Short answer: Studying in Germany requires admission by the university, and your residence status determines how you can be funded. Under section 8 of the BAföG student support act, the decisive factors are which residence title you hold and whether a lawful stay of at least 15 months is documented. According to the federal scholarship database, the Deutschlandstipendium is 300 euros per month. Last updated: November 2026.
If you came to Germany from a crisis region or in a situation of flight, you often ask the same questions as other prospective students. In addition, there is a question about your residence status itself: may you study at all, and who can finance it? This guide sorts out the main rules and shows which offices give binding information.
The most important points at a glance
- The university decides on admission under its own rules. Depending on the programme, you need certificates, language proof and possibly a Studienkolleg.
- Whether you can receive BAföG depends, under section 8 BAföG, on your residence title and the length of your stay.
- The 15-month rule also counts periods of permitted and tolerated stay, as long as the other conditions are met.
- Under section 16b of the Residence Act (AufenthG), a language course and a Studienkolleg count as preparatory measures that belong to the purpose of study.
- The Deutschlandstipendium is set at 300 euros per month, of which 150 euros come from private funders. The page does not name nationality as a requirement.
Which residence status counts for study support?
Funding under BAföG is linked to the residence status. Section 8 distinguishes several groups. The table reproduces the most important groups as they appear in the legal text. The additional conditions apply on top of the residence title.
| Group under section 8 BAföG | Residence title or status | Additional condition |
|---|---|---|
| Subsection 2, number 1 | Titles under sections 22, 23(1), 25(1) or (2), 25a, 25b, 28, 104a and 104c AufenthG | Permanent residence in Germany |
| Subsection 2, number 2 | Titles under section 25(3), (4) sentence 2, (5) or section 31 AufenthG | Permanent residence and 15 months of lawful, permitted or tolerated stay |
| Subsection 2a | Toleration under section 60a AufenthG | Permanent residence and 15 months of stay |
The list is long and closely tied to residence law. Check the exact wording of your title and ask the student support office or the international office of your university. The statute page gives no version date, so the current wording in the official text is decisive.
What does the 15-month rule mean?
For many students, the length of stay decides access to support. According to the statute, permitted and tolerated periods also count, provided the stay is lawful and the other requirements are met. What matters is an uninterrupted period of at least 15 months.
Assumption: your lawful stay begins on 1 March 2026. The 15 months are then reached on 1 June 2027, as long as the stay remains uninterrupted in this period. The office checks whether your case qualifies on the basis of your documents.
How do you get to a place at university?
The university decides on admission. There the access rules of the programme apply, along with the proof of prior education and the language requirements. The procedures for admission are the same as for other applicants. Residence law adds further conditions, especially for funding and for the residence title.
Under section 16b AufenthG, a residence permit for study is issued to a person admitted to a full-time degree programme at a state or recognised university. The purpose of stay also covers preparatory measures. These include a language course, where admission depends on it, and attendance at a Studienkolleg.
- Find out which residence title you hold and read its exact wording in the document.
- Check on the university website which access proofs apply to your programme.
- Plan a language course or a Studienkolleg if admission requires it.
- Apply for funding as soon as the conditions are clear.
Which language courses count as part of study?
If admission depends on a language course, that course counts as a preparatory measure under section 16b AufenthG. Another rule also applies: proof of the language skills needed for training is only required if those skills were neither checked at admission nor acquired through the preparation. The university decides whether this applies to you.
The guide Sprachnachweis fürs Studium: TestDaF, DSH und Alternativen explains the language certificates and how they differ. For the route through a Studienkolleg, the guide Studienkolleg: Aufnahme, Kosten und Ablauf für Bildungsausländer is the right reference.
How do you finance your studies?
Two routes of support stand at the centre: BAföG and the Deutschlandstipendium. The table shows which conditions each source names.
| Support | Condition named by the source | Status of the source |
|---|---|---|
| BAföG under section 8 | Residence title under subsection 2 or toleration, permanent residence, and for number 2 and subsection 2a 15 months of stay | Statute page without version date |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Enrolment or planned enrolment at a state or recognised university, proof of aptitude and performance | Federal scholarship database, without update date |
The Deutschlandstipendium amounts to 300 euros per month, of which 150 euros come from private funders. Doctoral candidates are excluded. The university must offer the scholarship, and it sets its own selection process. The page does not name nationality as a condition.
Assumption: a Deutschlandstipendium is paid for twelve months. The total would then be 3,600 euros, calculated as 12 times 300 euros. The university sets the actual duration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive BAföG with a toleration?
A toleration under section 60a AufenthG can be sufficient under section 8 subsection 2a BAföG, if you have permanent residence in Germany and the stay has lasted 15 months without interruption. This applies only with the conditions named. Have your case checked by the office for training support.
Does the Deutschlandstipendium also apply to refugees?
The scholarship database names no nationality as a condition. What counts is enrolment, the offer of the university and the proof of aptitude and performance. The university checks whether you meet the criteria in its selection process.
Is studying possible without BAföG?
Yes, studying is possible without BAföG. Other routes exist, which are collected in the guide Studying Without BAföG: Your Funding Options (in German).
Where do I get binding information about my residence?
The binding information comes from the immigration office, the training support office and the university. This guide does not replace an individual answer, because the residence status decides access.
Does the international office of my university help?
The international office advises on access, language requirements and Studienkolleg, and it knows the procedures at your university. Bring your documents to the meeting so the answer is specific. Note the names of contacts and the date of each answer, so that you can document it later.
What to do next
- Check your residence title and the length of your lawful stay using your documents.
- Clarify with the university which access proofs apply and whether a language course or Studienkolleg is needed.
- Submit funding applications for BAföG and the Deutschlandstipendium once the conditions are clear.
Related articles
- Studying in Germany as an international student: the overview
- Studienkolleg: Aufnahme, Kosten und Ablauf für Bildungsausländer
- Sprachnachweis fürs Studium: TestDaF, DSH und Alternativen
- BAföG beantragen: Antrag, Fristen und Unterlagen (in German)
- Stipendium im Studium finden: Arten, Anbieter und Voraussetzungen (in German)
Sources: Section 8 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de (no version date), Section 16b AufenthG, gesetze-im-internet.de, Deutschlandstipendium, federal scholarship database (© 2026)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
