Financing a course of study or training is often a challenge. BAföG helps, but the funding is often not enough to cover all costs. Many students therefore look for additional income. But how does income affect the BAföG application? Here you can find out everything you need to know about supplementary income options, calculations and the effects on your maximum BAföG rate.

1. Supplementary income: what is allowed?

BAföG recipients are allowed to work part-time, but there are limits. If you earn more than the specified allowance, your income will be deducted from the maximum BAföG rate, which reduces the funding.

The allowance for part-time earnings is 556 euros per month (from winter semester 2024). This corresponds to an annual allowance of 6,680 euros. This amount is made up of:

Exempt amount: 353 euros per month remain exempt. This amount increases by 770 euros per child and by an additional 850 euros for married couples.
Allowance for professional expenses: This amounts to 1,230 euros per year and covers expenses incurred in connection with your job, such as work clothes or specialist literature.
Social security contributions: These include contributions to pension, unemployment and health insurance. They are estimated at a flat rate of 22.3% of your gross income.

Please note: These items are based on the mini-job limit, so that students can easily have a mini-job that is not subject to deductions.

Example calculation for additional earnings

Let's assume you earn 556 euros per month in your mini-job. You deduct 102.50 euros from this as a lump sum for income-related expenses and 101.13 euros (22.3%) in social security contributions. This results in a deductible income of 352.37 euros. If you exceed the annual allowance of 6,680 euros, the excess amount will be deducted from your BAföG.

If you work alongside your studies, you must declare your gross income for the entire approval period (usually 12 months). It is important that you do not exceed the income limit, otherwise your BAföG will be reduced. Our BAföG calculator from LeistungsLotse helps you to run through various scenarios and determine the optimum amount of income. Check now!

2. Maximizing your income despite BAföG

A frequent wish of students is to maximize their income through part-time jobs without BAföG being reduced. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your earnings:

Mini-jobs and tax-free income: Use mini-jobs where you don't pay social security contributions up to the earnings limit of €520 per month.
Supplements: Make sure to take tax-free supplements for night work or weekend work, which are not counted towards BAföG.
Make clever use of income-related expenses: Deduct as many income-related expenses as possible to reduce your taxable income and thus keep the amount eligible for BAföG low.

3. Income during the semester break

Many students use the semester break to work more intensively and earn more.The good news: in some cases, income during the semester break cannot be fully offset against BAföG.

Special regulations for vacation jobs

Income that you earn during the semester break is often treated differently to income during the lecture period.You can earn higher income during this time without it directly leading to a reduction in your BAföG.

Flexible income distribution

It can also help to cleverly distribute your income over the approval period so as not to exceed the income limit.4 BAföG and scholarships: How do they affect each other?Are you combining BAföG with a scholarship to improve your financial situation?It is important to know how scholarships count towards BAföG.Scholarships and BAföG allowances

Scholarships that are considered educational support can remain exempt from offsetting as long as they do not exceed the BAföG allowance. Therefore, find out exactly which types of scholarships are exempt.

4. BAföG and scholarships: How do they affect each other?

Are you combining BAföG with a scholarship to improve your financial situation? It is important to know how scholarships count towards BAföG.

Scholarships and BAföG allowances

Types of scholarships

Deutschlandstipendium scholarships or specific university funding programs are usually not subject to BAföG, while private scholarships are often fully counted towards your BAföG.

5. Compulsory internship vs. voluntary internship

Whether you receive BAföG during your internship depends on whether it is a compulsory internship or a voluntary internship.

Compulsory internship

A mandatory internship is prescribed in your study regulations and must be completed in order to continue or complete your studies. During a mandatory internship, you are entitled to BAföG as long as the other requirements are met. Remuneration is possible here, but not mandatory.

Voluntary internship

A voluntary internship is not necessary for your degree, but serves to gain practical experience. If you do a voluntary internship, you are generally not entitled to BAföG unless the internship takes place during the semester break and does not interfere with your studies.

6. Influence of the internship remuneration on BAföG

In the case of a compulsory internship, remuneration is fully offset against your maximum BAföG rate - there are no allowances. For voluntary internships, however, the same allowances apply as for a normal part-time job. It is therefore worth calculating in advance exactly how much you can earn without jeopardizing your funding.

7. BAföG for internships: Important information

Compulsory internship: You are entitled to BAföG as long as the internship is prescribed in the study regulations. Any remuneration is fully offset against BAföG.
Internship abroad: A compulsory internship abroad is also supported by BAföG as long as it is part of your studies.
Voluntary internship: BAföG is only paid in exceptional cases, e.g. for an internship during the semester break.

Tip: Even if you do not receive BAföG during your internship, you may be entitled to the minimum wage if the internship lasts longer than three months.

8. Conclusion

A side income is often essential for students to make ends meet. However, it is crucial to know the income limits and to complete the BAföG application correctly. With our online BAföG calculator, you can quickly find out how your income affects your funding.

With our BAföG calculator from LeistungsLotse, you can quickly and easily check whether and how much BAföG you are entitled to. Check now!

#internship #bafoeg #calculation #mandatory internship #part-time job #earnings