Apply for educational assistance under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG).

Do you want to receive financial support for your school or university education? Apply online! Find out more here.

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BAföG Digital

Detailed description

BAföG is the abbreviation for "Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz" (Federal Training Assistance Act). In everyday language, BAföG refers to the financial aid you can receive under this law.



BAföG enables young people to complete a school or university education regardless of their social and economic situation.



You will receive funding for your living expenses and education.



You will receive funding for the following purposes:

  • Your school attendance from the 10th grade onwards
  • your higher education or
  • under certain conditions for a mandatory internship as part of your schooling or university studies.
  • Your further education courses via the second educational pathway (for example, evening high schools, colleges and higher vocational schools)
  • your studies, school education or internship abroad

Funding for studies within the EU is available until graduation. For studies outside the EU, you can generally receive funding for one year. In exceptional cases, funding is also possible for 2.5 years.



The amount of BAföG you receive depends on a defined need. This need is the basic monthly amount required for living expenses and education.


Your needs will be calculated based on your application.


Money will be deducted from your needs allowance if your income or the income of your parents, spouse, partner or civil partner exceeds the allowance limits.



You must repay the BAföG (student loan) in full or in part.


This does not apply to students. You can find out more in the attached links.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • They have German citizenship or an eligible residence permit.
  • They do not have sufficient income
  • They are no more than 45 years old
  • Their parents, spouse, partner or life partner do not have sufficient income.
  • Their assets are less than €8,200 or only slightly above that.

Additional requirements may include:

  • During studies, school training or an internship at home and abroad
    • They are studying full-time
    • The internship must be a mandatory internship. Outside the EU, the internship must last at least 12 weeks.
  • When studying, completing school training, or doing an internship abroad:
    • They are studying full-time
    • They attend a university, an academy, or a higher technical college.
  • For a school leaving certificate from the 10th grade onwards:
    • They no longer live at home
    • They attend one of these types of schools:
      • Secondary school
      • General education school
      • vocational school
      • Vocational or vocational upper secondary school class
      • Evening secondary school
      • Evening high school or college
      • Higher technical college or academy
      • State-approved private training institution

There may be additional requirements. You can find out more in the online service.

Documents required

The required documents vary depending on the individual case. The online service will guide you through the application process and list the required documents.



If you are applying for BAföG for your studies:

  • (Digitally) completed BAföG application forms
  • Current certificate of enrollment
  • Residence permit for non-German nationals
  • Parents' tax assessment notice from the penultimate calendar year

If applicable, additionally:

  • Tax assessment notice of the spouse, partner, or civil partner from the penultimate calendar year
  • Certificate from health/long-term care insurance
  • Information about the part-time job
  • Proof of assets and debts
  • Rental agreement, if requested by the student finance office, or registration certificate.
  • Birth certificates of own children
  • Proof of previous educational qualifications and practical experience (if requested by the responsible authority)

If you are applying for BAföG for education abroad:

  • Supplementary sheet for training abroad

Please note

The linked online service provides further details on the calculation and information on exceptions and special cases.

Deadlines

There is no deadline.


You will receive BAföG at the earliest from the beginning of the month in which you start your training.

Procedure

You can apply for BAföG online and in writing.


If you apply for BAföG online:

  • You access the online service.
  • You log in using the online ID function of your identity card, your electronic residence permit or your European eID.
  • You fill out the application online.
  • They are attaching all the necessary documents.
  • The relevant authority will review your application.
  • If any documents are missing, they will be requested.
  • You will receive notification as to whether your BAföG application has been approved.
  • If you receive a positive response:
  • Payments will be transferred to the specified account.

If you wish to apply for BAföG in writing:

  • You visit the BAföG website and download the application forms.
  • You fill out all the required documents and send them to the responsible authority.

All further steps correspond to the online service.

Processing time

If your documents are complete, the processing time can take up to 6 weeks.

Fees

There are no fees.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Section 2 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/baf_g/__2.html




Section 7 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/baf_g/__7.html




Section 50 Paragraph III of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/baf_g/__50.html

Links on the Internet

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Last updated: 14.02.2026