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Loans for International Students in Germany: Requirements & rankings
A practical guide on student loans for international students in Germany.
As an international student in Germany, you’ve probably realised that while tuition is on the lower side when it comes to costs, the cost of living unfortunately does not mirror that – you can’t have it all, as they say.
Perhaps you are researching “loans for international students in Germany” and would like to know more about lending rules, benefits and cons. Taking out a student loan can help you cover essential living costs upfront (rent, health insurance, study materials) and spread repayments over time. We’ve ranked five loan options for students below, and to build this list, we have selected loans that are:
- designed for foreigners who may not have German credit history,
- or German programmes you can access while enrolled in Germany,
- or international lenders that explicitly fund studying in Germany.
Common features you’ll see across these loans are proof you’re enrolled at a German institution, any age limits, and repayment that usually starts after disbursement ends. At the end, you’ll find a comparative table you can scan in seconds.
KfW Student Loan
Who provides it?
KfW (Germany’s state-owned development bank) offers the KfW Student Loan (KfW-Studienkredit).
How to apply
You can apply for the KfW student loan online within minutes through one of their partners (meinStudienkredit or deine studienfinanzierung). The partner will forward your application to KfW.
For your application you need:
- a valid identification document,
- a current certificate of enrolment,
- a certificate of academic achievement from your university or college (only necessary if you are already in your 7th semester or further),
- a webcam, your mobile phone or tablet to verify your identity via video.
Requirements
Applicants must fit into one of the following groups and be no more than 44 years old at the start of their studies:
- German nationals residing in Germany,
- EU nationals who have been permanently residing in Germany for at least three years and are registered there,
- Family members (regardless of nationality) of a German or EU national who reside with that national in Germany and are registered there,
- German students with a German registered address.
The KfW student loan is only meant to be used as one part of student financing and to cover living expenses while you are enrolled in classes, regardless of the subject you are studying.
Whether you study part-time, full-time, in a dual program, or while working is irrelevant. Programs for distance learning are also feasible. As long as you continue to attend a German university, KfW will pay for your semesters overseas.
The Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) and the education loan can be paired with the KfW student loan.
Your university must be state-run or state-recognized and have its headquarters in Germany.
How much can you borrow?
KfW’s information page states support of €100–€650 per month (you can typically adjust the amount).
6.04% effective annual interest rate. The interest rate is variable and can therefore rise or fall every six months, depending on the capital market situation.
Repayment conditions
Repayments generally begin 6 to 23 months after your final loan disbursement, allowing for a grace period after graduation. You can agree on a fixed interest rate for repayment. Repayment always begins on April 1st or October 1st. Five months before repayment begins, you will receive a standard 10-year repayment plan. You can accept this plan or adjust it to your needs by changing the amount of the instalments and thus the repayment period. You can use the amortization calculator to work it out.
Insurance
The KfW Student Loan is not an “insurance-included” product, but it does provide specific protections for students in hardship including:
- Pause in payments: You can pause repayments or reduce the amount if you are taking a semester off.
- Interest deferral: During the grace period, you can opt to defer interest payments.
- No personal liability for others: The loan is purely in your name.
Federal Bildungskredit
Who provides it?
The Bildungskredit is an education loan backed by the German government, applied for online via the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).
How to apply
You can apply for the Federal Bildungskredit student loan online. Documents to submit depend on whether you are a student or a university student. Find more information here.
Requirements
This loan is commonly framed as a targeted, time-limited support (often later-stage/advanced study support rather than “from day one”).
Applicants must fit into one of the following groups:
- Spouse or registered partner (according to the Registered Partnership Act – LPartG ) of a German citizen; of a Union citizen with permanent residence rights,
- or child of a German citizen; EU citizen with permanent residence rights,
- or foreigners in possession of a residence permit,
- or EU citizens and citizens from Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland with a legal residence of at least five years in Germany.
How much can you borrow?
Up to €7,200 total, usually delivered as €100/€200/€300 per month for up to 24 months. The website only mentions “particularly favourable interest rates.”
Repayment conditions
Repayment begins 4 years after the first payout. The monthly repayment instalment is €120.
Insurance
The Federal Bildungskredit loan is not an “insurance-included” product.
Daka darlehensantrag
Who provides it?
The goal of the Daka darlehensantrag loan is to give students the financial means to focus on their education and finish it successfully, without having to work to support themselves. Daka is a non-profit association of the twelve student unions in North Rhine-Westphalia.
How to apply
You can apply online and opt for the foreign loan for a study-related stay in Germany.
Requirements
Applicants must fit into one of the following groups:
- you are enrolled at a state university in North Rhine-Westphalia,
- or you pay a social contribution to the local student union,
- or you are dependent on financial assistance to secure your livelihood,
- and you can provide a guarantor.
How much can you borrow?
The foreign loan allows you to borrow €6,000 euros for a study-related stay in Germany. It is completely interest-free with a 5% administrative fee.
Repayment conditions
Repayment begins 12 months after the last instalment. The minimum monthly repayment is €150. If you are still studying at that time, repayment can be deferred interest-free for up to twelve months after the end of your standard period of study. If you begin a Master’s program directly after receiving funding for your Bachelor’s degree, a deferral is also possible.
Insurance
The Daka darlehensantrag loan is not an “insurance-included” product. But, you do need a guarantor. The guarantor will commit to covering the outstanding amounts if the borrower fails to meet their repayments.
