BAföG counseling

Let's take a look at the general procedure for performance records at university:

• Submit an application for further funding
• if all grades for the relevant semester are available: Have the responsible examination office/examination offices issue a current overview of performance
• Have Form 5 completed by the BAföG officer of the subject(s) and submit it to the BAföG office
• Form 5 is not required for the FH

As a general rule, you must provide proof of your achievements from the first four semesters (using form 5) by the fourth month of the fifth semester at the latest. From the 5th semester onwards, funding depends on whether or not you have provided the required proof of your performance level. In practical terms, this means that Form 5 or proof of your ECTS credits must be included in your BAföG application from this point onwards.

Useful links on the subject of proof of performance

• Here you can find all information about the performance record at “Studis Online”
• “How to apply” form 5 (proof of performance)

• In the case of a negative certificate of achievement (even for one of two subjects), submit proof + your own explanation for the reasons for the extension to the BAföG office
• The possible reasons range from illness to disability to pregnancy

More information on postponement and all possible reasons at “Studis Online”

How to proceed:

• Submit an application for further funding
• Fill out this supplementary form / have it filled out
• Submit proof + own declaration for extension

Reasons for extending the funding period range from illness and disability to pregnancy, similar to the reasons for postponing proof of performance.

You can find everything about the reasons and general information at “Studis Online” under the following links:

• FAQ on the topic “Extension of the BAföG funding period”
• FAQ on the topic “How long is BAföG available?”
• Here is also the official BAföG legislation on the extension (scroll down to § 15)

In the case of illness as a reason (in Kiel), to the best of our knowledge, the following requirements for the medical certificate currently apply:

• It should state that the student was only able to study and take examinations to a limited extent for health reasons in the period from xxx to xxx (the period must of course include relevant semesters, the corona semesters are irrelevant here, as there was already an extension for these anyway).
• The course of the disease/symptoms was not foreseeable at any time.
• In addition, the “type and severity” of the illness should be described or the diagnosis stated (but not “too bad”, nobody should get the idea that the person might not currently be able to study), and that or to what extent the illness was causal/causative for the delay. If possible, the BAföG office would then also like to know what measures have been taken to improve the situation (e.g. outpatient therapy/rehabilitation etc., but in case of doubt this can also be a private exchange with other affected persons or the continued performance of any exercises that have been recommended).
• It is also important that the certificate must apply directly to the period in which you were unable to take certain examinations:
  • For example, if you have been ill since the beginning of your studies and you have not received enough credit points each semester, you would need a certificate covering the entire period of study to date in order to claim the illness as a reason for the lack of credit points.
  • It would be different if, for example, you only missed relevant credit points in one semester, then a certificate for the period of the semester or the examination phase would be sufficient.
  •  In the case of chronic illnesses, it is sufficient to state “Since xxx”.