Germany - Guidance to Apply for Student Loan

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Procedure

Applying for the Government's Student Loan Scheme:

When you have found the right student loan, you can apply online or directly in the bank branch in your city.

After verification of all the needed documents (like e.g. enrollment documents, CV, last exam grades etc.), the bank will prepare an educational grant agreement for the loan.

After signing this agreement disbursements can start on a monthly or semester-wise base, or even as onetime payment.

Depending on the interest payment model, disbursements can be reduced by the interest costs right from the beginning or interests are granted until repayment phase starts (after you have graduated and found a job, which is more expensive). Repayment period depends on your finances as well as on banks' student loan criteria.

Application Wizard

Applying for a Student Loan Banks

Student loans are available for a greater number of students and the student borrows money for his education and pays the borrowed sum, plus interest over a period of time back.

Some banks offering student loans have a comprehensive application process and require the completion of an Assessment Center. Only few of them offer financing for postgraduate degree or a second bachelor degree.

• You go through an application process.
• Give your consent that you seek a credit report.
• The bank checks if your application meets internal criteria.
• If this assessment has been completed successfully, you are invited to a telephone interview.
• You get an offer and create a contract.

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Required Documents

• Form 1
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of living away from home
• Proof of income and assets of the student
• Enclosure to form 1
• instead of form 2: Certification of higher education institute in accordance with 9 BAfG
• Form 3 (respectively divided for father, mother, wife or husband - except in case of BAfG which is not dependent on parents).
• Full income tax notice of the parents two years prior to submission of the application.
• Proof concerning school attendance and, if applicable, income of brothers and sisters.
• Form 4 (only for the first application of students from abroad)

The competent body will inform you concerning further necessary documents.

Office Locations & Contacts

Federal Training Assistance (BAfG) Hotline
Mo - Fr 8 - 20 h , Sa. 10 - 14 h
Telefonnummer: 0800-BAFOEG1 bzw. 0800-2236341
Domestic - studies (including internships)
An education (including training) in Germany
Study, an education, an internship abroad

Eligibility

German within the meaning of the Basic Law are those

• German nationality or
• temporarily the status as (status) German without German citizenship (as regards main application repatriates in the short term with issuance of the certificate according to 15 BVFG German citizenship acquire) possess.

In principle, sufficient explanation of trainees person about their German citizenship. When in doubt, it can be demonstrated by the presentation of a valid passport or a valid identity card of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Persons who temporarily have the legal status as (status) German, this exhibit by presenting a valid ID according to the Status as German.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Funding period

Documents to Use

Application Forms

Sample Documents

Examples

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

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Instructions

An effective application is only present when this writing, that is signed personally by the applicant person or their legal representatives by name signature, received by the Office of Student Aid.

The application must be submitted again for each funding period. This applies even if the application for the previous authorization period has not yet been granted or rejected and has not yet been a final decision lodged a defense against.

The authorities have to check whether the certificate of eligibility met the set requirements.

Please send the completed application forms directly to the chief of you Office of Student Aid.

Required Information

• Your data
• Your study data
• Data from your parents
• Declaration
• Signature

Need for the Document

Student loans in Germany are offered by the state as well as by institutions and banks (private student loans). Some offerings only cover tuition fees for German state universities, others finance tuition fees for private universities as well as cost of living.

The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAfG) provides young people since 1971 educational opportunities. The BAfG helps the young men and women to be able to complete a their aptitudes and interests relevant training, regardless of the financial situation of their family.

BAfG has been providing educational opportunities for young people for over forty years. Basically, federal training assistance under BAfG means that training is funded by the public sector. The state provides the individual with the financial means necessary to cover living expenses and training fees.

Information which might help

Boarding costs are directly related to the training, if a visit to a training center also makes a boarding accommodation required. Necessary, a boarding school accommodation be only if the desired training goal could not be achieved without them. This is especially likely if the educational institution makes even accommodation in boarding a mandatory condition or if an appropriate training center could not be visited every day, for example on grounds of disability the person trainees without boarding accommodation.

To achieve the training objective an external accommodation is only necessary if an appropriate reasonable training center from the apartment of the parents cannot be reached. However, if a training center accessible at this training objective can be pursued, the fundamental prerequisite for the consideration of the boarding accommodation is already not met.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

The German Federal Training Assistance Act (BAfG) provides educational opportunities

External Links

Federal Training Assistance Act (BAfG)

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Federal Training Assistance Act BafG (Legal Guide)

BAfG Application

Information about education grants

Others

The Office in whose district a parent is a permanent resident is also responsible if the other parent, or at least whose residence is unknown.

If the residence of well-known parent abroad, in analogous application placed on the permanent residence of the person trainees.

The authority, in whose district the person being trained is a permanent resident is also responsible if the stay of the parents is unknown, or if both parents or the parent is not known having parental custody or on coming of age of apprentices person not condition.