If you are travelling by train, you can check the daily train schedules beforehand: Deutsche Bahn journey planner. Currently there is also a special promotion for BahnCard, a card that you can purchase to enjoy 25%, 50% or 100% discount for Deutsche Bahn services for 1 year. At this point of writing, the promotion is valid until 31 January 2016. More information here: www.bahn.de/micro/view/probebahncard
German train services use the honor system, where passengers are allowed to move freely inside the train stations without restrictions. It is the responsibility of the passenger to purchase a valid ticket from the ticket machines that are located all over the train station prior to boarding a train.
Most students studying in German Universities would receive a student card (Studierendenausweis), which allows them to travel on the trains without purchasing a ticket. However there are typically 2 conditions:
1) Valid for free travels within a specific region/state/train line only
2) Valid with proper identification only (Nur mit Personalausweis gültig)
Occasionally, a Deutsche Bahn inspector will board the train and request for a valid ticket or pass. If you...
1) ...cannot produce a valid ticket because you have forgotten or lost it...
2) ...buy a ticket for Second Class but sit in First Class...
3) ...travel beyond the train stations printed in the ticket...
4) ...produce a student pass without a printed ID with your photograph (such as Passport)...
....then you are called a Schwarzfahrer, which literally means a "Black Rider"! The fine for fare-evasion is 60 Euros.
ACHTUNG!
Recently I have witnessed scenario #4 myself and the Deutsche Bahn inspector insisted on solid proof that the student card belonged to its owner. The inspector was not satisfied until a physical document with photo was shown; even an official document without photo or a scanned copy of the Passport on the smartphone was not sufficient.
In short, foreign students - always have your Passport with you!
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