Student financing

For many students, a part-time job is their main source of income while in school. But remember: your studies come first!

Generally speaking, part-time jobs for students are divided into two categories: mini-jobs and student work.

Minijob
Many part-time jobs are offered as minijobs. The rule here is: Your monthly income is capped at a legally set limit, which is subject to change. As long as you stay within this limit, you generally do not have to pay taxes. The employer covers income tax as well as contributions to health and pension insurance. You usually only have to pay a small portion of the pension insurance yourself. You can opt out of this—but keep in mind that it may affect the amount of your pension later on.

Work-Study Position
As a work-study student, you work at a company or as a student or research assistant at a university. The tasks range from simple support work to challenging projects. These jobs are particularly popular because they often pay better than mini-jobs and provide you with valuable practical experience. It’s not uncommon for this to lead to a career opportunity later on.
In general, there is no fixed income limit—with the exception of international students. However, you should note that there are income and time limits for certain benefits and perks, such as BAföG, child benefits, tax deductions, or insurance.

Important:
If your job causes you to exceed the standard period of study, this can have disadvantages. A heavy workload is not considered a valid reason for extending BAföG funding. Additionally, you may have to pay long-term tuition fees if you exceed the standard period of study.

So think carefully about how much you want to work alongside your studies—so that your academic success doesn’t fall by the wayside.

Job portal for students at the University of Applied Sciences Jena

Find jobs and internships

To receive financial support, you can apply for BAföG (short for the Federal Training Assistance Act). This government grant is designed to enable you—regardless of your social and economic situation—to pursue and complete the degree program of your choice.

The BAföG regulations specify who is eligible for funding and the amount granted. The funding consists of two parts: a grant that you do not have to repay, and an interest-free loan that is partially repaid later.

Germany Scholarship
The Germany Scholarship is a nationwide scholarship program that is also offered at the University of Applied Sciences Jena. It is aimed at high-achieving and dedicated students of all nationalities. If you are selected, you will receive 300 euros per month for two semesters—regardless of income, independent of BAföG, and tax-free.
Further information on the Germany Scholarship

Scholarship
Organizations The 13 scholarship organizations award grants to undergraduate and doctoral students with above-average academic performance, high motivation, a sense of responsibility, and social engagement. In addition to financial support, they often offer non-financial support, such as seminars, networking opportunities, or mentoring.
Information on the organizations for the promotion of gifted students

At a glance:

• Overview of the 13 organizations for the promotion of gifted students 
• Application deadlines for the organizations for the promotion of gifted students 
• Scholarship Guide (Finding the Right Scholarship, Application, and Selection Process) 
• Workshops to help you prepare your scholarship application

Do you need help finding a scholarship or with your application? The Stipendien.Netzwerk Jena provides free support to prospective and current students at both of Jena’s universities.

DAAD Scholarship Database
Additional scholarships and support opportunities are available for international students at the University of Applied Sciences Jena. International students can apply for scholarships from numerous organizations, such as the DAAD, party-affiliated foundations, or business-related institutions, which are listed in the DAAD scholarship database. (Note: The DAAD scholarship database does not only contain DAAD scholarships.)

Additional scholarships and financial aid are available for international students at the University of Applied Sciences Jena.

Corporate Scholarships
Companies are also increasingly involved in supporting students. Larger companies and corporations, in particular, award scholarships or support students through their own foundations. These corporate scholarships are usually aimed at degree programs that align with future career paths within the company.
This often includes non-monetary support, such as workshops, internships, or the opportunity to write your thesis at the company. Note: Depending on the scholarship, there may be an obligation to work for the company for a certain period after graduation. Otherwise, you may have to repay the funding.

Additional platforms for searching for scholarships

• mystipendium.de 
• e-fellows.net 

Under Section 1601 of the Civil Code, parents are obligated to provide financial support to their adult children while they are pursuing a degree. There is no set age limit in this regard. The right to support applies to both bachelor’s and master’s programs, provided that the master’s program is substantively and chronologically related to the bachelor’s program. 

The Thuringia Student Services Organization offers a range of options for financing your studies. These include various loan options, such as a short-term loan, the Thuringia Student Services Organization loan, and the Studierendenwerk Thüringen hardship loan.

Student
Loans Student loans are offered both by the government and by various private banks (e.g., Deutsche Bank, DKB). Unlike a standard loan, a student loan does not require collateral. It is not disbursed as a lump sum but is paid out in monthly installments to finance your studies. It covers living expenses and/or tuition fees during your first degree program. Repayment works the same way as with other loans: you pay back the principal plus interest. Well-known student loans include the DKB Student Education Fund, the KfW Student Loan, Future Finance, Sparkassen Education Loans, VR Education Loans from the Volksbanken/Raiffeisenbanken, the db Student Loan from Deutsche Bank, or student loans from the Studentische Darlehenskasse Berlin.

Education Loan (Graduation Loan)
An education loan is a loan for your studies that provides financial support to you as a student in advanced stages of your education. This allows you, for example, to finance internships or study abroad programs during your studies.
The education loan is granted regardless of your own income and assets, as well as your parents’ income. It is not secured by collateral, and payments are disbursed monthly. After completing your studies, the total amount, including interest, is repaid following a grace period. Well-known educational loans include, for example, the KfW educational loan, the BMBF educational loan, or the microcredit study assistance from the E.W. Kuhlmann Foundation.

Education
Fund This is a relatively new, purely private-sector offering (as a fund concept) that pre-finances students’ living expenses, tuition fees, and study abroad stays. Education funds are repaid on an income-contingent basis. A percentage is set in advance, which is later repaid to the education fund from monthly income over a specific period after starting a career. There are no interest charges or principal repayments.