Short answer: A hardship fund (Härtefonds) at a student services office (Studierendenwerk) helps students in social hardship that they have not caused. Help is granted only on application and within available funds. There is no legal entitlement. Under the Leipzig rules, the primary form is an interest-free loan without a guarantor, and grants are the exception. Maximum amounts and deadlines are set by each office itself (status October 2026). The Leipzig rules show what to check.
When rent, health insurance or the semester fee suddenly cannot be paid, a hardship fund of your student services office may help. Student services organisations can set up such funds or similar emergency aid. Whether your office has one and how it works is decided by each office. This guide explains the basic principles using a published set of rules and shows which questions to clarify before you apply.
The most important points
- A hardship fund supports students in unforeseen social hardship, only on application and as long as funds are available.
- There is no legal entitlement. The help is usually intended once during your studies.
- The primary form of help is an interest-free loan without a guarantor. A grant is possible only in justified exceptional cases.
- Incomplete applications are not processed, so attach all evidence from the start.
- The Leipzig rules do not set a maximum amount or application deadlines. You need to ask your own student services office.
What is a hardship fund and what is it for?
The hardship fund under the Leipzig rules is meant to provide quick, unbureaucratic help. Its aim is to let students in unforeseen social hardship continue their studies rather than drop out. According to the preamble, the fund is financed from semester fees or state grants.
A hardship fund supplements other funding rather than replacing it. Students who already receive BAföG, a scholarship or income from a part-time job can still reach a point where a one-off payment helps. That is what the fund is for.
Who can apply?
Under § 2 of the Leipzig rules, students at the universities supported by the student services are eligible, provided they have paid the semester fee. Social hardship exists where the financial need cannot be reduced or averted in another way. The rules name typical reasons such as study costs, living costs, health insurance and semester fees, and medical costs.
The limitation in § 2 paragraph 3 is important: the hardship must not be self-inflicted, and you must prove this. The social counselling service therefore looks not only at the need but also at its cause.
How does the application work?
The Leipzig rules set out the following steps for the application:
- The application is submitted digitally through the application platform of the social counselling service.
- A personal consultation beforehand is generally provided for, and it does not take place by email.
- All required documents belong with the application. Enrolment and identity must be proven.
- Incomplete applications are not processed.
- The result is communicated by email, and the decision is documented on the platform.
- Proof of how the money was used may be requested.
The rules also require truthful information. Knowingly false or misleading statements lead to rejection, reclaim of the help and cancellation of the approval (§ 3 paragraph 5).
Loan or grant?
The Leipzig rules govern the form of help in § 4. The primary form is an interest-free loan without a guarantor. In justified exceptional cases, a grant that does not have to be repaid can be given. Payment goes to the bank account you provide and only in exceptional cases in cash at the main cash desk.
| Form | Rule under the Leipzig rules | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Loan | Interest-free, no guarantor, with a loan agreement | Usually repaid within three months |
| Grant | Only in justified exceptional cases | Not repayable |
| Conversion | A loan can be converted into a grant on an informal written application after personal consultation | Conversion is not automatic |
Worked example. Assumption: you receive a loan of 600 euros to pay a bill, and the loan agreement provides for even repayment within three months. That would be 200 euros a month. Whether this works for you depends on the agreement, which you should read carefully before signing.
What is not in the rules?
The Leipzig rules deliberately contain only the basic principles. They name no standard period of study, no nationality requirement and no minimum level of social benefits. They also set no maximum amount per application or per year and no application deadlines. You need to ask your own student services office about these points. A comparison between two student services offices only makes sense if you have both current sets of rules.
Emergency funds and other emergency aid
In addition to hardship funds, student services sometimes offer further help, for example emergency funds or bridging loans. Which ones exist, which conditions apply and whether they can be combined is shown on the website of the relevant office or in its rules. This guide cannot cover these individual rules for every location, but it shows what to check for any set of rules.
If several kinds of help are possible, a list of deadlines and documents helps. That way, no application fails because a document is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Will I always get money if I am in need?
No. Help is granted only within available funds, and there is no legal entitlement. An application is still worthwhile, because the social counselling service reviews each case individually and decides together on the type and amount of help, applying the four-eyes principle.
Can I receive help more than once?
According to § 1 of the Leipzig rules, help is generally intended only once during your studies. Whether other student services offices handle this similarly, you need to ask them.
Do I have to pay the money back?
If the help is granted as a loan, yes. A loan agreement regulates the repayment. It is usually due within three months. A conversion into a grant is possible only on an informal written application after personal consultation.
What happens if I give false information?
The application is then rejected, the help can be reclaimed and the approval can be cancelled. Complete and honest information is therefore essential, even when the situation is uncomfortable.
How do I prepare for the consultation?
Note your monthly income and expenses, the amount of the specific claim and the date it becomes due. Such an overview helps the social counselling service to assess the hardship. The rules generally provide for a personal consultation beforehand, which does not take place by email.
Why is my application not being processed?
Under the rules, incomplete applications are not processed. Check the list of documents before you submit, including proof of enrolment and proof of identity.
Next steps
- Find out whether your student services office has a hardship fund or similar emergency aid, and locate the current rules.
- Gather evidence of your hardship, the costs and your enrolment.
- Arrange the personal consultation before you submit the digital application.
- Plan the repayment of any loan before you sign the agreement.
Related guides
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
- How Much Money Do Students Need Per Month?
- Organising finances as a student: account, emergency savings and deadlines (in German)
- Student loan comparison, criteria and rates 2026
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
