Application of Grant - frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for a grant?

All students who meet all of the following criteria are eligible for a grant:

•  ✅ The student has transferred the re-registration fees (incl. semester ticket fee) for the semester of application
•  ✅ The student meets at least one of the special hardship criteria
•  ✅ The income during the calculation period does not exceed the requirements
•  ✅  The student has no savings/assets of ≥€5000 at his/her disposal
•  ✅  The student files an application within the deadline

The fulfillment of individual reasons does not entitle to a grant: For example, anyone who can claim particular hardship but had "too high" an income in the calculation period cannot receive a grant.

How do I apply for a subsidy and what documents are generally required?

1. the signed application form must be submitted by the deadline

2. all of the following documents can be submitted later:

   Proof of payment of the semester ticket fees
   At studium.fu-berlin.de you can download the fee notice for the respective semester.
   Proof of the special hardships that are claimed.
   Proof of all expenses in the calculation period that are claimed as needs.
   Proof of income during the calculation period.

What is the "calculation period"?

The ratio of income to need is generally calculated retroactively from the date of the re-registration deadline. Life circumstances during the semester of application itself are irrelevant for the calculation. All special hardships must also fall within a certain minimum period in the calculation period.

The calculation period always includes the 5 months prior to re-registration for the semester of application.

For example, if you apply for a grant for winter semester, the calculation period will be March up to and including July, as the re-registration period ends in July. For summer semester the calculation period will be October through Febuary. 

For newly enrolled students, the deadline for transferring the semester fees is later than for the re-registration of already enrolled students, so the calculation period for the winter semester is usually May up to and including September before the winter semester.

What are "need", "income" and "assets within the meaning of the Social Fund Statutes"?These are defined in the Social Fund Statutes:Needs (§ 2a)

Roughly summarized, the following expenses are considered eligible needs (for a detailed overview, see statutes)

   816,35€ basic needs (as of 2024), based 145% of the standard needs according to SGB II
   rent
   electricity
   GEZ licencne fees
   Contributions for health and long-term care insurance
   Debt repayments
   Medical/psychological care that is not covered by health insurance
   Additional expenses for studies, semester abroad, childcare, medication, medical bills, etc.

Income and assets (§ 2b)

   "Students must use their entire income to purchase the semester ticket.   Income includes regular incoming payments and income from self-employment.  Benefits according to the provisions of BAföG are fully taken into account.  Benefits in accordance with the provisions of the Family Benefits Fund are taken into account in full if they are paid to the applicant. If students have available assets in excess of EUR 5,000, these must also be taken into account."

An important criterion is therefore that the money is available to the student making the application, i.e. if students are entitled to child benefit but this is withheld by the parents (e.g. instead of collecting rent from the child), this is not counted as income.

In principle, all income in cash and cash equivalents, including public benefits, support payments or benefits in kind from parents must be declared and documented. This includes all net income from your own earnings and BAföG payments, but also maintenance payments in cash and in kind or loans paid and child benefit contributions paid to you. In individual cases, benefits according to the SGB (Social Code) or possibly other benefits paid are added. If your income is irregular during the calculation period, all sums are cumulated and an average monthly value is calculated.

Depending on the situation, the following copies are suitable as proof: Certificates of earnings from Heinzelmännchen or other student employment agencies, certificates of earnings from the employer, employment contracts, wage statements, notifications of public benefits such as BAföG, housing benefit or social assistance, maintenance certificates, loan agreements, etc. If, for example, the amount of housing benefit or social assistance changes within this period, all notifications/totals must be attached to the application or proof must be provided. We only accept bank statements in exceptional cases. If you live on your partner's or parents' income, i.e. you have no income of your own or no regular or only irregular maintenance payments, you should provide us with proof of this type of support in real sums. This can be proven, for example, by an affidavit stating an average amount. You can use a similar declaration to prove that you have been living on savings.

What "special hardships" are there and how do I prove them?

All hardships within the meaning of the statutes must fall within a certain minimum period in the calculation period.

1. final thesis

The prerequisite for this is that you must have written your thesis for at least one month during the calculation period.

