Financing your stay

International students from a non-EU or non-EEA country must prove that they can cover their own living expenses. To provide this proof, a blocked account is required.

It is called a "blocked account" because the money deposited in the account can only be withdrawn after the account holder has arrived in Germany. Likewise, the account holder cannot withdraw more money than 934 EUR (unless more money was transferred than the required minimum amount).

The Blocked Bank Account serves as proof of financial means for foreign students to stay in Germany for up to one year and is one of the most important requirements for applying for a German study visa or a residence permit for study purposes.

As of September 2024, the annual standard requirement that must be paid into the German blocked account when applying for a student visa to Germany will be 11,904 euros or 992 euros per month for your planned stay (up to 12 months). As a rule, a blocked account must be opened before you arrive in Germany. In exceptional cases (e.g. Iranian students), the account can be opened in Germany; this would then be included in the text on the visa itself.

Tip: Since the blocked account has to be activated after arrival, you cannot access the money immediately. It is therefore recommended that you bring some cash with you to cover the first few days in Germany.

For more information on the blocked account, please visit the website of the German Foreign Office.

Scholarship database of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): In the scholarship database of the DAAD, international guest researchers, doctoral candidates and students can inform themselves about various funding opportunities. In particular, the study scholarships for Master's students or the research scholarships for doctoral students are a good first point of interest for international students. There are also scholarships for specific subjects or for students from certain countries of origin.

Since there are generally no tuition fees in Germany, the range of scholarships for international students is relatively small. Most scholarships are available for the final phase of studies, but some have different criteria. Therefore, it is worth browsing the various scholarship databases and the websites of scholarship providers to find a suitable scholarship.

Scholarship databases or foundations:

• Funding database of the EURAXESS Germany Network: As a researcher you can find numerous programs of different funding organizations in Germany in the database of the German mobility center “EURAXESS Deutschland”
• Foundation index: The Foundation Index of the Federal Association of German Foundations offers a search service that covers around 10,000 German foundations.

 Scholarship providers and scholarships:

• Saarland Scholarship: International students and doctoral candidates who are in the final stages of their studies can apply for a Saarland Scholarship. The application is done online and is available in German and English. The application deadline is always February 28 or July 31.
   
• Germany Scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium): The Deutschlandstipendium supports students at Saarland University with 300 euros per month, regardless of nationality, age, number of semesters or course of study. Applications for a Deutschlandstipendium are possible from 01 - 30 June each year.
   
• Santander Scholarships: Becas Santander offers a multilingual database to search for scholarships, sorted by subject and target group.
   
• Care Concept Scholarships: Care Concept awards scholarships for German students going abroad, for international students in Germany and for refugees in Germany.
   
• VELA Scholarships: Vela awards scholarships to students who are enrolled at a German university, have a German residence and a German bank account. As soon as a new scholarship is announced, you will be informed here.
   
• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH): The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awards fellowships to foreign scientists. Among other things, the AvH offers a special program for scientists from developing countries and the CIS.
   
• Fellowships of the Heinrich Böll Foundation: The Heinrich Böll Foundation sponsors around 1000 students and doctoral candidates of all disciplines and nationalities each year. Outstanding academic or scientific achievements, social commitment and political interest are expected.
   
• DAAD - Support for foreign guest lecturers to teach at German universities: With this program, the DAAD supports the teaching activities of foreign guest lecturers at German universities. The application for funding is submitted by the German university.
   
• Hilde Domin programme: With this program, the DAAD supports globally at-risk students and doctoral candidates who are formally or de facto denied the right to education and/or other basic rights in their country of origin to take up or continue their studies in Germany in order to obtain a degree or doctorate at a German university.

Your studies at Saarland University can be funded according to the German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The BAföG office of the Studierendenwerk Saarland is responsible for this:

Office for Educational Support
Campus Saarbrücken
Building D 4.1
66123 Saarbrücken
E-mail: bafoeg-amt(at)stw-saarland.de
Telephone: 0681/302-2800
Mon-Thu 9.00 - 12.30 h and 13.30 - 15.30 h
Fri 9.00 - 12.30

Telephone consultation hours are currently offered.

BAföG as an international student:

Students who are staying in Germany with a residence permit may be entitled to educational support if you have a perspective of staying in Germany.

This includes, in particular, persons to whom one of the following criteria applies:

• A student is a recognized asylum seeker, a recognized refugee or the residence permit was granted for reasons of international law, humanitarian or political reasons.
• A student is the spouse or partner of a German citizen.
• A student has custody of a minor child with German citizenship.
• A student has a residence permit according to § 30 or §§ 32-34 of the Residence Act as the spouse or life partner or child of a foreigner with a settlement permit.
• A student has been granted a residence permit for temporary protection according to § 24 Residence Act or a corresponding fictitious certificate.

For other foreign students with a residence permit according to § 25 para. 3, para. 4 sentence 2 or para. 5, § 31 of the Residence Act, there is only an entitlement if they have also been legally residing in Germany for at least 15 months.

In addition, an entitlement can exist if the student has already been gainfully employed in Germany for five years prior to the start of his or her studies or if one parent has been gainfully employed in Germany for a total of three years during the last six years prior to the start of studies.

