Bridging assistance 2.0!

BMBF continues to support students throughout the winter semester with grants

Due to current developments in the corona pandemic, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is reinstating the grant component of the bridging assistance for students in pandemic-related emergency situations for November and beyond until the end of the winter semester as of today. Federal Minister of Education Anja Karliczek explains:

"We are not leaving students alone in this pandemic. We will again offer the subsidies already known from the summer as part of the bridging assistance for students in pandemic emergency situations - and we will do so until the end of the winter semester.

The second component of the bridging assistance for students - the proven KfW student loan - is also available throughout. It is interest-free for the entire year 2021. Foreign students can still submit applications until March 2020.

BAföG remains the most important instrument for studies financing. We have already made many improvements and simplification during this legislative period and during the pandemic, with the result that students receive higher support on average. I therefore recommend that those affected first check possible BAföG claims and, if necessary, apply for BAföG before they apply for our bridging assistance or the KfW student loan".

Achim Meyer auf der Heyde, the Secretary General of Deutsches Studentenwerk, in which the 57 Studentenwerke and Studierendenwerke nationwide are united, explains:

"Once again, the Studentenwerke and Studierendenwerke are ready to support students who are in financial need as a result of the pandemic - even if the start of a winter semester means a boom for the BAföG offices and many other areas of work of the Studentenwerke and their working capacities are fully demanded. But they want to and can help. This pandemic shows just how systemically relevant the Studentenwerke and Studierendnenwerke are and how seriously they take their social task to support students. The employees of the Studentenwerke and Studierendenwerke deserve recognition and respect".

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Further information:

BMBF FAQs about the bridging assistance: https://www.bmbf.de/de/wissenswertes-zur-ueberbrueckungshilfe-fuer-studierende-11509.html

According to the FAQs the BMBF bridging assistance hotline answers the most important questions about the bridging assistance:
Telephone: 0800 26 26 003
Hotline service hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.