BAföG for Study Abroad

The BAföG (German financial aid for students) for study abroad is a popular option for students to (partially) finance their stay abroad. Students can apply for this funding for both a semester of study and a semester-long internship abroad. However, for internships abroad, there is a restriction: under the BAföG (German financial aid for students), such an internship is eligible for funding only if it is a mandatory internship lasting at least 12 weeks; it must therefore be explicitly mentioned in the program’s study and examination regulations. Unfortunately, voluntary internships abroad are not eligible for funding through the BAföG (German financial aid for students).

Even if you have not yet been eligible for BAföG in Germany, you still have the option of receiving BAföG for study abroad. So even if you have not yet received BAföG in Germany, you should still take advantage of this opportunity and submit an application for BAföG for study abroad.

Students who receive domestic BAföG often wonder whether receiving BAföG abroad would shorten the maximum duration of their funding in Germany. The reassuring answer is: NO. If you apply for a leave of absence during your studies abroad, you will still pay the full semester tuition and remain officially enrolled at your home university. However, this means your semester abroad will not count as an academic semester and, consequently, will not be recognized as such for the purpose of calculating the maximum funding period for domestic BAföG (German financial aid for students). The time you spend during your semester abroad therefore does not affect the calculation of the maximum funding period for domestic BAföG. It is important, however, that you engage in study-related activities during your time abroad and can provide appropriate proof of these activities upon your return. On average, you will actually receive BAföG funding for a longer period with the international BAföG than you would without a stay abroad.

In general, BAföG (German financial aid for students) is granted for a maximum of one year. It is important to note that the funding must be received in a single, uninterrupted period. However, if your stay abroad is mandatory—that is, part of an integrated degree program—and is completed in an EU country or Switzerland, you will receive international BAföG funding without a time limit, as long as the standard maximum duration of BAföG funding is not exceeded.

The grant amounts for the BAföG abroad are higher than those for the domestic BAföG: In addition to the basic allowance and the housing allowance—which also apply to the domestic BAföG—there are additional allowances to cover tuition fees incurred abroad, health insurance, and travel expenses to the host country. Furthermore, there are special overseas supplements calculated based on the cost of living in each destination country.

For all mothers and fathers who are embarking on the adventure of living abroad with their child, the good news is that childcare supplements are also paid. In general, just as with domestic BAföG, 50% of the BAföG for study abroad must be repaid in installments at a later date. The other 50% is granted to you as a grant from the government.

Yes. Take advantage of the opportunity to receive financial support through an ERASMUS+ scholarship in addition to the BAföG (German financial aid for students) for studying abroad. Scholarship amounts currently range from 180 to 300 euros, depending on the cost of living in the country of the partner university. An Erasmus grant of up to 300 euros is not counted toward your BAföG (German financial aid for students).

Depending on the destination country, different offices are responsible for processing BAföG (German financial aid for students) funding for study abroad. For the Czech Republic, Poland, and Russia, for example, the International Office of the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Services is responsible. Therefore, when submitting your application, please find out which BAföG office is responsible for your destination country. It is also important to note that the processing time for a BAföG application for study abroad can be much longer (up to 6 months) than for domestic BAföG. Therefore, it is recommended that you submit your application at least half a year before the start of your semester abroad.