FAQ - Frequently asked questions

IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, overseas students are generally not entitled to BAföG.

General questions

Application proceedure

Size of the award and repayments

Duration of support, change of course

Age limit

Certificates

Parent dependent support

My own income

Contribution of savings and assets

Support overseas

Support for overseas students

Other possibilities for support

General questions

What is BAföG?

The abrieviation for 'Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz' (Federal Education and Training Assistance Act). The law can be viewed here.

Who recieves BAföG?

Students of BFS, FS, BOS, FAK, colleges, technical colleges, colleges of art and universites, to help maintain their education if they are do not have the means to cover the costs themselves (requirements). Please see Jurisdiction and note that BAföG is generelly only available for Germans.

Where can I obtain information brochures?

At every Educational Maintenance office (Student Union, District Council, City Council) and in the internet at: www.das-neue-bafoeg.de

Who can answer by general questions regarding BAföG?

If you are studying, or intending to study at university, you can address your general questions regarding BAföG or financing of your studies to our general BAföG-advice buro.

If you have already placed an application, then please contact your BAföG administrator directly with your questions. 

Application proceedure

Can I apply online?

Yes! An online application form is avaialble for universities in Bavaria: www.bafoeg-bayern.de. You still have to print out and sign the form, however, tooltips will help you to fill in the blanks. Your inputs will also be verified. Please note that all official forms are only avaialbe in German.

For universities in other parts of Germany you can still obtain a simple PDF version of the application forms at www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

An application per email is invalid.

Where can I find information concerning online BAföG?

More detailed information regarding online applications can be found in the information concerning online BAföG broschure (in German).

Where should I submit my application?

For a course: to the Student Union at your place of study

For all universites in Oberbayern
(except those in Eichstätt, Ingolstadt and Triesdorf):
Studentenwerk (Student Union) Munich
- Amt für Ausbildungsförderung- (Office of Educational Maintenance)
Leopoldstr. 15
80802 München

Special proceedures apply when Studying abroad.

Where can I obtain the application forms?

At the relevant Student Union, or as a download at www.das-neue-bafoeg.de. If applying to the Munich Student Union, please read this. 

When should I submit my application?

At the latest, during the first month of your studies. No allowance will be paid for months of study before the applcation was placed! A signed letter of application is enough to satisfy the application deadline (official forms not required), and this may be in the form of a fax. Application by email is not possible.

Remember that is is possible to apply in advance Continued support!

What happens if I am not yet able to answer all questions/provide all documents?

The application can only be processed once all the documents required for BAföG to be granted have been submitted. The Educational Maintenance Office will write to you if your application is incomplete.

The following documents are required in every case:

  • Form 1 (signed!)
  • Form 3 for each parent, including proof of income
  • proof of income from sibling(s) (where relevant)
  • matriculation card or letter of admittance
  • proof of savings and assets (accurate on the day of application!)

Some documents can be sent later (they will only be taken into consideration once processing is underway), e.g.:

  • proof of rental costs (rental contract)

Do I have to submit my application in person?

No. Applications can be sent by post (see address). The advice bureau at the Education Maintenance Office is, however, able to answer your general questions concering application and assess whether or not documents might be missing. Please note our personal and telephone opening hours.

Do I have to apply repeatedly?

Educational Maintenance is normally awarded for a period of 12 months (2 semeseters). Thus, a new application must be submitted before this period comes to an end, or no more payments will be recieved (see Weiterleistungsantrag (application for continued support)).

What is a 'Weiterleistungsantrag' (application for continued support)?

A completely normal application, which is submitted when one is already receiving BAföG. This only applies, however, if the application is submitted at least two months before the current award runs out. If the current support ceases in October, the application for the following period must be submitted to the Educational Maintenance Office by the 31st of July at the latest. This applcation must be complete with all essential information and documents. The forms are the same as those for used for the original application.

In the case of contined support, the same award will be paid as for the previous period, if a decision based on the new applcation has not yet been made. This avoid gaps in financing. Further contined support  maybe, however, subject to change. 

Can I withdraw my application and re-submit it at a later date?

Applications can be withdrawn anytime, up until an official final decision on the application has been made. Obviously however, savings and assets may not be ''moved out of harms way''.  Upon re-submission of the application, any reduction in the size of savings and assets will be checked for its validity. Please be aware that no educational maintenance will be paid for the time period preceeding re-submission! 

