Child benefit between a bachelor’s and a master’s degree: if you move straight on to a master’s, you usually keep your entitlement. What matters is how closely the two stages are connected, how long any break lasts and whether you report changes to the family benefits office on time.
Short answer: A master’s degree that follows directly on from the bachelor’s usually counts as part of a single initial education (Erstausbildung), so child benefit (Kindergeld) continues. For 2026 it is 259 euros per child and month (§ 66 EStG). A gap of up to four months is generally harmless. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- A consecutive master’s after the bachelor’s usually counts as part of the initial education and keeps the entitlement alive.
- During education the entitlement lasts until your 25th birthday, provided you are still in training (§ 32 para. 4 EStG).
- Between two stages of education there is a transition period of up to four months.
- For 2026, 259 euros per child and month are fixed by law. For 2027 only a government draft with 267 euros exists so far.
- Changes such as a switch of course, breaks or paid work must be reported to the family benefits office.
Does the master’s count as part of the initial education?
German child benefit law distinguishes between the initial education and further training. For the initial education or first degree there is no limit on paid work, and a mini-job is harmless. After a completed initial education, the rules get stricter. A second training or second degree only counts if you work no more than 20 hours per week alongside it.
The Federal Finance Court (Bundesfinanzhof) has recognised a consecutive master’s degree as part of the initial education. Consecutive means that the master’s builds on the bachelor’s in content and time, so it follows directly or after a short interruption. The family benefits office checks in each case whether your path meets these conditions. A switch to an unrelated master’s may be assessed differently.
Which situations are typical?
The table shows the most common cases. It does not replace an individual check by the family benefits office.
| Situation | Child benefit as a rule | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Master directly after the bachelor (consecutive) | Entitlement continues | The age limit of 25 also applies to the master. |
| Break of up to four months between the stages | Entitlement is kept | The transition period is limited by law, so document its exact length. |
| Recognised voluntary service between bachelor and master | Entitlement continues up to the age limit | Prove the service with a certificate. |
| Longer break with a full-time job | Entitlement may end | Check whether the period counts as education. Paid work quickly becomes critical. |
| Second degree after a master | Only if you work up to 20 hours per week | Record the weekly hours in your contract precisely. |
What is child benefit in 2026 and 2027?
For 2026, child benefit is 259 euros per child and month (§ 66 EStG, as of October 2026). The government draft of the income tax reform act 2027, adopted by the cabinet on 2 September 2026, foresees 267 euros from 2027. This figure has not been passed yet, so please follow the legislative process.
Assumption: four months lie between the bachelor’s degree and the start of the master’s, and the entitlement continues. Then the arithmetic gives 4 times 259 euros, i.e. 1,036 euros for that period. Whether the payment actually runs depends on the review by the family benefits office.
Example: two routes from bachelor to master
Assumption A: you finish the bachelor on 31 July and start the master on 1 October of the same year. That leaves about two months between the stages, which falls within the transition period of up to four months. In this case the entitlement usually continues.
Assumption B: after the bachelor you work full time for half a year and only start the master in April of the following year. That period lies outside the transition period. Whether the entitlement continues is then a question for the family benefits office, which checks your employment in each case. Full-time work speaks against a continuing entitlement.
Such cases are best documented with a simple overview. Note the start and end date of each stage, attach the evidence and record how many hours per week you worked.
Common mistakes that cost money
- The master starts, but the change is reported to the family benefits office only months later. Repayment demands for the interim period can follow.
- A full-time job is treated as a part-time job. The weekly hours decide whether the 20-hour work limit is met.
- The enrolment certificate is missing or out of date. Without proof, payment usually does not continue.
Which steps matter with the family benefits office?
The family benefits office works with evidence. If you provide it on time and in full, you avoid repayment demands and long processing times.
- Submit the enrolment certificate for the master as soon as you have it.
- Report the end of the bachelor and the start of the new stage, ideally with the date from your certificate.
- Notify breaks, internships, voluntary services or jobs with weekly hours. This duty follows from § 68 EStG.
- Check the notice carefully. You can lodge an objection within one month of a rejection.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still get child benefit if I work between the bachelor and the master?
That depends on how long the job runs and how many hours you work. A mini-job or work of up to 20 hours per week is harmless during initial education. A full-time job over a longer period can end the entitlement, because that period is then no longer counted as education.
What happens if the master starts later than planned?
Then it matters whether the gap falls within the transition period of up to four months. If it is longer, the family benefits office checks whether another reason, such as military or voluntary service, illness or a waiting period, still gives an entitlement. Without such a reason, child benefit ends for that time.
Does the age limit of 25 also apply to the master?
Yes. The entitlement based on education ends on your 25th birthday (§ 32 para. 4 EStG). Certain services, such as statutory or voluntary military service or a recognised voluntary service, can extend the limit under the law. Studying itself does not extend it.
Do I have to report a change of subject?
Yes. Every change of training, including within the same university, should be reported to the family benefits office. It then checks whether it is still the same initial education or a second training with a work limit.
Can I receive child benefit myself as a student?
As a rule, child benefit is paid to the parents. In exceptional cases it can be paid to you (§ 74 EStG). For this you must apply to the family benefits office and prove the conditions.
Next steps
- Check whether your master follows the bachelor directly and how long the gap is.
- Report the start of your studies, breaks and jobs to the family benefits office before queries arrive.
- Document all periods with dates, evidence and weekly hours.
- If the notice is negative, lodge an objection within one month and consult a counselling service.
Related reading
- Child Maintenance for Students: Amount and Duration 2026
- Student Job 20-Hour Rule, Pension and Semester Breaks
- Part-Time Jobs and Taxes for Students in Germany
- Kindergeld im Studium und im Master (in German)
- Eltern zahlen keinen Unterhalt
Sources: Income Tax Act, § 32 (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026, in German); Income Tax Act, § 66 (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026, in German); Income Tax Act, § 68 (gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved October 2026, in German); Federal Government: income tax reform 2027 (status October 2026, government draft, in German); Federal Employment Agency: child benefit from age 18 (retrieved October 2026, in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
