The short answer on BAföG rates
The BAföG rates for 2026 remain unchanged: €855 per month for students living away from home up to age 24, €992 for ages 25 to 29, and €1,088 from age 30. A reform with a higher housing allowance is in the legislative process and would apply from 1 April 2027, provided it is passed. The table shows each value with its status, so you can separate what applies now from what is planned.
The most important facts at a glance
| Point | Value | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum BAföG rate from age 30, living away from home | €1,088 per month | Official | 20 October 2026 |
| Housing allowance living away from home from 1 April 2027 | €440 per month, previously €380 | Draft bill | 20 October 2026 |
| Child benefit per child | €259 per month (2026), €267 from 2027 | Official, draft bill | 20 October 2026 |
| Minijob limit | €603 (2026), €633 (2027) | Official | 20 October 2026 |
The figures compared
| Figure | Value 2026 | Value 2027 | Status 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic requirement for students per month | €475 | €503 from the winter semester 2027/28 | Draft bill (30th BAföG Amendment Act) | Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 |
| Housing allowance living away from home per month | €380 | €440 from 1 April 2027 | Draft bill (30th BAföG Amendment Act) | Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 |
| Housing allowance living with parents per month | €59 | €41 from 1 August 2027, then it lapses | Draft bill (30th BAföG Amendment Act) | Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 |
| Maximum rate up to age 24 living away from home per month | €855 | Calculated value €943 from the winter semester 2027/28 (€503 plus €440, without supplements) | Calculated, draft bill | Our own calculation based on printed paper 21/8405 |
| Maximum rate ages 25 to 29 living away from home per month | €992 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | DSW FAQ January 2026 |
| Maximum rate from age 30 living away from home per month | €1,088 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | DSW FAQ January 2026 |
| Maximum rate from age 30 living with parents per month | €767 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | DSW FAQ January 2026 |
| Health insurance supplement, ages 25 to 29 per month | €102 | €121 from 1 April 2027, €124 from 1 August 2027, €132 in the 2029 stage | Draft bill (stages according to printed paper) | Printed paper 21/8405 |
| Long-term care supplement, ages 25 to 29 per month | €35 | €39 from 1 April 2027, €40 from 1 August 2027, €43 in the 2029 stage | Draft bill (stages according to printed paper) | Printed paper 21/8405 |
| Health insurance supplement, from age 30 (self-paying) per month | €185 | €223 in the draft bill | Draft bill | Printed paper 21/8405 |
| Long-term care supplement, from age 30 (self-paying) per month | €48 | €56 in the draft bill | Draft bill | Printed paper 21/8405 |
| Childcare supplement per child under 14 per month | €160 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | bafög.de and DSW FAQ |
| Loan share of the funding | 50% | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | Information sheet on loan repayment |
| Repayment cap for the loan | €10,010 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | Information sheet on loan repayment |
| Standard repayment rate per month | €130 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | Information sheet on loan repayment |
| Age limit for the start of studies | Before the 45th birthday | Limit remains at 45, the exceptions lapse | Draft bill | Printed paper 21/8405 |
| Asset allowance up to age 29 | €15,000 | Not changed in the draft bill | Official | bafög.de (status July 2024), DSW FAQ |
| Asset allowance from age 30 | €45,000 | Not changed in the draft bill | Official | bafög.de (status July 2024), DSW FAQ |
| Parental allowance for single parents per month | €1,690 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | bafög.de |
| Minijob income limit per month (gross) | €603 | €633 from 1 January 2027 | Official | Minijob-Zentrale, § 8 SGB IV |
| KfW student loan, effective annual interest rate | 6.38% | Next adjustment 1 April 2027 | Official (valid from 1 October 2026) | KfW notice |
| Federal education loan (Bildungskredit), effective annual interest rate | 4.09% | Half-yearly adjustment | Official (status 2026) | BVA, note the footer 2024 |
| Child benefit per child and month | €259 | €267 from 1 January 2027 | Government draft, Income Tax Reform Act 2027 (Einkommensteuerreformgesetz 2027) | Federal Government, Cabinet 2 September 2026 |
| Child allowance for both parents per year | €9,756 | €10,056 | Government draft | Federal Government, Cabinet 2 September 2026 |
| Basic allowance per year | €12,348 | €12,564 | Government draft | Federal Government, Cabinet 2 September 2026 |
| Broadcasting fee per month and dwelling | €18.36 | No value for 2027 | Status 2026 | Beitragsservice (status 16 January 2026) |
Worked example: the loan over four years at the maximum rate
An example with the maximum rate from age 30, living away from home and without income, based on the status of 2026.
- Maximum rate: €1,088 per month.
- Half is a grant and the other half an interest-free loan: €544 per month as a loan.
- Four years of twelve months each: €544 times 48 equals €26,112 in loans in total.
- You must repay at most €10,010 (cap for loans with funding starting on or after 1 September 2019), in instalments of usually €130 per month.
The amount is an example. The Amt für Ausbildungsförderung (BAföG office) decides case by case whether you receive the maximum rate.
Methodology
- BAföG values for 2026 come from the requirement rates, the allowance overviews of bafög.de (asset status July 2024) and the FAQ of the Deutsches Studierendenwerk from January 2026.
- Values for 2027 come from the government draft of the 30th BAföG Amendment Act, Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 of 7 October 2026.
- Child benefit and basic allowance for 2027 come from the government draft of the Income Tax Reform Act 2027, Cabinet on 2 September 2026. The legislation has not been passed.
- The minijob limit for 2027 comes from the Minijob-Zentrale and the minimum wage ordinance.
- The broadcasting fee figure comes from the Beitragsservice, status 16 January 2026.
How to cite this page
Academycon GmbH (2026): BAföG rates and student finance figures 2026/27, data page, status 20 October 2026. Please state the status of the values, because part of the figures is at draft stage.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2027 BAföG reform apply yet?
No. The government draft is in the first reading. Until promulgation, the current rates apply. For ongoing funding, higher rates generally take effect only in the next funding period.
How much of BAföG do I have to repay?
Half of the funding is an interest-free loan. You must repay at most €10,010, and repayment begins five years after the end of the maximum funding period. Our article Everything about BAföG (in German) explains the details.
Up to what age do I receive BAföG?
Your studies must begin before your 45th birthday. The government draft removes the exceptions to this limit. According to the draft bill, the limit remains at 45.
What are the asset allowances?
Up to age 29 the allowance is €15,000, and from age 30 it is €45,000. The values come from the allowance overviews of bafög.de and are documented for July 2024 according to the source.
Sources and review
- BAföG requirement rates and allowances, Deutsches Studierendenwerk, FAQ January 2026.
- bafög.de, allowances and assets, status July 2024 and December 2025 respectively.
- Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 (30th BAföG Amendment Act, government draft), accessed 20 October 2026.
- Federal Government, Income Tax Reform 2027 (Cabinet 2 September 2026).
- KfW notice on the student loan (interest adjustment as of 1 October 2026).
- BVA information on the Bildungskredit, note the footer 2024.
Information, not individual advice.
Editorial team: Academycon · Last updated: October 2026
Information, not individual advice. For a first classification, use the Academycon online check.
Related reading
- Everything about BAföG: entitlement, amount and repayment (in German)
- Applying for BAföG: application, deadlines and documents (in German)
- Student loans compared (in German)
- Child benefit during studies 2026 (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
