Further comprehensive information on the key points outlined here in brief can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR): Information on BAföG.

Can only students with German citizenship be funded?

In principle, all German students are entitled to educational support (BAföG) for a first degree course, provided that the funds required for living expenses and education are not otherwise available.

There are many exceptions under which foreign students can also be supported by BAföG.

Foreign students should always seek advice from the Office for Educational Support. 

Does BAföG have to be repaid? (Repayment of loan portion)

As a rule, half of the training grant is awarded as a subsidy and half as a non-interest-bearing loan. The non-interest-bearing loan portion must be repaid.
The Federal Office of Administration is responsible for repaying the loan portion. Repayment begins five years after the end of the maximum funding period (standard period of study).
Changes of address must be reported directly to the Federal Office of Administration in addition to the Office for Educational Support.

How much BAföG can I receive?

If you (as a student) live in your own accommodation, you can receive a maximum of € 992.00 in educational support from the winter semester 2024/2025, or a maximum of € 671.00 if you live with your parents. For students over 30 years of age, the amount may increase due to higher health and long-term care insurance contributions.

The amount of funding is calculated individually and depends on your income and assets (student income and assets) as well as the income of your spouse - if applicable - and the income of your parents.

How much can I earn in addition without it being taken into account?

Mini-jobs of students are not counted towards BAföG. The mini-job limit, which has been higher since 2024, will be implemented from fall 2024 and the mini-job limit for 2025 will be anticipated. In future, the respective mini-job limit in BAföG will be tracked by BMBF regulation without a change in the law. Read more under 29th BAföG Amendment Act.

Training allowance for a compulsory internship will be credited without an allowance (full credit).

Income from scholarships is subject to different eligibility requirements. For example, the receipt of benefits from a scholarship for gifted students excludes the entitlement to educational support (BAföG). Benefits received as part of a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, for example, are exempt from being offset against benefits under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) up to €300 per month.

This is based on your income (as a student) during the approval period.

Please note the special regulation for activities in system-relevant industries and professions insofar as the activity was taken up or increased in terms of working hours to combat the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1, 2020.

How many assets can I have without them being taken into account?

Your assets (the student's assets) remain exempt up to €15,000 until your 30th birthday; from your 30th birthday, the asset allowance is up to €45,000.

Assets also include motor vehicles, provided that you (the student) are the owner of the vehicle.

The assets at the time of the respective application are taken into account.

How much can my parents earn so that I can still receive BAföG?

This is based on the parents' income from the penultimate calendar year before the start of the approval period.

Parental allowances vary depending on the family constellation.

What happens if my parents currently earn much less money than in the calendar year before last?

If the income of the spouse or one or both parents in the approval period is significantly lower than the income in the penultimate calendar year before the start of the approval period, the applicant can submit an application for an update in accordance with § 24 Para. 3 BAföG. The spouse or one or both parents must participate and fill out and submit form 07.

What does parent-independent funding mean and when is the parents' income not taken into account?

BAföG is generally granted depending on parental income. There is no separate application for “parent-independent BAföG”.

In exceptional cases, which are defined by law in § 11 Para. 3 BAföG, educational support can be granted regardless of parental income. These requirements are checked by the authorities on the basis of the applicant's CV. This is why it is so important to fill out the curriculum vitae in the application completely and without gaps.

In cases where the parents' place of residence cannot be determined, the parents' income can also be disregarded, § 11 Para. 2a BAföG.

Please contact the Office for Educational Support for advice on this!

Does a change of subject have a negative effect on my BAföG benefits?

Funding after a change of subject (funding for a course of study other than the one originally pursued): A change of subject is only possible under certain conditions. The longer you wait to change your field of study, the more difficult it will be to receive funding for the new course. The more often you change subject, the less likely you are to receive funding for the new degree program.

Please seek advice from the Office for Educational Support before changing subject! A change of subject is assessed differently under university law than under BAföG law. For this reason, information from the university regarding a change of subject is not always identical to information from the Office for Educational Support.

How long can I receive BAföG benefits?

The duration of funding depends on the standard period of study. In certain exceptional cases (illness, raising children, etc.), educational support may be granted beyond the standard period of study.

Please note the special regulations regarding the pandemic semesters (summer semester 2020, winter semester 2020/2021, summer semester 2021 and winter semester 2021/2022)! Under certain conditions, this allows an extension of the standard period of study and thus the maximum funding period.

Can I receive BAföG if I study abroad?

Stays abroad (study, internship) can also be funded. In these cases, international funding offices are usually responsible.

You can find out about the responsibilities here: International funding

Do I receive concessions on the broadcasting fee?

Recipients of educational grants can be exempted from the obligation to pay the broadcasting fee: Information on the broadcasting fee.

Can I also obtain information about BAföG as a deaf or hearing-impaired person?

Yes. From December 1, 2025, the BAföG hotline of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) will provide a sign language telephone service. This will enable deaf and hearing-impaired people to obtain information about BAföG via video telephony in sign language.

The new service is free of charge and can be used directly online via the video telephony platform at https://www.gebaerdentelefon.de/bafoeg.

Further information is also available at https://www.bafög.de under the heading “Gebärdensprache.”