Student financing
Overview for students

First of all, it is important that you get an overview of your monthly financial needs and prioritise optional expenditure. You can find various templates for budget books and budget planners on the web to help you record your monthly income and expenditure to date and calculate your future budget. 
 

• Consumer advice centre: Budget book
• Consumer advice centre: Interactive budget planner

For international students:

Information from the German Student Services Association

Below you will find a list of possible sources of funding for your studies. All information is without guarantee. Please check the current regulations.

If you are an international student (non-EU), please note that different regulations may apply to you.

Further information and counselling for international students can be found on our pages for international students or on the pages of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk.

Students can receive BAföG if their own financial means and those of their parents or spouse are not sufficient. BAföG is usually granted half as a grant and half as an interest-free loan.
 

• BMFTR: BAföG - All information at a glance
• Deutsches Studierendenwerk: BAföG - money from the state
   

Get advice on your options from the relevant student services organisation before you start your studies and submit your applications early. BAföG hotline and contact persons
 

The Studierendenwerk provides advice once a month at the university in person:

• Mönchengladbach: every first Tuesday; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.; cafeteria room AE 23
• Krefeld-Süd: every fourth Wednesday; 11 am - 1 pm; canteen, VIP room.
• Contact persons
   

There is a study start-up grant for students receiving social benefits. These students must not have reached the age of 25 and are enrolling for the first time in Germany, the EU or Switzerland. Under these conditions, they can receive a one-off grant of €1,000 regardless of any subsequent BAföG.

BAföG can be combined with the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship and/or a mini-job without deductions. Social training assistance, such as citizen's allowance, is taken into account with a few exceptions.

The following applies to international students:

The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) provides financial support to students whose parents cannot cover the costs of their studies.

International students can also receive support under certain circumstances, for example if they are EU citizens, migrants, or refugees who live in Germany, have prospects of remaining in the country, and are socially integrated.

Further information...

In Germany, the family is primarily responsible for financing studies. According to §1601 of the German Civil Code (BGB), parents are generally obliged to pay maintenance to their adult children during their apprenticeship, i.e. also during their studies.

You can find comprehensive information on the various forms and amounts of financial support to which you are entitled on the website of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk.

If your parents are unable or unwilling to pay maintenance, you can also find out there what other options are available to you.
 

The following applies to international students:

If international students cannot receive sufficient financial support from their parents during their studies, they may also be eligible for BAföG funding under certain circumstances.

Students at The Hochschule Niederrhein have the opportunity to take advantage of various financial support, including the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, which offers monthly support of 300 euros (application annually from 1 to 30 April). This funding can be applied for from the first semester and can be combined with BAföG.
 

The following applies to international students:

International students who meet the requirements can also apply for the Germany Scholarship.

There are also a number of other scholarships for which you can often apply twice a year. However, a combination of scholarships and BAföG is only possible with the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship or with earmarked scholarships, such as for books.

The Hochschule Niederrhein offers general scholarship counselling. This counselling aims to look at students' individual requirements and give them an overview of potential funding opportunities. You can also find a comprehensive overview of all available scholarships here:

BMFRT: Scholarships
Studienkompass: Scholarship overview
Deutsche-Universitaetsstiftung: TANDEM
Stipendiumplus
MyStipendium
 

The following applies to international students:

In addition to the scholarship databases listed above, the DAAD scholarship database may also be helpful.

The following applies to students with a refugee background:

Students with a refugee background can apply for an NRWege scholarship under certain conditions.

Scholarships for refugees

Student Loan Options

You should only take out a student loan if scholarships, BaföG, parental support or a part-time job are not sufficient. Calculate your actual loan requirements first.

1. Daka Darlehen der Studierendenwerke e.V. supports students by providing an interest-free loan.
* up to an amount of 12,000 euros and variable monthly instalments of up to 1.000 euros
* also loans specifically for a semester abroad or internship semester abroad up to 6,000 euros
* funding is possible at any stage of your studies
* you will need one or two guarantees as security, depending on the amount of the loan.
► Daka loan

The following applies to international students:
A Daka loan is also available to international students, as Daka supports all nationalities. However, there is no legal entitlement to approval.

2. KfW Student Loan
The KfW Student Loan is offered by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau and is the only provider in Germany that finances your entire studies, regardless of your degree programme.

- Sponsors first, second, additional, supplementary and postgraduate studies as well as doctorates
- Monthly payment of 100 to 650 euros
- Maximum financing amount: 54,600 euros for a Bachelor's degree, 23,400 euros for a Master's degree
- Interest rate: variable, effective annual interest rate: 6.13% (as of May 2025)
► KfW Student Loan
 

The following applies to international students:
Only the following groups of people are eligible for funding:

• German citizens residing in Germany,
• EU citizens who have been permanently resident in Germany for at least 3 years and are registered here,
• Family members (regardless of citizenship) of a German or EU citizen who reside with them in Germany and are registered here,
• Foreign students with a German registered address.

Please visit the KFW website for the latest criteria that must be met in order to take out a loan

3. educational loan from the Federal Office of Administration
This loan is aimed at bridging and graduation financing
- Maximum of 300 euros per month for up to 24 months
- One-off payment of up to 3,600 euros possible
- Effective annual interest rate: 4.87% (as of 2025)
► Apply for an educational loan online
 

The following applies to international students:
The same conditions apply here as for applying for BAföG.

You can find an overview of other offers in the student loan test of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE).
This regularly tests student loans and evaluates them from the perspective of students.
► CHE student loan test 2025
 

Pregnant women, students with child(ren) and students caring for relatives are entitled to various supplementary state support benefits depending on their individual life situation.

The HSNR family service and the social counselling service of the Studierendenwerk Düsseldorf will be happy to help you with financial questions.

Please bear in mind that receiving state benefits may oblige you to submit a tax return.

As an international student, please clarify with your responsible immigration authority before applying for family benefits whether the receipt of benefits could jeopardise your continued right of residence.

Students with disabilities can find information on counselling and support services here.

• Studies with disabilities at The Hochschule Niederrhein
• Studying with disabilities and chronic illnesses (student services)
• kombabb competence centre NRW
• Studying with disabilities (employment agency)