DAKA
graduation
loan
Fair, uncomplicated and prompt
The Darlehenskasse der Studierendenwerke e.V. provides interest-free loans to students in financial distress. The amount and duration of the loan depends on individual needs.
The Daka loan has achieved top positions in several student credit tests (CHE, Finanztest). You can find more information on the loan at www.daka-darlehen.de or in our advisory service.
Financial distress
The maximum loan amount is 12.000 €; paid out in monthly payments of up to 1.000 €. Within the loan guidelines, you can flexibly structure the loan amount and the monthly amount of support according to your needs. If you have not yet taken up the maximum loan limit of 12.000 €, your Master's degree can also be funded after the Bachelor's degree.
Payment is made through the Daka office in Cologne by bank transfer to your personal current account.
Students can apply for the DAKA loan if they are dependent on financial support for their living. A third party guarantee is required as security for the later repayment of the loan.
Funding is possible in every phase of the studies.
The Daka loan is interest-free. Only a one-time processing fee of five percent of the loan amount is charged for the last disbursement.
Repayment of the loan begins twelve months after the final loan disbursement. If you are still studying at this time, it is possible to defer repayment without interest for up to twelve months after the regular study period.
Repayments are made in monthly instalments of 150 €. Early loan repayment is possible at any time and in any amount, and a flexible repayment solution can be agreed in particularly difficult financial situations.
You get the necessary application forms and current information material from our "Amt für Ausbildungsförderung". Your documents will be forwarded to the Daka office in Cologne immediately upon receipt. The processing and payment is carried out from there.
There is no legal entitlement to a Daka loan. The Daka is a non-profit organization of the Studierendenwerke.
The processing of the application is done quite fast. As a rule, a lead time of four to eight weeks must be expected.
Support for studies abroad
The maximum loan limit is € 6,000 and is paid out in one sum. The granting of the loan is independent of further funding and depends on individual needs.
Payment is made by the Daka office in Cologne by bank transfer to your personal current account.
Students of the University of Duisburg-Essen, the Folkwang University of the Arts and the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences can apply for the Daka loan for mandatory study semesters and voluntary internships abroad if they need financial support to finance their stay.
The guarantee of a third party is required as security for the later repayment of the loan.
The Daka loan is interest-free. Only a one-time processing fee of five percent of the loan amount is charged for the last disbursement.
Usually, repayment begins twelve months after the expiration of the grant and can be postponed further in justified cases.
Repayments are made in monthly instalments of 150 €. Early loan repayment is possible at any time and in any amount, and a flexible repayment solution can be agreed in particularly difficult financial situations.
You get the necessary application forms and current information material from our "Amt für Ausbildungsförderung". Your documents will be forwarded to the Daka office in Cologne immediately upon receipt. The processing and payment is carried out from there.
There is no legal entitlement to a Daka loan. The Daka is a non-profit organization of the Studierendenwerke.
The processing of the application is done quite fast. As a rule, a lead time of four to eight weeks must be expected.
Consulting hours
Personal advice on site
Under certain conditions, we can advise you in our administrative building in Essen:
Details and appointment
Telephone hours
Tue | 09:00 am | - | noon |
Thu | 09:00 am | - | noon |

