages always appears whenever a transaction between your PUCK card and a terminal (printer, copier, library), or a card charger in the Mensa or cafeteria, was unable to finish processing. The chip card may have been removed too early from the chip card slot. This assigns your chip card a “delete card” status, thereby locking it. This disables all of the PUCK card’s payment functions.
To unlock the card, you have to return to and connect with the terminal (copier, card charger, etc.) that locked your card. Normally, this is the device where the card last functioned properly. As soon as the remaining value of the card is displayed, this means that the card is fully functional again. If the error shows up again, then you know that this was not the last device where your card worked properly. If the error continues to show up, you can go to the PUCK Service Center and have them issue a new PUCK card. Please note the remarks about ‘Losing the card.'
If you have questions regarding the semester ticket or if you want to know whether you can be exempted from paying the semester ticket fees, please contact the General Students' Committee (AStA). The AStA can inform you about exemption options and conditions, and it will process any application for exemption from semester ticket fees that you might file.
At the three main University campuses
There are one to two validation stations at each location.
University of Potsdam
Division of Student Affairs
Am Neuen Palais 10
14469 Potsdam
Fax: +49 331 977-1065