BAföG
BAföG is more than just a grant - it is your ticket to a self-determined course of study. Many first-time graduates use it to finance their dream of going to university, often without knowing it at the beginning. And the best thing is that a large part of it doesn't have to be paid back!
Table of contents
Student BAföG - the classic
In general, every student should apply for BAföG before starting their studies, as this can provide you with a monthly income of up to €992(as of August 2025). The best thing about BAföG: you don't have to pay it all back!
Here are a few important key points:
Application
The BAföG office of the Studentenwerk is responsible for all students in Dresden. You can hand in your application there in person, send it by post or email or fill it in directly online via BAföG Digital. All forms and procedures can be found on the Studentenwerk website.
It is best to submityour application three months before you start your studies. So that you don't lose any time, a basic application (form 1, can be found on bafög.de) or even an informal application with date, address and signature to Studentenwerk Dresden is sufficient. You can submit the remaining documents later. It is best to allow at least 2 months for the application process.
You will need proof of your parents' income (the income you had two years ago counts here) and your assets (e.g. bank and savings balances, cash, property). You must also submit your CV, your bank details, your certificate of enrollment and information about your income situation during the approval period. Proof of your health insurance and housing situation may also be required.
You can find out exactly which documents you need in the respective forms - or you can ask the Studentenwerk Dresden directly.
Tip: If your parents' income is lower than it was two years ago, you can submit an update application.
Approval period and maximum funding period
Your BAföG application usually lasts for 12 months (i.e. 2 semesters). After that, you must reapply for funding. The same applies here: allow enough time to process your application (approx. 2 to 3 months)!
How long you can submit a BAföG application depends on your standard period of study. This varies depending on the degree program and is set out in your study regulations.
Tip: In certain cases, you can receive BAföG beyond your standard period of study. To do this, you must submit a justification to the BAföG office. This includes: Proven active committee work, serious reasons (for example illness, disability), pregnancy, bringing up your own children, caring for relatives or failing a final examination for the first time.
Proof of performance
From the 5th semester onwards, you will need a certificate of achievement from the Examination Office for your BAföG application. Find out early on which achievements count towards this. Submit the certificate at the end of the 4th semester (or earlier if everything has been completed). This will help you avoid gaps in your funding.
Important! Do not provide false information - otherwise you will have to pay everything back and face penalties. Ask your parents or grandparents whether any assets are in your name.
Repayment
As 50% of BAföG consists of an interest-free loan, you only have to pay back half of the BAföG after your studies. In addition, there is a maximum limit of €10,0 10(as of August 2025), i.e. even if you finance your Bachelor's and Master's with BAföG, you will have to pay back a maximum of €10,010 at the end.
Repayment begins 5 years after the end of the maximum funding period of your first degree and is paid in installments. You will receive a repayment notice from the Federal Office of Administration beforehand, in which the start of the repayment and the amount of the monthly or quarterly installments are specified.
The following regulation currently applies(as of August 2025):
- Repayment of BAföG debts is made on a quarterly basis.
- Every three months, € 390 must be transferred to the Federal Office of Administration. This corresponds to a monthly payment of €130.
If you are unable to pay these installments because your income is too low (e.g. during your Master's degree course), you can apply to the Federal Office of Administration for an exemption. Exemption means that you do not have to pay back anything or only a reduced amount during this time.
Tip: If you repay the loan in one lump sum, there may be a discount. You can also repay the remaining amount in one go at any time during the installment period or make a partial repayment of at least €500 and receive a discount.
NEW: Study Start Grant
Starting university can be expensive – from the deposit for your first flat to teaching materials and a laptop. Fortunately, there is the study start-up grant, a one-off grant of €1,000 to help you get started. It is intended to finance expenses typically associated with starting your studies, such as IT equipment, teaching and learning materials, rental deposits or moving costs.
The study start-up grant is aimed at anyone who is enrolled at a university in Germany, the EU or Switzerland for the first time, is under 25 years old and received certain social benefits such as citizen's allowance, child supplement or housing benefit in the month before starting their studies.
You can apply online via the BAföG digital platform - simply, quickly and conveniently from home. Important: There is a statutory deadline for submitting the application. To make sure you don't miss out on funding, you should submit your application right at the start of your studies.
Tip: Have all supporting documents ready, e.g. notifications of social benefits. The application is processed via the platform, and the hotline on +49 800 2236 341 can help with any questions.
Special case: BAföG independent of parents
For all those who are not transferring directly from school to university, there is the alternative of parent-independent BAföG. This means that your parents' income is not taken into account in the BAföG application.
No extra application is necessary for this. The BAföG office will normally check your CV to see if you meet the requirements.
You are eligible for parent-independent BAföG if...
- you have worked for at least 5 years before your studies, or
- you have completed a three-year apprenticeship and then worked for 3 years, or
- you are over 30 years old.
Note: If you have completed a shorter apprenticeship, you must have worked for a correspondingly longer period. The reverse is not possible (longer training, shorter work). You must also have earned your own living during this time.