The study start grant under § 56 BAföG is only available to first-year students who are under 25 when their studies begin. The age limit is the easiest condition to check, once you know the right reference date. This guide explains how to calculate your age, where the limit lies and which other conditions apply.
Short answer: You can receive the one-time study start grant of 1,000 euros under § 56 BAföG only if you have not yet turned 25 when the training period you apply for begins. The decisive date is the start of studies, not the day you apply. Students who are 25 or older at that date do not qualify, and § 56 provides no exception. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The limit is the 25th year of life: you must not have completed it when the training period begins.
- The reference date is the start of the training period you apply for, not the day of your application.
- You complete your 25th year of life on your 25th birthday. The day before, you can still qualify, provided the other conditions are met.
- Age is only one of several conditions. The others are first-time enrolment and receipt of a qualifying benefit in the month before studies begin.
- The Bundestag notice on the draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG does not mention the study start grant or any change to its age limit.
How do you calculate your age at the start of studies?
The calculation needs two inputs: your exact date of birth and the start of the training period. The year of birth alone is not enough, because two students born in the same year can be a different age at the start of the semester. The start is normally the official start of the semester at your university.
The table shows three examples with an assumed start of studies on 1 October 2026. The ages are assumptions for illustration and do not replace an official check.
| Date of birth | Age on 1 October 2026 (assumed) | Age limit under § 56 para. 1 met? |
|---|---|---|
| 2 October 2001 | 24 years | Yes, if the other conditions are met |
| 1 October 2001 | 25 years | No, the 25th year of life is then completed |
| 15 March 2002 | 24 years | Yes, if the other conditions are met |
Anyone born on 1 October 2001 completes the 25th year of life on 1 October 2026. The day before, that has not yet happened. A single day can therefore decide the claim, which is why the exact date of birth matters.
What applies if you are already 25 when studies begin?
In that case there is no entitlement to the study start grant. The provision contains no exception for older students. This applies whether you start university straight after school or after vocational training, a volunteer service or a break. Only the age at the start of the training period counts.
A later application does not change this. The deadline and the age limit work separately: the deadline sets how long you have to apply, while age is measured at the start. Anyone who begins studies at 24 years and eleven months remains eligible, even if the application arrives after the 25th birthday, as long as it is within the deadline.
Which conditions apply besides age?
§ 56 para. 1 links the study start grant to three further points. All of them must be met, otherwise there is no entitlement, even if you are under 25.
- First-time enrolment: you enrol for the first time at a training institution covered by the law.
- Benefit receipt in the previous month: you, your parents or a household member receive one of the listed benefits in the month before training begins.
- Timely application: the application must be filed by the end of the month after the start of training, electronically via BAföG Digital.
The qualifying benefits include, among others, benefits under SGB II, help with living costs and basic income support under SGB XII, the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) and housing benefit (Wohngeld). BAföG itself is not on this list. More on benefit receipt in the previous month is available in our guide on the benefit receipt in the previous month.
| Condition | What § 56 para. 1 requires | How you can document it |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Not yet 25 at the start of the training period | Birth certificate or identity card, start of semester |
| First-time enrolment | First enrolment at the training institution | Enrolment certificate |
| Benefit receipt | Receipt of a listed benefit in the previous month | Notice of the benefit for that month |
| Application deadline | By the end of the month after the training starts | Application via BAföG Digital |
Are there exceptions to the age limit?
The wording of § 56 contains no exception to the age limit of 25. Paragraph 2 explicitly excludes certain other BAföG provisions, but names no age exception. If you have a special situation, clarify it with the responsible Office for Training Support (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) before studies begin.
The general BAföG age limit is separate. Under § 10 para. 3 BAföG, training support is not paid if you have completed your 45th year of life when the training period begins. The study start grant has the much lower limit of 25 years, and the two limits should not be confused.
What role does the application deadline play?
The application must be filed by the end of the month after the start of training. The deadline therefore governs the procedure, while the age limit governs the entitlement. If studies begin on 1 October, the deadline ends on 30 November, as the example of the city of Heidelberg shows.
| Start of training | Application deadline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | 30 November 2026 | Example from the procedure description of the city of Heidelberg |
| 1 April 2027 | 31 May 2027 | Assumption: semester starts on 1 April 2027 |
For planning, this means the age limit works like a fixed date. A start that moves by a few weeks can cost you the entitlement if your birthday falls between the old and the new start. After vocational training, only the age at the start of studies counts, and earlier working years do not move the limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is age measured at the application or at the start of studies?
The age is measured at the start of the training period for which you apply. The date of application plays no role for the age limit, but it does for the deadline. If you are under 25 at the start of studies, you meet the age limit even if you apply later.
I turn 25 during the semester. Am I still eligible?
Yes, if you had not yet turned 25 when the training period began. A birthday during the semester does not change eligibility, because the reference date is the start. Make sure the application arrives on time, by the end of the month after the start.
Does the age limit also apply to a second degree or a master’s programme?
The study start grant requires first-time enrolment. Under the wording, a second degree does not meet this requirement, and the same applies to a master’s programme if you were already enrolled at a university before. The responsible office decides individual cases.
Where can I read the exact wording of the rule?
The wording of § 56 BAföG is published at gesetze-im-internet.de. It sets out the age limit, the benefit conditions and the application rules. If a summary differs from the statute, the statute applies.
What to do now
- Enter your date of birth and the official semester start of your university in the table above and calculate your age at the start.
- Check whether you or your parents received one of the listed benefits in the month before studies begin, and keep the notice.
- Submit the application via BAföG Digital by the end of the month after studies begin.
- Clarify open questions about the age calculation with the responsible Office for Training Support before you apply.
Related guides
- Study Start Grant: 1,000 Euros for First-Year Students
- Study start grant without parental income: what it means for families
- Study start grant and BAföG: can you get both?
- Study start grant: deadline missed, what is still possible
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
Sources: § 56 BAföG (study start grant), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026; Procedure description for the study start grant, City of Heidelberg, released 20 May 2026 (in German); BAföG reform in the Bundestag, plenary records week 42/2026, status 2 November 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
