Aside from tuition fees and semester contributions, there are many other costs that come along with being a student in Germany. Luckily, there are multiple organisations offering loans, scholarships and grants to international students. There are programmes for different nationalities, degree levels and fields of study.
Student loans in Germany
There are two types of student loans in Germany: the state-financed student loan/grant system, known as BAfög, and private loans offered by banks and other institutions.
BAföG
BAfög (from Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz or Federal Education Funding Act) is a state-funded financial aid programme that provides support to students who cannot finance their studies either by themselves or with the support of their parents or spouse.
BAfög is issued in two parts:
- A grant, which does not have to be repaid
- A zero-interest government loan, capped at 10.010 euros
How much is the BAfög student loan?
The amount you receive depends on your income and the income of your parents or guardians, so it is a means-tested loan. The maximum amount you can receive is 992 euros per month (in 2025). Half of this is given as a grant, and half as a zero-interest loan.
Who is eligible for BAfög?
BAföG provides assistance to students under the age of 45, including EU citizens and non-EU citizens with valid residence permits.
BAföG is generally aimed at students with German citizenship, but there is some scope for international students to apply. In a nutshell, if you are intending to stay in Germany and are considered "socially integrated", you may qualify for funding. This applies, for instance, if you have a permanent residence permit or have been granted asylum in Germany. You may also be eligible if you are married to a German citizen.
However, if you come to Germany on a residence permit for the purpose of studying, it is unlikely that you will be eligible for BAföG.
As the legal regulations are so complex, if you are thinking of applying for BAföG as an international student, it’s worth starting to look into it at an early stage. For more information and details on how to apply, visit the BAföG website (in German) or speak to the international office at your university.
Studienstarthilfe
On top of this, you may also be eligible for a state aid payment known as the “Studienstarthilfe”. This is a one-off grant of 1.000 euros paid out to students from low-income households. It is intended for students who:
Private student loans in Germany
If you aren’t eligible for BAföG, you could consider taking out a private student loan in Germany. Many different lenders of education loans in Germany, but bear in mind that most of these need to be paid back with interest on top.
Some options you could explore are:
- Education loan scheme (Bildungskredit), a flexible, low-interest loan, with similar requirements to BAföG but with no income threshold
- Education funds (Bildungsfonds), offered by a variety of different institutions, sometimes at specific universities or sometimes in specific fields of study like STEM subjects
- Private loans from banks like Deutsche Bank
Scholarships for international students in Germany
On top of these loans, there are other grants and scholarships available for international students, through programmes like Erasmus+ and the DAAD.
Deutschland Stipendium
Around 90 percent of German higher education institutions participate in the Deutschland Stipendium, a programme that awards scholarships to high-achieving students of all different nationalities.
The scholarship is a monthly grant of 300 euros; 150 euros is pledged by private sponsors such as businesses or individuals, who sometimes also provide non-financial support such as mentoring and networking. The other 150 euros comes from the federal government. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of selection criteria including high academic performance, social engagement, and personal achievements.
Erasmus+
The EU-funded Erasmus+ programme is open to students from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Erasmus+ provides travel grants and monthly stipends for study and internships abroad lasting between three and 12 months. Master students who take a full degree abroad can also apply for the Erasmus+ master loan.
If you are from a non-EU country, you might be eligible for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degrees or a youth exchange scheme.
DAAD scholarships
The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD) offers scholarships of up to 1.200 euros per month to students, graduates and researchers who wish to study in Germany. Many of the scholarships are only available to candidates from specific countries. To be successful, you will usually need to prove that your academic achievements place you in the top third of your year group and that you have proficiency in the German language.
Expatrio Scholarship
The Expatrio Scholarship offers three grants (of 12.000 euros, 6.000 euros and 3.000 euros), plus six other prizes, to international students coming to study in Germany from abroad. To be eligible, you need to apply for the Expatrio Value Package, including opening a blocked account, and then submit a video application explaining why you are passionate about your field of study.
StipendiumPlus
Students from Germany, the EU and other international students who meet the eligibility criteria for BAföG and are enrolled at a public or state-recognised higher education institution may also apply for StipendiumPlus. The funding is reserved for either undergraduate students who show particular talent and exceptional achievements, or for doctoral students who have a particularly promising doctoral topic.
The scholarship is made up of several parts:
- A basic scholarship of up to 1.550 euros per month
- An additional payment for health insurance of up to 100 euros per month
- An additional payment for long-term care insurance of up to 35 euros per month
- A family allowance of up to 155 euros per month
- Study/research allowances of up to 300 euros per month
- An allowance for childcare of up to 160 euros per month per child
Political party-affiliated scholarships
There are several German political parties that provide scholarships to well-performing, civically-engaged students. You do not necessarily need to be a member of the party, but must be able to prove that you align with their aims and philosophies. A few that accept international applications are:
Denominational scholarships
There are also several faith-specific scholarships available. Students will normally need to be a member of the respective denomination, demonstrate strong academic achievements and social activism:
University- and state-specific scholarships
In addition to the above scholarships, many universities, universities of applied science and colleges of art and music will have their own range of scholarships. Many of these are open to international students and are usually tied to a specific discipline. Check with your university to see whether they have any scholarships suitable for you.
Many German federal states also have their own regional scholarships, including:
DAAD scholarship database
As well as providing advice and guidelines on application procedures, the DAAD provides a useful database of scholarships available in Germany.