FAQ BAföG

Yes, your application should even be submitted digitally, as this speeds up processing: Submit application now

The processing time for a BAföG application is approximately 2 months. Therefore, it makes sense to submit the application as soon as possible and completely (!). In particular, renewal applications should be submitted in advance, as there may be a processing backlog at the beginning of the semester due to the large number of initial applications.

In principle, there are no general exclusion periods. However, BAföG is not granted retroactively. This means that if you start your studies in October and submit your application in November, you will give away your BAföG grant for October.

Those who wish to receive BAföG on time and without any problems should submit their application as early as possible (2 months before the end of the last grant period) to the BAföG office.

For initial applications, we recommend that you submit your application directly after you have received the notification of admission from your university.

If time is running out, due to replacement procedures or similar, a provisional application can be submitted to meet the deadline.

In order to meet the application deadline, an informal BAföG application is sufficient. However, the official application forms must be submitted later. Please note that several weeks may elapse between application and payment of the BAföG amount.

Fill in all fields. Even if you think you don't have to give any information somewhere, it's better to give a line or a zero instead of no information. Each gap leads to inquiries and inquiries lead to delay - and in the worst case you will get your money one month later.

Generally, grants are awarded for a period of twelve months. Please refer to page 1 of your notification of support for information on the period for which you were granted support.

Early before the end of the approval period, about two months in advance, you should submit a complete and fully documented renewal application so that there are no payment interruptions.

At the beginning of the 5th semester, proof of qualification must be provided that you have attained the ''usual performance level'' in accordance with § 48 Para. 1 BAföG at the end of the 4th semester.

Please talk to your advisor about what this means in your specific case.

If your parents refuse to provide you with information about their income, or if they do not pay you the credited income amount as maintenance payments, it is possible to apply for an ''advance payment''.

After examining each individual case, the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung may assume the payment of advance payments in addition to the BAföG claim. In return, the student's claim for maintenance against his or her parents is transferred to the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung, which reclaims the amount if necessary by means of a maintenance claim and charges interest at a rate of six percent up to this date.

In any case, talk to our expert at the BAföG office.

In principle, there are no general exclusion periods. However, BAföG is not granted retroactively. This means that if you start your studies in October and submit your application in November, you will give away your BAföG grant for October.

Those who wish to receive BAföG on time and without any problems should submit their application as early as possible (2 months before the end of the last grant period) to the BAföG office.

For initial applications, we recommend that you submit your application directly after you have received the notification of admission from your university.

If time is running out, due to replacement procedures or similar, a provisional application can be submitted to meet the deadline.

Form 1
Information on personal data, personal income and assets

Appendix 1 to Form 1
School and professional background; usually only required for the first application.

Form 3
Declaration of income of parents and wife or husband
Proof: Tax assessment with income from two years ago

Form 4
For international students at the initial application if the parents and spouse also do not have German citizenship.

Proof of own apartment
Submission of a registration certificate or rental agreement

If you are late, you can submit an informal BAföG application as a first step to meet the deadline. After that, the fully completed application forms and certificates must be submitted.

As a rule, BAföG is granted for 12 months and must be applied again at the end of this period. You should submit a BAföG renewal application about two months before the end of the grant period so that there are no funding gaps.

Form 1, alternatively Form 9*

Form 3
Declaration of income of parents and wife or husband
Proof: Tax assessment with income from two years ago

Form 5
Proof of academic achievement after the 4th semester

Proof of own apartment
Submission of a registration certificate or rental agreement

*The following requirements must be met:

• The responsibility of the BAföG office has not changed.
• There is no time gap between the subsequent application and the previous funding.
• Assets and income of the applicant have remained the same. An increase in assets is legitimate if the tax-free amount of € 15,000.00 (up to the age of 30) or € 45,000.00 (from the age of 30) is not exceeded.  

Appendix 2 to Form 1
A childcare surcharge can be applied for children under the age of 10.