Important note: Students who are staying in Germany with a residence permit according to § 16 of the Residence Act only for the purpose of studying are not entitled to BAföG unless they also fulfill one of the other requirements mentioned above.

Age limit:
Students can then receive BAföG if they begin the education for which they are applying for support before they reach the age of 45 - or, in the case of master's degree programs, before they reach the age of 35.

If an international student wishes to apply for a visa to enter Germany, they must provide proof that they can cover the costs of their travel and stay in Germany. In addition to the previously mentioned blocked account, a third party may submit what is known as a “Letter of Sponsorship” (Verpflichtungserklärung).

Please note: This person must either hold German citizenship or be a legal resident in Germany. By submitting the declaration, they formally undertake to cover any costs that may arise in the event of an emergency involving their guest. This includes, but is not limited to, expenses for medical treatment or deportation.

The obligation to cover all associated costs remains in effect until the international guest either leaves Germany or is granted a residence permit for a different purpose. The obligation expires after a maximum of five years. Until then, any such costs must be borne or reimbursed by the person who submitted the declaration.

Important: Once the visa has been issued, a Letter of Sponsorship cannot be withdrawn.

Further information regarding the letter of sponsorship can be found on the website of the German Foreign Office.

Student loans support you in financing your living expenses during your studies or doctorate at a state or state-recognized university located in Germany. This loan must then be repaid within the contractually agreed term.

Education loan
The education loan offers financial support for the completion of studies (in an undergraduate course (diploma) after the intermediate examination, in a bachelor's course after the first year or in a master's course). The age limit here is 36 years.

Fördermöglichkeiten für Promotionsstudierende

• Avicenna Studienwerk e.V.
  Target group: Muslim doctoral students in the initial phase of their doctorate
   
• Cusanuswerk e.V.
  Target group: Catholic doctoral students in the initial phase of their doctorate who are doing voluntary work
   
• Ernst-Ludwig-Ehrlich-Studienwerk e.V.
  Target group: Jewish doctoral students in the initial phase who can demonstrate social or university-political commitment; Non-Jewish doctoral students working on Jewish topics
   
• Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst e.V.
  Target group: Protestant doctoral candidates in the initial phase who can demonstrate social, church or political commitment.
   
• Friedrich Ebert Foundation
  Target group: Graduates who make a relevant contribution to research and are politically engaged in the spirit of the Foundation
   
• German Academic Scholarship Foundation
  Target group: High-achieving doctoral candidates in the initial phase who can demonstrate a social commitment.
• Please feel free to contact us if you would like to be informed about further funding opportunities.

Housing allowance is a government subsidy that helps low-income households cover their rent costs. International students may also be eligible to apply for housing allowance under certain conditions. Here, you’ll find the most important information:

What is housing allowance? 

Housing allowance is a rent subsidy paid by the housing allowance office in your city or municipality. It is not a social benefit but rather a financial support for households that have an income but cannot fully cover their rental costs.

Who can apply for housing allowance? 

International students can apply for housing allowance if they meet the following requirements:

• Residence in Germany: You must be registered as a resident in Germany.
• Income: You must have an income (e.g., from a part-time job, scholarship, or family support) below a certain threshold.
• No BAföG: Students receiving BAföG (German federal student aid) are generally not eligible for housing allowance. However, exceptions exist, for example, if your residence permit excludes you from receiving BAföG.

What documents are required? 

For a housing allowance application, you will typically need:

• A valid passport or residence permit
• Your rental agreement
• Proof of income (e.g., payslips, scholarship certificates)
• Your certificate of enrollment
• Your current rent payment proof (e.g., a bank statement showing rent transfers)

How to apply for housing allowance? 

1. Submit an Application: The application must be filed with the housing allowance office in your local area. Many cities offer online application forms.
2. Provide All Documents: Submit all required documents completely, as this will speed up the processing time.
3. Processing Time: Processing your application can take several weeks. It is advisable to apply early.

How high is the subsidy? 

The amount of housing allowance depends on three factors:

• Rent Amount: Housing allowance covers only reasonable rental costs.
• Income: The lower your income, the higher your allowance.
• Household Size: All individuals living with you are considered in the calculation.

Special considerations for international students

• Residence Permit: Your residence permit should allow you to work.
• Scholarship Recipients: Even if you receive a scholarship, you may qualify for housing allowance if your total income is low enough.
• Cross-Border Students: If you study in Germany but live outside Germany, you are not eligible for housing allowance.

Important notes

• Housing allowance is not paid retroactively; it is granted from the month you submit your application.
• Changes, such as moving or altered income situations, must be reported to the housing allowance office immediately.

For further details, visit the housing allowance office website in Saarbrücken: https://www.regionalverband-saarbruecken.de/soziales/wohngeld.

Tip: Use an online housing allowance calculator beforehand to check if you might be eligible and estimate the amount you could receive.

Loan from the emergency fund

International students who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in a particular economic hardship may apply for a loan from the Student Union Assistance Fund.

The fund receives its resources from donations from the University, the Association of Friends of the University, the student body, other individuals and institutions.

Assistance in filling out the application is available at the Welcome Center. You can also hand in the completed application there.

• Application for a loan from the emergency fund
• Guidelines for the emergency fund