Government Programs

Studien Beihilfen

Eligibility: Austrian citizens, EU citizens, and registered refugees have the opportunity to apply for financial aid from the Austrian government. Please see the first link for more information about who qualifies.

Award: The amount of student aid granted is determined with reference to household income and personal need. Those who are studying outside of Austria do have the chance to receive financial aid for their studies.

To learn more about who is eligible to receive Studien Beihilfen, visit this page (external link).

To learn more about Studien Beihilfen while outside of Austria, visit this page (external link).

Bourses d'Études 

Eligibility: Financial aid is available for Belgian students. Eligibility depends on which language speaking community one belongs to. Because of this, it is important to see whether the financial aid can be applied to universities outside of Belgium. See the link below to find out eligibility and award potentials.

To learn more about funding from the Belgian government, visit this page (external link).

You may be able to apply for educational loans through your province or territory. To verify eligibility, please contact your provincial or territorial authority. A full list of provinical/territorial authorities can be found on this page (external link).

Bard College Berlin is on the Government of Canada's List of Designated Educational Institutions (International), which can be found on this page (external link).

Kela

Eligibility: Finnish citizens completing a full-time study program at a publicly recognized university abroad

Award: Depending on the case, financial assistance may be a loan, a grant, or a combination of both. The sum you receive is usually standardized but also depends on your age, income, and family situation. The government offers a tool to calculate an estimated award amount, which can be found on this page (external link).

Learn more about using funding from the Finnish government while abroad on this page (external link).

Les bourses sur critères sociaux

Eligibility: French citizens studying at university of French equivalency in another EU country have the opportunity to apply for financial aid from the French government.

Award: The amount of student aid granted is determined in accordance with household income and personal need. There is also an opportunity to receive a travel stipend should the student qualify.

To learn more about funding from the French government, visit this page (external link).

BAföG

Eligibility: German nationals and qualifying international students, such as:

EU citizens and citizens of Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein:

• if one has resided legally in Germany for at least five years, or

• if at least one parent has lived legally in Germany for at least five years, or

• if you have migrant worker status, i.e. if you have been employed as an EU citizen in Germany for at least 12 hours per week for at least 10 weeks prior to the first BAföG application, therefore enjoy freedom of movement and maintain employment during your studies. It is possible to "grow into" this status, i.e. after a rejection, gainful employment can be taken up and a new application can be submitted after 10 weeks, or

• if one has already worked in Germany before the start of the training (at least 6 months) and the activity is related in content to the current studies.

Third-country nationals:

• if you yourself are a recognized person entitled to asylum / refugee, or

• if you have worked in Germany for at least 5 years prior to your studies (vocational training is not taken into account), or

• if at least one parent has been legally employed in Germany for at least 3 years within the last 6 years, or

• if you yourself are a tolerated foreigner and have been staying in Germany legally, permitted or tolerated for at least 15 months without interruption, or

• if you yourself fall under §104c AufenthaltsG (right of residence). BAFöG funding is then possible for a maximum of 18 months.

Students from Ukraine:

• with proof of a residence title according to § 24 AufenthG. If the residence title according to § 24 AufenthG has been applied for and a fictitious certificate has been issued, educational support can be granted for 6 months. After that, a new application must be submitted.

Source: Studierendenwerk Berlin “20. BAföG for international students” (external link)

Award: As of 2026, students under the age of 30 can receive up to €992 per month. This is can be supplemented with additional assistance, such as a one-time start grant to assist with costs incurred when beginning a degree program. The federal ministry overseeing BAföG offers a tool to calculate your estimated BAföG award (external link). Please note that BAföG functions as half grant and half loan. However, the maximum repayment begins 5 years after the end of the study period and the repayment amount is capped at approximately €10,000 (learn more about BAföG repayment (external link)).

For more information contact the BAföG-Hotline of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under: 0800-2236341

Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO)

Eligibility: Dutch citizens, residents holding a residence permit type II, III or IV, and citizens of an EU/EEA-country or Switzerland.  EU/EEA- or Swiss citizens are eligible for the program if they have been living in the Netherlands for 5 consecutive years OR they or their non-Dutch parent or parent are employed in the Netherlands, working a minimum of 32 hours per month or earning at least 50% of the applicable social security threshold.

Award: Student finance comprises 3 components: a loan, a student travel grant, and a supplementary grant (depending on parental income). The government offers a tool to calculate an estimated award amount, which can be found on this page (external link).

To learn more about funding from the Dutch government, visit this page (external link). You can also call the DUO Info Line: 050 599 77 55

To learn more about funding a degree program outside of the Netherlands, visit this page (external link).

Lånekassen 

Eligibility: Norwegian citizens or passport holders. EEA and EFTA citizens working in Norway, or their dependents, may be entitled to support from the Norwegian government. You must apply with an offer of admission and a overview of the tuition fees.

Award: Lånekassen is part grant and part loan, with the loan portion covering the majority of the support. The government offers a tool to calculate an estimated award amount, which can be found on this page (external link).

To learn more about funding from the Norwegian government, visit this page (external link).

Centrala studiestödsnämnden (CSN)

Eligibility: Swedish citizens with 2 years of residence in the past 5 years. Swedish citizens who have not been residing in Sweden in recent years but have been working abroad for the Swedish government or a Swedish organization may still qualify. Certain foreign residents of Sweden may qualify for public education support. More details about qualifying for CSN as a foreign national can be found on this page (external link).

Award: Depending on the case, financial assistance may be a loan, a grant, or a combination of both. The sum you receive is usually standardized but also depends on your age, income, and family situation.

Swiss citizens and residents may be eligible to receive support from the Swiss government for costs incurred while studying abroad. The conditions for funding vary by canton. 

To learn more about funding offered by the Swiss government, please visit this page (external link).

Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Award: Depending on the case, financial assistance via the FAFSA program may be in the form of a loan, a grant, or a combination of both. Grant eligibility will depend on household income.

To learn more about FAFSA, please visit this page (external link).

Parent PLUS Loans

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is the parent to a child who will be enrolling in an eligible undergraduate program. You qualify as a parent for purposes of receiving a Direct PLUS loan on behalf of a dependent undergraduate student only if you are:

• A biological parent of the student;

• A legal adoptive parent of the student; or

• The spouse of the student's biological or legal adoptive parent (the student's stepparent) and you are considered to be a parent in accordance with the instructions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for purposes of reporting income and assets on the FAFSA

Award: Since July 1, 2026, the maximum amount that can be borrowed by parents is $20,000 per academic year and up to $65,000 over the course of the child's undergraduate study.

To learn more about Parent PLUS loans, please visit this page (external link).