Proof: Copy of the registration form for the thesis

2. internship

You have completed an internship during the calculation period that is

   is prescribed in your study and examination regulations and
   has a scope of at least 30 working hours per week and
   is at least 3 months or a total of 180 working hours in the calculation period

Proof: Copy of the internship certificate with period, date, stamp and signature

3. low income

Your income in the 5 months of the calculation period is on average 20% below your needs.

Proof: As proof of income must be provided with every application, regardless of reasons for hardship, no additional proof is required.

4. restricted work permit

You do not have German citizenship and have a restricted work permit

Proof: Copy of the visa in your passport showing the restriction.

5. pregnancy

You were pregnant during the calculation period.

Proof: Copy of both sides of the mother's passport or confirmation from a doctor

6. single parent

If you live alone with your child/children (under the age of 18) and are responsible for their care and upbringing.

Proof: Depending on the case, the single parent status can be proven with the birth certificate, with a copy of the notification of the advance maintenance payment or also with a copy of the SGBII notification.

7. completion of the 65th year of life

You are ≥65 years old since the calculation period.

Proof: Copy of identity card, birth certificate or passport.

8. disability or reduced earning capacity

You are in possession of a severely disabled person's pass or are only able to work to a limited extent

Proof of disability:

E.g. severely disabled person's pass, medical letter or a letter from the pension insurance.

9. integration assistance

...

10. receipt of benefits according to SGB II or SGB XII

During the calculation period, you received benefits for living expenses according to SGB II or SGB XII or your child(ren) were entitled to benefits for living expenses according to SGB II during the calculation period.

Proof: Copy of the SGB II notifications incl. calculation sheets from the entire calculation period

11. increased costs for medical or psychological care

The prerequisite is that the health insurance company demonstrably does not pay the invoice, a specialist confirms the medical necessity of the service and the costs incurred in the calculation period exceed €250. Several invoices can also be added together. However, these must be received in the calculation period

Proof:Confirmation that the health insurance company will not cover the costs;
Invoices or payment confirmations, which must be within the calculation period

12. receipt of BAFöG

You receive benefits under the Federal Training Assistance Act.

Proof of receipt:BAFöG notification

13. parental leave

...14. flight or asylum

...15. other

For example, prolonged or permanent physical impairments or the care of close relatives in need of care within the meaning of the Caregiver Leave Act.

Are bank statements suitable as proof?

Bank statements are only suitable in exceptional cases. If you have a salary, Bafög or SGB statement, please send it to us. If this is not possible, we will also accept bank statements under certain conditions:

   The account statement must clearly show the name of the account holder
   Information relevant to us Transfers must be marked and, if necessary, commented on
   All outgoing payments that are not relevant for our calculations must be blacked out
   Incoming payments must not be blacked out

This means in particular We do not accept multiple-page, uncommented bank statements!
How does the Semesterticket Office calculate the subsidy?

You can get more detailed answers to this question in our office hours or by reading our statutes. To give you a brief outline, it can be said that we check your needs and income during the calculation period and, depending on whether or not you had another special hardship, your income must not exceed 80% or 100% of your needs.

The need is an average amount regulated in the SGB (Social Code), which is intended to cover the generally necessary expenses for living expenses, i.e. the need. According to §2 para. 3 of the Social Fund Statutes, the needs include the respective basic needs plus any increased basic needs for other persons for whom you are obliged to provide maintenance and any additional needs. In addition, there are expenses for the warm rent up to a certain amount for single persons (this sum is increased for each additional person obliged to pay maintenance) and the respective rate for student health and long-term care insurance. However, these sums are only counted towards your needs if you pay them yourself. All necessary expenses must be proven to us accordingly.

What amount of subsidy can I expect?

Nothing can be said in advance. The amount of the grant depends not only on the information provided, but also on the total number of approved applications and the funds available. Only when all applications have been received will a decision be made as to how much each student will receive.

The more students receive a grant, the lower the payment for each individual will be, but not less than half the price of the semester ticket. When distributing the funds, the ratio of income to need, the period for which the reasons for hardship exist and the extent of payment obligations are taken into account. The maximum grant is based on the respective price of the semester ticket.