BAföG

How do I apply?

To receive financial support from the BAföG scheme, you will need to submit an application in which you provide information about your current circumstances, including your income and your parents' income. If you are not a German citizen, you may still be eligible for BAföG if you have permanent residence, are an EU/EEA/Swiss national with a right of residence, hold recognized refugee or subsidiary protection status, or – as a non‑EU national – meet specific residence or employment requirements. As the application process can take a while to complete, you should start it as soon as possible – ideally immediately after enrolling at university.

The BAföG application forms are available online or you can pick up a paper copy from the Studierendenwerk [Saarland Student Services]. You can submit your application electronically via the  BAföG Digital portal.

You will need to reapply for each year that you require funding, but follow-up applications are simpler. For each application, you will need to provide a statement of your income and your assets in the calendar year before last.

How much money will I receive? Do I need to pay it back?

The current maximum BAföG rate for students is €934 per month. If you want to know whether you are eligible for BAföG and how much you could receive, use the online BAföG calculatorbefore applying.

Half of the financial assistance from BAföG is a grant, which does not need to be paid back. The other half only has to be repaid after you have finished studying. A lot of students mistakenly believe that they have to repay the full amount and that getting support from BAföG means racking up a lot of debt. In fact, repayments only begin once your earnings exceed a certain threshold. In some circumstances, there is also the option to defer repayment, and any remaining balance is written off after a set period of years.