Form 6
BAföG for studying abroad

Form 7
Update request if the income of the parents and/or wife or husband has changed.

Form 8
Application for advance payments if parents do not provide the necessary documents.

With an approval period of twelve months, as an applicant you can earn an additional 5.421,84 € (01/2022) gross as income from employment without being credited to the BAföG rate. For income from self-employment, the gross limit is 4.410,00 € (01/2022).

Child benefit does not play a role in the calculation. It is not regarded as income and is therefore at your disposal.

Please note: Other requirements apply to internship allowances or orphan's pensions, which are generally counted as income. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor.

Your financial circumstances at the time of application are decisive. Comprehensive proof of this must be provided.

Assets are attributed to you even if you have transferred them in an abusive manner. This is the case if you were transferred in connection with the commencement of your training or if, in the course of your training, you transfer parts of your assets to third parties, in particular parents or relatives, free of charge or without equivalent consideration.

Your assets will remain free of charge as long as you do not exceed the tax-free amount of € 15,000,00 € (up to the age of 30) or € 45,000,00 € (from the age of 30). 

On application, a part of the income may additionally remain exempt from crediting in order to avoid unreasonable hardship, for example in the case of a disability of the student or the person liable for maintenance.
For example, the amounts for the disabled or nursing care flat rates are taken into account here.

By signing the BAföG application, you declare that the information you have provided is correct and legally binding if it turns out to be untrue.

It is only advisable to provide truthful information, as the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung compares data with those of the Federal Central Tax Office throughout Germany. Incorrect information leads to investigations being initiated and, if necessary, to fine/criminal proceedings for misuse of social benefits.

Changes in the income of the applicant or the parents, spouse or registered partner must be notified in writing without delay.

If necessary, a recalculation is carried out and a notice of change is issued.

That depends on the time frame of your studies. If you are studying part-time at FOM Hochschule, you are not eligible for BAföG. Full-time students at eufom Business School, on the other hand, are eligible for BAföG. Our recommendation: Get advice from our BAföG-Amt before you submit your application.

The BAföG entitlement does not expire if there is an "important reason" for the first change of subject until the end of the 3rd semester.

An irrefutable reason must always be taken into account, even after the 3rd semester. This is an objective reason for the change of subject, for example a permanent physical limitation of a sports student after an accident.

Semesters credited from one faculty to another may be credited towards the maximum funding period.

In exceptional cases, support is possible independent of parents.

The individual requirements for this are as follows:

• The student was gainfully employed for a total of 60 months after reaching the age of 18 and until the beginning of his studies, whereby vocational training periods are not taken into account. Gainful employment means that you must have earned enough to be able to support yourself without having to take advantage of your parents (currently 778.80 € per month - as of 10/2018).
• The student has been employed for at least three years after three years of vocational training; together with the training there must be a period of at least 6 years.
• The student is over 30 years old at the beginning of the training period and further requirements are met. Please contact us for further information.

In the case of parent-independent support, income declarations by the parents are no longer required. However, the income of the spouse/registered partner is always taken into account.

Students must be under 45 years of age at the start of their studies to receive BAföG.

Note: The age limit was increased in 2022 as a result of the BAföG reform.

For a study abroad there is the possibility of the "Auslands-BAföG". Special offices are responsible for this. The respective address - depending on the country in which you would like to study - can be obtained from your responsible administrator or at www.bafög.de.

Further funding opportunities for a stay abroad

If you are not entitled to BAföG funding, you can request information on the awarding of scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (www.daad.de), Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn, and from the International Offices of the universities (www.hochschulkompass.hrk.de)  under "Universities".Further information can be obtained from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, 53170 Bonn (www.bmbf.de).

As a BAföG receiver, you have the possibility of being exempted from the licence fee collection service (ARD ZDF Beitragsservice). Further information and the corresponding application form can be found here: www.rundfunkbeitrag.de