The BAföG (Ausbildungsförderung, the German state training grant) notice is often the first official letter with figures that look complicated. Each line has a clear purpose, though. This guide goes through the typical items, with the 2026 values and sources, so you can check whether everything is right.
Short answer: The BAföG notice shows your need, the income counted against it, the grant amount and the approval period, which is usually one year (Section 50 BAföG, status October 2026). Half of the grant is generally an interest-free loan. For loans with a first funding start from 1 September 2019, repayment is capped at 10,010 euros (bafög.de, status July 2024).
Key points
- The notice must show need, income, assets, taxes and deductions, allowances and amounts counted (Section 50 (2) BAföG).
- Funding is usually approved for one year, the so-called approval period (Section 50 (3) BAföG).
- Need consists of 475 euros basic amount plus a housing allowance, which is 380 euros for students living away from home (Section 13 BAföG, status October 2026).
- Half of the grant is generally a loan that you repay (status January 2026).
- Check the notice promptly, because the appeal instructions state the deadline for an objection.
How is the notice structured? The main lines at a glance
The terms in the notice follow the law. The table explains the items you should watch and what to check for each.
| Line in the notice | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Need | Monthly amount to which you are entitled, from basic amount and housing allowance | Does the housing type match? Living with parents means a 59 euro allowance |
| Allowances | Amounts that remain free of deduction from income and assets | Do they match the details in your application? |
| Own income | Earnings that are counted against the grant | Earnings up to the mini-job limit of 603 euros do not reduce the grant, according to the Studierendenwerke |
| Assets | Assets counted above the allowances | Allowance of 15,000 euros under 30, 45,000 euros from 30 (Section 29 BAföG) |
| Health and care insurance surcharge | Surcharge for health and long-term care insurance from age 25 | Ages 25 to 29: 102 euros health and 35 euros care, from 30 up to 185 and 48 euros |
| Approval period | Period the notice covers | File the renewal on time, see below |
| End of maximum funding period | For university study, the date until which funding can be paid at most | Align your graduation plan with it |
How is need made up? A worked example
Assumption: you live away from home, are 23 and have no children. Your need is then 475 euros basic amount plus 380 euros housing allowance, so 855 euros a month (Section 13 (1) no. 2 and (2) no. 2 BAföG).
Assumption: you live with your parents. Then the allowance is 59 euros instead of 380 euros, and need comes to 534 euros a month.
Counted income is deducted from need, with allowances applied. What remains as the grant is shown in the line for the grant amount. From age 25, a surcharge for health and care insurance is added where need applies. The maximum rates are listed in the table below.
| Item | Amount per month | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Basic amount for students | 475 euros | since 1 August 2024, official |
| Housing allowance, living away from home | 380 euros | since 1 August 2024, official |
| Housing allowance, living with parents | 59 euros | since 1 August 2024, official |
| Health and care surcharge, age 25 to 29 | 102 euros health and 35 euros care | since 1 August 2024, official |
| Maximum rate, age 25 to 29, living away from home | 992 euros | status January 2026, unchanged |
How long does the notice apply?
As a rule, the office approves funding for one year (Section 50 (3) BAföG). If the period ends without a new notice, funding continues within the same training stage under a clawback reservation. This requires a substantially complete renewal application with the evidence, filed two calendar months before the end (Section 50 (4) BAföG). For preparing the application, see BAföG application: deadlines and documents (in German).
What do loan and grant mean in the notice?
Half of the funding is an interest-free state loan and half is a grant (loan share 50 percent, status January 2026). You must repay the loan. Repayment starts five years after the maximum funding period ends, and the standard instalment is 130 euros a month. For loans with a first funding start from 1 September 2019, repayment is capped at 10,010 euros. Full loans under Section 17 (3) BAföG are not capped. For details on repayment, see BAföG 2026: entitlement, amount and repayment (in German).
What if a line looks wrong?
Compare every line with what you stated in your application and with the evidence you submitted. If an allowance is missing or income is recorded incorrectly, first ask the office in writing. If the error stays, you can file an objection. The steps are explained in BAföG rejected: how to word an objection.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the notice show an end of the maximum funding period?
For university study, Section 50 (2) BAföG requires the notice to state until when funding can be paid at most. The date shows the limit under Section 15a BAföG. It is worth adding this date to your study plan.
What does the clawback reservation mean?
A reservation means the office can review a payment later and reclaim it if the underlying facts turn out differently. Continued payment under Section 50 (4) BAföG is made under this reservation until the new notice is issued.
Will the amounts in the notice still apply next year?
The rates have applied since autumn 2024 and, according to the Studierendenwerke, were unchanged in January 2026. The notice itself remains the binding document. For the reform from 2027, only the federal government draft exists so far, and it has not been passed (Bundestag document 21/8405).
What to do next
- Put the notice next to your application and check need, housing type and allowances line by line.
- Note the approval period and the date for your renewal, two calendar months before it ends.
- Clarify discrepancies in writing with the office before any deadline runs out.
- Plan the repayment of the loan share into your budget, even if it starts years later.
Related guides
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- BAföG online application step by step
- BAföG forms explained
- Living with BAföG: the 380 euro allowance against real rent
Sources: Section 50 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved 26 Oct 2026); Section 13 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved 26 Oct 2026); BAföG FAQ, Studierendenwerke (status January 2026); Repayment leaflet, bafög.de (page status July 2024)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
