Your BAföG

BAföG – Funding for your studies

Student Support (BAföG) is a government grant designed to help you finance your studies, school education or further training. With BAföG for students, one part is granted as a subsidy, while the other part must be repaid interest-free. BAföG thus promotes equal opportunities and opens up education to everyone - regardless of their financial situation.
Whether it's a Bachelor's, Master's or school-based training - in many cases, BAföG gives you the opportunity to concentrate fully on your studies without having to worry about financial hurdles.

Who receives BAföG?

• Students in their first full-time degree programme or a subsequent postgraduate course (e.g. Master's degree)
• Pupils for training at a vocational or secondary school
• Upgrading students for a course or training at a technical college, so-called upgrading BAföG (formerly MeisterBaföG)

What do I get?
This depends on your basic needs, your income and the income of your parents, spouse or children, which can be taken into account. In general, the requirements are made up as follows:

• Basic needs: This is for the usual cost of living and depends on the type of your education.
• Flat-rate housing allowance: You will receive the flat-rate housing allowance if you no longer live with your parents and it is intended to cover part of your rental costs.
• Supplements for health and care insurance: You will usually only receive these if you are over 25 years old and no longer covered by your parents' family insurance.
• Supplements for childcare: You will receive a supplement of €160 for each child under the age of 14.

How does it relate to other benefits?
BAföG generally takes precedence over other benefits such as living allowance or citizens allowance. This means that if you have a claim, you should claim it first. Living allowance is not only granted for you, but for the entire household. However, BAföG is counted as income.

Tips

• Free student BAföG: Unlike traditional BAföG for students, student BAföG does not have to be paid back and is a 100% grant.
• Mini-job limit: In addition to BAföG, you can earn up to the mini-job limit, currently €556, without it being taken into account.
• BAföG abroad: You can receive funding for a stay abroad for up to one year. It is important that your place of residence remains in Germany.