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Due to an amendment to the Saxon Freedom of Higher Education Act (SächsHSFG) which came into force in December 2020, the standard period of study for students will be extended by one or two semesters. This also extends their BAföG entitlement by a maximum of two semesters. The Department for Grants at the Studentenwerk Leipzig provides the following information on the details of the new regulations.

  • For all students enrolled in the summer semester 2020 and not on a leave of absence, the standard period of study will be extended by up to two semesters. For all those who began their studies in the winter semester 2020/21, the standard period of study will be extended by one semester. The last two semesters are thus counted as “zero semesters” and deducted from the standard period of study. The provision also explicitly applies to State Examination courses. As a result, eligible students can receive BAföG for one or two semesters longer. Also, the usual record of academic achievements detailing the student’s achievements from four semesters of study, which had to be submitted at the latest at the beginning of the fifth semester, is now due one or even two semesters later.
  • The change is valid for all students for whom the original standard period of study does not end until after the start of the summer semester 2020. Students whose standard period of study ended in March 2020 or earlier are not covered. Students who already received a graduation loan (Studienabschlusshilfe) in the summer semester 2020 will not receive any regular funding retroactively.
  • The Department for Grants will automatically consider the extension to the standard period of study when processing applications for further funding. Students are not required to submit any extra documents. Students whose BAföG application was rejected for the winter semester 2020/21 and who have not filed an appeal against their rejection notice, should now write to the BAföG Office to request that the decision be reviewed.

Further information and contact details for questions about BAföG can be found on the Studentenwerk Leipzig website (in German).

 

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