BAföG in Schleswig-Holstein: Many students leave money behind!

Transparenz: Redaktionell erstellt und geprüft.
Veröffentlicht am

Bafög applications in Schleswig-Holstein are falling, while many students mistakenly believe that they are not eligible. Find out why.

Bafög-Anträge in Schleswig-Holstein sinken, während viele Studierende fälschlicherweise glauben, nicht berechtigt zu sein. Erfahren Sie, warum.
Bafög applications in Schleswig-Holstein are falling, while many students mistakenly believe that they are not eligible. Find out why.

BAföG in Schleswig-Holstein: Many students leave money behind!

In recent years there has been a notable decline in Bafög applications in Schleswig-Holstein. Loud kn online The number of applications has fallen from 16,930 since 2016 to just 14,986 in 2024. This development concerns not only education politicians, but also the students themselves.

The responsible office for educational support in Kiel has found that many students simply underestimate their chances of success in receiving funding. A nationwide study by Fraunhofer FIT and the Max Planck Institute also shows that almost 70 percent of eligible people do not apply for Bafög. Around 82 percent believe that they are not entitled, which is often due to parents' income being too high or fear of indebtedness.

Hurdles when applying

Is the effort involved in applying for BAföG really as high as many people assume? The answer is often yes and no. Although some students find the application process to be too complicated, the necessary forms are well structured. How bafög.de reported, various forms must be filled out: These include the application for training funding, a certificate from the training institution, and income declarations from parents or spouses.

  • Formblätter sind farblich kodiert:
    • Petrol: von der antragstellenden Person
    • Rot: von jedem Elternteil und Ehegatten/Lebenspartner
    • Gelb: von der Ausbildungs-/Praktikumsstätte

It is particularly recommended to apply early, as payments begin in the month of the application. Applications for follow-up funding must be submitted two calendar months before the end of the current approval period.

Opportunities for the future

Students from families with an annual income of up to around 83,000 euros have a good chance of receiving Bafög funding. It is all the more important that they are well informed and take advantage of the opportunity to receive individual advice from the Office for Training Support. If these hurdles are overcome, the increase in student loan applications could potentially increase again.

What about support for students who want to study abroad? Special regulations apply here and applications must be submitted to the responsible foreign offices. The process may seem complicated at first glance, but proper preparation and early application offer a good chance of receiving funding.

The situation surrounding Bafög is in flux and requires fresh thinking. Ultimately, closer collaboration between students and education authorities could help more young people get the support they deserve.