Apply for BAföG abroad for students
Amount
- The same amount as for funding for domestic studies
- For each child under the age of 14 (childcare allowance): EUR 160.00 per month
- Supplements are available for:
- Tuition fees: up to EUR 5,600 for a maximum of one year
- Travelling expenses:
- for students within Europe: for one outward and one return journey, EUR 250,00
- for students outside Europe: for one outward and one return journey, EUR 500,00
- Additional costs for health insurance abroad
- higher cost of living for students outside the EU and Switzerland: monthly foreign supplement, the amount is based on the purchasing power equalisation set by the Federal Foreign Office for the respective country.
Type of funding
- Supplement for tuition fees: 100% grant
- Funding granted over and above the domestic funding and the other supplements: 50% grant, 50% non-interest-bearing state loan.
- Childcare supplement: 100% subsidy
You do not have to repay grants.
Duration
For studies at a foreign university
- within the EU or Switzerland: until graduation
- outside the EU or Switzerland: up to one year, only longer in exceptional cases
Responsible department
Depending on your destination country, certain offices for educational support
You can also enquire at the International Office of your university.
Details
Prerequisite
For studying abroad:
- the requirements for funding a study programme in Germany are met
- permanent residence in Germany or other sufficient connection to Germany
- Equivalence of the foreign educational institution with a university located in Germany
- the course abroad is a full-time course of study
- The course lasts at least six months or one semester. If the training takes place within the framework of a cooperation agreed with the training centre visited, it must last at least twelve weeks. This12-weekperiod may not be made up of individual stays abroad.
For an internship abroad:
- the internship abroad is in connection with attending a higher technical college, academy or university in Germany
- the internship is required for the completion of the training programme and is regulated in the examination regulations
- the prescribed duration of the internship is at least twelve weeks
- the internship abroad is conducive to the training according to the level of training
- the training centre or the responsible examination centre recognises that the internship meets the requirements of the examination regulations.
Procedure
You can apply for the training grant in writing or online.
Use the application assistant for the online application. You will need the eID function of your ID card or the federal ID to submit your online application securely. The plausibility checks built into the online procedure and information on supporting documents to be attached will help you to submit the application as completely as possible.
An informal application is sufficient to meet the deadline.
You will receive written notification in the form of a decision. If the decision is favourable, the responsible office will transfer the payments to the specified account each month in advance.
You are not entitled to domestic funding while you are studying abroad. You must therefore inform the office responsible for your training grant that you are taking up training abroad.
Deadlines
Submit the application as early as possible, at least six months before the start of your stay abroad.
The funding begins
- the start of the training or internship abroad, but at the earliest
- from the month in which you submit the application.
Required documents
- Documents as for the application for domestic funding
- additionally form 6
- Proof of:
- Enrolment
- Study place at the university abroad
- Travel data
- Health insurance abroad
- tuition fees to be paid to the foreign university
The responsible office will inform you about further required documents.
Costs
None
Miscellaneous
Free BAföG hotline 0800/223-6341 Mondays to Fridays from 8:00 to 20:00
Detailed information
Information on how to apply online can be found on the websites of the relevant student services organisations
Legal basis
Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (BAföG)
Verordnung über die Zuschläge zu dem Bedarf nach dem Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz bei einer Ausbildung im Ausland
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Wissenschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 24.03.2025