The BAföG reform planned for 2027 is meant to raise the basic rates and allowances, but it is not yet in force. If you already receive Ausbildungsförderung (state training grant), you may wonder whether the new amounts apply automatically to your current funding. The answer depends on your approval period and on the transitional rules in the draft bill.
Short answer: According to the status of 20 October 2026, the BAföG reform is still a draft bill (Bundestag printed paper 21/8405) and has not been promulgated. For ongoing funding, higher rates are expected to take effect in most cases only in the next approval period. The draft contains a transitional rule for the age limit for older trainees. The text only becomes binding once it is promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette. Last updated: November 2026.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- The federal cabinet approved the draft on 12 August 2026. Until it is promulgated, the current rates remain in force.
- Under the draft, the changes start on 1 April 2027 and are phased in until 1 April 2029.
- For ongoing funding, higher rates generally take effect only in the next approval period under the draft.
- For trainees who turn 43 before 1 January 2028, the draft provides a transitional rule.
- The Leistungsnachweis (proof of academic progress, section 48 BAföG) is to be dropped under the draft.
Where Does the Reform Stand in the Legislative Process?
The table below shows the procedural status as recorded in the official parliamentary documents. Anything not yet completed is still open and not adopted.
| Step | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet decision (government draft) | 12.08.2026 | completed |
| Opinion of the Bundesrat | 25.09.2026 | completed |
| Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 | 07.10.2026 | available |
| First reading in the Bundestag | 15.10.2026 | completed |
| Second and third reading in the Bundestag | open | in progress |
| Second round in the Bundesrat and promulgation | open | in progress |
In its opinion, the Bundesrat criticises, among other things, the late start of the housing allowance and the reduction for students who live with their parents. The federal government rejects most of these demands. The situation may therefore still shift during the procedure. The table reflects the status of 20 October 2026.
Does the Reform Already Apply to My Ongoing Funding?
An approval (Bewilligung) sets the period and the rates for which you receive funding. Under the draft, higher rates should in most cases only take effect in the next approval period. Your current notice is therefore not automatically changed. The start of your next approval period is stated in your notice. You can read about the housing allowance for students living with their parents in the article BAföG bei Wohnen zu Hause 2027.
| Change under the draft | Planned from | Effect on ongoing funding |
|---|---|---|
| Housing allowance for students living away from home rises from 380 to 440 euros | 1 April 2027 (Article 1) | in the next approval period |
| Basic rate for students rises from 475 to 503 euros | 1 August 2027 (Article 2) | in the next approval period |
| Proof of academic progress under section 48 BAföG is dropped | 1 April 2027 | depends on the transitional rule in the final law |
The amounts come from the draft as printed in Bundestag paper 21/8405 of 7 October 2026. They may still change during the parliamentary process, so do not treat them as firm.
What Does the Transitional Rule for the Age Limit Mean?
The age limit of 45 years is currently set out in section 10 subsection 3 BAföG, and it has exceptions. The draft unifies the limit and removes the exceptions. For trainees who turn 43 before 1 January 2028, the existing rules should continue to apply. The protection therefore depends on the date of birth and not on the start of studies. If you are close to this threshold, read the wording of the transitional rule in the draft text for section 66a carefully.
What Happens to the Proof of Academic Progress?
Under current law, the BAföG requires proof of academic progress after the fourth semester (section 48). The draft removes this requirement. Whether and to what extent this applies to students who already receive funding depends on the transitional rules of the law once it is promulgated. Until then, the existing law stays unchanged, so keep documenting your studies as the office currently requires. The article BAföG ohne Leistungsnachweis ab dem fünften Semester explains how the requirement works today.
What Do I Have to Do Myself?
A current approval stays valid as long as it is not changed. You do not have to file a new application only because of the draft. Keep an eye on your next follow-up application, however. The draft provides that applications may only be submitted digitally through the BAföG Digital portal. The exact date from which this applies follows only from the final promulgated text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the BAföG reform already apply to the 2026/27 winter semester?
No. The draft has not been adopted and has not been promulgated. Until it takes effect, the current rates apply, namely a basic rate of 475 euros and a housing allowance of 380 euros for students living away from home. These current rates are in force as of November 2026, and they follow from the statute you can check using the sources listed below.
Do I have to file a new application after the reform?
That depends on timing. As long as your approval runs, no new application is needed. A follow-up application, however, gives you the chance to receive the new rates once they apply. The draft provides that applications from the date of entry into force are filed exclusively online. The exact deadline follows from the promulgated law.
How do the allowances develop after 2027?
Under the draft, the allowances should rise by 1.5 percent each year from 1 August 2028 (section 35a in the draft). The responsible federal ministry is to publish the new amounts by 31 May of each year. Until then, the current allowances remain the reference.
Where can I find the law once it is promulgated?
After promulgation, the text appears in the Federal Law Gazette and on gesetze-im-internet.de. Until then, Bundestag paper 21/8405 is the most reliable version of the draft. Questions about your personal entitlement are answered by the responsible office for Ausbildungsförderung.
How to Proceed Now
- Check your current notice and note when your next approval period begins.
- Follow the procedural status through Bundestag paper 21/8405 and, after promulgation, through the Federal Law Gazette.
- Ask your responsible office for Ausbildungsförderung how new rates will be applied to your notice.
- Plan your follow-up application so that you know the rules then in force and set up digital submission in time.
Related Articles
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- BAföG step plan until 2029
- BAföG reform in the Bundestag: what is still open
- BAföG without proof of progress from the fifth semester
- BAföG when living at home 2027
Sources: Bundestag printed paper 21/8405, 30th amendment to the BAföG (status 7 October 2026), Cabinet decision on the BAföG reform, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (status 12 August 2026), section 66a BAföG, current version (gesetze-im-internet.de, status November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
