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Student Financing

Photo: Kristina Boltysheva

Students can access some resources that may help them pay for university. 

Important information for recipients of a BAFöG (German federal student grant)

  • Proof of grades earned through the 4th semester <list item>Proof of grades earned through the 4th semester

    1. It is not necessary to have passed the intermediate examination in order for the educational institution to confirm that the usual grades required by the end of the 4th semester have been earned. It is sufficient if one written exam each has been successfully passed as an intermediate examination grade within the framework of new student seminars in criminal law, civil law and public law, provided that the student still has the option of writing the term paper required for the intermediate examination during the lecture-free period between the 4th and 5th semesters.

    The usual grades after the end of the 5th semester are the midterm exam and at least one written exam in an advanced seminar.

  • Degree in law

    2. For BAföG (federal student grant) recipients, the exact date of completion of the law degree is relevant in various contexts (for example, when applying for graduation aid in the form of a student loan, etc.). In this respect, please note the following:

    The former “First State Examination in Law” was replaced many years ago by the “First Examination.” This first examination, which concludes the degree program in law, consists of two parts. First, there is the compulsory state examination and, second, the university examination in the area of specialization (cf. §5d DRiG, §§24, 25(1) Hess. JAG). The order in which the two parts of the examination are completed is not fixed. Thus, you can complete either part of the examination first. However, only on completion of both parts of the examination does the First Examination, and thus the degree program in law, come to an end.

  • Granting of graduation aid 

    3. The following is crucial for the granting of graduation aid under §15(3a) German Federal Training and Education Promotion Act (BAföG): Since formal permission to test is no longer provided for the First Law Examination consisting of two completely separate partial examinations, clause 1 of the corresponding paragraph is moot. Instead, in analogous application of the relevant regulations under §15(3a)(2) BAföG, a prediction by the educational institution that the candidate will be able to complete the program within the graduation aid period is crucial. Accordingly, the legal prerequisites for the graduation aid are fulfilled if a candidate is expected to be able to complete either the specialization area examination or the required state subject examination as the last part of the examination of the First Law Examination within the planned period. A special decision for permission to take the second part of the examination (e.g. by the Legal Examinations Office) is not relevant (cf. BVerwG NVwZ-RR 2013, 610; Lackner, in: Ramsauer/Stallbaum, Commentary on the BAföG, 5th ed. 2014, §15 margin note 40).

KfW subsidy program – grades

Scholarships

  • mystipendium.de

    Scholarships are not only available for the highly talented, needy, or committed. Students are not even aware of most scholarship opportunities (e.g. scholarships for which you have to be born in the same place as the founder). As a result, more than 90% of students who apply for scholarships apply to fewer than 1% of charitable foundations. Because of this, many foundations do not receive enough applications to distribute their grants: One in five foundations cannot find suitable scholarship recipients.

    To help more people find the right scholarship, www.mystipendium.de supports all school-age and university and doctoral candidates free of charge in their search for funding. For the first time in Germany, a matching process from a database of over 2,300 funding entries (total value: €610 million/year) is being used to show each user only those scholarships and fellowships abroad that fit their own resume. The portal covers a wide range of funding opportunities, from grants for living expenses and financial support for stays abroad, to grants for scientific and scholarly work. In addition, the platform provides numerous articles about scholarship applications as well as templates for your own scholarship application.

    You can find more information here. 

  • Dream NEW Stipendium

    The “Dream NEW” scholarship is part of a broad initiative to create scholarship programs for low-opportunity or low-income students. The “Dream NEW” scholarship is looking for students who dream of the impossible. The goal is to support those who are looking for a new challenge in their lives and are not afraid to consciously pursue their dreams. A total of 8 scholarships will be awarded with a total value of €60,000. Each scholarship allows for one semester abroad at one of the 8 universities in New Zealand. 

    For more information about the scholarship program:
    http://www.mystipendium.de/stipendien/dream-new-stipendium

  • eurocentres.com

    There is a new scholarship for students who are uncertain about what to do or for prospective students. The scholarship will be awarded regardless of grades, semester, or course of study.
    The scholarship includes a 4-week English-language program in San Diego, California, in the United States with a total value of €4,000.
    Also included are round-trip airfare, international insurance, lodging, and an allowance of €500.

    You can find more information at:
    https://www.eurocentres.com/de/sprachreise/stipendium-f%C3%BCr-orientierungslose