Many ways of financial support
First degree courses at state universities in Rhineland-Palatinate are generally free of charge. Only a semester fee is charged. Nevertheless, for many students, financing their living costs during their studies is a major challenge. At least that is what the latest surveys by the Deutsches Studentenwerk on the economic and social situation of around 2.8 million students in Germany(www.sozialerhebung.de) show. Before you rule out studying for financial reasons, first find out what options there are for financing your studies. There may be one or two options that you haven't even thought of yet. We have put together some useful tips for you on this page.
The classic: BAföG
According to the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), support is primarily provided to those whose own assets are not sufficient to finance their studies and whose parents cannot (sufficiently) support them in financing their studies. However, you can find a lot of general information on the web (for example, at www.bafög.de) and also a BAföG calculator with which you can first check whether you are entitled to the education subsidy: www.bafoeg-rechner.de/Rechner/
On-site consulting options
You prefer to be advised personally? No problem: Simone Auns and Andrea Henninger, two competent contact persons, are available at the BAföG office of the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences. The BAföG office is open on Tuesdays (9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and Thursdays (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.).
Jobbing next to your studies
Almost two thirds of students have a job alongside their studies, either permanently or only occasionally. This kind of part-time work not only helps to finance (or at least supplement) their living costs. If you also manage to find a job related to your field of study, you can gain practical experience and lay the foundations for your career planning. The prospects for a "sideline" are not bad at all: the university itself offers numerous jobs for student assistants. But in the economically strong metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar, there are of course also plenty of interesting companies outside the university that offer exciting internships or job prospects. Our university's own Career Portal acts as an intermediary between supply and demand and has already initiated many successful employment relationships.
Scholarships - not only for high-flyers
Have you ever thought about a scholarship to get financial support as a student? Let's make one thing clear right away: No, it's not just for straight-A students! In addition to academic qualifications, the personal qualities of applicants are also decisive. Independent and (self-)critically thinking personalities with a sense of responsibility, which is reflected for example in university, social, church or political commitment, are welcome. Apart from the direct material benefits, the non-material support in the form of seminars, stays abroad and network contacts should not be neglected. And it goes without saying that it looks good on your CV if you belong to a study foundation.
The chances of receiving a scholarship are better than expected
There are a total of 13 large organizations for the promotion of gifted students that are financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)(www.stipendiumplus.de). These include such well-known names as the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. In addition, students at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society can also consider a few selected foundations with which we have close ties - including the Ludwigshafen Scholarship Programs for Underrepresented and Disadvantaged Groups (StipLU) e.V., which deliberately supports underrepresented and disadvantaged groups. And last but not least, more than a dozen of our students are currently benefiting from a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. They receive 300 euros a month, half of which is paid by the federal government and half by private donors. Overall, the chances of receiving a scholarship are higher than students generally believe. It is therefore worth obtaining more detailed information. You can find this on our information page for scholarships. The Scholarship Day, which takes place once a year at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, is also an excellent opportunity to find out about scholarship opportunities.
Study pioneers are especially welcome in Ludwigshafen!
In its mission statement, the university has formulated the goal of supporting educational advancement and promoting the compatibility of studies, career and family. We are therefore pleased that the proportion of so-called study pioneers, i.e. students from non-academic homes, at our university is above average in a nationwide comparison. We work very closely with the Arbeiterkind.de network, which opened a regional office at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society in April 2017.
Further information at www.arbeiterkind.de.
The contact person in Ludwigshafen is Antonia Diaco(diaco@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 arbeiterkind.de)
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, B building, 1st floor
Other funding opportunities
There are other ways to get money, although student loans should rather be considered as a last resort, for example to bridge financing gaps at the end of studies. The federal government's education loan program provides financial support for education and study. The education loan is a temporary, low-interest loan designed to support students in advanced stages of their education.
The KfW student loan is designed to help students finance their living expenses during their first degree. A maximum of 650 EURO per month over 14 semesters is possible. A combination with other subsidies is generally possible.
Useful and further links
- General information on BAföG (brochure with examples, legal bases, information sheets, forms, etc.) can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at www.bafög.de
- The most frequently asked questions about BAföG at www.bafoeg-rechner.de/FAQ/ueberhaupt.php
- BAföG office of the HWG-LU with important information, contact persons and opening hours at www.hwg-lu.de/service/ausbildungsfoerderung-bafoeg.html
- BAföG for you too? Deutsches Studierendenwerk provides information on types of funding, requirements, loan amounts and much more. With application forms to download. www. studierendenwerke.de
- Information for foreign students and funding opportunities for foreign and German students at www.daad.de/de
- To keep track of the jungle of scholarships, we recommend the website www.mystipendium.de
- For more information on scholarships for gifted and talented students, scholarships and the scholarship organizations that work with the Ministry of Education, visit www.stipendiumplus.de
- Whether it's support for gifted students, educational loans or career advancement grants (Aufstiegs-BAföG) - the BMBF also provides information on this on its website at www.xn--bafg-7qa.de/de/weitere-foerdermoeglichkeiten-519.php