Financing your Studies – Studying with a Plan

The following students have the possibility to be exempted from the licence fee(GEZ):

• Students who receive support under the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG) and do not live with their parents. When applying, a certified copy of the BAföG decision must be enclosed. This can be obtained for a fee of 2.00 Euros from the Studentenwerk at the BAföG Office.
• Students with extensive physical restrictions can apply for an exemption or reduction in fees

Child benefit does not count as income in Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG) and is paid until the child reaches the age of 25. Child benefit is usually paid to the parents. However, the student can also request that the child benefit claim be transferred to him*her if no educational maintenance is paid from either side. If trainees earn their own income (and this also includes BAföG in the amount of the grant), the maximum income limit of 7.680 Euros gross for the receipt of child benefit must be observed. Income-related expenses and other provident expenses/social security contributions are deducted from the income. For example, if you are entitled to BAföG of 530 Euros per month and have additional student income from a mini-job of 400 Euros per month, you will still be entitled to child benefit.

There are three situations in which the parents' income is not taken into account when applying for BAföG:

• Students who have been gainfully employed for at least three years after vocational training and for whom training and gainful employment together amount to at least six years. Gainful employment must be linked to a certain minimum income.
• Students who have been gainfully employed for at least five years after their 18th birthday and have earned a certain minimum income.
• Students who start their studies after their 30th birthday and are still eligible for financial support.

If you apply for a semester off due to illness, pregnancy or bringing up a child, you are no longer entitled to BAföG. However, if a need for assistance is established, there is a claim to assistance for living expenses via unemployment benefit ll.

Another reason for entitlement to unemployment benefit ll is part-time study. However, this is only intended to bridge the time until a job is found. The situation is different for part-time studies with compulsory attendance, as it can be more difficult to be gainfully employed here.

The following persons are entitled to an additional needs supplement:

• Pregnant women after the twelfth week of pregnancy
• Single parents with children
• Seriously ill persons

Family members of students are entitled to social benefits if they are not able to work. For children, this amount increases with age.

The General Student Committee (AStA) provides information on the possibilities of getting the semester ticket fee back. There is also a social fund for students who cannot afford the ticket.

Most accounts for students are free of charge. In addition, many providers offer a free EC card. As a rule, it is sufficient to submit a valid certificate of study each semester as proof. It is definitely advisable to compare the offers of the individual providers and thus save a lot of money each year.