Funding

For financial support to cover tuition fees, students can apply for an interest-free loan from the second semester onwards from the Friends of the ifs Society. The approval of the interest-free loans depends on the financial situation of the applicant and the amount of funds available. Repayment of the loans begins six months after graduation or completion of studies.
Information and submission deadlines are communicated on the internal communication platform SPACES.

Students in the bachelor's degree programme in film are generally entitled to BAföG if they are studying for the first time. The responsible BAföG office decides on corresponding applications.

German and international students are eligible to apply. For international students, § 8 BAföG must be observed.

For all ifs degree programmes (except the MA 3D Animation for Film and Games and the MA Entertainment Producing), the Friends of ifs Society awards scholarships to particularly talented students in need of financial support.  The scholarships cover the tuition fees. After successfully passing the entrance exam, interested students can apply for both a scholarship and a loan.

Information and submission deadlines are communicated on the internal communication platform SPACES.

Each student must decide for him/herself whether it is possible to work while studying. If a course of study is set up as a full-time course, professional activity may be possible only to a very limited extent. Attendance of courses is usually compulsory at 80%.

Information for international students:

Citizens of member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area (EEA) – that is Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein – as well as Switzerland have equal legal status in the labour market as German citizens. Students from these countries therefore have the same access to the labour market as German students and are permitted to work without needing prior approval of the German authorities. In general, students are advised not to work more than 20 hours a week. Note that you will have to pay social insurance contributions once you exceed this number of working hours.

International students from countries that are NOT member states of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland are usually permitted to work 120 to 140 full days or 240 to 280 half days (or 20 hours/week) per year once they have a valid residence permit for Germany. The immigration office will record these provisions in your residence permit. To work more days per year, you must obtain the approval of your immigration office and the German Federal Employment Agency.

Please contact the respective department for details.