29th BAföG Amendment Act, effective from the winter/spring semester 2024/25
The 29th amendment to the BAföG will apply to students from the 2024/25 winter semester.
We will take these changes into account as a matter of course. To avoid delays, decisions will initially be issued in accordance with the ‘old’ legal situation and are expected to be amended in October. Any outstanding balance will be paid retrospectively.
The BAföG needs-based rate for students under the age of 25 rises to a maximum of €855, depending on their living arrangements and their health and long-term care insurance cover.
For those aged 25–30, it rises to a maximum of €992, and for those over 30, to up to €1,088.
The income allowances for students have been adjusted in line with the current regulations for mini-jobs. Until the winter semester 2024/25, the limit remains at €520; from the winter semester 24/25, the new limit of €556 applies.
Students with a grant period running from the summer semester 24 to the winter semester 24/25 should contact their case officer if they have any questions regarding the income limits.
Higher income allowances are also available for married students or students with children of their own.
The income allowances for parents rise to €2,540 for married parents (for both parents combined) or €1,690 for parents who are not married or who are permanently separated (per parent)
The ‘social security flat rate’ for parents who are employed will in future be calculated at 22.3 per cent of their annual income. For the self-employed, the rate is 38.8 per cent, and for those not in gainful employment (e.g. old-age pensioners), 16.5 per cent.
The allowances for siblings (who are not undertaking any education or training eligible for BAföG funding) will rise to €770 for each sibling. Income (e.g. from a ‘minijob’ or training allowance) earned by minor siblings will no longer have a negative impact on the sibling allowance.
In future, students will have an extra semester to find their feet in their degree programme before changing course or withdrawing from their studies.
In the case of a first-time change of specialisation, carried out after the third academic semester, the so-called ‘presumption of standard progression’ applies. In such cases, no justification is required to receive funding for the new course of study. If, however, the change of subject area is not the first such change or takes place after the fourth academic semester, a valid reason must be provided. For a change of subject area after the fifth academic semester or later, there must be an irrefutable reason.
The flexibility semester may be taken once during the course of study (e.g. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree).
It must follow immediately on from the end of the maximum funding period or the extended maximum funding period (in accordance with Section 15(3)(1), (2), (3) or (5) of the BAföG). The amount of funding is determined in accordance with the BAföG eligibility criteria. Half of the funding continues to be provided as a grant and half as a loan.
How do you apply for the flexibility semester?
When submitting your standard BAföG application, include an additional informal cover letter stating that you wish to take advantage of the flexibility semester.
The Study Start Grant is a one-off payment of €1,000 for first-year students. It can be applied for independently of any subsequent BAföG entitlement, is not deducted from BAföG payments and does not need to be repaid.
Applications must be submitted exclusively via BAföG-Digital.de (simple registration is possible even without an electronic identity card) and must be made by the end of the month following the month in which the course begins. In the case of admission via the supplementary admissions process, a later but immediate application is permitted as an exception. The enrolment certificate and proof of receipt of social security benefits in the month prior to the start of the course must be submitted as supporting documents.
To be eligible for the study start grant, you must not have reached the age of 25 by the start of your studies and must not have previously undertaken any higher education. Furthermore, in the month prior to the start of the course, the applicant must have been receiving one of the following social security benefits (the notification must be attached to the application as proof):
- Benefits under SGB II (e.g. Bürgergeld),
- benefits under SGB III, including living expenses assistance (e.g. ALG I),
- basic income support for the elderly and those with reduced earning capacity under SGB XII,
- benefits to cover living expenses under Section 93 of SGB XIV,
- living expenses under Section 145 of SGB XIV,
- Benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act,
- Child supplement under Section 6a of the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG) (not the so-called ‘child benefit’)
- Housing benefit under the Housing Benefit Act.