BAföG
Any student who receives BAföG (German federal student loans) will receive funding for four semesters without a review of their study performance. Starting from the 5th semester, educational financing will only be provided if the student can prove that they have completed the standard requirements for each subject studied by the end of the 4th semester. This proof is demonstrated using form 5 in accordance with § 48 BAföG, which must be signed by the chairperson of the Examination Committee. The study documents (Examination Regulations, Study Regulations) define the standard requirements.
On March 10, 2021, the Examination Committee decided on the following regulations for BA degree programs at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science.
Taking all modules into account (including the core area, supplementary area and AQua) the required credits to be achieved for BAföG (§ 48) are:
– 60 credit points by the end of the 3rd semester
– 80 credit points by the end of the 4th semester Credits from modules you have started will be considered on a pro-rata basis.
Modules that were specified in the previous Regulations may also be accepted for a transitionary period. You will find these stipulations here.
The following applies for BA degree programs at the Faculty of Linguistics, Literature and Cultural Studies:
Requirements for BAföG, Examination Regulations 2016
Requirements for BAföG, Examination Regulations 2020
Students studying in BA degree programs at the Institute of Social Pedagogy, Social Work and Welfare Studies must complete the following to receive BAföG:
- By the end of the 3rd semester, you must have successfully completed 16 examinations (not including AQua)
- By the end of the 4th semester, you must have successfully completed 22 examinations (not including AQua)
If you have successfully completed examinations from more advanced semesters and for this reason have not yet completed all the required examinations from the first four semesters, these examinations may also be recognized for BAföG. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Proof can be submitted after the 3rd semester (after you have received all your grades) or by the end of the 4th semester at the latest. Since it is unusual for all grades to be available at the end of a given semester and the BAföG office requires time for processing, we strongly recommend submitting your proof at the end of your third semester. Proof can be submitted to the BAföG office up to four months after the semester has ended (i.e. until the end of July or the end of January). This means that once you have received all your grades for the 3rd semester, the forms can be submitted to the Examination Office for confirmation without time pressure.
As you will continue to receive BAföG during this time (until the end of the 4th semester), there will be no break in payment if you submit your documents at this time. In the 4th semester, you will then no longer need to provide proof that you have completed the standard requirements for your subject.
Please allow a processing time of two weeks, as only the chairperson of the Examination Committee and a deputy are authorized to be signatories!
Students who are unable to provide proof by the 3rd semester and can only submit the forms in the 4th semester should typically expect a break in payment. It is only possible to ascertain if you have completed the required amount of modules after you have received all your grades. Therefore, the BAföG Office will not receive your forms until the first or even the second month. Since here, too, a submission must be made within the first four months after the end of the semester, you will not lose the funding, but you will only receive it and any back payments once you have submitted the forms.
If you are unable to provide proof that you have completed what is typically required for your course even after the 4th semester in accordance with § 48 para. 1 BAföG, you have the option of submitting an application for later submission. The relevant clause of § 48 para. 2 BAföG stipulates:
"If there are circumstances which justify extending the maximum financial aid term pursuant to § 15 para. 3, the Financial Aid Office may accept the required proof at a later date."
You may be eligible to receive educational support without providing proof of having completed the standard requirements for your course if there are serious grounds to do so. In accordance with the regulations, serious grounds are defined as:
• Illness
• An interruption to your studies to fulfill basic military or civilian service
• An extension of the exam period beyond the student's control (e.g. if the examiner suddenly falls ill)
• Late admission to required courses (e.g. due to limited space in the course)
• A first-time failure of an interim examination which is a prerequisite for continuing in the program
The reasons you specify must be the cause for the delay in your studies. This delay is considered justified if reasonable measures undertaken by the student would not help avert it. If there is any doubt about an illness, the responsible public health office must be consulted for assistance. In the cases named above, we recommend contacting the Studentenwerk Dresden (BAföG Office) for advice.
If Form 5 cannot be approved due to an insufficient amount of completed examinations, approval must be given for a more advanced semester. Approval can only be given in the 5th semester or another subsequent semester if you have completed the standard requirements as stipulated in the Examination Regulations. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
More useful links:
Federal law on individual educational support (BAföG)
Studentenwerk Dresden
FAQ - BAföG
Educational loans
Higher education scholarships for outstanding students
Repaying your loan