Withdrawal of an application enables the start of the award period to be pushed back. This might be helpful if the current parents income will be considerably reduced in the next calender year.

A decision becomes final after a period of one month, during which it can be contested, and the application can no longer be withdrawn.

Size of the award and repayments

How much BAföG is one entitled to?

As of Autumn 2010: Up to €670 for a course taken at a university. Since December 2007, and additional payment is made to parents, for every (own) child under the age of ten that lives with them; for one child the parent receives €113, and an additional €85 are paid for each additional child. The precise amount of BAföG depends upon the housing- and insurance- situation of the applicant, aswell as his/her income and savings and assets. 

Can I obtain an approximation of how much BAföG I will receive?

From official sources, without an application, generally not. You can calcuclate yourself how much you can expect to receive (according to the guidelines that have been in place since autumn 2008) at www.bafoeg-forum.de. The company Datagroup is responsible for this offer; a legal clain cannot be deduced from the calculation.

Is BAföG in the form of a grant or a loan?

In the normal situation, BAföG is 50% grant and 50% interest free loan. Only in exceptional cases is BAföG in awarded the form of a bank loan that incurs interest. In the case of the usual period of study being extened due to pregnancy and/or time spent raising child(ren), BAföG is even paid to 100% in the form of a grant! The bonus paid for each (own) child is also awarded as a grant.

When do I have to pay the loan part back?

Repayment begins five years after the maximal period of BAföG support, i.e. normal course length, has come to an end. You will receive notice of the size of the repayment, and the rate as which you must pay it back, approximately six months in advance. The body responsible for reclaiming loans is the Bundesverwaltungsamt (Federal Administration Office), 50728 Köln.

All information regarding repayments can be found here.

Is there an upper limit to the amount which one is required to pay back?

Yes. For students beginning their course after 28.02.2001, there is an upper limit of €10,000.

Are there situations where one may be released from one's BAföG debt?

Yes - in particular situations the amount which has to be paid back can be considerably reduced. See http://www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Are study fees also paid by BAföG?

No, BAföG does not provide for study fees. The universities themselves are solely responsible for charging study fees and any exceptions that may be made to the normal rules. In the case of need, you could consider taking out a 'Studienbeitragsdarlehen' (tuition fees loan).

Duration of support, change of course

As of when does one receive BAföG?

From the month in which the application is made, but not before the beginning of the course.

For how long does one BAföG?

At universities, the duration of support corresponds to the duration of the course. This information is provided on your matriculation certificate.

What is the appropriation period (Bewilligungszeitraum (BWZ))?

The ''appropriation period'' is the period for which you have been awarded BAföG.  This information is available on your comformation of award. This is normally a period of 12 months (two semesters). If you require contiued support after the end of this period you must place a new application. Be sure to do this on time!

Can BAföG extend beyond the normal period of study?

Yes, if there are good reasons for the delay. These would include illness, disability, pregnancy and time taken out to raise children.

What happens if I have no recognised explanation for the delay, but still do not complete my studies within the normal time period?

For the last 12 months preceeding the predicted end of the course, ''help to finish the course'' is available, but only after the month in which you have been accepted to sit the final exam. If your claim to BAföG has already expired, it is in some instances possible to obtain a loan for up to four more semesters from the Darlehenskasse der Bayerischen Studentenwerke e.V. (Loan Association of Bavarian Student Unions). Very good conditions are offered for these loans. 

I still receive BAföG if I change my course?

Only if the change is made before the beginning of the fourth semester, and there is a good reason for the change (change of affinities, unsuitability for the course).

If the course is changed at a later date, contined BAföG support requires that the change be considered ''unavoidable'' (e.g. in the case of allergy for a chemisty student, paralysis for a sport science student). Failure to pass an exam is not an acceptable reason for the change. 

If some of the semesters spent studying the previous subject can count towards the new course, these are not taken into account when determining the time limits for changing between courses.

Are second-, complementary-, or academicdevelopment courses supported?

In particuar instances, yes. See www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Is a Masters Degree supported?

Yes - but only if it builds upon a sucessfully completed Bachelors Degree. Please be aware that the age limit for starting a Masters is 35!

Age limit

Is age a deciding factor?

Basically, yes. You must begin your course before you turn 31. Details at www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Certificates

Which achievements do I have to demonstrate?

