Hardship fund

STUDIERENDENWERK provides financial assistance from its hardship fund in the form of interest-free loans to students who find themselves in an exceptional financial emergency that seriously jeopardies their chances of continuing and completing their studies.

Loans allocated from the hardship fund are free of interest and other charges. A loan from the hardship fund is not a legal right.

Who can receive funding?
Award of the loans is conditional on presentation of a directly enforceable guarantee from a suitable guarantor. An exceptional emergency situation may be:
- an unforeseeable loss of the financial means of subsistence
- an unexpected temporary financial burden which is beyond the applicant's control
- short-term financial hardship which makes punctual payment of the semester fee impossible.
The circumstances leading to the exceptional emergency situation must not have been brought about intentionally or through negligence. Applicants must seek advice from the Studierendenwerk social advice and counselling services before they may apply for a loan.

Are there any interests and charges?

No. The hardship fund is free of interest and other charges.

How is funding offered?
There are two types of loans:

"Little" loan*
- maximum 500,00 €
- single payment
- no guarantee required
"Big" loan*
- maximum 3.500 €
- monthly rates of up to 1.000 €
- guarantee required
* state 6/2020

How does the repayment work?

The loan must be repaid at the earliest possible time, at the latest within a period of 12 months from when the loan was granted.

The repayment instalments should be at least 30,00 € per month.