Results of the BAföG survey

What was asked:

We asked questions about student financing, study costs, contact channels, application submission, obstacles to student financing, and satisfaction with BAföG counseling.

 

Sample:

1,306 respondents took part in the survey, including 36% bachelor's students, 30% master's students, and 24% state examination students.

The proportions of domestic and foreign BAföG applicants are each just under 50%.

Survey period: April 22 to May 5, 2025

 

Sources of income:

• In addition to BAföG, many students finance their studies through their own income, financial support from their families, their own savings, and child benefits.
• Around one third of the current BAföG recipients surveyed have average monthly incomes of €0–750, €751–1,000, and more than €1,001, respectively.
• The total monthly expenses for studies, housing, food, etc. are higher on average for foreign BAföG recipients. While only 19% of domestic recipients have expenses exceeding €1,001, the proportion of recipients abroad is 47%.
• The amount of BAföG received by 46% of domestic recipients and 57% of recipients abroad is between €751 and €1,250.

 

Ways of submitting applications:

At 45%, almost half of the applicants surveyed submitted their domestic or foreign BAföG application online via “BAföG Digital.” Thirty percent used the postal service. The majority of non-users are also aware of the “BAföG Digital” platform.

The majority of those who do not use “BAföG Digital” state that submitting an application via the online platform is too complicated and that the digital ID function is also a relevant obstacle.

 

Processing time:

From the complete submission of all necessary documents to the receipt of the decision, 68% of domestic BAföG applicants and 75% of foreign BAföG applicants consider a processing time of more than six weeks to be too long.

The same number of applicants expect a response to questions about the content within a week.

 

Reasons against applying for BAföG:

55% of those who do not apply for BAföG assume or know that they are not eligible.

18% of respondents use other financing options and 17% do not want to accumulate debt.

 

Reasons for rejection of an application:

Among applicants, the income level of parents or spouses is the most common reason for rejection of a BAföG application.

73% of applicants for domestic BAföG and 58% for foreign BAföG believe that the reasons for the rejection of their application were sufficiently explained to them.

 

Satisfaction with BAföG counseling:

• Overall satisfaction stands at 2.3.
• All aspects of the counseling service received positive ratings, as did waiting times for personal appointments and the prompt allocation of appointments.
• Consultation hours, telephone availability, and application processing times were rated as satisfactory.

What's next?

Your feedback from the May 2025 survey showed us where we can improve—and that's exactly what we're doing now!

 

Better availability

• Personal consultation: Instead of just one long consultation day, there are now two fixed days on which you can reach us in person: every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Telephone consultation: Not only can you reach us by phone during the two consultation days, but you can also arrange individual telephone appointments from Monday to Friday. This means we are now available by phone up to five working days a week – significantly more often than before.

 

Individual counseling options

We want everyone to receive the support they need:

• Individually arranged appointments for personal or telephone counseling
• From 2026, we also plan to offer video chats if you prefer this option

 

More information, less uncertainty

We know that there are often reservations and uncertainties surrounding BAföG. That's why we focus on:

• Early information directly in schools and at training fairs
• More education and advertising so that you know the advantages of BAföG
• Strengthening the BAföG-Digital platform to make online applications even easier

 

Simplifying administration for faster processing

We continue to actively contribute suggestions to the legislative process in order to streamline the entire process:

Less paperwork, more flat rates

Already implemented: simplified declaration of assets and elimination of documentation requirements

Goal: noticeably shorter processing times through simpler procedures