Rib shear connectors can be used in steel and concrete composite structures in which conventional shear connectors reach their limits. Especially in the field of bridge construction widely used shear connectors such as headed studs often exhibit insufficient fatigue strength due to the welded connection of the studs to the steel beam. In such structures, innovative rib shear connectors can be used to transfer longitudinal shear forces in the interface between steel and concrete. In order to take full advantage of the better load bearing behaviour of these innovative shear connectors under cyclic loading, new experimental investigations have been conducted aiming to clarify the circumstances under which fatigue failure occurs in the shear connection. The influence of load- as well as material-related parameters on the fatigue behaviour of the shear connectors was systematically analysed. The results of the performed investigations show that high upper load levels mainly influence failure related with concrete fatigue, while high load ranges have great impact on steel fatigue. Furthermore, the occurring slip in the interface of steel and concrete in case of cyclic pry-out failure was found to correlate with the static deformation capacity of the rib shear connectors.