Independent BAföG (elternunabhängiges BAföG) means that your parents’ income is not counted towards your funding. The law names specific groups for this in § 11 Abs. 3 BAföG. Whether you fall into one of them is decided in each individual case by the responsible BAföG office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung). This glossary entry explains the terms and values that apply in October 2026.
Short answer: Under § 11 Abs. 3 BAföG, independent BAföG applies, for example, if you have reached the age of 30 when your training phase starts, or if you worked for five years after turning 18. In that case, your parents’ income remains out of the calculation. Your own income and assets are still checked (Stand: October 2026).
The Key Points
- Independent means that your parents’ income is not counted against your funding.
- The law names four groups, including reaching the age of 30 and longer periods of employment.
- Your own income and assets remain subject to review.
- The asset allowance (Vermögensfreibetrag) is 15,000 euros for those under 30 and 45,000 euros from age 30 (§ 29 BAföG).
- Half of the funding is an interest-free loan. The 2027 reform is so far only a draft.
Which Groups Exist?
The groups are set out in § 11 Abs. 3 BAföG. They differ in their requirements, but each one means that your parents’ income is not taken into account.
| Group under § 11 Abs. 3 BAföG | Requirement |
|---|---|
| No. 1 | You attend an evening Gymnasium (Abendgymnasium) or a Kolleg. |
| No. 2 | You have reached the age of 30 when the training phase starts. |
| No. 3 | After turning 18, you worked for five years before the training phase started. |
| No. 4 | You completed vocational training of at least three years and then worked for three years. If the training was shorter, the employment period is correspondingly longer. |
For groups 3 and 4, it is also required that, during your years of employment, you were able to support yourself from your earnings (§ 11 Abs. 3 Satz 2 BAföG).
How Does a Worked Example Look?
Assumption: you completed a three-year vocational training and then worked full time for three years, with an income that allowed you to support yourself. Group 4 then applies, and your parents’ income remains out of the calculation. If you had worked for only two years, this group would not apply.
Which Needs Rates Apply in 2026?
The need for students consists of a basic amount and a housing supplement. For students living away from home, § 13 BAföG sets 475 euros for the basic amount and 380 euros for the housing flat rate, which together come to 855 euros a month. The maximum rates including the supplements for health and long-term care insurance are shown in the table (status January 2026, student services organisations).
| Age (living away from home) | Maximum rate per month |
|---|---|
| up to 24 years (family insured, no supplement) | 855 euros |
| 25 to 29 years (compulsory student health insurance) | 992 euros |
| from 30 years (voluntarily insured) | up to 1,088 euros |
The supplements under § 13a BAföG depend on your own insurance, not on age alone. Students with compulsory student health insurance receive 102 euros for health insurance and 35 euros for long-term care insurance, so 855 + 102 + 35 = 992 euros. Voluntarily insured students receive 185 and 48 euros, so 855 + 185 + 48 = 1,088 euros. Family-insured students receive no supplement, which often applies to students up to 24. The maximum rates are upper limits, and the actual amount depends on your income and assets.
What Does the 2027 Reform Change?
The government draft of the 30th amendment to the BAföG Act (printed paper 21/8405) provides for the housing flat rate for students living away from home to rise from 380 to 440 euros from 1 April 2027. In future, there is also to be a uniform age limit of 45 years. This is not yet binding law. Until it is promulgated, the current rates apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get independent BAföG if my parents earn a good income?
If one of the groups applies, your parents’ income is not taken into account. However, your own income and assets remain subject to review, and the allowances under §§ 23 and 29 BAföG also apply.
Do I have to repay half of the funding?
Half of the BAföG funding is an interest-free loan. For loans where funding started on or after 1 September 2019, repayment is capped at 10,010 euros (status July 2024, according to bafög.de). You will find more in the article BAföG Repayment: Start, Instalments, Exemption and Partial Write-off.
Does age at the start of studies or at the start of the training phase count?
The age at the start of the respective training phase is what counts (§ 11 Abs. 3 Nr. 2 BAföG).
Is there an age limit for funding?
Yes. Funding is only available if the training phase begins before you reach the age of 45 (§ 10 Abs. 3 BAföG, current law, as of October 2026).
How to Proceed Now
- Check whether one of the four groups under § 11 Abs. 3 BAföG applies to you, and collect the evidence, such as employment references and proof of earnings.
- Set your own income and assets against the allowances before you submit your application.
- Submit the application to the responsible BAföG office, ideally well before the semester starts.
- Follow the reform draft, because the rates may rise from April 2027.
Related Articles
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, amount and repayment explained
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- Studying over 30: financing with BAföG, grants and loans
- BAföG Repayment: Start, Instalments, Exemption and Partial Write-off
- Glossary: BAföG advance payment explained simply
Sources: Federal Ministry of Justice, § 11 BAföG (accessed October 2026), Federal Ministry of Justice, § 13 BAföG (accessed October 2026), Federal Ministry of Justice, § 13a BAföG (accessed October 2026), German Student Services Association (Deutsches Studierendenwerk), BAföG FAQ (status January 2026), German Bundestag, printed paper 21/8405 (status October 2026, draft).
Stand: October 2026. This glossary entry is general information and not individual advice.
