Thankfully, there are several options for those of you who want to independently finance your studies in Germany or earn some money while also studying. Some students work part-time alongside their full-time studies while others take advantage of the opportunity to apply for a state loan. Some can finance their studies with the help of scholarships. In this article, we’ll break down the different options, so you can choose what works best for you!

Side job

Many students turn to side jobs to make money to support themselves and their everyday needs while still being able to concentrate on their studies. There are various job offers, but many students choose to apply for a job as a student assistant at the university as it is often related to their study programme and more flexible. However, there are other types of side jobs in Darmstadt and the surrounding areas, depending on your interests and the field you want to work in. You earn an income from working and gain professional experience that might benefit you in the future, especially if you get a side job in the same field as your studies. It’s a chance to upgrade your skills and start networking with people in your field.

Scholarships

Getting a scholarship gives you more time to concentrate on your studies and often helps you make initial contacts in the business world, but of course there is a process you need to go through to get one. A scholarship is often tied to different criteria, such as nationality, country of origin, age, degree programme, and certain requirements you have to meet, like having excellent grades in your course. Even if you might have to compete with other students and feel unsure about that, there’s nothing wrong with applying for scholarships anyway as it might benefit you greatly. Here are several websites that you can look into if you are interested in scholarships:

• Graduation scholarship for international students: this is a performance-based scholarship from TU Darmstadt for international students in the final phase of their studies. The applications are open twice a year from 1-15 April and 1-15 October and we (the ISS) can advise you on this specific scholarship!
• Deutschlandstipendium: this is another scholarship from TU Darmstadt that sponsors talented and highly motivated students by giving them a monthly allowance to ensure the success of their studies.
• DAAD Scholarships: DAAD has compiled a list of scholarships from them with other organizations that are also worth a look!
• DAAD Prize: this isn’t exactly a scholarship as it is a prize (valued at 1000 euros) given out to students from the international student body at TU Darmstadt once a year for outstanding achievements. Talk to a professor if you think you should be nominated.

BAföG

Unlike side jobs and scholarships, this option isn’t available for all international students. You can only receive financial support from BAföG under certain conditions if you’re a citizen of the European Union, a migrant, or a refugee. For more information on this, you can check BAföG’s website and see if you fulfil these requirements.

Hopefully, this article has helped you learn more about the financing options for your studies at TU Darmstadt. If you choose to work, please remember that your studies should still come first! For more information about financing your studies please check our financial assistance page . Remember that we are here for you if you need advice so feel free to contact us. We wish you the best of luck for your studies!