It’s all about the money
Financing your studies
If you sort out your finances early on, you’ll free yourself up to have fun while you study.
FAU’s Student Advice and Career Service is an important port of call for any questions relating to student finance. We are happy to give you information on how to apply for scholarships and study grants.
The traditional way: BAföG funding
BAföG is an abbreviation of Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz (Federal Education and Training Assistance Act). In order to receive BAföG funding, you have to first file an application either online or in person at the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung (Training Assistance Office). All the information you need is available at www.bafög.de. Money is provided by the State on a monthly basis to those who are eligible, generally for the whole of the standard duration of the degree program. However, you should remember to submit a repeat application (Weiterförderungsantrag) on or before 31 January or 31 July respectively. Whether you are entitled to BAföG and how much you will receive depends on several factors, for example where you live, your income and savings and the income of your parents. It’s definitely worth finding out about! The Training Assistance Office is happy to give you advice on all issues relating to BAföG.
50/50 with the Germany scholarship
With the Germany scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium), FAU provides scholarships for its best students in engineering, business, economics, sciences, law, medicine, humanities and social sciences. Funding amounts to 300 euros per month and is initially granted for two semesters – the winter semester and the subsequent summer semester – but can be extended annually with effect from the winter semester until the end of the standard duration of the degree program. Half of the funding (150 euros) is provided by companies, foundations or private individuals, with the second half being provided by the German Federal State. Academic achievement, voluntary work, international experience, and other personal qualities are all relevant when deciding who is to be granted one of these scholarships. Applicants on an undergraduate program must have a grade of at least 2.0 (good) GPA in their course achievements to date. Applications can be filed between 15 June and 15 July.
Exam results aren’t everything
If your BAföG application doesn’t work out, you can try applying for a scholarship from foundations or from organisations that fund gifted students. In these cases, you must have an exceptional academic record and it usually has to be evaluated and approved by two university lecturers. However, many foundations are not so much looking for young geniuses as for candidates who can commit to something and are willing to accept responsibility and get involved. Running a youth group in a sports club is just one example of this. Aside from the large religious, state and political foundations, Germany also has many organizations and private foundations that focus on very specific groups – such as students of particular subjects. In addition, FAU offers a variety of one-off grants such as book grants. Visit the Office for Scholarships to find out what options are available to you.
Exploring the world on a budget
If you need a little cash injection for your semester abroad, you can apply for an Auslands-BAföG or for funding from the EU’s Erasmus+ program. Scholarships that allow you to support yourself while abroad are available from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Many FAU institutes have partnerships with foreign universities and organize student exchanges to places such as Rennes, Riga, Parma and Tokyo. Find more information on funding options here.