BAföG is the abbreviation for BerufsAusbildungsförderungsGesetz. BAföG regulates financial support from the state for school pupils, trainees and students. BAföG enables young people to train or study according to their interests and wishes, even if their parents' financial means are not sufficient.

The BAföG office decides on the application for BAföG. It is worth checking whether funding is possible. This is the case if

• the training is eligible for funding,
the applicant meets the personal requirements,the educational needs are not covered by their own income and assets or the income of their parents or spouse

The payment of BAföG consists of two parts: As a rule, your child receives one half as a grant from the state, while the other half is paid out as an interest-free loan. Student BAföG is paid in full as a grant.

• BAföG for students
  Students at universities and vocational academies can apply for BAföG. Both the Bachelor's degree course and a Master's degree course can be funded. Half of the BAföG funding is a state grant that does not have to be repaid. The other half is granted as an interest-free loan. The interest-free loan portion does not have to be repaid in small installments until five years after the maximum funding period has expired. The flyer "BAföG - Information for students" is available to download free of charge.
  
• BAföG for school pupils
  Pupils who wish to obtain a vocational qualification or a secondary school leaving certificate can also receive BAföG if they meet the requirements. Student BAföG is always provided in full as a grant. It does not have to be repaid. You can find more details on this website.

• BAföG for training or studying abroad
  Anyone who is generally eligible for financial support and wants to gain valuable experience abroad during their training or studies will receive BaföG supplements for the time abroad. However, the application should be submitted at least six months before the start of the trip. You can find more details on this website.

• BAföG for students and trainees with family responsibilities
  Balancing studies or school with being a parent or caring for close relatives is an additional challenge. BAföG helps eligible applicants with special supplements, which are even paid for longer under certain conditions. You can find out more details on this website.
• BAföG for people without a German passport
  Eligible students and pupils from the European Union, people with a migration background or refugees can also receive BAföG during their studies or schooling. You can find more information on this website.
  

If you would like to receive BAföG, you must submit an application. If the application is approved after review, a certain amount will be transferred to the account each month. Your child can easily process and submit the BAföG application digitally with the application assistant. All information at a glance, information sheets, forms and the digital BAföG application can be found on the website www.bafög.de.

Here's the link to the online application:

• for a study program including internships in Germany
• for school education (including internships) in Germany
• for a study, school education or internship abroad

If you have any questions, you can contact the free BAföG hotline on 0800 2236341 Mondays to Fridays from 8 am to 8 pm.

The student loan from the state-owned KfW Bank is an alternative way of earning a living during your studies without financial worries. Financing is provided without collateral and regardless of grades or parents' income.

Your child

• is studying full-time or part-time
• is enrolled in a first, postgraduate, second or doctoral degree program at a college or university
• is 44 years of age or younger at the start of their studies
• is a German citizen or has been an EU citizen in Germany for at least three years

• The disbursement can be flexibly selected between 100 and 650 euros.
• The loan is independent of the parents' income.
• No collateral is required.
• Repayment is only made after the end of your studies.
• Repayment is possible up to 25 years after graduation.
• The repayment installments (interest and repayment) can be kept low. They amount to at least 20 euros per month.
• Unscheduled repayment is possible free of charge.
• The student loan can be combined with BAföG or an educational loan.

Before you apply for the KfW student loan, you can clarify your personal needs and check whether the student loan is suitable for you. The preliminary check and the digital needs calculator can be found here. If you would like to apply for a student loan, you can submit the application directly online.

Detailed information on the KfW student loan can be found on the website of KfW-Bank. The most important information in brief can be found at www.kfw.de.