Having received a German education loan, the student then repays only half of the amount over 20 years
As reported by Deutsche Welle, over 700,000 refugees from Ukraine are registered in Germany. Statistics do not yet report how many of them are students and schoolchildren. The German Academic Exchange Service DAAD assumes that only in German higher education institutions, about 100,000 Ukrainians who fled the war will appear in the near future.
From a legal standpoint, their status is defined: under §24 of the Residence Act for foreign nationals, after registration they receive temporary protection and can stay in Germany for up to three years with the right to work or study. However, a lack of funds may become an obstacle to obtaining vocational or higher education in this country.
To support young Ukrainians financially, the German government has opened access to the state scholarship-loan BAföG for them. From June 1, anyone who has received a residence permit in Germany or a preliminary temporary certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) can apply for it.
What is the BAföG scholarship
The BAföG support program is primarily intended for German citizens – for students from low-income families and those undergoing vocational training. At the start of studies, the applicant's age must not exceed 30 years, and in the case of a master's program – 35 years.
Currently, the maximum scholarship amount is 861 euros per month – this amount roughly corresponds to the "subsistence minimum" for students in Germany. It is issued as an interest-free loan for the entire duration of study provided by the educational program.
The recipient is obliged to return only half of the provided amount to the state. Loan repayment begins only five years after receiving the last scholarship. At the same time, 20 years are given for repayment of the loan. In addition to the scholarship, students are also allowed to earn about 300 euros per month.
Documents can be submitted either in paper form, by contacting, for example, the Studentenwerk (Student Services Organization) operating at the chosen university, or online – on the special website BAföG Digital.
Conditions for Ukrainians
Currently, over half a million German students and schoolchildren receive BAföG. Foreigners also have the opportunity to apply for a state loan, but strict requirements make it difficult for them to access.
Thus, students with an unlimited residence permit in Germany can receive an education loan, as well as if one of the parents or spouse is a citizen of Germany or another EU country. Another possibility is if the foreigner worked in Germany for five years before starting studies, or if one of their parents has been in Germany for six years, three of which they have worked here.
In the case of Ukrainian students and schoolchildren, these restrictions do not apply. The only condition is to be enrolled in a German higher education institution on a regular basis. Students studying on exchange do not have the right to apply for BAföG, nor do those who continue their studies at a Ukrainian university online. The relaxation also does not apply to refugees from Ukraine who do not have Ukrainian citizenship.
Other assistance for students
According to the Studentenwerk, currently 320,000 foreign students are studying at German universities. Financing their living and studies is one of the main problems for them. This became especially evident during the pandemic.
One-third of foreign students applied for temporary financial assistance from the Ministry of Education and universities, while the number of other students who applied for help was about 11 percent. In addition to short-term payments, students were also allowed to pay later for dormitories, and some universities provided them with meal vouchers for the cafeteria.
With the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, special support is being directed to Ukrainian students. Universities are collecting donations, creating funds for financial assistance, helping with housing, and in some regions providing free meals in the cafeteria.