Short answer: The study start grant (Studienstarthilfe) is a one-off payment under BAföG for first-year students. It is only granted on application if you received certain social benefits in the month before your training began and are not yet 25 years old at the start. The amount is 1,000 euros. You apply to the responsible BAföG office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung). Last updated: October 2026, section 56 BAföG.
The study start grant (Studienstarthilfe) is support at the beginning of your studies. It is part of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG, Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) and is aimed at young people who needed financial help shortly before starting university. Many people confuse it with the general BAföG entitlement, but legally it is a separate rule within the law.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- The study start grant is part of training assistance under BAföG.
- It is only granted on application.
- In the month before your training began, you must have received certain social benefits, either yourself or as a household member.
- At the start of the training period you must not yet be 25 years old.
- The application can be submitted until the end of the month after your training begins.
Who Is Eligible?
You are eligible if you are enrolled for the first time at a university or another training institution under BAföG. You must also have received one of the benefits named in the law in the month before your training began. These include, for example, benefits under SGB II (basic income support for jobseekers), subsistence support (Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt), housing benefit (Wohngeld) or the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag).
| Feature | Rule | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolment | for the first time at a training institution under BAföG | Section 56(1) BAföG |
| Age | not yet 25 at the start of the training period | Section 56(1) BAföG |
| Benefit receipt | in the month before training began, e.g. SGB II, housing benefit | Section 56(1) sentence 1, nos. 1 to 8 BAföG |
| Application deadline | by the end of the month after training began | Section 56 BAföG |
| Responsibility | BAföG office at the place of application | Section 56(5) BAföG |
Source: Federal Ministry of Justice, section 56 BAföG, text as retrieved in October 2026.
How High Is the Study Start Grant?
The study start grant is a one-off payment of 1,000 euros and is paid as a grant (procedure description of the City of Heidelberg on service-bw.de, accessed October 2026). The text of section 56 BAföG does not state the amount itself, so your office’s notice is binding.
How Does It Relate to BAföG?
The study start grant is not a separate programme outside the law. It is a benefit within training assistance. Receiving the study start grant does not automatically mean you also receive BAföG. Your ongoing BAföG entitlement depends on income and assets and is assessed separately. You can find more about these terms in the glossary entry on the BAföG needs rate (Bedarfssatz) (in German).
Where and When Do You Apply?
The BAföG office responsible for the place where you apply handles your application. It is usually submitted electronically via the BAföG Digital portal. Include proof of enrolment and of benefit receipt. The deadline ends at the end of the month after your training begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to repay the study start grant?
Under BAföG, the study start grant is paid as a grant and is not repaid. The notice from your office is always decisive, however, because it states exactly which benefit has been approved for you.
Can I receive it without a BAföG entitlement?
Yes, that is possible. The entitlement is linked to benefit receipt before the start of your studies, not to a later BAföG entitlement. Still, the office assesses each case individually.
What happens if I start after my 25th birthday?
In that case there is usually no entitlement, because your age at the start of the training period counts. Your office can help if you are unsure.
Can the deadline be extended?
The deadline is set by law and ends at the end of the month after your training begins. If you miss it, contact the office urgently to ask whether an exception is possible. Do not expect approval.
What to Do Now
- Check whether you meet the age requirement and received benefits in the month before you start studying.
- Gather proof of enrolment and of benefit receipt.
- Submit the application to the responsible office before the end of the month after your training begins.
- Check the notice for amount and period, and ask if something is missing.
Related Reading
- BAföG needs rate explained (in German)
- Finished Your Abitur: Money and Insurance Before University (in German)
- Glossary: Deutschlandstipendium Explained
- Glossary: Talent Support Explained
Sources: Federal Training Assistance Act, section 56 (study start grant), BAföG, full text on gesetze-im-internet.de, City of Heidelberg, applying for the study start grant (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
