BAföG, Student Loans & Education Funds

Students at CBS University of Applied Sciences are generally eligible for BAföG, regardless of whether they are pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or MBA programme. BAföG applications must be submitted through the Cologne Student Services (Studierendenwerk Köln) via the Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt). Since CBS’s main campus is in Cologne, this student services office is responsible for all CBS students, no matter which campus they attend. The decision on financial support is made individually, based on factors such as income, assets, and family circumstances.

For more information and to access the online BAföG calculator, visit the website of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The exact amount of BAföG you receive depends on your personal financial situation. Factors such as your own income, parental income, spousal income, and personal savings all play a role. To get an estimate of your potential funding, you can use the BAföG calculator, available online on the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s website.

CBS University of Applied Sciences partners with Brain Capital to offer the Income Share Agreement (ISA), also known as the Reverse Generational Contract (UGV). With this model, students’ tuition fees are fully or partially covered during their studies, reducing their financial burden. Repayments only begin after graduation, once a minimum income threshold is reached.

After graduation, you repay a fixed percentage of your income to the CBS education fund. The repayment amount is directly linked to your salary – if you earn less, you pay less (or nothing at all). This flexible and fair system ensures that students receive high-quality education without financial strain, while also supporting future CBS students.