Start of the winter semester at universities – these are the changes to BAföG

• BAföG improvements from this winter semester 2024/2025: Higher allowances and requirement rates, 1000 euro study start-up grant, more time to change subject, extended funding period
• Health insurance and long-term care insurance supplements and flat-rate housing allowance will be increased   
• Digital application possible   
• German Student Union criticized: Unfinished BAföG plans from the coalition agreement must finally be implemented: Direct payment of child benefit, dynamization of BAföG allowances and requirement rates, real-life requirement rate

Berlin, October 1, 2024. As of today, October 1, the changes of the latest 29th BAföG amendment will apply to all students. The Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW), the association of 57 student services organizations that implement the student BAföG on behalf of the federal and state governments, provides information about the changes and which plans from the federal government's coalition agreement have not yet been implemented.

From the winter semester 2024/2025, BAföG allowances will increase by 5.25%, meaning that potentially more students will be able to receive BAföG. At the same time, the BAföG basic requirement will be increased by 5%, rising from 452 euros to 475 euros per month. The BAföG housing allowance for students who do not live with their parents will be increased by 20 euros to 380 euros per month. In addition, the surcharges for health and long-term care insurance will be increased.

Another new feature is a one-off 1,000 euro student start-up grant for the very first semester at university. This applies if students are under 25 years of age, are starting full-time studies and received one of eight social benefits, such as housing benefit, citizen's allowance or a child supplement, in the month before the start of the semester. The study start-up grant is intended to cover one-off costs before the start of studies, such as the first semester fee or a rent deposit at the university. The application is independent of a BAföG application and can be submitted digitally within the first two months of the semester.

The maximum BAföG funding period will also be made more flexible: All BAföG recipients can receive additional BAföG for one semester during their studies - beyond the normal maximum funding period. The 29th BAföG amendment also brings with it a change in the change of subject area, which is now possible up to the fifth semester without any loss of eligibility for funding.

Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of the DSW, comments:

“All the changes in the 29th BAföG amendment are good and correct, but they are not enough. This can be seen, for example, in the flat-rate housing allowance: The Düsseldorf table specifies 410 euros in rental costs per month as a guideline value for parental maintenance. However, even after the current reform, the BAföG flat-rate housing allowance remains below the table at 380 euros.

There is still no sign of the structural reform of BAföG announced in the coalition agreement of the coalition government: no direct payment of child benefit to adult children in training or school, no dynamization of BAföG allowances and requirement rates. This means that the gap between the BAföG rates and the reality of life for many students continues to exist.

This shows that The Federal Government is still required to implement a genuine BAföG reform quickly.”

The BAföG application is always free of charge at the official portal BAföGdigital, as is the consultation at the responsible BAföG office. If it is foreseeable that the processing of the application will take a very long time, it is possible to receive a BAföG advance payment.

The innovations and improvements at a glance

This press release online