Pandemic-related closures of training facilities within the meaning of § 2 BAföG as well as of training facilities abroad that are eligible for funding (short-term closures of training facilities or extension of their lecture-free periods) are harmless under funding law.
These closures are treated as lesson or lecture-free periods within the meaning of § 15 para. 2 BAföG.
As soon as the training institutions make an online course offer available in order to maintain the training company in this way, the trainees remain obliged to participate in this online course offer as a prerequisite for support in order to continue to receive the respective BAföG benefits. If entry to a foreign country is not possible due to current entry restrictions for pandemic prevention, the above applies accordingly (i.e. initially BAföG further support to the previous extent and obligation to participate with correspondingly available online courses). This regulation also applies to first-year students in the 2020 summer semester.
Further information is available on the website of the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts: www.bafög.de
BAföG (short for "Bundesausbildungsförderungs-Gesetz") is a type of governmental funding for students. It is a combination of federal grants and interest-free loans. Depending on the income of the parents students receive funds for their studies. The current maximum BAföG-funding-rate is at 853 € per month.
Important information at a glance:
If you are unsure whether of not you qualify for a BAföG funding you can find all important information and a first consultation at the SWFR. Our advisers will also provide help filling out an official application.
You can find further information about BAfÖG here
New regulation
Starting this winter semester there will be more BAföG for more students: Not only the BAföG rates have been increased, but also the parental allowances, so that more students are entitled to BAföG than before. It is always worthwhile to submit an application.
An overview of all improvements and detailed information can be found at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and on the pages of the Deutsches Studentenwerk.
Apply now for BAföG funding at the BAföG office here in Freiburg.
If you have any further questions, the staff of the BAföG-Amtes are happy to help.
For students who are still receiving BAföG in the summer semester 2020, the maximum duration of support for BAföG was also increased by one semester due to the pandemic-related extension of the standard period of study by one semester.
However, if your maximum funding period (FHD) ends in August/September 2020, you must submit a resubmission application in good time, as the extension of the FHD and thus the resubmission after reaching the FHD will only take place after submission of a new application.
If you are in the 4th semester of the current summer semester 2020 and cannot present the number of ECTS credits required for the proof of academic achievement to be submitted for WS 2020/21 (Form 5) due to the pandemic, it is possible to grant a corresponding postponement upon informal application.
The maximum BAföG funding period is based on the standard study period which is stipulated in the study and examination regulations for the respective subject.
According to § 15 Abs. 3 BAföG there are the following exceptions:
In addition, certain conditions allow a student to receive assistance beyond the maximum funding period within the framework of the assistance for graduation (§ 15 Para. 3a BAföG). This funding is provided in the form of an interest-free government loan.
Wording of § 15 Abs. 3a BAföG:
Trainees at higher education institutions who are enrolled in an independent course of study shall be assisted in completing their studies for a maximum of twelve months of educational support, even after the end of the maximum period of support or the period of support in accordance with Paragraph 3 number 1, 3 or 5, if the trainee has been admitted to the final examination within four semesters of that date at the latest and the examination office certifies that he or she can complete the training within the period of assistance in completing his or her studies. If a final examination is not intended, sentence 1 shall apply provided that the trainee submits a confirmation from the training institution that he/she can complete the training within the duration of the final assistance.
Help with graduation can also be provided if no funding has been given beforehand. For modularised degree programmes it is required to complete the training within the maximum funding period of 12 months.
NEW: For BAföG recipients who are the first in their family to aim for a university degree additional funding is available through cooperation between the Studierendenwerk and the Arbeiterkind.de initiative.Info hier
Due to an amendment of the German Law on Judges (DRiG), the maximum funding period for law students was extended to 10 semesters. This means that students whose maximum funding period was 9 semesters under the previous regulation have the opportunity to apply for BAföG for a further semester. Therefore, have your BAföG entitlement checked and, as a precautionary measure, submit a new BAföG application.
From 05.10. - 27.11. there is again our BAföG hotline: telephone number 0761 2101-369
Mon-Thu: 14:00-16:00
Friday: 11:00-13:00
Information Desk:
Infoladen
Basler Str. 2
79100 Freiburg
0761 2101 326
bafoeg(at)swfr.de
Freiburg:
Di 09:00-12:00 und Do 13:30-16:00 im Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Furtwangen, Schwenningen, Tuttlingen
Aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie können wir im Wintersemester 2020/21 leider keine face-to-face BAföG-Beratungen an den Außenstellen anbieten. Sie können sich aber jederzeit mit Ihren Fragen per Email oder telefonisch an uns wenden.
Offenburg und Gengenbach
Aufgrund der Corona-Pandemie können wir im Wintersemester 2020/21 leider keine face-to-face BAföG-Beratungen an den Außenstellen anbieten. Sie können sich aber jederzeit mit Ihren Fragen per Email oder telefonisch an uns wenden.
