Studying with a child is usually financed through several benefits: student financial aid (BAföG) with a €160 childcare supplement per child under 14, child benefit (Kindergeld) of €259 per child and month, and parental benefit (Elterngeld), which is at least €300 per month for students without income. Housing benefit (Wohngeld) is only an option if you have no entitlement to BAföG. Your child may be covered free of charge under your student health insurance as a family member. The rules on pregnancy and maternity protection are explained in the guide Being pregnant while studying (in German).
Key points in brief
- The BAföG childcare supplement is €160 per month for each child under 14 who lives with you. It is a grant, so you do not have to repay it. Only one parent receives it for the same period.
- Students without income before the birth receive at least €300 per month in parental benefit.
- Child benefit for your own child is €259 per month, with no income test.
- You are not eligible for housing benefit if you are in principle entitled to BAföG, even if the amount would be zero.
- A child of a member of statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) can be covered as a family member. This also applies to students with student health insurance.
Which benefits exist when studying with a child?
The main components have different contact points and requirements. The table gives an overview, and the sections below explain the details.
| Benefit | Amount | Main requirement | Responsible office |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAföG childcare supplement | €160 per child and month | Child under 14 in the household, only one parent | BAföG office |
| Parental benefit (Elterngeld) | At least €300 per month | No more than 32 hours of paid work per week on monthly average | Parental benefit office |
| Child benefit (Kindergeld) | €259 per child and month | Application to the family benefits office | Family benefits office (Familienkasse) |
| Child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) | Up to €297 per child and month | Separate application, minimum gross income | Family benefits office |
| Housing benefit (Wohngeld) | Calculated individually | No BAföG entitlement in principle | Housing benefit office |
| Family cover for the child | Free of charge | Parent is a member of statutory health insurance | Health insurer |
How does BAföG work with a child?
On top of the standard allowance, the BAföG office pays €160 per month for each child under 14 who lives in the same household as you. The supplement applies to each child, not just the first, and it is a grant that you do not have to repay. For the same period, only one parent receives it. The asset allowance also increases by €2,300 for each child.
The funding period also takes children into account. The maximum funding period is extended by a reasonable time for raising a child under 14. The law does not specify how long this is, and the BAföG office decides case by case. If you raised a child under 14 up to the age limit of 45 and worked no more than 30 hours per week, you may still receive funding later. A government draft plans to remove these exceptions from 1 April 2027. This is a draft bill with no decision yet. Everything else on entitlement and amounts is in the guide BAföG entitlement and amount (in German). If you start studying with a child after turning 30, the figures you need are in the guide Financing a degree after 30 (in German).
Do students receive parental benefit?
Yes. If you had no income before the birth, you receive the minimum amount of €300 per month (§ 2 para. 4 BEEG). If you had income before, you generally receive 67% of your net income. Parental Benefit Plus (Elterngeld Plus) is up to half of that amount, so €150 to €900 per month.
You must not work full time. On a monthly average, you may work no more than 32 hours per week. The entitlement lapses if your taxable income in the last tax year before the birth exceeds €175,000. For couples, the combined amount counts. A draft from the German Family Ministry would introduce a minimum amount of €330 from 2027. This has not been adopted, so the amount of €300 still applies. Before you apply, check with the BAföG office whether and how it counts parental benefit against your funding.
What applies to child benefit and the child supplement?
For your own child, you receive child benefit of €259 per month, regardless of birth order and without an income test. You apply to the family benefits office. As a guide, processing takes about six weeks.
The child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) is a separate benefit with its own application to the family benefits office. It amounts to up to €297 per child and month. The child must be under 25 and live in the household, and you must receive child benefit. The minimum gross income is €600 for single parents and €900 for couples. Anyone receiving citizen’s benefit (Bürgergeld) or its successor, basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), is not eligible. Whether and how this fits with studying is for the family benefits office to clarify.
What changes for child benefit your parents receive for you?
If your parents still receive child benefit for you (until age 25 at most), the reason changes when your studies are interrupted because of the birth. Taking leave from your studies generally counts as an interruption for child benefit, but a maternity protection ban on employment does not cause a problem. You are considered for the semester in which the birth is expected, at most until the end of the month in which the protection period ends. Parental leave under the Federal Parental Allowance and Parental Leave Act (Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz) does not count as a harmless interruption. More on this is in the guide Child benefit during your studies (in German).
Does housing benefit apply alongside BAföG?
No, generally not. Housing benefit is excluded if all household members are in principle entitled to BAföG, or could be, even if the amount is zero (§ 20 para. 2 WoGG). One exception applies if the funding is paid only as a loan.
Housing benefit becomes possible if you have no BAföG entitlement for specific reasons. The student services organisations (Studierendenwerke) cite, for example, a second degree without BAföG eligibility, exceeding the age limit or the maximum funding period, changing your field of study without an important reason, or missing proof of academic progress. Apply for BAföG first, because the rejection notice serves as proof. According to one student services organisation’s interpretation, there is generally an entitlement to housing benefit during a leave semester, since no BAföG is paid for that period. The housing benefit office decides. The details are in the guide Housing benefit for students (in German).
