Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, or BAföG)

BAföG, the Federal Training Assistance Act, provides funding to support studying in Germany. It can also be used to finance school-leaving qualifications and vocational training at a school or academy. Half of the funds are provided as a grant, the other half is an interest-free loan that must be repaid at a later time. Students from abroad can also receive BAföG - for example, EU nationals and people who have a settlement permit or are recognised as refugees, as well as their family members. The financial support is adjusted according to the financial means of the applicants and their families, taking into account parental income, the applicant's own income, and assets. Students receive BAföG until the end of the standard period of study, even during lecture breaks, with possible extensions for pregnancy, raising children, or caring for relatives.