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Funding your studies

Higher Education

You need money to study. What to do if you haven’t got enough? The Federal Government offers various types of funding through BAföG and in the form of scholarships and Bildungskredit training loans.

Opportunities

  • BAföG, scholarships and training loans provide educational opportunities. They help students to finance their studies.
  • All of society benefits from qualified professionals in science and business.

BAföG provides educational opportunities

The Federal Training Assistance Act, known by its acronym BAföG, has opened up educational opportunities for young people for nearly half a century. Pursuant to BAföG, the Federal Government provides financial support to individual students to cover living expenses and tuition/study fees should they or their parents (or possible spouses/partners) be unable to provide the funds themselves. Millions of adolescents and young adults have benefited from BAföG this way to date. Over the years, the BAföG Act has been developed further and continuously adapted to reflect the changed reality of young peoples' lives.

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Scholarships for committed talents

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) offers a broad range of scholarships, for both academic and vocational education and training pathways. They all aim to provide special support to highly talented and committed people in developing their potential and skills.

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Funding through the Bildungskredit programme

A Bildungskredit training loan is a time-limited loan to support university students and trainees of legal age at an advanced stage of their education or training. The loan can be taken out independently of assistance received in accordance with BAföG. Unlike the training assistance under BAföG, a Bildungskredit is not dependent on income. However, it is only granted to fund training at training institutions that are approved under BAföG.

The terms and conditions for funding include:

  • Borrowers can choose to receive up to 24 equal monthly payments of 100, 200 or 300 euros and in addition to, or instead of, these monthly payments may apply for a one off payment of up to 3,600 euros. To receive the one off payment, they must prove that this funding is needed, for example, for special educational purposes, while not exceeding the maximum permitted 24 loan payments and total sum of 7,200 euros.
  • In accordance with the objectives of the programme, loans are only granted to apprentices in advanced phases of their vocational training. “Advanced phase” is assumed for bachelor's degree courses which have no preliminary exams if the training institution declares that the student has fulfilled the requirements which are customary for the first study year.
  • All postgraduate study courses are considered advanced phase from the start, provided the course was preceded by successful completion of an undergraduate study course.

Applications for a Bildungskredit are submitted to the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

A Bildungskredit is not the same as a KfW Student Loan. For more information about the KfW student loan, go to the KfW homepage.

Editorial deadline for this text: 01.11.2024

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