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When it comes to financing their studies, there are various funding and support options available to students in Germany. One of the best-known options is BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act), which offers financial support in the form of a grant and/or interest-free loan. There are also numerous foundations and student support organizations that award scholarships to talented students.

The Studentenwerk Freiberg (Student Union) offers a comprehensive range of information and counseling on student financing.

Student Union: Study Financing

BAföG and short-term loan

The Federal Training Assistance Act, or BAföG for short, regulates training assistance for students. You can find out whether you are eligible for BAföG by seeking expert advice from the staff at the BAföG office at the Studentenwerk.

To cushion a short-term financial emergency, you can apply for a loan from the Studentenwerk.

Funding opportunities at the university

The German Scholarship has been supporting students and first-year students who are expected to excel in their studies and careers since the summer semester of 2011. They receive 300 euros a month - half from the federal government and the other half from private donors.

A large number of scholarships and prizes are awarded to students at the university. The university, private donors, companies and associations provide funds for this purpose.

The Freunde und Förderer der TU Bergakademie Freiberg e.V. promotes science and research with projects, in particular by students, graduands and doctoral candidates, and supports scientific contacts and collaborations as well as field trips and internships for students.

Study grants from the federal government

Prerequisites:

  • very good academic performance
  • high level of personal and voluntary commitment

Application:
Self-application to the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes for the Studienstiftung

If you have already completed vocational training and gained professional experience, you can apply for the scholarship. The Federal Government Career Advancement Scholarship supports people with professional experience to complete their first degree programme.

Study funding organisations

In addition to state funding through BAföG, support from home, financing of studies through study scholarships from state or private foundations, other foundations, trade unions and churches also award scholarships.

Avicenna-Studienwerk (Muslim)

Prerequisites: Citizenship of an EU member state or the status of a Bildungsinländer within the meaning of §8 BAföG, Muslim students, enrolment at a state or state-recognised German university, students still have at least 4 semesters of above-average school/academic performance at the time of the start of funding, social commitment, language level of C1

Application: Self-application, end of the application phase is either 1.4 or 1 October of the year

Cusanuswerk (Catholic)

Requirements: German, Catholic students from the 2nd semester onwards and during their doctorate. Semester and during the doctorate, professional qualification; intensive participation in problems and tasks of the church, participation in a holiday academy is compulsory

Application: Self-application or application by teachers, university lecturers, pastors, etc. by 1 October of the year

Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (Jewish)

Prerequisites: German, Jewish students, above-average school and academic performance, involvement in Jewish communities, in social work, in youth work, in student organisations or in the social environment; high degree of participation in the idealistic promotion and commitment within the scholarship structures

Application: Self-application, by 31.10. or 30.4.

Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst

Prerequisites: German, Protestant students or children of foreign employees from EC or EC-associated countries. EC-associated countries, provided they have acquired their higher education entrance qualification in the FRG; high willingness to engage in interdisciplinary academic study; assumption of responsibility as a Christian, participation in holiday seminars is compulsory

Application: only self-application; by 1 March or 1 September of the year

Friedrich Ebert Foundation (SPD)

Prerequisites: German and foreign students with outstanding academic qualifications and interdisciplinary, social and political commitment, participation in holiday seminars desired

Application: Self-application to the foundation possible at any time (with two university teacher's reports)

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FDP)

Requirements: Students and doctoral candidates with above-average performance and active socio-political commitment, application as a high school graduate or as a first-year student, minimum funding period of two semesters,

Application: Self-application, by 30 April or 31 October

Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (CSU)

Prerequisites: Students and doctoral candidates with above-average performance and active socio-political commitment, participation in supervision seminars desired

Application: Self-application

Heinrich Böll Foundation (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)

Prerequisites: German nationals, foreign students in their first degree programme, application possible before the first semester up to and including the 4th semester, very good school or academic performance, social commitment and political interest, convincing justification for the application to the Heinrich Böll Foundation

Application: Self-application, by 1 March or 1 September

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. (CDU)

Prerequisites: German and foreign students with above-average aptitude from the 1st semester; maximum age 32. Semester; maximum age 32 years

Note: Participation in seminars desired

Application: Self-application directly to the foundation

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (Die Linke)

Prerequisites: Germans, foreigners with BAföG entitlement, students with a migration background who have a permanent perspective of staying in Germany, very good academic performance, strong social commitment in the spirit of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, studies within the standard period of study

Application: Self-application, by 1 April or 1 October

Otto Benecke Foundation

Prerequisites: Immigrants who are studying or have started studying in Germany; students from the Third World who are in Germany to continue their education (further details will be provided by the Berlin office)

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Hans Böckler Foundation (DGB)

Requirements: Students from the labour sector with high professional and personal qualifications and a sense of socio-political responsibility

Application: Proposals from the area of a DGB trade union

Studienförderwerk Klaus Murmann (Stiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft)

Prerequisites: German citizenship or foreign nationals within the meaning of § 8 BAföG, high level of social commitment, grades in the upper third of the performance index, high social competence, interest in social, political or economic topics

Application: Self-application, study scholarship: 30.5. to 7.7., doctoral scholarship: 1.6. to 1.8.

Consultants of the study funding organisations:

Consultant of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Consultant of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Promoting the international mobility of students

Erasmus+ aims to promote lifelong learning, enable sustainable growth, strengthen social cohesion and European identity and drive innovation. The programme focuses on the topics of inclusion and diversity, digitalisation, political education and sustainability, which are closely linked.

In the current programme generation 2021 to 2027, even more students and university employees can participate in Erasmus+ more easily than before. The programme is particularly aimed at all those who have not previously been reached by the programme due to their personal or social situation or structural factors. Overall, access is to be made easier for all people and organisations.

The PROMOS partial scholarship is aimed at students with very good grades and a high level of extracurricular commitment who want to go abroad outside Europe or are not eligible for funding under the Erasmus program or do not have an Erasmus+ contract with a European university. Short stays of up to 6 months are possible as part of the program (study visits, internships, specialist and language courses).

Scholarships for international students

The International University Centre regularly publishes offers from TUBAF and other organisations that are aimed exclusively at international students.

The graduation grant is a scholarship for international students in the last semester of their degree programme.
The requirements for receiving this scholarship are good academic performance, graduation within nine months and financial need.
This scholarship can only be awarded once. A selection committee (IUZ Advisory Board) decides on its award. There is no legal entitlement to the award of the graduation grant.

to the website "Graduation grant for international students"