Loans

It is possible to take up a loan to finance the general tuition fees at the state-run Landeskreditbank. This option is only available to students who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or in a consecutive master degree program, as described in §§7 and 8 of the LHGebG.

The following students are eligible for a loan:

1. Germans
2. Citizens of the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as their family members
3. Stateless international students
4. International students and stateless students who earned their higher education entrance qualification in Germany

Students who were over 40 years of age when they began an initial course of study are not eligible for a loan.
The loan is granted independently of income and assets. The student is entitled to the loan for the normal duration of a course of study in Baden-Württemberg, i.e. for the standard period of study of an undergraduate degree program, plus an additional four semesters. The period of eligibility is reduced by the amount of semesters in which the student has previously been matriculated at an institution of higher education in Germany (e.g., standard period of study for law = 9 semesters + 4 semesters = 13 semesters - 2 semesters of medicine in Berlin = eligibility for a loan for 11 semesters).
For students beginning a consecutive master degree program (standard period of study: 4 semesters) the period of eligibility for a loan is extended by the amount of semesters they did not need for their undergraduate studies.

Periods of study in which the student was on a leave of absence or was exempt from tuition due to parental care, a disability, high aptitude, or excellent academic achievement are not counted as university semesters. This means that the student’s eligibility for a loan is extended by the corresponding amount of semesters. This is not the case for exemptions due to practical semesters or the sibling regulation. These semesters are counted in the period of eligibility for a loan.

Procedure:
In order to take up a loan from the L-Bank, you must submit an application for assessment of eligibility at the Student Affairs Office, Tuition Department, Albertstraße 14a. After the adminstration completes the assessment procedure you will receive notification concerning your eligibility. One copy of this certificate must be submitted to the university along with the application for a loan from the L-Bank. The tuition department will send these two forms to the L-Bank. Further information concerning conditions for loans is available from the L-Bank. The L-Bank transfers the 500 € in tuition fees directly to the University of Freiburg each semester for the duration of the loan.