BAföG FAQ

German students, and in most cases international students as well, can receive BAföG for their first degree. Whether you are eligible for BAföG and the amount you receive depend, among other things, on your parents’ income, your own assets, and various other factors. Applying is often worthwhile: around 70% of students who would be entitled to funding do not take advantage of it.

You generally have a basic entitlement if you:

• are enrolled full-time at a public or state-recognized university,

• have not yet completed a course of study or vocational training that is eligible for funding under BAföG,

• have not yet reached the age of 45 at the start of your studies (if you turn 45 during your Bachelor’s degree, funding for a Master’s degree is generally still possible, provided that you begin the Master’s program immediately after completing your Bachelor’s degree).

Even if not all of these criteria apply, submitting an application may still be worthwhile, as there are several exceptions. We would be happy to advise you on this.

You can receive BAföG funding at the earliest from the month in which you submit your application. You may apply at any time, regardless of whether you are just starting your studies or are already enrolled. However, applications cannot be submitted retroactively.

An application is only considered valid once you have provided your full name in the application and it has been received by the BAföG Office.

If you submit your application online via BAföG-Digital, you will receive a confirmation once the application has been successfully submitted and received by our office. In this case, you do not need to print, sign, or mail the application.

If you prefer not to apply online, you may of course print the required forms yourself or collect them from our office. You can then send the completed and signed application by post to the Seezeit BAföG Office or submit it in person:

Postal address:
Seezeit BAföG Amt
Gustav-Schwab-Straße 5
78467 Konstanz

BAföG Office Konstanz – directly next to Petershausen railway station
CampusOffice University of Konstanz – Building A, foyer
CampusOffice HTWG Konstanz – Building M, Room M008
CampusOffice Weingarten – in the Weingarten canteen

If you are unable to submit the complete application in time, an informal application is sufficient to meet the deadline as an initial step. However, please note: an informal application does not replace the official forms and supporting documents, and we cannot begin processing your case until these have been submitted. Therefore, please provide the complete application as soon as possible.

Applications cannot be submitted orally.

Here you will find a checklist with all the information and forms you should have ready for your application. If you submit your application via BAföG digital, you do not need to gather the forms individually. Instead, you will be guided through the application step by step and can upload any required supporting documents at a later stage if necessary.

The more complete your application, the faster we can process it.

What we need from you:

• BAföG application: Form 01 (or Form 09 for a follow-up application)
• Current certificate of enrollment pursuant to §9 BAföG (if not available, alternatively Form 02)
• Übersicht Studienverlauf (overview of your academic process)
• Declaration of your parents’ income: Form 03
• Your parents’ tax assessments from the calendar year before last

Additionally, we require the following if you …

• do not live with your parents: rental agreement (or landlord’s confirmation or certificate of registration) (only for initial applications or if there are changes)
• have siblings over the age of 15: current certificates of education or training for all siblings
• have your own health and long-term care insurance: health and long-term care insurance certificate (only for initial applications or if there are changes)
• have your own income or receive other benefits: proof of income or relevant official certificates
• have assets exceeding €10,000 (or €30,000 if you are over 30 years old): documentation for each asset (e.g. bank statements, investment account statements, etc.)
• do not hold German citizenship: valid residence permit
• are completing an internship: internship contract
• are in your fifth or a higher semester: academic performance certificate: Form 05 (required once)
• have children under the age of 14: Form 04
• are married: declaration of your spouse’s income (Form 03) and your spouse’s tax assessment from the calendar year before last

In certain cases (e.g. change of major, specific types of assets, etc.), we may require additional information. If so, we will contact you.

Here you can find the complete checklist as a pdf-file.

Via BAföG-Digital, you can conveniently submit your application online without having to search for and compile the required forms yourself.

Alternatively, you can obtain all the forms in person from us – either directly at the BAföG office or at one of our service centers located right on campus.

• BAföG Office Konstanz – directly next to Petershausen railway station
• CampusOffice University of Konstanz – Building A, foyer
• CampusOffice HTWG Konstanz – Building M, Room M008
• CampusOffice Weingarten – in the Weingarten canteen

Of course, you can also download the forms yourself:

• on our website under "forms"
• from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Your individual funding amount is based on your financial need. A number of factors are taken into account in the calculation, such as whether you have your own income, how much your parents earn, whether you have siblings, and more.

Since the most recent increase in autumn 2024, the maximum BAföG funding amounts to €992 per month. If you live with your parents, the current maximum is €671 per month. Students over the age of 29 may receive up to €1,088, or €767 if they live with their parents.

Childcare allowance for students with children

Students with children may also receive a childcare allowance of €160 per child as a non-repayable grant for each child who has not yet reached the age of 14.

Using the BAföG calculator on BAföG Digital, you can easily estimate your potential funding entitlement without prior registration.

Please note: The results of the BAföG calculator are non-binding and do not in themselves constitute a legal entitlement to educational funding. The final determination of eligibility can only be made by the responsible authority.

As a rule, you can receive BAföG throughout your entire course of study. The maximum funding period generally corresponds to the standard duration of your degree program.

Flexibility semester

The 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). 

Longer funding

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.

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.

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!

Yes, you can also receive BAföG for your studies or internship abroad. However, you must submit your application for international BAföG not to us, but to the competent office responsible for international BAföG. Please inform us well in advance when your studies abroad are due to begin.

Links

• DSW-Flyer "Auslands BAföG" (PDF - German)

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 without your BAföG being reduced. If you have a higher income, your BAföG will be reduced accordingly. 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.