Short answer: The BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act) maximum funding period generally matches the standard period of study of your degree programme (§ 15a para. 1 BAföG, last updated October 2026). Beyond that, funding continues for a reasonable time only if a reason named in the law applies, such as serious reasons (§ 15 para. 3 BAföG). One flexibility semester is available if you have not used it yet (§ 15 para. 4 BAföG). The funding office decides.
The maximum funding period determines how many semesters of BAföG (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) you can receive in principle. If you study longer because a semester is lost, you change focus late or have to repeat an exam, you may wonder whether funding continues. This guide explains which periods count, when an extension is possible and how to proceed.
The most important points
- The maximum funding period generally matches the standard period of study of your degree programme.
- Periods before the start of funding in the same training also count, as do recognised earlier training periods.
- If your degree programme requires language skills that you acquire during your studies, the maximum period is extended by one semester per language.
- An extension beyond the maximum period requires a reason named in the law and is decided case by case.
- You can receive one flexibility semester after the funding period ends, if you have not used one before.
What determines the maximum funding period?
The maximum funding period follows the standard period of study under the Higher Education Framework Act or a comparable determination (§ 15a para. 1 BAföG). The law contains no calculation formula of its own. The relevant number is therefore found in the study regulations or examination regulations of your degree programme. If the university extends the standard period, this counts only in limited form. Extensions set as an exception because of temporary, exceptional disruptions to teaching are disregarded (§ 15a para. 1a BAföG).
Which periods count?
Periods you spent in the same training before funding began count towards the maximum funding period. Periods that the responsible office recognises because of earlier training, work experience or an internship also count. For a master’s programme started after 31 December 2007, periods in a one-tier bachelor-equivalent programme also count, insofar as they exceed the eighth semester (§ 15a para. 2 BAföG). Part-time periods are converted into full-time periods by the office.
| Period or rule | Effect on the maximum period | Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Time before funding began in the same training | Counted | § 15a para. 2 no. 1 |
| Recognised earlier training, work experience or internship | Counted if the responsible office recognises it | § 15a para. 2 no. 2 |
| Language skills beyond German, English, French or Latin | The maximum period is extended by one semester per language | § 15a para. 3 |
| Part-time study | Converted into full-time periods | § 15a para. 2 |
| Flexibility semester | Once, after the funding period ends, if not used before | § 15 para. 4 |
When is funding granted beyond the maximum period?
Funding continues for a reasonable time beyond the maximum period if the overrun results from serious reasons (§ 15 para. 3 BAföG). The law also explicitly names home care for a close relative with at least care level 3, work on university bodies, failing the final examination for the first time, disability, pregnancy and raising a child up to 14 years. Our guide on BAföG for illness and pregnancy covers these reasons in detail.
Worked example: how the maximum period adds up
Assumption: your bachelor’s degree has a standard period of study of six semesters. Your degree programme also requires a language skill that you acquire during your studies. No earlier periods are recognised and no extension under paragraph 3 applies in this example.
| Component | Semesters |
|---|---|
| Standard period of study (assumption) | 6 |
| Language skill acquired during studies (assumption: one language) | plus 1 |
| Maximum funding period | 7 |
| Flexibility semester after the funding period, if not used before | plus 1 |
| Possible total number of funded semesters in this example | 8 |
The example shows the logic, not your entitlement. The funding office checks with your documents whether the language skill is recognised and whether you receive a flexibility semester.
How do you apply for an extension?
An extension beyond the maximum period is handled by the funding office, the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung, which is often located at the student services. Ask there for the forms and deadlines, because procedures differ between states and offices. Your application should set out the reasons, the affected periods and the evidence. An extension is not automatic; it is a decision made in each individual case.
What happens after the maximum funding period ends?
Once the maximum period is reached, funding ends. There is one exception: help to complete the degree. For an independent degree programme, you can receive up to twelve months of funding if you were admitted to the final examination no later than four semesters afterwards and the examination office confirms that you can finish in that time (§ 15 para. 5 BAföG). If no final examination is provided for, a confirmation from the training institution is sufficient.
Repayment matters too. According to bafög.de, the loan share of the funding is repaid starting five years after the end of the maximum funding period. If you receive an extension, this point in time shifts accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Do only semesters of study count toward the maximum period?
No. Periods before funding began in the same training also count, as do recognised earlier periods. In certain cases, acquiring language skills also extends the maximum period. Check your notice carefully and ask if something is missing.
Does the maximum period extend if my university raises the standard period?
Not in every case. Extensions of the standard period set as an exception because of temporary, exceptional disruptions to teaching are disregarded (§ 15a para. 1a BAföG). The federal government can also set an extension by regulation for training institutions whose teaching is significantly affected (§ 15a para. 1b BAföG).
Is the flexibility semester automatic?
No. You receive it only if you have not used it for an earlier section. If you assert reasons under § 15 para. 3 during the flexibility semester, funding continues for a reasonable time afterwards.
Does a change of field affect my funding?
According to the German Student Services Association, a change of field up to the fourth semester is generally harmless for funding. How a later change affects the periods counted depends on the individual case. Have the office confirm the recognition before you make the change.
How can I tell when my funding ends?
The maximum period is calculated in semesters, but payments are made monthly. Compare the standard period of study with the periods already counted, and ask the office to confirm the expected end in writing. If the figures do not match, clarify them early.
Next steps
- Find the standard period of study in the study or examination regulations of your degree programme.
- Compare it with the funding period stated in your BAföG notice.
- Clarify with the office whether earlier periods, language skills or a flexibility semester are counted.
- If needed, submit your extension application with reasons and evidence in good time, before funding ends.
Related guides
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
- BAföG for Illness and Pregnancy: Extensions and Limits
- BAföG Repayment: Start, Instalments, Exemption and Partial Write-off
- Student loan comparison, criteria and rates 2026
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
Sources: § 15a BAföG: Maximum funding period, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, last updated October 2026); § 15 BAföG: Funding period, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, last updated October 2026); Repayment information, bafög.de (in German, status December 2025); FAQ on BAföG, German Student Services Association (in German, status January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
