Applying for a grant under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) - Students 
According to the BAföG, individual educational support is granted if students do not have the necessary funds for their living expenses and education elsewhere. This is intended to enable individuals - regardless of their family's financial situation - to pursue the education they have chosen according to their interests and abilities. The aim is to provide all students with comparable educational opportunities.
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Basic information
The aim of educational support under the Federal Act on Individual Support for Education and Training (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - BAföG) is to give young people the opportunity to complete a university education that matches their abilities and interests, regardless of their social and economic situation.
Training assistance is provided for living expenses and training. The monthly requirement is flat-rate and depends on the accommodation (living with parents or living away from home). The student's income and assets, the parents' income and, if applicable, the income of the spouse/registered partner are taken into account.
Parent-independent funding is only granted under certain conditions.
Funding is provided for the duration of the standard period of study, from the fifth semester onwards only if the required level of performance is met (exceptions are possible).
BAföG is generally granted for 1 year ("approval period").
As a rule, funding is provided
half as a grant
half as an interest-free government loan.
Repayment of the loan portion begins 5 years after the end of the standard period of study.In certain cases, however, the funding is provided in full as an interest-bearing bank loan under private law (e.g. graduation assistance after the end of the standard period of study).
Requirements
Educational support is provided for studies at the following universities:
- University of Bremen
- Bremen University of Applied Sciences
- Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences
- Bremen University of the Arts
- Jacobs University Bremen
- Bremen University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration
- APOLLON private distance learning university of applied sciences for the healthcare industry
Educational support is also granted for the completion of an internship that is required in connection with attending the above-mentioned educational institutions and whose content is regulated in the educational regulations.
Entitlement to training assistance also depends on personal requirements such as age, aptitude and nationality.
In addition to German nationals, foreign trainees can also receive funding under certain conditions.
Whether the personal requirements are met in an individual case and justify an entitlement to training assistance can only be bindingly determined by means of an application procedure.
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Procedure
A written application must be submitted using the official forms in order to be granted educational support.
It is advisable to submit the application immediately after receiving the confirmation of admission.
You will be informed of the final decision and the amount of funding by means of a notification.
More information
Further comprehensive information on BAföG, in particular on
- the eligibility requirements,
- the rates of need,
- the forms to be completed as part of the application and
- the responsible offices for educational support
can be found on the websites of the Studentenwerk Bremen and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Studentenwerk Bremen is the responsible office for students at universities in Bremen.
Please note that application forms cannot be sent by post. However, they can be requested online.
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Competent Department
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Studierendenwerk Bremen
- (0421) 22O1-O
- (0421) 2201 195
- Bibliothekstraße 7, 28359 Bremen
- Website
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Online Services
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Fees / Costs
gebührenfrei
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Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
First application:
The application principle applies, i.e. funding is granted from the beginning of the month in which lectures begin, provided that a written application is received by the Office during that month. An informal application is sufficient to comply with the time limit; forms/evidence may be submitted within certain time limits.
Repeat request:
In order to ensure a seamless continuation of funding, repeat applications must be submitted in full to the Studentenwerk at least 2 months before the end of the grant period.How long does it take to process
Depending on the complexity of the test, initial application between 4 and 10 weeks.
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Legal Bases
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct. 25.07.2025