Here, you will find a whole range of support and guidance. These should help you personally or with your project. Are you overwhelmed with the guidelines, applications, language, or don’t know who you can turn to?
The speaker for social affairs and anti-discrimination can help you find the right contact person.
You can get Information on funding opportunities from Dr. Kathrin Gollwitzer-Oh and from H. A. Bockmeyer Informations for the Reisestipendium.
BAFöG and housing support
As a student, you can apply for BAFöG. You can find all information and important contacts on the website of the Studierendenwerk Bremen.
Your contact persons: determined by the first letter of your last name
Contact: bafoeg@bafoeg-bremen.de
You are most likely legally entitled to BAföG
if you:
- are enrolled at a university (or technical
- college)
- are studying full-time
- it is your first degree program (exceptions:
- changing subject or pursuing a master’s
- degree)
- have German citizenship (or an EU or
- other nationality)
If you are having financial issues and don’t know how you are going to pay your rent for next month, you might be eligible to apply for housing benefits.
Registration & Residence Permit
After arriving in Bremen, you must confirm your residency as soon as possible. You can make an appointment on the Serviceportal Website (in German).
If you are not an EU Citizen it’s important to apply for a Residence Permit within 90 days (or before your student visa ends), which will allow you to extend your stay while you are a student. You can find the necessary information and formular in the BSU (Bremen Service Universität) Website.
Applying for “Welcome money”
Did you know that you can apply for 150€ of “welcome money” within the first twelve months of registering in Bremen? The BSU are also responsible for this matter!
Language Assistance
If you have problems with complicated or bureaucratic German, you can ask for help from your peers at the Language Assistance. They strive to help not only in English, but also other languages like Korean, Arabic, Spanish or Chinese through a student network. They offer support with filling out forms, short texts or advertisements in German, and the translation of assignments in studies or support and company in important appointments.
You can reach the Language Assistance at language_assistance@hfk-bremen.de
Language Center
Do you want to take a language course to improve your German? You can register for courses through the “Sprachenzentrum” (language center) and receive reimbursements for German courses up to the C1 level. You must initially pay for the course fees, however, upon successful completion you can contact the International Office for a reimbursement.
Social fund
- Eligible to apply: All enrolled students at the HfK.
- Award cycle: As required, if funds available (currently a lot available!!)
- Deadline for application: Applications can be submitted at any time.
- Announcement of decisions: individually to applicants
- Volume: According to donations received.Decision-maker: Dezernat 1 and International Office.
- Note: German students please contact Thorrid Dalter from Dezernat 1 and international students please contact the International Office before applying. Various documents must be submitted. Your request will be treated confidentially.
Website: https://hfkbremen.sharepoint.com/sites/foerdermoeglichkeiten
Psychological Counseling Service
If you are having a difficult time – whether it is with your studies, in crisis situations or in general – there are mental health assistance offerings for students, free of charge, like the Psychological Counselling Center of Studierendenwerk Bremen, which you can use non-bureaucratically. Counselling takes place on the university campus. In addition, there is a one-site counselling service without appointment once month at Speicher XI. Establishing contact can often be the hardest first step for people affected. If this is also the case for you, just remember: as soon as you’ve managed it, you will have support for every step the rest of the way. All employees are of course bound to confidentiality.
Your contact persons:
Hannah Peters
Sonja Vieten
Contact: sozialberatung@stw-bremen.de
T +49 421 22011131-0
You will find detailed information on the HfK-Website and here.
Student living
Are you looking for affordable living? In Bremen, there is a wide student housing scene from the Studierendenwerk – subsidized apartments or shared accommodations.
The shared community apartments tend to select their new roommates/flatmates. For single apartments there is a waitlist. For these you should contact the Studierendenwerk directly.
AStA project grants
The AStA of the HfK awards grants for projects and events of students
of the HfK as well as institutions of the student body and existing
project groups. Currently (as of 2023/24), the budget has a total of
11,000€ available for project grants.
Project Funding:
Maximum application amount: 400€.
The AStA decides on this funding.
Structure Funding:
Maximum application amount: 2,000€.
The StuRa decides on this funding.
!! Graduation projects cant be granted !!
Deadlines:
- February 15
- April 01
- May 15
- July 01
- October 01
- November 15
- January 01
Funding opportunities (Dr. Kathrin Gollwitzer-Oh)
- BMFTR (https://www.bmftr.bund.de)
- Startup-Factory
- DAAD – FIT o strucutal program
- DAAD Concert Travels Abroad (Website here)
- Hilde Domin Stipendium
o
- students at risk
- Funding for Student Projects
Email: k.gollwitzer-oh@hfk-bremen.de
T: +49 421 9595-1028
H. A. Bockmeyer Reisestipendium
- Eligibility: Students in the Department of Art and Design up to the age of 30 and alumni up to the age of 30 who graduated no more than three years ago.
