✈️ Semester abroad and funding
In brief
For a semester abroad there is a separate funding track: BAföG for study abroad. It is processed by a different office, assigned by destination country, than domestic BAföG and can also support students who receive no BAföG in Germany because of parental income, because higher requirements can be recognised abroad (e.g. tuition fees, travel costs). In addition there is EU funding through Erasmus+, whose grants can be offset as income against BAföG for study abroad.
Step by step
- Get information earlyIt is recommended to find out at least six months before the planned stay abroad – if only because of processing times.
- Identify the responsible officeFor BAföG for study abroad, a particular Studierendenwerk is responsible depending on the destination country, not automatically the office at your place of study.
- Submit the application with evidenceEvidence of study place, admission and expected costs is part of the application.
- Apply for Erasmus+ in parallelThe application for Erasmus+ goes through the International Office or Akademisches Auslandsamt (academic international office) of your home university.
- Clarify offsettingClarify with the responsible office how an Erasmus grant is offset against BAföG for study abroad before you submit both applications.
Deadlines
- If you only apply for BAföG for study abroad shortly before departure, you risk the notice of decision arriving only after your return – pre-financing is then necessary.
- BAföG for study abroad and domestic BAföG are processed by different offices: a current domestic notice of decision does not automatically continue abroad.
- Erasmus grants count as income and can reduce the amount of BAföG for study abroad; the exact offsetting depends on the arrangement in the individual case and should be clarified in advance with the responsible office.
- The cover of compulsory student insurance often does not apply without limit outside the EU; for semesters abroad outside Europe, additional travel health insurance is usually needed.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Responsibility assigned by destination country
For funding abroad under the BAföG (§§ 5, 6 BAföG), certain Studierendenwerke are each responsible for groups of countries, not the office at the domestic place of study. This allocation of responsibilities is published by the offices themselves and changes occasionally.
Supplement for study abroad
For destination countries outside the EU and Switzerland, supplements for higher living costs, travel costs or tuition fees may be added. Specific euro amounts for this were not conclusively verified against the statutory text in this research and are therefore not stated here.
Combination with Erasmus+
BAföG for study abroad and Erasmus+ funding are not in principle mutually exclusive, but the specific offsetting of the Erasmus grant against the BAföG requirement depends on the design of the funding programme concerned.
A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.