The government draft for the 30th amendment of the German training assistance act (BAföG) does not provide for a single increase but for several stages. The basic need allowance and the accommodation allowance are to rise on different dates between April 2027 and April 2029. The stage plan is so far only a draft bill and not yet applicable law.
Short answer: Under the draft (printed matter 21/8405, dated 7 October 2026), the basic need allowance for students would rise from 475 euros a month to 503 euros from the winter semester 2027/28 and to 563 euros from the summer semester 2029. The allowance for students living away from home would rise from 380 to 440 euros from 1 April 2027. Until a law is promulgated, the current rates apply (as of November 2026).
Key Points in Brief
- Under current law, the basic need allowance for students is 475 euros a month (as of November 2026).
- According to the draft, it rises to 503 euros from the winter semester 2027/28 and to 563 euros from the summer semester 2029.
- The accommodation allowance for students living away from home is to rise from 380 to 440 euros on 1 April 2027.
- The components take effect on different dates, because the draft sets several commencement dates: 1 April 2027, 1 August 2027 and 1 April 2029.
- Nothing becomes binding until the Bundestag and the Bundesrat have approved the law and it has been promulgated.
Which Stages Does the Draft Provide For?
The table compares the figures in the government draft with current law. All draft figures remain subject to the further legislative process. The amounts are taken from printed matter 21/8405 and the announcement of the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.
| Component | Current law (as of November 2026) | Draft | Applicable from (draft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic need allowance for students | 475 euros a month | 503 euros, from 2029 563 euros | Winter semester 2027/28 (1 August 2027), summer semester 2029 (1 April 2029) |
| Accommodation allowance, living away from home | 380 euros a month | 440 euros a month | 1 April 2027 (summer semester 2027) |
| Accommodation allowance, living with parents | 59 euros a month | 41 euros a month, then removed | 1 August 2027, removal 1 April 2029 |
| Sum of basic need and accommodation allowance (own calculation) | 855 euros a month | 915 euros, from winter semester 2027/28 943 euros | 1 April 2027 and winter semester 2027/28 |
The sums in the last row are our own calculation from the draft figures, not official maximum rates. They include neither health and long-term care insurance supplements nor allowances for assets or income.
The Dates at a Glance
The table lists the legislative steps so far and the planned dates in chronological order. Everything from 2027 onwards is a draft and may still change in the legislative process.
| Date | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 12 August 2026 | Cabinet adopts the government draft | Done |
| 25 September 2026 | Opinion of the Bundesrat (1068th session) | Done |
| 7 October 2026 | Printed matter 21/8405 of the Bundestag | Done |
| 15 October 2026 | First reading in the Bundestag | Done |
| 1 April 2027 | Accommodation allowance away from home 440 euros (Article 1) | Draft |
| 1 August 2027 | Basic need allowance 503 euros, accommodation allowance with parents 41 euros (Article 2) | Draft |
| 1 April 2029 | Basic need allowance 563 euros, removal of the accommodation allowance with parents (Article 3) | Draft |
What Does the Stage Plan Mean for Ongoing Funding?
According to the draft, higher rates generally apply to ongoing funding only from the next approval period. Anyone who currently receives support should therefore not expect an adjustment on a set date without checking their own notice. The transitional rules are explained in BAföG reform: does it also apply to ongoing funding? (in German).
Calculation example (assumption): A student living away from home receives the basic need allowance of 503 euros and the accommodation allowance of 440 euros from the winter semester 2027/28. The sum would then be 943 euros a month. Today it is 855 euros, so 88 euros less. This only holds if the draft becomes law unchanged.
Who Is Most Affected by the Stages?
Students who start a new approval period in 2027 should keep the dates in view. Students who live with their parents are also affected, because their allowance falls from August 2027 and is removed from April 2029. The details are set out in BAföG while living at home in 2027: how the accommodation allowance changes (in German).
Those who want to follow the procedure will find an overview of the open steps in BAföG reform in the Bundestag: what is still open in the legislative process (in German).
The supplements for health and long-term care insurance follow a separate schedule in the draft. The basic rules for the supplement are explained in the glossary entry on the BAföG health insurance supplement (in German).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the stage plan apply today?
No. The draft has not been adopted. Until a law is promulgated, the existing rates apply, even though the draft figures are already published.
When does the increase take effect?
Under the draft, the adjustment begins with the accommodation allowance for students living away from home on 1 April 2027. The basic need allowance rises from the winter semester 2027/28 and again from the summer semester 2029. Whether these dates hold depends on the parliamentary process.
Is there an annual adjustment afterwards?
The draft provides for an annual increase of 1.5 percent in the allowances for income and assets from 1 August 2028. This concerns the allowances, not the basic rates themselves.
Do I have to do anything to benefit from the increase?
Whether a new application is needed depends on when your current approval period ends. You will find this period in your notice. If you are unsure whether the new rates are applied automatically, ask the competent office for training assistance.
What does a draft mean for my financial planning?
A draft is not law and should not be treated as an entitlement. Plan with the current rates and treat the higher amounts as a possible development. Only when a law is promulgated and your notice shows the new values are they binding for you.
Where can I find the official rates?
The rates set in the law and the official announcements of the federal government are decisive. For your own claim, the notice counts, because it brings together needs, income and period.
What to Do Next
- Check your current approval period in the notice, so you know when a new calculation is due.
- Follow the legislative process through printed matter 21/8405 and the Bundestag text archive.
- Plan with the current rates until a law is promulgated, and count increases only once your notice shows them.
- Clear up open questions early with the competent office for training assistance.
Related Reading
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- BAföG-Reform im Bundestag: Was im Gesetzgebungsverfahren noch offen ist (in German)
- BAföG bei Wohnen zu Hause 2027: Wie sich die Wohnpauschale ändert (in German)
- BAföG Rates 2026/27: Figures, Allowances and Limits
- BAföG Age Limit: Studying Over 30 and Funding in 2026
Sources: Printed matter 21/8405, government draft for the 30th BAföG amendment, dated 7 October 2026 (German), Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, cabinet decision on the BAföG reform, August 2026 (German), German Bundestag, text archive on the BAföG reform, October 2026 (German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
