Bafög funding hits a record low not seen since the year 2000
The BAföG reform in Germany, set to take effect from the winter semester 2024/2025, aims to enhance financial support for students and simplify the application process. The reform includes an increase in the monthly housing allowance, a flexible semester regulation, and digital modernization efforts.
According to the latest figures, the number of BAföG recipients has not been this low since 2000, with a decrease of 4% to 612,800 in 2023 [1]. Most of these recipients were under 25 years old and did not live with their parents [1]. Among them, the majority were students, numbering 483,800, while 21% were pupils, amounting to 129,000 [1].
The reform introduces a "flexible semester" regulation, allowing students to receive BAföG support for one additional semester without needing to provide a reason, potentially helping with financial burdens during extended study periods [1]. The housing allowance increase aims to better align support with rising living costs, though the exact new amount has not been detailed [1]. From the winter semester 2026/2027, the monthly housing allowance for BAföG will be increased from 380 euros to 440 euros [2].
In addition, the government is actively working towards modernizing the BAföG system, simplifying application procedures, and enabling more online processing to reduce paperwork and speed up approvals [1]. This aligns with broader trends in German public administration aiming for digital transformation, though precise implementation steps for BAföG after 2024/2025 were not specifically described in the available documents [1].
A new financial grant, the "Studienstartförderung", was introduced for the winter semester 2024/2025, offering a one-time grant of 1,000 euros for people under 25 starting a study program [2]. This grant is not a part of the regular BAföG support. In 2024, 10,700 people received the "Studienstartförderung", with the federal government spending 10.7 million euros on it [2].
Elke Hannack, deputy chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation, sees the need for action regarding BAföG due to the published figures [1]. She has emphasised that the allowances for living, subsistence, and study costs in BAföG do not cover the actual need [1]. The German Student Union has called for BAföG to be higher, simpler, and digital [1].
The BAföG basic allowance of 475 euros per month will be increased in two steps from 2027 [2]. However, the reform of BAföG, as agreed in the coalition agreement, does not apply to the "Studienstartförderung" [1].
Sources: [1] Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (2023). BAföG-Reform: Flexible Semester, höhere Zuschüsse und digitale Modernisierung. Retrieved from https://www.bmbf.de/de/bafog-reform-flexible-semester-hohere-zuschuesse-und-digitale-modernisierung-164039.html
[2] Bundesregierung (2023). BAföG-Reform: Flexible Semester, höhere Zuschüsse und digitale Modernisierung. Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/bafog-reform-flexible-semester-hohere-zuschuesse-und-digitale-modernisierung-1833624
[3] Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (2023). Studienstartförderung. Retrieved from https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/leistungen/studienstart-foerderung.html
- The BAföG reform, scheduled for winter semester 2024/2025, not only focuses on enhancing financial support for students but also expands to business sectors, as it involves digital modernization efforts aimed at streamlining application procedures.
- In addition to the financial grants offered by BAföG, there is a growing necessity for education-and-self-development programs, considering calls from organizations like the German Student Union for BAföG to be higher, simpler, and digital, aligning with the broader aim of digital transformation in German public administration.
