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Who is eligible to receive BAföG?
German and, for the most part, foreign students can receive BAföG for their first degree course. It is important that you start your studies before you reach the age of 45. In case of exceeding the age limit of 45 during your bachelor's studies, funding for the master's programme is generally possible if the master's programme is started immediately after the bachelor's programme.
Only in special cases (e.g. graduates of the second educational path 'zweite Bildungsweg', personal and family reasons) you can also receive BAföG if you are older than 45 when starting to study.
How and when should I apply for my BAföG loan or grant?
You will receive BAföG at the earliest for the month in which you submit your application. You cannot submit the application retrospectively.
An effective application has only been submitted when the person submitting the application has indicated his or her full name at the end of the application and the application has been received by the BAföG Office.
When submitting an application via the electronic application assistant 'BAföG-Digital', a digital application for BAföG funding can be submitted at the same time as creating a user account (service account). It is no longer necessary to print out and sign the application when using the digital application assistant 'BAföG-Digital'.
However, you can still submit your application by mail, fax or via E-mail attachment in PDF format. It is important that you state your full name in the signature field of the application form, so that it is clear that you are the person submitting the application. Of course, you can also simply sign your application.
A verbal application is not possible!
What supporting documents should I enclose with my application?
Where do I get the application documents?
How much BAföG can I get?
Your personal level of support is based on your needs. Where applicable, this is reduced according to your allowable income and capital as well as any (potential) income from your spouse or partner and their parents
How long can I receive BAföG for?
You will receive BAföG until you reach the maximum funding period (= standard period of study).
In particular exceptional circumstances, longer funding is possible (§ 15 para. 3 BAföG)
- if there is an important reason (e.g. sickness)
- as a result of caring for a close relative at home with at least care level 3
- as a result of participation in legally stipulated committees and statutory bodies of the universities, the student self-administration of these educational institutions, the student service organizations (Ger. Studierendenwerke) and the federal states
- as a result of failing the final examination for the first time
- as a result of a disability, pregnancy or the care and bringing up of a child up to the age of 14 (you receive these benefits as a “gift”, i.e. you do not have to pay them back).
Please provide us with a written statement explaining whether one of the above conditions is met.
If you cannot refer to any of the exceptions mentioned above, you may still be eligible for continued funding under BAföG:
Flexibility semester
The new flexibility semester (§ 15 Para. 4 BAföG) increases the standard period of study by one semester - no justification is required. The flexibility semester can only be used once during your studies (you decide whether you want to use the flexibility semester in your Bachelor's or Master's degree course).
Help with graduation
As a further funding option, you can receive so-called graduation assistance (§ 15 Para. 5 BAföG). This is an interest-free state loan. The prerequisite is that you are admitted to the final examination and can complete your studies within 12 months.
(as of August 2024)
What should I bear in mind when changing course subjects?
If you change your field of study for the first time within the first three semesters, this is usually not a problem. In this case, it is assumed that there is an important reason for the change.
For subsequent changes of subject, the reasons for the change of subject are decisive. We must carefully examine your reasons for the change of specialization. It is best to seek advice from us before you plan to change fields of study!
(as at August 2024)
Can I also get BAföG abroad?
How much additional money am I allowed to earn from ‘mini-jobs’ and holiday work?
The deciding factor is your income in the approval period, i.e. in the period in which the funding is applied for and approved. Income from a mini-job should have no effect on the amount of your BAföG funding.
In an approval period of 12 months, you may earn a total of 6,672 euros from the winter semester 2024/25 onwards without your BAföG being reduced. If you have a higher income, your BAföG will be reduced. Be sure to inform the BAföG office of your earnings. Other regulations apply to internship allowances – we will be happy to provide further advice on this.
(as at August 2024)
How does the repayment work?
As a general rule, half of the BAföG is made up of a grant and the other half of an interest-free government loan. You must therefore only partially repay the money at the end of your studies, namely the interest-free loan.
A maximum (interest-free) loan debt of 10,010 euros arises, even if you have received a higher loan amount in total. The repayment obligation begins five years after the end of the maximum grant period. The repayment is currently 130 euros per month. BAföG loans are collected and administered by the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne. The details of the repayment modalities can be found here.
In the exceptional circumstance that you have received your BAföG in the form of an interest-free bank loan, then you must repay the loan including any accrued interest to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). Further information can be found here.
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