Study start aid

• The basic BAföG rates will be increased by five per cent.
• The flat-rate housing allowance for students and pupils living away from home will be increased from 360 to 380 euros.
• Students who receive certain social benefits before commencing their studies are entitled to a one-off study start-up grant of 1,000 euros. This is granted as a subsidy and does not have to be repaid.
• The allowances on the income of parents and the spouse or partner of the recipient will be increased by a total of 5.25 per cent. The allowances that apply to loan repayments will also be increased by a total of 5.25 per cent.
• The allowance for the recipient's own income will be adjusted so that they can earn up to the amount of a so-called mini-job without it being offset against their BAföG entitlement.
• A so-called flexibility semester is being introduced, which gives all students the one-off opportunity to continue receiving BAföG for one semester beyond the maximum funding period without giving reasons. This makes it possible, for example, to concentrate fully on the final thesis, even if the formal standard period of study is slightly exceeded.
• In future, it will also be possible to change subject without any negative consequences for the BAföG entitlement somewhat later in the degree programme.
• In addition, the bureaucratic effort involved in applying for and being granted BAföG is to be reduced. This is to be achieved, for example, through appropriate flat-rate payments and the waiving of crediting regulations.

Source: Bundesregierung.de 

The study start grant is intended to be a particularly targeted form of assistance. It is awarded as a subsidy and does not have to be repaid.

The study start grant is intended to remove financial barriers to starting a degree programme. It supports young people with expenses typically associated with starting a degree programme (e.g. laptop, teaching and learning materials, rental deposit). The study start grant can be applied for independently of any subsequent BAföG funding and is not counted towards BAföG.

Please note: An application for study start assistance can only be submitted until the end of the month following the month in which the course begins. If the winter semester at the university begins on 1 October, for example, you can submit your application for BAföG digitally until 30 November.

Applications for start-up assistance can only be submitted online via BAföG-digital.

Please note that you will need a BundID to do this. The BundID is the federal government's central account for identifying applicants when submitting an online application.