- Award cycle: Annually
- Application deadline: Announced in the call for applications – usually in early February.
- Notification of decisions: Approximately four weeks after the submission deadline
- Amount: One scholarship of €3,000
- Decision-maker: Jury
- Application: Online form; the link will be announced in the call for applications
- Documentation: Results of the travel project exhibited in the gallery of the HfK Bremen
Contact persons: Helge Stobrawe or Dr. Kathrin Gollwitzer-Oh
E-Mail: bockmeyer-travelgrant@hfk-bremen.de
Website: www.hfk-bremen.de/de/neuigkeiten/h-a-bockmeyer-reisestipendium-2025/1079
Social Counselling Service
The Social Counselling of Studierendenwerk Bremen supports students with social law and financial issues, including study financing (excluding BAföG), job combinations, health insurance, studying with children, international student concerns, and the transition from studies to a career. It also provides guidance when changes like family planning, illness, or a leave of absence impact status or financing, helping to find tailored solutions. Counselling takes place regularly on the university campus. In addition, there is an open consultation hour once a month without an appointment at the Speicher XI location. Counselling appointments can also be arranged in advance for the consultation days. All employees are of course bound to confidentiality.
Your contact persons:
Hannah Peters
Sonja Vieten
Contact: sozialberatung@stw-bremen.de
You will find detailed information on the HfK-Website and here.
StiPa (Scholarship and Funding advice)
What they offer:
- Advice and guidance on
- financing options
- Scholarships
- Open calls for applications
- Residential stays
- Application procedure
A student organization at the HfK Bremen, led by students from different degree programs. Their mission: to build, connect and expand independent networks that enable HfK students to support each other.
Contact person: Bissan Badran
Email: stipa@hfk-bremen.de
Hochschulinformationsbüro (HiB) des DGB
Your contact person:
Josias Max
Sonja Vieten
Contact: hib@uni-bremen.de
Website: www.bremen.dgb.de
T 0421 218 – 69771
HiB services:
- Advice on rights, responsibilities, problems, and questions related to your job
- Advice on social security issues
- Advice on balancing work and studies
- Union training programs & workshops
- Information on the Hans Böckler Scholarship
- Support for events with a unionperspective
Trans*Beratung Bremen e.V.
Contact: beratung@trans-recht.de
Website: www.ransberatung-bremen.de
T 015164862665
Adress: Am Wall 190, 28195 Bremen
External consulting services
! waiting time for an appointment: 6 to 8 weeks
- Uncertainties about whether I am trans* – self-perception/ Clarifying my own wishes and goals
- Coming out and Issues related related to transition (e.g., body reassignment surgery or name and civil status changes)
- relationships (including for partners), to social environment, family, etc.
- Discrimination and transphobia, bullying
- Legal issues, e.g., disputes with health insurance companies
- Issues related to trans*gender and migration/refugeeship, residency
- Searching for professionals, e.g., doctors, psychotherapists, lawyers
Antidiscrimination (HfK and Bremen)
- Stabsstelle Unit for Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality
Contact person: Birte Skrzypczak
Email: bskrzypczak@hfk-bremen.de
- ADE (Administrative unit – Equal opportunities/ Antidiscrimination / Univerity Bremen)
Email: ade@uni-bremen.de
- Central Women’s Representative according to Bremen Higher Education Act (BremeHG)
Contact persons: Beate Röllecke, Professor Musik/Basso Continuo
Email: b.roellecke@hfk-bremen.de
- Equality and women’s advancement
Email: gleichstellung@hfk-bremen.de
Other advice centers:
www.hfk-bremen.de/de/service-und-kontakt/beratungsangebote/beratungsangebote-bei-diskriminierung-konflikten-und-gewalt
Further funding possibilities in Bremen
- BBK Bremen Berufsverband Bildender
Künstler*innen Bremen e.V.
T 0421 – 500 422
E-Mail: office@bbk-bremen.de
www.bbk-bremen.de
- Senator for Kultur (Junge Szene und Subkultur)
jungeszene-sub@kultur.bremen.de
www.kultur.bremen.de/projektmittel
- Stadkultur Bremen e.V.
T 0421 – 2223625
E-Mail: Info@stadtkulturbremen.de
www.stadtkulturbremen.de
- KH Künstler:innenhaus Bremen e. V.
T 0421 – 5980412
E-Mail: buero@kh-bremen.de
www.kh-bremen.de
Last modified on: 4. February 2026