Many degree programmes include a compulsory internship. In that case, students often ask whether their BAföG (state training grant) continues during the placement or whether they must pause it. The answer starts with section 2 BAföG, which sets out which training and which internships are eligible for funding at all.
Short answer: Under section 2 subsection 4 BAföG, funding is also provided for taking part in an internship if the internship is required in connection with your studies and its content is set out in the training regulations. If the internship belongs to your degree, funding generally continues. The responsible office decides case by case whether and how any internship pay is counted. Last updated: November 2026.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- A required compulsory internship with regulated content can be eligible for funding.
- The internship counts toward the training section if it is required in connection with your studies.
- A voluntary internship is not covered by the rule for required internships, according to the wording.
- The restriction on living with your parents concerns schools according to the wording, not universities.
- The office decides case by case under the income rules whether internship pay is counted.
When Is a Compulsory Internship Eligible for Funding?
The law sets three conditions before an internship counts as part of training under the BAföG. First, the internship must be required, meaning the study or examination regulations prescribe it. Second, it must be connected with attending the training institution. Third, its content must be set out in the training regulations. An internship that serves only personal orientation does not meet these conditions.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Internship is required | The study regulations or examination regulations prescribe it. |
| Connection with the training institution | The internship belongs to your degree at the university. |
| Content set out in training regulations | The rules for duration and content appear in the official regulations of your programme. |
| Part of the training section | Under section 2 subsection 5, internships required in this connection belong to the section. |
The provision names the conditions before it addresses the amount or the duration. It is therefore worth reading the regulations of your programme first. You will usually find the exact requirements for length, content and proof there.
Does the Rule on Living with Parents Also Apply to Students?
According to the wording of section 2 subsection 4 sentence 2 BAföG, there is a special rule. If the internship is required in connection with attending a school, funding is provided only if the trainee does not live with the parents. This restriction refers to the institutions listed in subsection 1 number 1, that is general and vocational schools. The provision does not provide for this restriction for universities.
For students at a university, the residence of the parents is therefore usually not the decisive point when it comes to a compulsory internship. Funding nevertheless remains tied to your other BAföG requirements, such as age, field of study and proof of academic progress.
What About Internship Pay?
Many compulsory internships are paid, but some are not. Whether and to what extent pay is counted against the BAföG depends on the income rules of the Act. These rules distinguish between income you earn during training and allowances. A calculation for your individual case is therefore not possible in general terms.
- Establish the figures: gross pay per month and the duration of the internship.
- Ask the responsible office how the pay is taken into account in your approval period.
- Keep pay statements and the confirmation that the internship is compulsory.
How to Proceed Now
- Check the study regulations to see whether the internship is required and which content is set out.
- Ask the employer for a certificate covering duration and pay.
- Inform your responsible office in good time before the internship begins and clarify how it is counted.
- Clarify your health insurance in parallel, because it depends on the type of internship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I receive BAföG during a voluntary internship?
According to the wording, the rule covers only internships that are required. A voluntary internship is therefore not funded under this provision. Clarify with the office whether other cases are possible before you start the internship.
Do I have to prove the internship to the office?
Yes, it makes sense to document the requirement with the training regulations and a certificate from the company. This allows the office to check whether the internship belongs to the training section. The office decides which proofs it requires in detail.
What happens to my health insurance during the internship?
Health insurance depends on the type of internship and on the pay. Funding and insurance are two separate questions. The article PKV for compulsory internships and voluntary internships: what you need to know (in German) explains the differences.
Does this also apply to an internship abroad?
An internship abroad raises additional questions about insurance and funding. The article Health insurance during an internship abroad: what you need to know (in German) covers the insurance side. Funding abroad is also subject to the rules for study abroad.
How Do I Plan the Internship and Funding Over Time?
Funding does not run separately from your studies. If the compulsory internship falls into an approval period, compare the start and end of the internship with that period. This shows early whether your notice needs to change, so you do not have to clarify with the office afterwards what happened.
Also plan a buffer. If the pay fluctuates or the internship is postponed, your income position changes. Keep the records so that you can present them at any time. A summary with date, hours and pay per month is usually enough for this.
What Applies If the Internship Is Not in the Study Regulations?
Some internships are not expressly listed in the study regulations but are required by the university or the programme. What matters is that the requirement is connected with your studies and that its content is set out in the training regulations. Ask the study advice service where exactly the obligation is laid down, and have the place confirmed in writing.
This confirmation is an important document for the office. It shows that the internship is not an optional extra but part of your studies. Without this proof, the office cannot readily check whether funding continues.
Related Articles
- Internship During Studies: Pay, Duration and Rules
- PKV for compulsory internships and voluntary internships (in German)
- Health insurance during an internship abroad (in German)
- BAföG application step by step
- Internship during studies: minimum wage and social security contributions (in German)
Sources: section 2 BAföG, eligible training and internships (gesetze-im-internet.de, status November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
