29th BAföG reform: This will change from autumn 2024

The Bundestag has given the green light for the amendment law for the 29th BAföG reform. The final decision on the new BAföG reform has not yet been made, but here are the most important planned changes from the winter semester 2024/2025 and for existing grants from October 2024 at the latest:

• More money to live on:The basic monthly requirement is to increase from 452 euros to 475 euros.
• More for rentStudents who no longer live with their parents or in their own home are to receive 380 euros per month instead of the previous 360 euros.
• Mini-jobs will not be taken into account: Earnings from mini-jobs of up to 538 euros per month (from 2025 up to 556 euros) are not to be taken into account for BAföG.
• Adjustment of health and long-term care insurance supplements:The supplements are to be updated, depending on your insurance situation.
• Longer funding:In addition to the standard period of study, you are to be funded on application for an additional "flexibility semester", which can be used in either the Bachelor's or Master's programme.
• Easy change of degree programme:In future, students could change subject or drop out one semester later (up to the end of the 4th subject-related semester if there is an "important reason") without BAföG funding being affected.
• Study start-up aid:Anyone who receives certain social benefits before starting a degree programme and has not yet reached the age of 25 should be entitled to a one-off study start-up grant of 1,000 euros. This would be granted as a subsidy and would not have to be repaid. The application should be submitted via BAföG-Digital.
• Fair repayment regulation:Students should continue to pay back a maximum of 10,010 euros, depending on your future income.
• Overall, the maximum funding rate (regardless of the childcare allowance) should increase to the following amounts:
  Without own insurance contributions, because family insured:
  For all those living outside the parental home: from 812 euros to 855 euros.
  For all those who live with their parents: from 511 euros to 534 euros.
  With own insurance contributions:
  For all those living outside the parental home: from 934 euros to 992 euros.
  For all those living with their parents: from 633 euros to 671 euros.
  Own voluntary statutory insurance:
  For all those living outside the parental home: from 1,018 euros to 1,088 euros.
  For all those who live with their parents: from 717 euros to 767 euros.

These anticipated adjustments apply to students living in Germany or within the EU.