Study financing: an overview

In short: Studying can be financed in various ways: through BAföG, scholarships, part-time jobs, education loans or parental support. Most students combine several sources.

In more detail: Realistic financial planning before starting studies prevents financial bottlenecks.

In detail

• BAföG: State funding, partly a grant, partly a loan (bafoeg-grundlagen-fuer-studierende).
• Scholarships: Merit-, performance- or need-based funding from various organisations.
• Part-time job: Working student position or mini-job alongside studies, mind hours and taxes.
• Education loans: Low-interest loans specifically for financing studies, for example from the federal government.
• Parents’ maintenance obligation: Parents are generally obliged to provide maintenance during a first course of study.
• Household book: Keep an eye on expenses and income to avoid falling into debt (haushaltsbuch).
• Type of housing: Student halls, shared flats or your own flat significantly affect living costs (wohngemeinschaft-wg-regeln-und-vertraege).