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Important changes
- Earn between 75€ and 115€ as a THG bonus for the CO2 you saved by owning an electric car. Application deadline is October 31st. You can search for a service provider who will take care of everything for you. You can compare the providers on Verivox*.
- Saturn and Mediamarkt are currently offering a 16% discount on multiple products. The offer ends in two days.
- Winter is here, so is the wintertime. On October 26th, the clocks will go back from 3:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
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Finance your studies in Germany (BAföG)
What is BAfäG?
BAföG stands for "Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz." It's a government-funded financial aid program that supports students financially whose families cannot fully cover their living or education costs.
How much BAföG can you get?
The maximum BAföG grant is (§ 11-14 BAföG )
The funding covers your housing, food, and health insurance (if applicable).
The BaföG office provides flat-rate funding. It doesn't matter how much rent you pay (§ 13 BAföG).
The BAföG grant depends on
- the type of training you are pursuing and
- whether you live with your parents
Who can get BAföG?
Here are the requirements you must fulfill to get BAföG.
- Your nationality and residence status
- How old are you
- Where and what course are you studying
- Do you have a financial need
1. Nationality and Residence Status
You must have one of the following nationalities or residence statuses (§8 BAföG).
- German citizens.
- EU & EEA Citizens: You have a right of permanent residence in Germany, or you are employed or self-employed in Germany. Your family members are also eligible.
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Other Foreign Nationals
You can be eligible if you fulfill any of the following requirements.
- You have a permanent residence permit in Germany.
- One of your parents has been residing and legally employed in Germany for at least three of the last six years before the start of your studies.
- You have lived in Germany for five years and have been legally employed during that time. This is particularly interesting for expats who would like to quit their jobs and pursue further studies.
2. Age Limits
You must start your education before you turn 45.
Exceptions
- You obtained your university entrance qualification through non-traditional schooling (e.g., evening school or a special examination for professionally qualified individuals).
- You are enrolling in a Master's program immediately after completing a Bachelor's degree, and you turned 45 during your Bachelor's studies.
- You were unable to start your studies earlier due to personal or family reasons, such as raising a child.
3. Where and what course are you studying
Your university or institution must be BAföG-eligible. You can get this information from your school.
Here are the institutions that qualify for a BAföG grant.
- Secondary schools and vocational schools from the 10th grade onwards. Funding is usually available if you are not living with your parents and cannot reasonably travel to a suitable school from your home.
- Technical and Vocational Colleges that require a completed apprenticeship for admission.
- Evening schools (Abendhauptschulen, Abendrealschulen, Abendgymnasien) and colleges for adult education (Kollegs).
- Higher Technical Colleges and Academies.
- Universities that offer degrees
4. Financial Need
Income sources considered
- Parents' income: You can get the maximum grant is the combined gross annual income of your parents is €41,500. If your parent earns more, you may still get BAföG. However, it'll be a reduced amount.
- Your Own Income and Assets: You can have a certain amount of savings without it affecting your BAföG eligibility. However, it is considered when you apply for the grant.
- Spouse's or Partner's Income: If your spouse can support your education, you won't get a grant.
Your parents' income is not taken into account in the following cases.
- You are attending an evening school or a college for adult education (Kolleg).
- You are over 30 years old when you start your studies.
- You have worked for five years after the age of 18 before starting your studies.
- Worked for three years after completing a three-year apprenticeship (or longer for a shorter apprenticeship).
How do you apply for BAföG?
You can apply for BAfög online here. You'll need:
- Proof of income (yours and your parents')
- Proof of your financial situation
- Approval from the training institution
NOTE: BAföG is not retroactive. So, apply for the grant no later than the month your training or studies begin. Here are other ways to apply for BAföG (§ 45 BAföG)
- University students: Student services office at your university
- Higher technical colleges, evening grammar schools, colleges, academies: BAföG office in the district of the training institution
- Other students: BAföG office at your parents' place of residence
You find the nearest BAföG office here.
How long is the application processing time?
It can take up to two to three months from application to the decision. In some cases, you can expect up to nine months.
If you need financial support during processing, contact your caseworker for urgent processing or apply for the citizens' allowance at the Jobcenter.
NOTE: Funding is granted for twelve months at a time. You must reapply annually. The funding ends after the standard period of study (as determined by examination regulations). This is six semesters for Bachelor's, two to four semesters for Master's.
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Webinar: Understanding German Health Insurance
5 more days to go. If you haven't registered yet, do it today.
Here is what you'll learn in the webinar.
Insights from a TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) expert about public health insurance (GKV).
- Benefits that many expats are unaware of: preventive programs, telemedicine, etc.
- Tips for getting faster appointments
Insights from an experienced insurance broker about private health insurance (PKV).
- Premiums in old age
- Returning to GKV
- How to choose between PKV and GKV?
- Challenges ahead: rising costs, waiting times, etc.
Answers to your questions and more...
Can't make it live? Sign up anyway – we'll be sending out a recording so you won't miss out
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A Request 🙏
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Latest News
- Turmtief Joshua is bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The gusts are reaching up to 120 km/h along the North Sea coast and around 80 km/h inland. The German Weather Service (DWD) warns that severe weather conditions may persist in the north due to the storm’s slow movement. [1]
- The number of deportations from Germany has risen significantly this year. From January to September, 17,651 people were deported. In the same period last year, the number was 14,706. The German government plans to deport Afghan criminals soon. According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, negotiations between Germany and the Taliban regarding deportations are nearing completion. [2]
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The bird flu is spreading rapidly across Germany, especially among migratory wild birds like cranes. It's also affecting the poultry animals, such as hens, turkeys, and ducks. Avoid poultry products for the meantime. If you see a dead bird, don't touch it. It might be infected. [3]
- In Brandenburg, over 9,000 turkeys and ducks were culled.
- In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, almost 150,000 laying hens were culled.
- In Lower Saxony's Cloppenburg district, 20,500 turkeys were culled.
- In Baden-Württemberg, around 15,000 birds were culled.
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Community Shoutouts! 📣
- SIM24* is offering a 20GB mobile data plan for 4.99€ per month.
- C24* is offering a 75€ bonus for opening a new account. You must also transfer your existing checking account using the CHECK24 account switching service.
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- Join our Facebook community. Ask questions, share experiences, join webinars, and stay updated about your rights, laws, and latest changes in real time.
- Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and Pinterest to get more insights about Germany daily.
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