BAFöG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz)
- Name of the instrument - Local language
- BAFöG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz)
- Name of the instrument - English translation
- BAFöG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz)
- Scheme ID
- 54
- Country
- Germany
- Reporting year
- 2015
- Type of instrument
- Grant for individuals
- Loan
- Type of entry
- Single instrument
- Short description
Pupils/students in secondary schools, higher vocational school and academies, universities, aged 30 years (35 years for master studies) or below may apply for the scheme. The financial support consists of a grant and an interest free loan. The monthly amounts range between EUR 216 and EUR 670.
- Short description of the related instruments
nap
- Level of operation
- National
- Name of a part of the country
- nap
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- nap
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- nap
- Relevance
- Key scheme
- Legal basis
Bundesgesetz über individuelle Förderung der Ausbildung (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz - BAföG) in der Neufassung vom 07.12.2010 (BGBl. I S. 1952), geändert durch Art. 11 Abs. 3 G v. 22.11.2011 I 2258, Art. 1 G v. 6.12.2011 I 2569, Art. 19 G v. 7.12.2011 I 2592
- Objective(s) and target(s)
To give all young people the opportunity to complete their education and training that matches their skills and interests regardless of their social and economic situation
- Year of implementation
- 1971
- Year of latest amendment
- 2015
- Operation/management
The scheme is governed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The support is a combination of a grant and a loan. The loan is provided by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), a non-profit banking institution owned by the German State; federal government subsidises the loan (financing interest rate during the programme/course and grace period)
The benefits under the BAföG get requested at the relevant office of Student Aid.
- Eligible group(s)
Eligibility criteria: German citizenship or residence status listed in § 8, the general suitability for the chosen training and the age limit of 30 years (35 years for master studies).
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
None
- Education and training eligible
Secondary general education (e.g. primary, intermediate and comprehensive schools, high schools) from class 10 [§ 2 para. 1 no. 1 BAföG]; vocational schools, which do not require a completed vocational training, including classes of all forms of basic vocational training (e.g. “Berufsvorbereitungsjahr”), from class 10 [§ 2 para. 1 no. 1 BAföG]; technical and specialized secondary schools, which do not require completed vocational training [§ 2 para. 1 no. 1 BAföG]; vocational schools and technical schools, which do not require a vocational qualification as long as they provide a professional degree in an at least two-year training course [§ 2 para. 1 no. 2 BAföG]; technical and specialized secondary schools, that require a completed vocational training [§ 2 para. 1 no. 3 BAföG]; Abendhauptschulen, Berufsaufbauschulen, Abendrealschulen, evening schools and colleges [§ 2 para. 1 no. 4 BAföG]; higher technical schools and academies [§ 2 para. 1 no. 5 BAföG]; Universities [§ 2 para. 1 no. 6 BAföG].
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
Grant component: Federal budget
Loan component: Federal budget/national development bank (KfW) (current financing - providing loans)
individual (repayment from future income)- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
Eligible individuals receive funding half as a grant and half as an interest-free government loan. The support is oriented towards the living costs of students and their educational expenses (e.g. textbooks, travel expenses for training center etc.). The monthly amounts range between EUR 216 and EUR 670. Trainee's income and assets as well as the imputed income of his/her spouse or registered partner and his/her parents are taken into account (deduction).
- Eligible costs
specific arrangement
- Volumes of funding
In 2013, EUR 3 240 623 000 were spent on this scheme.
- Beneficiaries/take up
In 2013, 958 743 individuals were funded by this scheme.
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- Recent changes
By 25 BAföG Amendment Act, the federal government takes over the full financing of the cash benefits under the BAföG from 2015. It relieves the Länder of around EUR 1.17 billion a year, so that they can better take up to their financial responsibility for universities and schools. From 2016/2017, the BAföG is also changed in content: basic allowances and income tax allowances are raised.
- Sources
Dohmen, Dieter. (2013). Finanzierung beruflicher Weiterbildung in Deutschland. Report. Zeitschrift für Weiterbildungsforschung. H, 3, 61-84.
- Short description
- Short description of the related instruments
- Level of operation
- Name of a part of the country
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Relevance
- Legal basis
- Objective(s) and target(s)
- Year of implementation
- Year of latest amendment
- Operation/management
- Eligible group(s)
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
- Education and training eligible
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- Eligible costs
- Volumes of funding
- Beneficiaries/take up
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- Recent changes
- Sources