General information on BAföG

Since August 1st, 2022, it has been even more worthwhile to apply for BAföG. With the 27th BAföG Amendment Act, which came into force on this day, the conditions for receiving the BAföG grant have been significantly improved.

The possible amount of funding has been increased. The allowances on the income of parents, spouses and civil partners have also increased significantly, so that benefits are within the realm of possibility even with higher incomes. In addition, students may earn more themselves in the future than before and assets of up to EUR 15,000 (up to EUR 45,000 for students over 30) do not affect their BAföG entitlement. The childcare allowance will also increase to EUR 160 per month. And the age limit is also increasing: Instead of being up to 30 years old, you can now be up to 44 years old when you start studying without having to forgo BAföG or have to apply for an exception.

Finally, the law also enables a greatly simplified digital application. Instead of laboriously filling out forms, you can enter all the necessary data step by step using an online tool in question-and-answer mode. How exactly does it work? You can find out at www.bafoeg-digital.de!

In short: apply! Best online!

Since 01.06.2022, Ukrainian refugees studying at a university or a preparatory college in Germany have also been entitled to educational support under the BAföG.

The main requirements for this are

the possession of a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 (1) of the Residence Act or a corresponding fictitious certificate from the foreigners authority and
enrollment in a full-time course of study at a German university or college, or
Attendance at a state-recognized preparatory college, which prepares them for attending the university.
If refugees from Ukraine continue their studies at a Ukrainian university online, they are currently not entitled to BAföG. This also applies to cases in which refugees are enrolled as guest or exchange students by the universities without a concrete educational goal in the sense of an intended degree. For the persons concerned, however, there is the possibility of receiving benefits under SGB II.

The Office for Educational Support of the Studentenwerk Halle offers individual counseling to all affected students.

Information on the treatment of pandemic-related restrictions in BAföG.
After both the summer semesters of 2020 and 2021 and the winter semesters of 2020/2021 and 2021/22 brought many pandemic-related restrictions in higher education, the state of Saxony-Anhalt has initiated an amendment to the Higher Education Act. As a result of this amendment and related legal ordinances, the standard period of study will be increased by four semesters for all students enrolled at a university in Saxony-Anhalt during these semesters who are not on leave of absence. If there was only a smaller amount of enrollment according to the conditions mentioned, the standard period of study will be increased by one, two or three semesters depending on the number of enrollments.
The aforementioned changes also affect various regulations in the Federal Training Assistance Act. In particular, they affect the maximum period of support to be determined by the BAföG office as well as the point in time at which students must submit proof of performance in accordance with Section 48 (1) BAföG.
In the following, we would like to inform you about the details of the treatment under funding law.

1. proof of performance
As a rule, from the fifth semester onwards, educational assistance for attending a university will only be paid from the time when the student has submitted proof of performance in accordance with Section 48 (1) BAföG. This proves that the student has reached the usual performance level of the 4th semester. If the proof of performance cannot be provided, further funding will only be granted if there are special reasons for justification (§ 15 para. 3 BAföG).
As a result of the new regulations on the standard period of study, the summer semesters 2020 and 2021 as well as the winter semesters 2020/2021 and 2021/22 will - under the conditions described at the beginning - not be assessed as subject semesters within the meaning of Section 48 (1) BAföG. This means that the submission date for the certificate of achievement is postponed by up to 4 semesters (by 3 semesters for first-time enrollees in the winter semester 2020/2021 and by 1 semester for first-time enrollees in the winter semester 2021/22). Examples:

• In the winter semester 2021/2022, there is an enrollment in the 5th subject semester. The performance status of the 4th semester did not have to be submitted yet due to the already applicable exemption regulation. It must now be submitted at the latest at the beginning of the winter semester 2023/24.
• In the winter semester 2021/2022, students will be enrolled in the 3rd semester. The performance status of the 4th semester would normally be submitted at the beginning of the winter semester 2022/2023. It is now to be submitted at the beginning of the summer semester 2024.
• In the winter semester 2021/22, there is an enrollment in the 1st semester. The performance status of the 4th semester must be submitted at the beginning of the summer semester 2024, since only one semester is covered by the pandemic regulations.

The Office of Student Financial Aid will determine the applicable postponement of the submission date, taking into account the individual requirements, and will inform the affected students of the new submission deadline in the course of processing the financial aid applications, without the need for a separate application.