Prodigy Finance
Who provides it?
Prodigy Finance is a private international lender. In addition to tuition financing, Prodigy Finance offers living expense loans to help you manage accommodation, food, transport, and other essentials.
How to apply
You can apply online. No co-signer or collateral required for most students.
Requirements
Applicants must be international students pursuing postgraduate degrees at eligible universities.
How much can you borrow?
The exact amount is personalised. Master’s loans start from 9.66% interest rate. There is a $500 processing fee.
Repayment conditions
Prodigy Finance loans have repayment terms of up to 15 years. Repayment begins 6 months after class end date (3 months after final disbursement date).
Insurance
The Prodigy Finance loan is not an “insurance-included” product.
Daka Berlin
Who provides it?
The Daka Berlin loan is offered by Studentische Darlehnskasse e.V., a non-profit student loan fund based in Berlin that supports students at participating member institutions.
How to apply
You can apply online or send completed forms by post.
Requirements
The current certificate of enrolment is required. Applicants must be studying at one of the member universities. The student loan is granted regardless of age, semester, or field of study. Whether you study full-time, part-time, or while working – as long as you are enrolled at one of the member institutions – you are eligible.
How much can you borrow?
You can be paid between €100 and €750 per month. The student loan is available for a maximum of 48 monthly instalments.
An additional one-time payment of up to €1,500 for study-related purchases is possible. This must be applied for with a cost estimate and documented with receipts. The maximum payment is €27,000.
Repayment conditions
After the disbursement phase, a six-month grace period begins. The repayment instalment is €125 in the first year if the loan amount is less than €9,000. For loan amounts between €9,001 and €18,000, it is €150. For loan amounts of €18,001 and above, the first instalment is €175. The repayment instalment increases by €25 annually.
Insurance
The Daka Berlin loan is not an “insurance-included” product. But, you do require one (or two) unconditional guarantee(s). For loan amounts up to €9,000, one guarantee is required. For higher amounts, two guarantors are needed. Alternatively, a bank guarantee can be submitted instead of individual guarantees.
Comparative table for international student loans in Germany
| Loan option | Who qualifies (quick view) | How much you can borrow | Interest / fees | Repayment timing (headline) |
| KfW | Germany-based eligibility groups: German nationals in Germany; EU nationals with 3+ years permanent residence + registration; family members of German/EU nationals living with them; German students with registered German address. Age: up to 44 at start of studies. | €100–€650/month (adjustable) | 6.04% effective annual interest (variable; can change every 6 months) | Repayment generally 6–23 months after final disbursement; begins 1 Apr or 1 Oct; standard 10-year plan offered, adjustable. |
| Federal Bildungskredit | Targeted/time-limited support (often later-stage). Eligible groups include: spouse/partner or child of German citizen or EU citizen with permanent residence; foreigners with residence permit; EU/EEA (plus CH) with 5+ years legal residence in Germany. | Up to €7,200 total (typically €100/€200/€300 per month for up to 24 months) | “Particularly favourable interest rates” (no fixed rate stated in your edit) | Repayment begins 4 years after first payout; €120/month instalment |
| Daka darlehensantrag | Enrolled at a state university in NRW or paying social contribution to local student union; financial need; guarantor required. | €6,000 (foreign loan for a study-related stay in Germany) | Interest-free + 5% admin fee | Repayment begins 12 months after last instalment; minimum €150/month; possible deferral (interest-free) for up to 12 months after end of standard study period (and potentially into a Master’s directly after Bachelor’s). |
| Prodigy Finance | International students pursuing postgraduate degrees at eligible universities | Personalised (varies); also offers living expense loans | Master’s loans from 9.66% interest; $500 processing fee | Repayment terms up to 15 years; repayment starts 6 months after class end date (or 3 months after final disbursement date, per your note). |
| Daka Berlin | Must be enrolled at a member university; eligible regardless of age/semester/field; full-time/part-time/working ok if enrolled. | €100–€750/month for up to 48 months; possible €1,500 one-off for study purchases; max €27,000 total | Not specified in your edit (treat as per scheme terms) | 6-month grace period after disbursement; starting instalments: €125 (<€9k) / €150 (€9,001–€18k) / €175 (≥€18,001); instalment increases €25 per year. |
To summarize, this article breaks down five realistic routes for loans for international students in Germany, focusing on who qualifies, how much you can borrow, and what repayment looks like. We covered two public-backed options (KfW Student Loan and Federal Bildungskredit), two non-profit student-union routes (Daka NRW and Daka Berlin), and one international lender built for cross-border study (Prodigy Finance) – so you can compare “newly arrived” access versus established German residency access.
The biggest benefits across these options come down to timing, flexibility, and accessibility: Federal Bildungskredit offers a clear, capped top-up with repayment delayed for years, which can reduce pressure during study; Daka loans stand out for being interest-free (with transparent fees) and designed to help students focus on finishing their course; Daka Berlin adds a higher potential total amount with a structured grace period; and Prodigy Finance can be the most straightforward pathway for international postgraduates without German credit history.
Final important note: None of these loans are “insurance-included” products, which means there’s typically no built-in cover if you lose income or can’t repay due to illness or unemployment. It’s sensible to budget a small buffer, read the terms and conditions carefully, and consider separate income protection or repayment cover if the cost is worth it for your situation.
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