Citizen’s benefit (Bürgergeld), now called basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), is also excluded if the training is eligible for BAföG (§ 7 para. 5 SGB II). What counts is eligibility for funding, not whether you actually receive it. Special rules apply to additional needs, for example during pregnancy or as a single parent. The job centre explains these.
How is the child health insured?
Children of statutory health insurance members are covered as family members (§ 10 SGB V). If you are compulsorily insured as a student, you are a member, and your child can be covered free of charge under your policy. The requirements are a residence in Germany and a total income of the child of no more than €565 per month (2026).
If a parent is privately insured and has a gross income above the compulsory insurance threshold (2026: €6,450 per month), family cover does not apply. Individual cases are clarified by the health insurer. If you have been exempted from compulsory insurance and are privately insured, you must restructure your family’s coverage. The guide Planning a child and private health insurance (in German) gives pointers. If you are married, your spouse may also be covered as a family member under conditions explained in the guide Family cover through your spouse (in German).
Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) becomes cheaper with children. Students with a child pay 3.6%, while childless students aged 23 and over pay 4.2%. The contribution decreases with each additional child under 25:
| Children | Long-term care insurance per month (student insurance 2026) |
|---|---|
| None, from age 23 | €35.91 |
| One child | €30.78 |
| Two children | €28.64 |
| Three children | €26.51 |
| Four children | €24.37 |
| Five or more children | €22.23 |
How do leave semesters and childcare work?
According to one student services organisation, leave from your studies because of pregnancy or childcare can last up to six semesters per child, but not beyond the child’s third birthday. This depends on your university. Semesters on leave do not count as subject semesters. BAföG pauses during this time and must be reapplied for afterwards. The obligation to be insured generally continues during a leave semester, so your health insurance stays in place. Whether your parents’ child benefit continues during the leave depends on the reason for it, and the family benefits office can advise.
Childcare and advice offers differ between universities. Ask the family office or gender equality office of your university, and the student services organisation. The Federal Family Portal (Familienportal des Bundes) brings together information on studying with a child.
What applies to single parents who study?
Single parents receive the same benefits, but some rules are more favourable. For the BAföG age limit, they may work more than 30 hours per week to avoid basic security benefit and still use the exception for raising a child under 14. For the child supplement, the minimum gross income is €600, compared with €900 for couples. The childcare supplement goes to the parent with whom the child lives.
Example: what a monthly budget looks like
Mara, 27, is doing a full-time master’s degree, lives with her daughter (2 years old) in her own flat, and is compulsorily insured as a student. Assume her parents’ income is low enough for the maximum rate to be paid. She has no income of her own.
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| BAföG maximum rate with own flat (€475 + €380 + €102 + €35) | €992 |
| Childcare supplement | €160 |
| Child benefit | €259 |
| Total | €1,411 |
In months with parental benefit, at least €300 would be added, if the BAföG office does not offset it. There is no housing benefit, because Mara is in principle entitled to BAföG. For health and long-term care insurance, she budgets around €143 per month (€118.16 plus the 2.9% additional contribution on €855), and the BAföG supplements of €137 cover most of it. Her daughter is covered under Mara’s insurance as long as her own income stays below €565 per month.
Frequently asked questions
Which benefits are available if I study with a child?
BAföG with the €160 childcare supplement per child under 14, child benefit of €259 per child, parental benefit from €300 and a child supplement of up to €297 can be combined. Housing benefit is only available without BAföG entitlement. Which benefit suits you depends on your income, your studies and your living situation.
Do I receive parental benefit while studying?
Yes, if you work no more than 32 hours per week on a monthly average. If you had no income before the birth, you receive the minimum amount of €300 per month. Submit the application to the responsible office.
What is the BAföG childcare supplement?
It is €160 per month for each child under 14 who lives in your household. For three children, that is €480. It is paid as a grant, and only one parent receives it for the same period.
How is my child insured?
Usually through the family cover of your statutory health insurer, without a contribution of its own. The child may earn no more than €565 per month. If a parent is privately insured and earns more than €6,450 per month, this option does not apply. If in doubt, ask your health insurer.
Can I take a leave semester with a child?
Yes. According to one student services organisation, up to six semesters per child are possible, but not beyond the child’s third birthday. Your university sets the rules. BAföG pauses during the leave, but your health insurance continues.
What to do now
- Apply for child benefit at the family benefits office, and for BAföG with the childcare supplement at the BAföG office.
- Submit the parental benefit application to the responsible office, and clarify with the BAföG office how both benefits interact.
- Register your child for family cover with your health insurer, and check whether a privately insured parent changes the eligibility.
- Speak to your university’s family office about childcare, leave and examination deadlines.
- Check housing benefit or the child supplement if you have no BAföG entitlement or your income meets the requirements.
If you want to talk through your situation, you will find the route to advice on the Academycon homepage.
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Related articles
- Being pregnant while studying (in German)
- Child benefit during your studies (in German)
- Housing benefit for students (in German)
- Family cover through your spouse (in German)
- BAföG with a child: childcare supplement and extension (in German)
- Parental benefit during your studies: minimum amount, application and BAföG (in German)
- A child starts studying: checklist for parents (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
