Additional Financing Options

Financing Guide for Living Expenses

The aim of CHANCEN eG is to ensure that every person has the best opportunity possible for further education; regardless of their financial and personal background. This is why we offer the Income Share Agreement, which enables students to pay their own tuition fees retrospectively, depending on their income.

Unfortunately, however, tuition fees are not the only costs associated with studying or training. To ensure that your studies or training is burdened with as little financial worries as possible, you should ensure that you have sufficient financial means to cover your living expenses well in advance. We have set up this page to help you to finance your living expenses, so you can know and explore all your options.

Use your CHANCE to study without financial worry!

Table of Contents:
1. Our ISA
2. BAföG
3. Housing Allowance
4. Grants
5. KfW Student Loan
6. Federal Student Loan
7. Maintenance Claim / Parent-independent BAföG
8. First Generation University Students
9. Part-time Jobs
10. Planning Table for Living Expenses

1. Our Living Expenses ISA

With CHANCEN you can finance your expenses during your studies or bootcamps in a fair and flexible way with the Income Share Agreement (ISA). During your studies, you receive a monthly allowance. After you graduate, you enable the next generation to do the same: you will pay back a percentage of your income for the following students – but only when you achieve an income yourself and have a minimum income of at least 27,000 euros per year.

You can find out more about how the ISA works on our main ISA page.

2. BAföG

BAföG is considered the standard in German state-federal education assistance and financing. The financial support of up to 861 euros monthly is issued by the German government and only 50% has to be repaid.

From the winter semester 2022/2023  on, a reform of the BAföG will come into effect. The new maximum sum of financial support will increase to 934 EUR (you can find more information regarding the reform if you scroll down a bit).

It is important to know that you can apply for BAföG only in the case you are studying for the first time in your life. Additionally, this financial support can only be offered over the standard period of study (the exemption is if you apply for BAföG as a loan (Sorry, this page is only available in German!)).

Non-German students may also be eligible to receive BAföG under the following circumstances:

• If they are students from EU countries and Switzerland
• If they are stateless individuals
• If they are members of certain refugee groups and persons entitled to political asylum
• If they are foreign spouses of German citizens

You can find all information on eligibility here:

• BAföG-Eligibility
• BAföG-Eligibility 2 (Sorry, this page is only available in German!)

Additionally, you can find a brief summary in easier German here:

• Summary Easy German

The BAföG application process sometimes takes a long time. So if you want to receive financial support right at the beginning of the semester, you should submit your application as early as possible. In case you are getting a late start, here are some helpful tips:

• Application Tips  (in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)

In order to make sure you aren’t going to the trouble of applying for nothing, it makes sense to calculate beforehand the potential sum you are entitled to online with this tool:

• BAföG-calculator German (more factors considered)
• BAföG-calculator English (less factors considered)

BAföG for Studies Abroad

In order to enable everyone to spend time abroad, BAföG for studies abroad is available for everyone who is eligible for BAföG support in Germany. The extent to which time away from home can be supported depends on the host country and the type of stay (the legal basis is § 5 and § 16 BAföG).

Within the European Union and in Switzerland, training at vocational schools, technical schools, colleges, academies and universities can be funded from the beginning until the foreign qualification is obtained.

For stays abroad outside the EU, BAföG is available for up to one year – if there are special reasons, even up to two and a half years. Students who do an exchange at a partner university can receive BAföG for the entire period. Financial support abroad is also available to students during their compulsory internship, provided that the internship lasts at least twelve weeks.  

The following surcharges apply to BAföG for studies abroad:

• for verifiably necessary tuition fees up to € 4,600 for a maximum of one year,
• for travel expenses for students within Europe for one outward and one return journey each € 250, outside Europe for one outward and one return journey each € 500,
• for possible additional costs of health insurance for students,
• for the higher costs of living for students outside the EU and Switzerland, with foreign surcharges depending on the respective country.

3. Housing Allowance

In general, students are not entitled to a housing allowance if they qualify for BAföG, regardless of whether or not they actually receive BAföG. This is based on statute 20 WoGG of German law, because BAföG is meant to include costs of living. If a student’s education entitles them to BAföG, they are therefore deemed not eligible for Housing Allowance. 

However, you can still receive Housing Allowance up to 446 euros monthly under certain conditions. For example, when:

• You are older than the maximum eligible age to receive BAföG
• Your training facility does not entitle you to BAföG 
• You receive a grant
• You take a semester off
• You exceed the standard period of study
• You study part-time
• You receive BAföG exclusively as a bank loan
• You are obtaining a second Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (This link is in German- use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)

Non-German students may also be eligible to receive the Housing Allowance under the following circumstances:

• EU citizens: No requirements, but you need to prove that you’re actually living in Germany by providing your ID and a proof of accommodation
• Non-EU citizens with:
  • Valid permit of residence or toleration under the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz)
  • Right of residence under an international agreement
  • Right of residence according to the Asylum Procedure Act (Asylverfahrensgesetz)
  • Legal status of a stateless foreigner
  • Legal exemption from the requirement of a residence permit

You can find all information on eligibility here:

• Eligibility Housing Allowance

Since 1 January 2020, more people have been receiving more housing benefits. In addition, from 2022 onwards, the housing allowance will be more dynamic and from then on will be regularly adjusted to the rent and income trends that have occurred. In view of sharply increasing rent, the Federal Cabinet has passed a bill to this effect. The law includes a general increase in benefits, which includes the adjustment of Housing Allowance to the development of rent and income since the last housing allowance reform in 2016. For a two-person household, for example, the allowance has risen from € 145 per month at that time to € 190. In addition, a further “Rent Level VII” has been added to the existing six rent levels. Accordingly, those affected in conurbations with extremely high rents, such as Hamburg, Munich, etc., can be better subsidised.

