Consumer loan against study loan
Studying with BAföG and buying in instalments are both debt, but very different debt. For study at a university, half of BAföG is a loan (§ 17 Abs. 2 BAföG), and it carries no interest (§ 18 Abs. 2 BAföG). It is repaid in instalments of at least €130 a month (§ 18 Abs. 3 BAföG), and after 77 instalments the rest is waived (§ 18 Abs. 13 BAföG). So the loan never costs more than 77 × 130 = €10,010.
In the game there is €500 a month for 5 years. That is 60 × 500 × 0.5 = €15,000 of loan, of which €10,010 is repaid. The same €10,010 as a consumer loan at 8 % (boom in the game) in 77 monthly instalments costs €166.63 a month and €2,820.70 in interest in total.
A loan without interest and with a cap is a different debt from a consumer loan of the same size.
The BAföG loan in the game is repaid with €10,010 and no interest. As a consumer loan at 8 % the same amount costs €2,820.70 in interest.
Simulated: figures from the game T.O.U.G.H., not statistics about real people.
Questions people ask
Does a BAföG loan carry interest?
No, the loans carry no interest except in default (§ 18 Abs. 2 BAföG).
How much of the BAföG loan has to be paid back at most?
After 77 monthly instalments of €130 the rest is waived, so at most €10,010 (§ 18 Abs. 13 BAföG).
What would the same amount cost as a consumer loan?
In the game, €10,010 at 8 % over 77 months costs €2,820.70 in interest, worked out with equal instalments.
Source: § 17 Abs. 2 BAföG, as of 29 October 2026 · § 18 Abs. 2 BAföG, as of 29 October 2026 · § 18 Abs. 3 BAföG, as of 29 October 2026 · § 18 Abs. 13 BAföG, as of 29 October 2026
The BAföG loan and the same amount as a consumer loan, what each costs to pay back.
The simulation, the comparison and the Beam stay free.
Education, not advice. Disclaimer