Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The requirement is usually made up of the basic requirement and the supplement for accommodation. In addition, it is possible to receive a supplement for health and long-term care insurance as well as a childcare supplement if the requirements are met.

Click here for the current amounts.

You are entitled to BAföG funding if you start your studies before the age of 45. If you have already reached the age of 45 at the start of your studies, you can only receive BAföG under certain conditions. Reasons for this are, for example, if the admission requirements for the degree programme were achieved via the 2nd educational pathway, child rearing, etc. This applies to both Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes.

The calculation period is the approval period set by the BAföG office. For a period of 12 months, approximately €6,456.00 may be earned from non-self-employed work in addition to BAföG without this being deducted from the amount of funding. This corresponds to a monthly average of approx. €538. If the approval period is shorter than 12 months, the sum must be adjusted accordingly to the shorter period.

In any case, you must inform your responsible office for educational support. Please also state whether the voluntary internship is part-time or full-time. You should also submit your internship contract and state the amount you expect to be paid for the internship.

Taking up a voluntary internship can have a significant impact on your entitlement to BAföG funding. We recommend that you seek advice from your case officer before taking up an internship.

There are scholarships that can be received in addition to educational support without affecting the amount of support. Others, on the other hand, affect the amount of funding or even completely exclude BAföG funding, e.g. a scholarship from a scholarship organisation for gifted students.

Check with your education funding office before taking up the scholarship.

From the fifth semester onwards, educational support will only be provided if the educational institution certifies that the usual achievements of the respective semester have been achieved. Form 05 must therefore be completed by the training centre. A transcript of records is not sufficient in this case (exception: Protestant University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt).

Cancellation or completion of studies generally terminates the entitlement to educational funding. The Office for Educational Assistance must be informed immediately by submitting the relevant evidence (e.g. certificate of exmatriculation, degree certificate) in order to avoid overpayments.

In principle, there is no entitlement to BAföG funding for a semester on leave. It is irrelevant whether a semester of leave was applied for before the start of the semester or was retroactively approved by the university. Semesters on leave are not included in the maximum funding period.

If the application was rejected due to incompleteness, you have the option of submitting the missing documents. If the application is completed within one month, you can receive benefits retroactively from the month of application.

Half of the BAföG grant is a gift. The other half is an interest-free loan. The Federal Office of Administration in Cologne is responsible for repaying the legitimate loan amounts. Please direct all questions and concerns to this office.

If you have received a notice of repayment because you have to pay back too much BAföG funding and you are unable to repay this in one amount from your income or assets within four weeks, you can apply for a deferral with payment by instalments.

Please contact your administrator in this regard. Once the documents have been checked, you will be informed whether and under what conditions payment by instalments can be granted.

Please note that this does not include repayment of the loan portion to the Federal Office of Administration!