2. maximum duration of support
Educational support is regularly provided up to the end of the standard period of study (referred to in BAföG as the maximum period of support or FHD). Funding beyond the FHD is generally only possible if there are reasons that justify a corresponding measure within the meaning of Section 15 (3) BAföG.
As a result of the new regulations on the standard period of study, the summer semesters 2020 and 2021 and the winter semesters 2020/21 and 2021/22 - subject to the conditions mentioned at the beginning - will not be counted as semesters towards the maximum funding period. As a rule, this results in an increased maximum funding period of 4 semesters (for first-time enrollees in the winter semester 2020/2021 by 3 semesters and for those enrolled for the first time in the winter semester 2021/22 by 1 semester). Examples:

• In the winter semester 2021/2022, a student is enrolled in the 5th semester of a degree program with a standard period of study (maximum funding period) of 6 semesters. The originally set maximum funding period thus ends in September 2022. Due to the new regulation, the maximum funding period now ends in September 2024.
• In the winter semester 2021/2022, students will be enrolled in the 3rd semester of a degree program with a standard period of study (maximum funding period) of 6 semesters. The originally set maximum funding period thus ends in September 2023. Due to the new regulation, the maximum funding period now ends in March 2025.
• In the winter semester 2021/22, students will be enrolled in the first semester of a degree program with a standard period of study of 10 semesters. The previous maximum funding period ends in September 2026. Due to the new regulation, the maximum funding period now ends in March 2027.

Also with regard to the new determination of the maximum funding period, no separate application is required. The Office for Educational Funding will determine the applicable new maximum funding period, taking into account the individual requirements, and will inform the students concerned about the new maximum funding period in the course of processing the funding applications. For those whose maximum funding period was previously set for March 2022 and September 2022, the new regulations regarding the winter semester 2021/22 mean that a further application is possible!
In addition, for all students who no longer apply for continued financial aid, the federal administrative office responsible for repayment of the loan portion will be informed of the new determination of the maximum period of financial aid so that the loan is not called due prematurely.

3. further information
The new regulation also has consequences for students who are already currently supported on the basis of §§ 15 Para. 3, 15 Para. 3 a, 48 Para. 2 BAföG due to the existence of special reasons beyond the maximum support period or without available proof of performance. Because the semesters mentioned at the beginning are also evaluated as "0" semesters in these cases, claims for further funding are regularly considered here as well. The students concerned are advised to submit a repeat application before the end of the previously fixed funding period.
In addition, the new regulations can also have an effect in favor of students who want to change their field of study. In the cases described, please contact us before completing the change so that the relevant requirements can be checked in good time.

The income of my parents has changed so much because of the corona virus that they can no longer support me financially or to the usual extent. What can I do? 

You can apply for BAföG or, if you already have BAföG, apply for an update to get a higher BAföG rate in the current year.

Normally, the parents' income from the penultimate calendar year is taken into account when calculating the BAföG. If parents lose part of their income now, for example due to short-time working due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the BAföG office can take this into account.

If you are already receiving BAföG, you will submit an update request on which the parents or parents affected by the income reduction enter their income information in the calendar years in which the approval period is located. The application must be signed by you and your parents or the parent concerned. You can find the update request here (Form 7).

If you have not yet received a BAföG, but your parents' income has now fallen sharply, you may be entitled to a BAföG. So it can be worthwhile to submit an application. Again, in addition to the normal request, the update request must be made. You can find all application forms here . 

Attention: Funding is provisional! After the end of the approval period, evidence of the parents' actual income must be presented. Then the funding amount is recalculated. If income is too low in the update request, it can be reclaimed.

Further information is available here and from the Office for Training Promotion at the Studentenwerk Halle: bafoeg(at)studentenwerk-halle.de.

The Amt für Ausbildungsförderung of your Studentenwerk Halle is responsible for implementing the BAföG for the following universities in Saxony-Anhalt:

• Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Burg Giebichenstein Kunsthochschule Halle
• Evangelische Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Halle
• Hochschule Anhalt mit den Standorten in Bernburg, Dessau und Köthen
• Hochschule Merseburg

We advise you comprehensively and personally on the BAföG, the KfW loan and, together with our social counseling, also on other options for financing your studies.
In order to avoid long waiting times for you and to always be well prepared for your consultation, we ask you to make an appointment in advance in the consultation calendar or on the phone.