To begin the fifth semester at a university, you must be able to demonstrate that your performance in the previous four semesters has been satisfactory. This information is either contained in a section of form 5 that is filled out by the university, or is provided in the form of a certificate confirming that an exam at the end of the fourth semester has been passed. This information is only required to be produced once in the course of your studies. If BAföG is only applied for after the fifth semester, or support is interrupted before such a ''record of performance'' has been produced, this will then be requested for the semester which has been reached.

Are there exceptions to the requirements of certificates?

If your studies are delayed unavoidably (due to illness, pregnancy, intervention by the board, failure to pass an exam), you may apply for permission to provide this information at a later date.

Parent dependent support

How much can my parents earn?

A general answer to this question is not possible. Whether or not, and to what degree the income of your parents will be taken into consideration depends largely upon the number of siblings who are studying. A rough calculation is possible at www.bafoeg-forum.de.

How is evidence of income provided?

Important is ''positive income'' in terms of tax regulation - information that is usually clear from your tax summary. Parental income in the last but one calender year before application is important, although this is slightly different in the case of an update application. Paid taxes and national security contributions are deducted. Additionally, there are cases where other forms of income are considered (§ 21 Abs. 3, and see EinkV), and instances where income - in terms of tax reguations - is not a deciding factor (§ 21 Abs. 4). More details are available at www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

My parents are devorced/not married. Is the income of my mother/father still to be considered?

Yes. The income of both parents is always relevant.

How are the savings/assets of my parents considered?

They are not considered at all!

Is kindergeld (family allowance) considered?

No.

I am married. Is the income of my parents still to be considered?

Yes. Marriage does not release parents from their obligation. The income of your husband/wife is, however, taken into consideration first.

When can one be expected to be supported independent of one's parents?

Please ask us personally.

What happens if my parents are not willing/able to contribute the amount judged appropriate by the assessment?

If the current income of your parents is significantly lower than it was in the year before last, an update application my be appropriate. If your parents do not pay their contribution, for whatever reason, an appication for advanced funds can be placed.

In these instances, please contact your administrator!

What can I do if my parents do not provide me with relevant documents/fill in the forms?

If your parents do not cooperate, you can place an application for advanced funds. Please contact your administrator for advice. Parents are legally required to assist with your application. At the least, they must submit the information relevant to their income to the Educational Maintenance Office. If they refuse, legal action can be taken to make them.

My own income

How much am I allowed to earn whilst receiving BAföG?

As of 01.08.2008, about €4,818 gross during a support period of 12 months (an average of €400 per month).

Note: strickter rules apply for money earnt in an internship and for orphan pensions.

How are allowances received during an internship considered?

Everything above €920 is offset to 80%.

This reduces the gross amount that one can earn in a year by doing other jobs, without your own earnings effecting your BAföG. 

What counts as ''my income''?

The rules are essentially the same as those for parents, except that it is your income during the period of support (Bewilligungszeitraum) that is important. This must therefore be estimated in advance when completing the application. If the estimate proves to be too low, money may have to be paid back, which can lead to financial difficulties during the next period of support!

 

Contribution of savings and assets

What value of savings/assets am I allowed to have?

Up to €5.200 on the day of application (€7.000 for married couples; an additional €1.800 Euro for each child) - everything above this amout will be offset in full. The details given here can be checked!

Is a car considered an asset?

Yes.

How is land valued?

In terms of current market price.

What happens if the value of my savings/assets or debts change?

Changes occuring after the application has been submitted are not considered.

Support overseas

Can I receive support for my studies overseas?

Yes - for a course in an EU-country, from the first semester up until the end of the course. In non EU-countries, support is usually limited to two semesters. For more informaion, see www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Where should I apply for my studies overseas to be supported?

There are special ''Auslandsämter'' (Overseas Offices). Please see the directory at: www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Support for overseas students

As a foreigner, am I entitled to support?

Please see www.das-neue-bafoeg.de.

Other possibilities for support

Are there other possibilities for support?

That are so widely attainable, no. In addition to BAföG, there are a large number of specific trusts and scolarships (e.g. for highly talented students), but these only come into question for a very small number of students. Further information is available from the scolarship department at your university.

If you are unsure which financing options might be applicable to you, please contact the BAföG general advice service or student credit advice.

What is education credit?

Additional federal support in the form of a loan for up to 24 months. More information can be found at: www.bildungskredit.de.

Can I become exempt from TV and radio licence (GEZ) fees?

GEZ checks this upon application. If you bring us your original BAföG award and a copy of it, we can provide you with the required stamped copy. Please come to the Regestry Office (Sekretariat), second floor, room 217.