Important: When applying for housing allowance, proof of a minimum income is necessary.

4. Grants

Grants are the most attractive method of education financing, because they do not need to be paid back. They can possibly cover costs between 30 to 1.250 euros monthly. Usually, they are bound to specific criteria (e. g. grades, personal background..). Nevertheless, it is worth searching for a grant because there are many different ones existing and of course, not all of them are offered depending mainly on your grades. In addition to the financial support of a grant, you usually receive further training offers as well as networking opportunities. 

Find the grant that fits you here:

• Scholarships in Germany for International Students
• DAAD
• My German University

People who have already gained professional experience, for example through an apprenticeship, and who now decide to go on to study at a university can be supported by a so-called advancement scholarship. 

You can find more information here:

• Advancement scholarship (This link is in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)

5. KfW Student Loan

The decision to take out a large loan should be carefully considered. The federally controlled KfW Bank offers a low-interest (0% till 31.12.2021, then back to 3.84/3.91%) student loan up to 650 euros monthly, available independent of income or parents’ income. For those who aren’t entitled to BAföG, this loan is a very good alternative. You can find more information at the following link or in the attached pamphlet.

• KfW-Leaflet

✓ KfW repayments happen before BAföG repayments, not at the same time! BAföG and a  KfW loan can therefore be a good combination.

✓ It’s also possible to choose in which year the repayments begin, so the loan can also be combined with an ISA!

Non-German students may also be eligible to receive a KfW Student Loan under the following circumstances:

• Family member of a German citizen, while also living with said family member and is registered in Germany
• EU citizenship, living and being registered in Germany for at least 3 years
• Family member of an EU citizen as mentioned above, while also living with said family member and is registered in Germany
• without restrictions until 31.3.2021 due to special Covid-19 regulations

6. Federal Student Loan

In addition to the KfW student loan, there is also the federal student loan. This loan makes sense for the end of your studies or as interim financing. You can receive up to € 300 per month for up to two years, with a very low-interest rate of 0.52%. 

With this low-interest loan, you can receive additional financial support in an advanced stage of your education, e.g. after an intermediate examination or after receiving a Bachelor’s degree. You can also finance postgraduate or complementary study programs. If you are studying medicine, you can also finance your residency. The student loan is offered independent of income or wealth and can be given simultaneously with BAföG. However, there is no entitlement to this student loan.

For a maximum of two years € 100, € 200, or € 300 can be granted per month, for a maximum total of €7,200. A one-time payment of up to € 3,600 can be granted in the case of an exceptional expense.

The student loan is normally only granted up till the end of the twelfth semester of your current study program. After this point, you can only receive the loan if you qualify to take your final exam and will finish your studies within the time frame of the loan. The examination body must confirm your eligibility in writing.

You can find more information at this link:

• Federal Student Loan

Tip: This loan is especially well-suited for those studying a Master’s program.  

You are eligible for the federal student loan if you have your permanent residence in Germany and if you fulfil the BAföG requirements mentioned above.

7. Maintenance Claim/Parent-Independent BAföG

As a last resort, there is the possibility to take legal action to get financial support from your parents or to apply for BAföG independent of your parents’ income. You can find more detailed information on this topic at the following links (Links are in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source):

• Maintenance Claim
• Maintenance Claim 2
• Parent-Independent BAföG

8. First Generation University Students

First generation university students can face additional hurdles if they want to go to university. If your parents aren’t able to help answer your questions about university or financing an education, the organization “Arbeiterkind e.V.” is happy to help you:

• Arbeiterkind e.V. (Link is in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)

9. Part-Time Jobs

If your course of study allows enough time for it, it often makes sense to work a part-time job, whether to support yourself financially, gather work experience, or save money for the future. At the following links you’ll find job portals for students that offers all kinds of part-time jobs: 

• Database for Part-Time Jobs (in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)
• Database for Part-Time Jobs 2 (in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)
• Jobmensa (in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)
• More Information on Jobs for International Students

In big cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne you can find lots of jobs that could be helpful for your course of study at the website for the city’s student union. You can also find similar websites for other cities:

• Cologne
• Berlin
• Hamburg

In order to make quick money, e.g. for a big trip, factory or assembly line work can often be a good choice. There you can work a lot of hours during your semester breaks and get paid overtime for night shifts or weekend work.

• Factory Jobs (in German – use your browser translator and let us know if you come across a good English source)

✓ Those who are qualified for BAföG should make sure that they do not earn more than an average of 450€ per month. Higher-income will otherwise be deducted from your requirement rate.

✓ Also those who have family insurance should take care not to exceed the income limit of 450€, otherwise you will fall out of the family insurance and have to insure yourself for almost 100€.

! In case you are over 30 years old when studying, an even more careful planning is necessary due to possible restrictions. One example is health insurance costs which can increase since you have to be insured voluntarily by law or privately. You can find more information on that here:

• Health Insurance for Students (over 30 years old)
• Health Insurance

10. Planning Table for Living Expenses

Feel free to use our exemplary summary table to get an overview of your expenses and then consider what income you can use to finance your monthly costs.