Paying for College Without Your Parents

Paying for college without your parents? Here's how! Here you'll find several ways to finance your studies independently of your parents. Many young people still shy away from college today for financial reasons. But even if your parents can't or don't want to pay for your studies, there are various ways to study after all.
The path to university is often linked with moving out of your parents' home and setting up your own household. That also drives up your cost of living: groceries, housing, tuition fees, utilities, and now and then there should also be enough for a night out at the pub... Paying for college without your parents is somewhat more work, but by no means impossible!

Paying for college without your parents - with the help of a scholarship

Many people still think a scholarship is only for the highly gifted. Far from it! There are countless criteria by which scholarships are awarded. Sometimes it is enough to have been born in the same town as the donor, or to belong to the same denomination. For various sports, club activities and political work, there are also often suitable foundations. A statement of motivation and a résumé are completely sufficient for most applications. Almost 50 % of scholarship applications are successful, because the funding pots for scholarships are often not exhausted. Another unbeatable advantage of a scholarship is that the money doesn't have to be paid back and is practically a gift.

Paying for college without your parents - with BAföG

If your parents are unable, for financial reasons, to support you in your studies, you are entitled to BAföG (the Federal Training Assistance Act, German state student aid). BAföG is an interest-free loan from the state. The amount of BAföG is calculated from your parents' income and is a maximum of 853 euros. The advantage of BAföG is that only half of the loan has to be repaid, while the other half is given to you by the state. The maximum repayment amount is also capped at 10,010 euros. Repayment must begin five years after finishing your studies at the earliest.

Paying for college without your parents - with a part-time job
Working is of course also a way to get money. If you manage to land a job close to your field, you can even gain practical experience on the side. A student job at the university is especially worthwhile. You can take a 450-euro job (a German "mini-job") in addition to BAföG or other social benefits without having to file a tax return. The insurance obligation for long-term care and unemployment insurance also does not apply to a mini-job.

Paying for college without your parents - with internships
Since the new minimum wage rules, you can also pay for college with an internship. Besides the valuable work experience and the contacts you make, you get authentic insights into the industry you work in and see whether your studies are on the right track. The semester break or a leave semester is a good time to complete an internship.

Paying for college without your parents - with online jobs
On some platforms on the web you'll find ways to earn money online with your skills. Searching for assignments of all kinds, from writing texts to filling out paid surveys, can be worthwhile and become a productive source of income.

Paying for college without your parents - with a study loan
A study loan that is granted independently of your income can also help you pay for college. The loans have to be repaid in full and with interest, so it is advisable to use these services only to support and co-finance a degree. For "dry spells" or bottlenecks, though, they are a good way to be able to continue your studies.