Opportunities for student scholarships
A degree is the path to many opportunities, but it also comes at a cost. As well as course materials and books, you need money to pay for food and somewhere to live, or a semester ticket. But there are a variety of ways in which you can fund your time at university. No matter what your financial situation or that of your parents, this way, you have the chance to study.
In addition to financial support, Ulm University of Applied Sciences offers motivated students a range of other funding programs, enabling you to profit from other people's experience in a special network. This can be valuable support for your later career.
You can find out about financial assistance for students during the Covid-19 pandemic on the website Financial assistance for students.
BAföG
The most important facts at a glance – BAföG is worth it!
- Half the BAföG is paid as a grant and the other half as an interest-free loan.
- Predictability: The maximum loan to be repaid is around €10,010.
- Repayment does not begin until five years after the end of the standard period of study.
- Repayment can be made in reasonable instalments, depending on income and other factors.
- Those who receive the maximum rate for bachelor's and master's programmes only have to repay about 1/5 of the total funding!
Allowance
|
Not living with parents
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Living with parents
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Basic allowance
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EUR 475
|
EUR 475
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Accommodation allowance
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+ EUR 380
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+ EUR 59
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Standard allowance
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= EUR 855
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= EUR 534
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Personal insurance supplement
|
|
|
Health insurance*
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+ EUR 102
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+ EUR 102
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Long term care insurance*
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+ EUR 35
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+ EUR 35
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Maximum allowance
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= EUR 992
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= EUR 671
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*For trainees who are insured as voluntary members and liable for contributions (aged 30 and over), the requirement increases to €185 per month for the health insurance contribution and €48 per month for the nursing care insurance contribution.
IMPORTANT: BAföG is paid from the month of application at the earliest.
To meet the deadline, you can submit an informal application, which can be sent by post or as a PDF/JPEG file by email (don't forget your signature!).
The quickest and easiest way to apply is to submit your application as an e-application via the ‘BAföG Digital’ (in German) online platform.
Good to know:
- More, better and easier since the winter semester 2024/2025! Those who have not previously received funding could now receive BAföG due to the increases since the winter semester 2024/2025.An overview of the improvements and innovations:
- Income allowance for parents + 5.25 %
- Requirement rates + 5%
- Mini-job exempt from credit
- Additional flexibility semester beyond the maximum funding period.
- Maximum funding (without childcare supplement): up to 29 years of age €992, from 30 years of age €1,088
- The parents' income from the calendar year before last is used to calculate the BAföG entitlement. If your income is now significantly lower than two years ago (e.g. due to short-time working, loss of job, retirement, etc.), you can submit a so-called update application (PDF in German). In this case, the currently lower income is used as the basis for calculating your BAföG entitlement, with the result that more BAföG can regularly be paid out.
- Study start assistance: A one-time grant of €1,000 for first-year students who receive social benefits, have not yet reached the age of 25 at the beginning of the training phase and are enrolling at a university for the first time. The application can only be submitted digitally (in German).
Deutschlandstipendien
Particularly gifted students can apply to the Deutschlandstipendium for financial assistance. This is half financed by the government and half by private benefactors. You can find out more here.
Ulmer MedTech-Stipendium
Specifically for students in the master's program “Medical Devices - Research and Development”: With the Ulm MedTech scholarship, five companies are supporting young talent.
The application is made at the same time as the application for a place at university. Details can be found here (in German).
Other scholarships
It is usually high-performing and gifted students who have the opportunity of receiving a scholarship. But students who are strongly committed to something or active in a particular field are also supported. If you are interested in this form of student finance, you should definitely take a good look at the support on offer. In the large organizations for promoting young talent, the scholarship amount usually depends on the BAföG (however without the loan component). Sometimes there are other extras, e.g. money for books, summer schools, networking. Apart from funding for excellence and scholarships which require particular personal attributes or specialist knowledge, there are numerous scholarship programs which anyone can apply for.
You can find out more from the Begabtenförderungswerken, from Mystipendium, from e-fellows.net or the initiative ArbeiterKind.de and from Deutschlandstipendium.
Discover ArbeiterKind.de – Your support during your studies!
Are you the first person in your family to go to university? ArbeiterKind.de (in German)offers you valuable tips and support from experienced students and alumni. Whether you are interested in studying, financing, scholarships or career entry – we are there for you! Find answers to all your questions, feel free to contact us: ulm@arbeiterkind.de.
Funding for studying abroad
If you are hoping to spend a semester studying abroad, you can find detailed information about financial support here.
The database of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is also useful for finding suitable scholarships for periods abroad.
Upgrading Scholarships – the study support program for those who already have career experience
Qualified specialists – who have done an apprenticeship and already have several years of practical experience – can receive support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for their first academic degree. For more detailed information go to https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/aufstiegsstipendium
The SBB Team is on hand to help with any questions you might have regarding your application: aufstieg@sbb-stipendien.de or call us on 0228/62931-43 or -51.
Student loan
From the third semester, Bachelor's students can apply for a student loan (evidence of your performance in the first two semesters is required). Master's students can apply at any time and everyone else from the fifth semester, once they have passed the interim examination. The loan is between EUR 100 and EUR 650 per month, and will be paid for a maximum of 24 months. A single payment is also possible. Your earnings and personal wealth are not taken into account. Repayments start four years from the first payment. Please note: the state-supported student loan is not to be confused with student loans from private companies.
The amount of the loan and all other information can be found at KfW Bankengruppe or on the website of the Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung.
Self-financing
Another option for financing your studies is a part-time job. Many students work alongside studying: some just to survive, others because they want to finance a hobby or go on holiday. Earning your own money feels great and it is always a good idea to gather your first experiences in the world of work while you are still at university. It is often possible to organize your working times flexibly, enabling you to combine your studies and part-time job well.
If you are looking for a job, check out the Ulm University of Applied Sciences Jobportal.
Ulm University of Applied Sciences Jobportal
You can find out more from the Ulm Students' Union (Studierendenwerk).
proTHU-Mentoring
The Pro!THU association provides mentoring for students on engineering courses with the support of numerous companies from the region. You can submit your application. via the association website.
BayernMentoring
Thanks to the cooperation between the universities of applied sciences in Ulm and Neu-Ulm, students from Ulm also have the opportunity to take part in the Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences' “BayernMentoring” program. Here it makes no difference whether you are doing a course in cooperation with the HNU or not.
MINToring – Support for school pupils
Motivated students of STEM (MINT) subjects become MINTors for school pupils. The MINTors communicate their enthusiasm for STEM subjects, provide information about the range of degree programs on offer and are available with help and advice during the first four semesters. The program, initiated by the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft, provides guidance for young adults deciding what to study.
