Financing your semester abroad in Bali

BAföG for studying abroad (Auslands-BAföG) is designed to help students from Germany gain experience abroad. Unlike scholarships, it does not depend on your grades. Whether you qualify and how much you receive depends on your parents’ income – but even students who don’t receive BAföG in Germany because of their parents’ income can often apply for Auslands-BAföG. Funding amounts abroad are higher, and part of the credits you earn abroad must be recognized by your home university.

Funding is available for a maximum of one year and a minimum of one semester or 12 weeks. For a semester abroad, the maximum is around €9,000. On top of the regular monthly rate, it covers tuition fees, travel grants, health and long-term care insurance and a monthly allowance for living abroad. Ideally, apply 6 months before you leave. Applications for Indonesia are handled by the Studierendenwerk Tübingen.

In addition to the regular study grant (Studienbeihilfe), students in Austria can apply for a study abroad grant (Beihilfe für ein Auslandsstudium, BAS). It is paid for up to 20 months, or up to 12 months at colleges such as universities of teacher education. To receive the BAS, you must already receive the regular study grant and complete your studies at a university or research institution abroad. The amount depends on living and study costs in the host country and is up to €582 per month.

Other support such as travel grants and insurance contributions continues during your semester abroad. You must apply no later than three months after finishing your studies abroad. Students at universities and universities of applied sciences must meet certain conditions, such as having passed the first diploma examination and staying abroad for at least three months. Students at universities of teacher education must have completed at least two semesters and stay abroad for at least one month.

A scholarship is financial support for students, awarded on the basis of various criteria that reflect the values and goals of the donor or foundation. There are special scholarships and grants for international students who want to study in Asia. It’s worth applying for scholarships that match your goals, even if competition is tough.

For students from Austria, the scholarship database of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) is the first place to look. Universities and federal states also offer their own scholarships and funding. Students from Germany can find information on scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), PROMOS offers scholarships for stays abroad, and many foundations award scholarships too. Their selection criteria may include financial need, talent, grades and social commitment. Another good place to search is the scholarship database of e-fellows.net.

Another great source of information on funding your semester abroad is the campaign “STUDIEREN WELTWEIT – ERLEBE ES!” (Study worldwide – experience it!), launched by the DAAD and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

If Auslands-BAföG, grants or scholarships don’t fully cover your studies abroad, a student loan can be an alternative. Before you decide, compare eligibility requirements, repayment terms and other conditions carefully, as they vary from offer to offer. In Germany, the education loan (Bildungskredit) of the Federal Ministry of Education supports semesters abroad, internships and master’s programs abroad and can be combined with BAföG. Education funds such as the Career Concept AG education fund, the Festo education fund for engineering and technical programs, and the flexible financing of Deutsche Bildung AG can also offer fair, bank-independent study financing.

Private lenders also offer many loans, so compare them carefully before you decide. In Austria, Austrian citizens under 30 studying at a university or college can apply for a student loan from a bank or a building society (Bausparkasse). Building societies often offer attractive rates and conditions: during your studies you usually only pay the interest, and the loan amount and remaining interest are repaid later. The student loan may only be used for education and is limited to the duration of your studies.

BAföG for studying abroad (Auslands-BAföG) is designed to help students from Germany gain experience abroad. Unlike scholarships, it does not depend on your grades. Whether you qualify and how much you receive depends on your parents’ income – but even students who don’t receive BAföG in Germany because of their parents’ income can often apply for Auslands-BAföG. Funding amounts abroad are higher, and part of the credits you earn abroad must be recognized by your home university.

Funding is available for a maximum of one year and a minimum of one semester or 12 weeks. For a semester abroad, the maximum is around €9,000. On top of the regular monthly rate, it covers tuition fees, travel grants, health and long-term care insurance and a monthly allowance for living abroad. Ideally, apply 6 months before you leave. Applications for Indonesia are handled by the Studierendenwerk Tübingen.

In addition to the regular study grant (Studienbeihilfe), students in Austria can apply for a study abroad grant (Beihilfe für ein Auslandsstudium, BAS). It is paid for up to 20 months, or up to 12 months at colleges such as universities of teacher education. To receive the BAS, you must already receive the regular study grant and complete your studies at a university or research institution abroad. The amount depends on living and study costs in the host country and is up to €582 per month.

Other support such as travel grants and insurance contributions continues during your semester abroad. You must apply no later than three months after finishing your studies abroad. Students at universities and universities of applied sciences must meet certain conditions, such as having passed the first diploma examination and staying abroad for at least three months. Students at universities of teacher education must have completed at least two semesters and stay abroad for at least one month.

If Auslands-BAföG, grants or scholarships don’t fully cover your studies abroad, a student loan can be an alternative. Before you decide, compare eligibility requirements, repayment terms and other conditions carefully, as they vary from offer to offer. In Germany, the education loan (Bildungskredit) of the Federal Ministry of Education supports semesters abroad, internships and master’s programs abroad and can be combined with BAföG. Education funds such as the Career Concept AG education fund, the Festo education fund for engineering and technical programs, and the flexible financing of Deutsche Bildung AG can also offer fair, bank-independent study financing.

Private lenders also offer many loans, so compare them carefully before you decide. In Austria, Austrian citizens under 30 studying at a university or college can apply for a student loan from a bank or a building society (Bausparkasse). Building societies often offer attractive rates and conditions: during your studies you usually only pay the interest, and the loan amount and remaining interest are repaid later. The student loan may only be used for education and is limited to the duration of your studies.

A scholarship is financial support for students, awarded on the basis of various criteria that reflect the values and goals of the donor or foundation. There are special scholarships and grants for international students who want to study in Asia. It’s worth applying for scholarships that match your goals, even if competition is tough.

For students from Austria, the scholarship database of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD) is the first place to look. Universities and federal states also offer their own scholarships and funding. Students from Germany can find information on scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), PROMOS offers scholarships for stays abroad, and many foundations award scholarships too. Their selection criteria may include financial need, talent, grades and social commitment. Another good place to search is the scholarship database of e-fellows.net.

Another great source of information on funding your semester abroad is the campaign “STUDIEREN WELTWEIT – ERLEBE ES!” (Study worldwide – experience it!), launched by the DAAD and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).