The Unsuspected Advantage of Applying for BAföG Financial Aid
For foreign students studying in Germany, the prospect of financial aid can be a significant relief. The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) is a German student financial aid programme that provides funding to eligible students. Here's a guide to help you understand the eligibility criteria, application process, and key points to consider.
Eligibility Criteria
Foreign students can be funded by BAföG if they have a permanent residence status in Germany and are enrolled in a higher education institution. However, it's important to note that students with a student visa are not eligible for BAföG.
Specific residence and legal requirements apply to foreign students. For instance, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with subsidiary protection can apply for BAföG. War refugees from Ukraine with a residence permit under §24 Residence Act can also apply. Individuals with a "national ban on deportation" or "Duldung" or those who came under family reunification can only apply after 15 months of residence.
Citizens of the European Union, refugees, and migrants with a settlement permit can receive BAföG, provided they meet other criteria such as age, suitability, income, and asset requirements.
Application Process
The BAföG application can be submitted either online or in paper form. It's recommended to submit the application as soon as you receive your study place offer, even if all required documents are not yet complete. Applying for BAföG can be done even after the start of studies.
Incomplete BAföG applications only delay the processing time, not lead to immediate rejection. A short handwritten note to the BAföG office is enough to secure BAföG for the current month, according to Stefan Grob.
Funding Amount
The funding amount depends on various factors, including the parents' income, the student's financial needs, and the type of study. The German Student Union has provided an approximate value of 40,000 euros per year in parental income for partial funding eligibility, before tax and social security costs. If the annual net income is around 20,500 euros or less, a full BAföG grant may be considered.
It is not always the case that a BAföG application is not worthwhile if parents earn a high income; a partial grant may still be possible. A new BAföG application is beneficial if circumstances have changed, such as a significant decrease in parents' income due to illness, unemployment, or retirement.
Additional Resources
The BMBF has compiled information on BAföG for those without German citizenship online. The BMBF offers a non-binding BAföG calculator for initial orientation, but the reliability of the result depends significantly on the accuracy of the data entered.
The BAföG-Digital platform and app offer a digital application assistant with helpful guides and plausibility checks. The German National Association for Student Affairs recommends seeking advice from student services and using the free BAföG hotline (0800 223 63 41) if needed.
In conclusion, foreign students can apply for BAföG if they have a qualifying residence status other than a student visa (e.g., settlement permit, refugee status) and are enrolled in a German higher education institution. Eligibility depends heavily on legal residence status as defined mainly in §8 BAföG and related residence laws. Private service providers for BAföG applications may not be necessary, according to Stiftung Warentest's 2022 test.
- Notably, vocational training programs can also qualify for funding from the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) alongside traditional academic education, providing opportunities for finance in the space of education-and-self-development for eligible foreign students in Germany.
- For those looking to further their education in vocational training, it's crucial to understand that they can apply for BAföG, provided they meet the required residence status and are enrolled in a vocational training program in Germany, just like students pursuing academic degrees.
