Federal Education Assistance Act (BAföG)

The Federal Education Assistance Act (BAföG) enables young people and young adults to finance their education or studies. The funding is aimed at German nationals and certain groups of people with residence status in Germany. You will receive BAföG if you do not have the necessary means for living expenses and education available elsewhere and you have the general suitability for the chosen education. Funding is generally limited to education in Germany, but under certain circumstances, education abroad can also be funded.

BAföG funds a wide range of educational institutions, from general and vocational schools to academies and universities. Both living expenses and education costs are directly supported. The funding is primarily aimed at the first professionally qualifying education, although under certain circumstances, further education or changes of field may also be funded. Excluded, however, are individuals who already receive other state funding equivalent to BAföG.

BAföG is granted as a combination of a grant and an interest-free loan. School pupils generally receive a full grant, while students and trainees at higher technical schools and academies receive half of the funding as a grant and half as an interest-free state loan. The exact amount of the monthly funding is needs-based and is calculated individually, taking into account the income and assets of the applicants, as well as their parents or spouses/life partners. The funding period is linked to the regular duration of education but can be extended under certain circumstances.

To receive BAföG, applicants must meet various conditions concerning both their personal circumstances and the course and type of their education. These include age limits, proof of academic success, and disclosure of their financial situation. The regulations for income and asset assessment are complex and determine the extent to which own funds or those of parents/spouses influence the funding amount.

The application for BAföG must be submitted in writing or electronically to the competent Office for Education Assistance. It is crucial to submit the application no later than the month in which the education begins, as funding starts at the earliest from this point. The jurisdiction of the offices varies depending on the type of educational institution and the applicant's family circumstances. Processing follows fixed procedural steps that include checking personal and financial requirements.

The BAföG program is based on the Federal Education Assistance Act, which forms the legal basis for individual education assistance in Germany. This law meticulously regulates the conditions, scope, and implementation of the funding and is regularly adapted to current circumstances to ensure contemporary and needs-based support.