BAföG and Assets: 2026 Allowance and How It Is Counted

Under the BAföG (the German federal training grant), assets matter more than many people expect. If you hold savings, securities or a bank balance, you need to check how much of it counts. This guide explains the 2026 allowances, how assets above the allowance are counted and what matters when you apply.

The essentials in brief

• The allowance for trainees is 15,000 euros until the 30th birthday and 45,000 euros from then on.
• Spouses and children each increase the allowance by 2,300 euros.
• Assets above the allowance are used for the training and spread over the monthly need.
• According to bafög.de, the assets of your parents are not counted, but the income they earn from them is.
• The circumstances at the time of the application are decisive.

Which asset allowances apply in 2026?

The BAföG distinguishes allowances for you as a trainee, your spouse and your children. The amounts are set out in section 29(1) BAföG. The table shows the key values:

According to the German Student Union (Studierendenwerk), these values still applied in January 2026. The allowances have been in force since 1 August 2024. The government draft of the BAföG reform for 2027 does not change section 29 according to the sources reviewed. The draft has not yet been adopted.

How are assets above the allowance counted?

Assets above the allowance are used for the training. According to bafög.de, the excess amount is divided by the number of calendar months of the funding period. The resulting monthly amount is then counted against your monthly need. Keep this logic in mind when you read the example below. The sources reviewed do not give a fixed percentage, so clarify the exact calculation with the office.

Worked example: 18,000 euros of assets at age 24

Assumption: you are 24, have 18,000 euros of assets at the time of the application, and receive funding for a twelve-month funding period.

1. Deduct the allowance: 18,000 euros minus 15,000 euros gives 3,000 euros.
2. Spread over the months: 3,000 euros divided by 12 months gives 250 euros.
3. Deduct from the need: in this example, the monthly entitlement falls by 250 euros.

The result is a simplified assumption. How income, housing and the parental allowance affect the figure depends on the individual case. The calculation shows only the logic of the counting.

Why the date of the application matters

The BAföG does not ask for the assets of an arbitrary month, but for the circumstances at the time of the application. This gives you a clear reference date. Transparent information is the safest approach, because inconsistencies usually delay the processing.

If circumstances change after approval, for example through an inheritance or larger income, inform the office promptly. Whether and how this affects the ongoing funding is decided by the office in each case.

Typical mistakes when declaring assets

• Listing only the current account and forgetting savings contracts or securities accounts.
• Confusing the allowance with income. The allowance concerns assets, and income is assessed under its own rules.
• Including your parents’ assets even though bafög.de says they are not counted.
• Calculating your age at the wrong date. The circumstances at the application date are decisive.

What counts as assets?

In everyday language the term is broader than many people think. Assets typically include balances in current and savings accounts, securities and savings contracts. The legislator also provides a hardship clause, under which the office can keep a further part of the assets exempt.

• Balances in current and savings accounts count as assets.
• According to bafög.de, your parents’ assets are not counted, but the returns from them are.
• Under section 29(3) BAföG, the office may keep a further part of the assets exempt to avoid undue hardship.

Frequently asked questions

Does a car or a property count as assets?

That depends on use and value, and cannot be answered in general terms. Clarify the case with the office for training grants before you sign contracts. Ask for the assessment in writing.

Do I have to declare my assets in the BAföG application?

Yes. The office checks the circumstances at the time of the application. Complete and correct information matters, because incomplete information can have consequences for the funding.

Does the age limit of 30 also apply to the allowance?

Yes. The higher allowance of 45,000 euros applies from the 30th birthday. Anyone younger stays at 15,000 euros. The date of the application decides which allowance applies.

Is it worth reducing assets before applying?

That cannot be answered in general terms. Reducing assets can increase funding, but it also reduces your financial reserve and may affect goals such as retirement provision or savings. Weigh both sides before you act, and seek advice before larger steps.

What changes with the BAföG reform 2027?

The government draft provides, among other things, a housing allowance of 440 euros for students living away from home from the summer semester 2027, and an annual increase of the allowances from 2028. It has not yet been adopted. Until it is promulgated, the current rates apply. For your planning, use today’s allowances and check changes once a law is passed.

Your next steps

1. Work out your assets at the application date and list all accounts, securities accounts and savings contracts.
2. Check whether you are already 30, because the allowance depends on it.
3. Ask the office for training grants to explain the calculation for your funding period.
4. Clarify larger investments or transfers before making them, because they can affect your entitlement.

Related guides

• BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
• BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
• BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
• Vermögensaufbau im Studium: So startest du mit kleinen Beträgen (in German)

Sources: Federal Law Gazette database, section 29 BAföG (accessed 20.10.2026), bafög.de, how assets are counted (page status July 2024), German Student Union, BAföG FAQ (status 01/2026), Bundestag, printed paper 21/8405 (draft, status 07.10.2026).

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.