Finances
Improvements for students for the 2024/2025 winter semester

- Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) informs
- Increase in parental allowances, the BAföG basic requirement and the flat-rate housing allowance
- Health insurance and long-term care insurance surcharges will be increased
- New: Study start-up aid for first-year students under 25; flexible semester and later change of subject area
Berlin, August 1, 2024: With the 29th BAföG amendment, there will be improvements and innovations in BAföG for students at the beginning of the winter semester 2024/2025. Deutsche Studierendenwerk (DSW), the association of 57 student services organizations that implement the student BAföG on behalf of the federal and state governments, provides information on this.
BAföG allowances will increase by 5.25% so that potentially more students can receive BAföG. At the same time, the basic BAföG requirement will be increased by 5%; it will thus rise to 475 euros per month from the winter semester 2024/2025 (previously: 452 euros). The BAföG flat-rate 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. The maximum BAföG funding period will be made more flexible: All BAföG recipients can receive additional BAföG for one semester during their studies - beyond the normal maximum funding period. They can apply for this flexible semester without justification, either in their Bachelor's or Master's degree course. The 29th BAföG amendment also brings a change to the change of subject area, which is now possible up to the fifth semester at the latest. Furthermore, a one-off study start-up grant of €1,000 will make it easier for first-year students under the age of 25 to start their studies. For this, they must be a recipient of a social benefit (e.g. housing benefit or citizen's allowance) in the month before the start of their studies.
The innovations and improvements at a glance
Selective improvements, but not the big hit: Political DSW assessment of the 29th BAföG amendment
This press release online