Studying pays off. Your benefits are numerous: diverse career prospects, better salary opportunities, a broad qualification & much more. But investing in higher education is also a monetary matter.
Are you looking for ways to finance your studies? Discover your flexible student finance options!
- Tuition tax deduction: Are you subject to income tax? Then you can deduct a portion of your tuition costs for tax purposes – as special expenses (first education) or income-related expenses (second education).
- Stretch financing with installments: Finding yourself in dire straits? ONSITES Graduate School can help you out. Benefit from adjusted installment payments in justified exceptional cases.
- Take semester off for free: In case of emergency, you can apply for 1-2 semesters of leave and suspend your tuition – 100% free of charge.
Need an additional financial boost? Alleviate your financial burden with an individual promotion.
Leveraging Your Education: Which Funding Fits You?
Tuition fees, rent, living expenses, learning materials – studying can be expensive, especially for students with little or no income.
With the right financing concept, your education will be on a secure footing! We show you the most popular funding options.
1. Scholarships: Debt-Free Student Finance
The good news in advance: scholarships are not only awarded to highly gifted students! Social commitment, denomination, the subject of study, your economic situation and your personal career are further possible selection criteria. The decisive factor is the respective scholarship program.
Whether as a one-time payment or as a monthly grant: a scholarship is always a welcome financial injection. The best thing about it: You don't have to pay back your scholarship! Depending on the program, the funding ranges from 100 to over 1000 euros per month.
From foundations and funding organizations to companies – with 2300+ scholarship providers in Germany, you are sure to find what you are looking for.
And your chances are not bad: Most students have never applied for a scholarship. As a result, some scholarships are often not awarded due to a lack of applicants!
So, try your luck and find your suitable scholarship now on relevant platforms such as Deutschlandstipendium, DAAD and myStipendium.
2. Loans & Credits Create More Flexibility
Experiencing financial bottlenecks in the final phase of your studies? A loan or student credit can save you from dropping out.
Caution is advised, though: Keep in mind that you have to repay loans and credits in full later. Smart advance planning is therefore everything.
Special tip: Use loans & credits as a last option among other financing options.
Your options:
Private Loans
Credit institutions such as banks or savings banks as well as associations offer private student loans or credits. The loans vary in terms of their conditions. Watch out for unfavorable clauses in the contract and check carefully whether state subsidies can help you better.
Government Loans
- KfW student loan: KfW finances the entire study program with 100 to 650 euros per month. The interest costs are offset directly against the disbursement amount. Excluded are: Study abroad programs & study programs at educational academies.
- Education loan from the German government: The most popular bridging loan: After 2 years of study, you receive up to 300 euros per month for a maximum of 2 years at a variable interest rate.
Interest-free Loans
As the name suggests, interest-free loans are not linked to an interest rate. The special feature: the number of recipients per year is limited to hardship cases (particularly needy).
- E.W. Kuhlmann Foundation: Supports needy students in the graduation phase with up to 2000 euros for 5 years.
- Hildegardis Association: Single mothers and refugee women of Christian denomination can receive funding of up to 10,000 euros in the final phase.
Very important: Check and compare the conditions of your offers (interest, loan amount, repayment period, individual criteria). Be sure to get advice from an independent person!
3. Education Fund: Repayment After Graduation
Education funds are special loans for students. Students selected via a selection process are funded with investor money.
The advantage: a monthly income-dependent repayment of 2-10% after completion. For low-income earners, repayment may be paused or even eliminated.
The disadvantage: as a top earner, you may pay more than with other student loans.
Particularly interesting for LL.M students from the euro region: BrainCapital's education fund finances the major part of your tuition fees – also for programs abroad.
4. Financial Support From Employer
More and more employers are co-funding part-time study or distance learning for their employees.
Convince Your Employer With These Benefits
- Combating the shortage of skilled workers through specialized know-how
- Motivation & reputation boost
- Increased productivity
There are different approaches to financial support:
- Your employer pays a percentage of your tuition fees
- Your employer contributes to the cost of learning materials
- Your employer will pay you a success bonus for each year of study if you successfully pass the final exam
- You give up part of your (gross) salary and receive an allowance from your employer.
Potential conditions:
- Commitment to the company for another 2-3 years after graduation
- Repayment of the grant in the event of discontinuation of studies
- Fast and successful completion of studies
Questions about student finance? We will be happy to advise you personally.