The German Federal Student Loan Program "BAföG" is a program created by the German government and is an abbreviation for the “Federal Education Assistance Act”. This is a governmental social contribution program for apprentices, trainees and students in the form of interest-free loans.

All full-time courses at the HMKW are eligible for funding with the BAföG program. The amount of your personal entitlement depends on several factors such as your visa status, age, personal income as well as your parents’ income. You can calculate your personal entitlement online at www.bafoeg-rechner.de.

No matter what HMKW location you want to study at, since Berlin is the primary HMKW campus, the general student union in Berlin is responsible for your application: www.studentenwerk-berlin.de.

The individual review of your application by the BaföG-Office can take some time, so we recommend you to submit your application along with all needed documents as soon as possible. Some of these documents include the application forms and other needed verifications such as a lease agreement (if you no longer living with parents), your parents income statement as well as proof of your independent means. You also can submit the application online at:
www.berlin-bafoeg.de/BAfoeGOnline/ABAfoeG/.

The BAföG funding will only be distributed from the month of your initial application; it will not be paid out retroactively.

The Office for Educational Support at the Student Union Berlin is available for you and any questions you might have regarding BAföG. There also is a toll-free hotline, offered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research along with the German Student Union that you can call for help. It can be reached by calling +49 (0) 800-223 63 41 or +49 (0) 800-BAFOEG1 from Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.