topic Science

Ensuring Equal Opportunities by Means of BAföG

How can I finance my study course? An answer to this question is given by the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The 22. BAföG Amendment allows further improvements: BAföG rates are raised, the monthly limits on additional earnings are extended to 400 Euros. Students with children are supported with a special bonus. The first parts of the amendment became effective at the beginning of 2008. BAföG support is therefore an important element in encouraging more young people to take up studies and undergo qualified training.

Since the last major reform of BAföG, young people have once again gained trust in state-provided training assistance. One out of four students today receives BAföG support during their standard period of study. Over two thirds of BAföG recipients would not have been able to study without BAföG grants according to their own statement. In addition, a low-interest fixed-term training loan is available to support students in advanced phases of training. But also for those whose parents could bear the financial costs of training the opportunity was introduced in spring 2006 to finance their study courses on their own through a study loan provided by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). This study loan is provided on behalf of the Federal Government; it is tailor-made and provided without much bureaucracy at low interest rates. However, for children from low-income families, BAföG continues to be the central instrument to support the financing of study courses. At the same time, they also have access to study loans to complete financing in line with their individual needs.

The available education potential can only be tapped fully on the basis of reliable state guarantees for the individual financing of qualified training. The Federal Government alone is currently making available almost €1.5 billion annually for training assistance . The Federal Government and the Länder together provide over €2.3 billion annually.

The 22nd amendment of BAföG

The German Parliament and the Länder Chamber concluded the 22nd amendment to BAföG at the end of 2007. The amendment raises the BAföG rates. The limits to additional incomes are raised for all trainees to €400 per month, the general limit for so-called "mini-jobs". These measures will become effective for the fall semester 2007/2008. Since the beginning of 2008, a child care bonus is granted, that further supports trainees with children. Access to BAföG for children of migrants is eased and shall lead to higher qualifications. Training abroad is supported to a greater extent than before.

International and Outward-looking: BAföG Support Abroad

An evaluation of BAföG support abroad in autumn 2005 showed that recipients are happy with what they got: 93 percent of the respondents in the survey conducted by Hochschulinformationssystem (HIS)-GmbH felt that the study period abroad had contributed to their personal growth. Without BAföG grants for studies abroad, almost half of all interviewees would not have gone abroad.

About 19,500 trainees spent a period abroad in 2005 supported by government funding. After an increase of about 17 percent 2003 - 2004, this was once again 6 percent more than in the previous year. Two thirds opted for a host country within the European Union (EU). Great Britain was the most popular location, followed by Spain and France. School students receiving funding most often went to the USA (a total of 898 in 2004).

However, the vast majority of trainees are still interested only in a temporary stay abroad. [more...]

Further Information on BAföG, Training Loan and Study Loan:

• Additional information is available on the Internet, including all information concerning BAföG and the Federal Government's training loan programme.
• The BMBF has a toll-free BAföG hotline: 0800 BAFOEG1 or 0800 2236341.
• The KfW provides information on its general study loan on its Internet site.

• topic Education

  The new BAföG

  The BAföG Internet sites of the BMBF provide an overview of the Federal Training Assistance Act. You can look up regulations, examples and legal texts, find the necessary information for preparing an application and find out which training assistance office is your contact office.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2793.php)