Whether your partner’s income is counted under the German student financing law (BAföG) depends above all on whether you are married or in a registered civil partnership. Only a spouse or civil partner in the legal sense is included in the calculation of your need. If you live together unmarried, you should therefore know where the line runs and which rules apply to a spouse.
Kurz beantwortet: Yes, if you are married or in a registered civil partnership and do not live permanently apart. Under section 11(2) BAföG, a spouse’s income is counted after your own income and before the income of your parents. For a spouse’s income a monthly allowance of 1,690 euros applies (section 25(1) BAföG). Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Marital status is decisive. A partner without a marriage or civil partnership is not a spouse within the meaning of BAföG.
- A spouse’s income is counted after your own income of the trainee.
- For a spouse’s income there is a monthly allowance of 1,690 euros.
- A spouse who lives permanently apart does not count as a spouse within the meaning of the law.
- A marriage or separation during the funding period must be reported to the office, because the entitlement may change.
Who counts as a spouse under BAföG?
The law defines the term expressly.
This applies equally to marriages and to registered civil partnerships, because the law names both forms expressly.
A spouse or civil partner in the legal sense is someone who does not live permanently apart. What matters is therefore not only the marriage certificate but the actual state of living together. A marriage in which the partners live permanently apart does not count in the calculation of need.For couples without a marriage this means that the partner’s income is not taken into account under this rule, even if you manage money together. This applies regardless of how close the relationship is or how much you spend together. Whether an agreement about costs works differently in practice has no effect on the statutory calculation.
In which order is income counted?
Income is counted in a fixed order. First, the trainee’s own income and assets are considered. Then comes the income of the spouse or civil partner. Only after that does the income of the parents count. This order is set out in section 11(2), first sentence, BAföG.
| Rank | Income or assets | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The trainee’s own income and assets | Section 11(2) first sentence BAföG |
| 2 | Income of the spouse or civil partner | Section 11(2) first sentence BAföG |
| 3 | Income of the parents | Section 11(2) first sentence BAföG |
The order explains why a partner can matter
Note the wording as well: the sentence names the trainee’s assets, but for the spouse it only names their income. Whether and how the spouse’s assets matter should therefore not be assumed, but checked in the individual case or clarified with the office.
more for many students than the parents. The income of the spouse is considered before that of the parents. If you are married, plan with your spouse in mind as well as your parents.Which allowance applies to a partner?
Under section 25(1) BAföG, certain income remains exempt each month. For the income of the spouse or civil partner of the trainee, an allowance of 1,690 euros per month applies. This amount is in the same provision as the allowance for parental income in other cases. The allowance reduces the income that counts, but it does not replace the calculation altogether.
Assumption: the spouse’s income is 2,500 euros per month. Of this, 1,690 euros remain exempt, and 810 euros exceed the allowance. How this figure affects the funding depends on the rest of the calculation, which the office carries out on the basis of all information. The figure serves only as an illustration.
What happens if you marry or separate during your studies?
A change in marital status during the funding period affects the entitlement. If you marry, expect your spouse’s income to be counted once the marriage exists. If you separate permanently, the spouse may fall out of the calculation. Both changes should be reported to the office so that the calculation stays current.
Missing notifications often lead to repayment demands. A short contact with the office as soon as your marital status changes is therefore worthwhile. The office will then check which documents it needs and from when the new calculation applies.
Which evidence does the office require?
For the calculation the office needs evidence of income and of marital status. This usually includes a statement of the spouse’s income. Whether a marriage certificate or confirmation of living together is also required depends on the individual case and the rules of the responsible office.
Complete documents speed up processing. Submit the evidence together with the application and note which details have changed since the last notice.
What does the BAföG reform mean for married students?
A reform of BAföG is pending in the Bundestag. Until it is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette, the existing rules apply. Whether and how the counting of a spouse changes is not conclusively settled for this guide. If you apply or check a notice today, base your work on the rules currently in force.
Frequently asked questions
Is my boyfriend’s income counted if we are not married?
No. By law only a spouse or civil partner counts. A partner without a marriage or civil partnership is not among the persons whose income is counted under section 11 BAföG. How you divide shared costs has no effect on the funding.
Does my spouse have to provide information about their income?
For the calculation the office needs the income details of the spouse, because that income is counted. These details are usually submitted with the application. Which evidence is required in an individual case is decided by the responsible office.
Can I still receive funding if my partner earns money?
It is possible. What matters is the income of both spouses and which allowance applies. Funding can also be possible despite a partner’s income. A precise answer is only possible with the office’s calculation.
Is the counting of a spouse the same over time?
No. The draft reform foresees annual adjustments of the allowances from 2028, and the reform of BAföG is pending. For a specific application, the position at the time of the decision counts. If circumstances change, a new calculation is needed.
What should I do if we separate?
A permanent separation means that the former spouse no longer counts as a spouse within the meaning of the law. The separation should be reported to the office so the funding can be recalculated. Advice from the student services organisation (Studierendenwerk) helps with the procedure.
What to do now
- Clarify your marital status and whether you live together permanently before you apply.
- Disclose your spouse’s income with the application and submit the evidence.
- Report marriage, separation or income changes immediately so that the calculation is correct.
Related reading
- Family, partnership and money: the overview for young adults
- BAföG 2026: entitlement, amount and repayment (in German)
- Applying for BAföG: application, deadlines and documents (in German)
- BAföG with a child: childcare supplement and extension (in German)
Sources: Section 11 BAföG, scope of training support (in German, gesetze-im-internet.de) and Section 25 BAföG, allowances from the income of parents and of the spouse or civil partner (in German, gesetze-im-internet.de).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
