The following criteria apply, which influence the approval of the application:

• Need: A certain income limit must not be exceeded by the student, parents or spouse.

• Age: As a rule, students are eligible if they start their degree programme by the age of 40 and the subsequent Master's degree programme by the age of 45.

  • Exceeding the age limit is permitted under certain circumstances if a disability or illness makes it necessary to study or is an obstacle to starting the degree programme in good time. It may also be permissible for applicants to exceed the age limit if they have acquired their higher education entrance qualification via the second-chance route.

  • Applicants are only entitled to BAföG if they commence their studies immediately after the reasons for the impediment no longer apply or the "need" arises (§10 Paragraph 3 Sentence 3 BAföG). This means, for example, for prospective students with longer hospital stays and/or rehabilitation measures: as soon as they are able to study, prospective students must immediately apply for a place in the desired field of study.

• Origin: In addition to German citizens within the meaning of the Basic Law, there are a number of cases in which foreign citizens are also entitled to BAföG.

As early as possible.

It is best to submit the application immediately after you have been accepted, even if documents are still missing. Retroactive approval is not possible. Bafög can be applied for as a paper application or online. There may be gaps between the change from a Bachelor's to a Master's programme. The last month of funding expires with the announcement of the grade of the Bachelor's degree programme, and at the latest with the ABlafúf of the second month in which the last part of the examination was taken (§ 15b para. 3 BAföG). Even with only provisional enrolment in the Master's degree programme, the funding opportunity begins again, although this time is counted towards the funding period for the Master's degree programme.

If an illness prevents you from completing your studies for longer than 3 months, you must inform the Office for Educational Support. No further payments can then be made from the 4th month until you resume your studies. In this case, it may make sense to take a leave of absence from your studies. You can then either apply for basic income support in accordance with SGB II (study interruptions of less than 6 months due to illness) or assistance with living expenses in accordance with SBG XII (study interruptions of more than 6 months due to illness).

All students can change their specialisation up to the beginning of the fourth semester without forfeiting their entitlement to BAföG. The maximum funding period will be adjusted. After the fourth semester, funding can only continue if the change is justified in writing. However, these justifications can have an impact on the amount or duration of the funding. Students with disabilities can cite a so-called irrefutable reason - for example, an unexpected illness, allergies or motor disabilities - which must be proven by a doctor or a severely disabled person's pass.

If you would like to change your specialisation at a later date, there are various reasons, some of which may have a negative impact on the overall funding or the maximum funding period. In any case, a change must be justified in writing.

Students for whom a change of degree programme or subject area becomes necessary at a later date due to disability or illness can cite a so-called "irrefutable reason". This is also possible in the Master's programme.

An unavoidable reason can be, for example, an unexpected illness, allergies or a mental or physical disability. This must be proven by a doctor or a certificate of disability. In the case of a change for an irrefutable reason, BAföG is paid as a normal grant (subsidy/interest-free loan).

The following instructions must be observed:

• You must initiate the change of specialisation immediately as soon as the "irrefutable reason" permits this

• Always seek individual advice!

• Apply for an advance decision from the office responsible for your educational funding

BAföG is only paid for the standard period of study of a degree programme. However, there are exceptions to this, for example if the programme is extended due to a disability (§15 Para. 3 No. 5 BAföG) or if there are "serious reasons" (§15 Para. 3 No. 1 BAföG) - for example a serious illness.

If this is likely to be the case, the corresponding application must be submitted before the standard funding expires. It must also be proven that the delay in studies is due to the illness or disability. Ideally, however, students should provide evidence of such extensions during their studies, in the best case before the proof of performance to be provided at the end of the fourth semester.

Proof is required: Proof of the disability or illness as well as proof of the specific effects on the course of study and the actual time lost. In order to be able to present this retrospectively over several semesters, students should regularly record when and why impairment-related delays occurred from the beginning of their studies. Any compensation for disadvantages received should also be listed.

If the compensation for disadvantages is rejected and no funding extension is possible due to an impairment, it is still possible to receive funding for the purpose of completing a degree for up to 12 months even after the end of the maximum funding period (§15 Para. 3a BAföG) However, this case can only be claimed if the standard period of study has not been exceeded by more than four months and the degree can be completed promptly (i.e. within the next 12 months). In contrast to the general BAfÖG, this is only an interest-free loan that must be repaid in full.

We recommend that you seek individual (and legal) advice in such cases!

When determining the income of parents, spouses or life partners, additional expenses that can be proven to be disability-related due to extraordinary burdens can be claimed (§ 25 para. 6 BAföG). Not only the applicant's disability, but also that of parents, spouses or partners can be taken into account.

Students are entitled to a capital allowance. For married trainees or trainees in a registered civil partnership as well as for trainees with children, the exempt amount is increased. Students with disabilities can submit an application to their responsible BAföG office to avoid undue hardship and thus, in exceptional cases, be granted a higher asset allowance.

The monthly BAföG payments are made up of statutory standard rates. Costs for disability and illness-related additional needs during studies are not included in these standard rates. However, there are various ways for students to receive financial aid for disability and illness-related additional needs.

BAföG is granted 50% as an interest-free loan and the other 50% as a non-repayable grant until the maximum funding period is reached. Repayment usually begins five years after the end of the maximum funding period and can be paid off in instalments.

The interest-free BAföG loan grant must be repaid up to a maximum amount of €10,000, even if more was paid out during the course of study.

An exemption from repayment (payment deferral) is possible, e.g. if the graduate's income is below a certain limit. Increased disability-related additional expenses can also be claimed via a hardship application. If you have difficulties repaying the instalments, you should seek individual advice from BAföG advisors at an early stage.