Apply for BAföG for a course of study

Prerequisites

Studies:
You can receive BAföG if

• You attend a university, an academy or a higher technical college.
• If it is a private training facility, it must be state-recognized.
• you study full-time,
• You are either German or German or
• You are a foreigner and for example:
  • have a right of permanent residence or a settlement permit,
  • are Union citizens and are entitled to freedom of movement under Union law as employees or self-employed persons or are entitled to freedom of movement themselves as a child or spouse of such a Union citizen,
  • have the prospect of staying in Germany, for example a corresponding residence permit for family, humanitarian or political reasons, or
  • have already resided in Germany for 5 years or longer before starting the training and have worked during this time.

• you are younger than at the beginning of your studies
  • 30 years (bachelor's degree) or
  • 35 years (master's degree)
  • Exceptions:
    • You have acquired the higher education entrance qualification on the second educational path,
    • You have enrolled at a university solely on the basis of professional qualifications,
    • You were prevented from starting the training phase on time (and did not work more than 30 hours per week) for personal or family reasons, in particular because of the uninterrupted bringing up of a child under the age of 14, or
    • They have become needy due to drastic changes in their personal circumstances. You were therefore not able to complete an apprenticeship eligible for BAföG funding with a professional qualification.

Documents required

• Enrollment certificate with the imprint "according to § 9 BAföG" in the original or certificate from the training institution
• If you are not a German citizen, copy of the
  • identity card,
  • current passport and/or
  • current residence permit
• If you do not live with your parents: copy
  • of the rental agreement or
  • the registration certificate
• If you do not have family insurance: Proof of health and long-term care insurance with legal basis and contribution amount
• If applicable, proof of your own income during the approval period, for example:
  • Pay slip, employment contract, tax assessment
  • orphan's pension notice,
  • grant notice,
  • Riester pension certificate
• Proof of assets or debts on the day of application, e.g. bank statement
• If you have a car:
  • Estimation of the value, for example a printout from a website with a comparable offer, and
  • vehicle registration.
• From the 5th semester: Proof of performance from your university.

Please note

Since the legal regulation is very complex, you should contact your responsible office for educational support at an early stage.

Further information on a possible contribution reduction:

The following amounts are taken into account, i.e. they reduce your BAföG requirements:

• The income of your parents and/or your spouse or partner in the penultimate year before the start of the approval period if it is above the tax-free allowance. The allowance is:
  • EUR 2,000 if your parents live together,
  • EUR 1,330 per parent if your parents are separated and
  • EUR 1,330 for a potential spouse or life partner.
  • Note: If your parents, spouse or partner currently earn significantly less than in the year before the approval, you can submit an update application.
  • Parent-independent BAföG: The income of your parents is not used,
    • if you were employed for five years after you turned 18,
    • if you have completed a three-year apprenticeship and then worked for at least three years (in the case of a shorter apprenticeship, correspondingly longer employment),
    • in certain exceptional cases if you are over 30 years old when you start your training.
• Your own income, insofar as it is more than EUR 450.00 from non-self-employed work per month. From self-employment insofar as it does not exceed EUR 366.66.
• Your own assets, insofar as they exceed EUR 8,200.

• Advertising expenses (not in the case of self-employment),
• Social allowance and the
• taxes actually paid, including church tax and solidarity surcharge.

• failed the final exam for the first time,
• have or had a disability or illness,
• are or were pregnant
• raised a child up to 14 years of age,
• are or were active in statutory or statutory committees and bodies of the university, student self-government, student unions or the federal states or
• have cared for close relatives classified at least in care level 3.

• the change took place in the 2nd semester at the latest or
• the change took place in the 3rd semester and there is an important reason for the change or
• the change takes place from the 4th semester and there is an irrefutable reason for the change, for example:
  • a disability or allergy to certain substances that occurred after starting the training, which makes it impossible to continue the training or to practice the profession you have been aiming for.

Deadlines

There is no deadline, but BAföG is only granted from the start of training, but at the earliest from the month in which you submit the application. If you submit your application as completely as possible, then a decision can usually be made quickly on your application.

Procedure

If you would like to apply for BAföG for your studies online:

• Information video , also available at: https://www.bafoeg-digital.de/ams/BAFOEG
• First activate the online identification function of your identity card, electronic residence permit or your European eID. You have to register for this.
• The procedure depends on the federal state in which you complete your studies.

• Go to the BAföG website and download the application forms that apply to you. Alternatively, you can also collect the applications from your student union.
• You can fill out the forms on your computer and print them out, or you can print them out and fill them in by hand.
• The application must be signed.
• Add the necessary evidence.
• Send the completed application forms with the supporting documents directly to the Office for Educational Support that is responsible for you.
• The Office for Educational Support checks the documents for completeness. If documents are missing, they will be requested from you. If the application is complete, it will be checked and you will be informed of the decision by notification.

Processing time

Up to 6 weeks if the complete documents are available (if no final decision can be made in this time, the offices are legally obliged to pay within 10 weeks with reservations).

Fees

No

Legal remedies

• Usually contradiction


• Administrative lawsuit

Legal basis

Federal law on individual support for training (BAföG)

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