Independent BAföG means that your parents’ income and assets do not count when your grant is calculated. This applies if you start your studies at 30 or older, worked for five years on your own account before studying, completed a three-year apprenticeship followed by three years in a job, got your Abitur at an evening grammar school or Kolleg, or are an orphan. From age 30, the maximum rate is 1,088 € a month if you have your own flat.
The most important points in brief
- There are five routes: starting your studies at 30 or older, five years of work after your 18th birthday, a three-year apprenticeship plus three years in a job, an evening grammar school or Kolleg, or being an orphan or having parents of unknown whereabouts.
- You must have financed yourself during the working phase. Training periods and holiday jobs do not count towards the five years.
- The requirements must be met before the funded training begins.
- You apply online via BAföG Digital. Which documents you need depends on your route.
When is BAföG paid without regard to your parents?
BAföG is paid independently of your parents in five cases:
| Case | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | Starting your studies at 30 or older |
| Five years of work | Five years of work after your 18th birthday, self-financed, before starting your studies |
| Apprenticeship plus job | Three-year vocational training plus three years of work |
| Second education route | Abitur from an evening grammar school or Kolleg |
| Parents unreachable | Orphan or parents of unknown whereabouts |
The general rules on entitlement are explained in the article BAföG entitlement, amount and repayment (in German). This article only covers the cases in which your parents are not taken into account.
Is there BAföG over 30 without parents?
Yes. If you are between 30 and 45 years old when your training starts, you are generally funded independently of your parents, without further proof. Your spouse’s income does not count either. If your 30th birthday is close to the start of your studies, check with the BAföG office before applying which cut-off date applies.
There is still an upper age limit: your studies must start before your 45th birthday. Exceptions apply in special cases, for example when you are raising a child under 14. According to the government draft, these exceptions are to end from April 2027. This has not been decided yet.
| Value | Up to age 29 | From age 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum rate, own flat | 992 € | 1,088 € |
| Maximum rate, living with parents | 671 € | 767 € |
| Assets allowance | 15,000 € | 45,000 € |
The maximum rate combines the basic need, the 380 € housing allowance and the supplements of 185 € and 48 € for health and long-term care insurance. How these supplements work is explained in the article on the BAföG contribution to health insurance (in German).
Do five years of work count towards independent BAföG?
Yes, five years of work after your 18th birthday open the way to independent BAföG. The time does not have to be continuous; it may consist of several periods. Full-time and part-time work and self-employment count. Training periods and holiday jobs do not count.
Two conditions matter. The working time must be completed before your studies begin, and you must have financed yourself through it. For example, someone who worked full-time for a period and then for three years part-time alongside a small business reaches five years after their 18th birthday, all before starting university. If they financed themselves that way, they can receive independent BAföG. Holiday jobs from school years do not count.
If you keep working alongside your studies, know the earnings limit: up to 603 € gross a month, your earnings have no effect on the grant. More on this is in earning money alongside your studies (in German).
What applies to apprenticeship plus work?
Anyone who has completed a three-year vocational training and then worked for three years is also funded independently of parents. That makes six years in total, and the order matters: first the training, then the employment. If the training was shorter, the working period is extended accordingly. After a two-year apprenticeship, for example, you need four years in a job to reach six years in total.
Does this also apply to evening grammar school, Kolleg and orphans?
Attending an evening grammar school or Kolleg qualifies you for independent funding. Vocational colleges do not count. Full orphans and students whose parents are of unknown whereabouts also receive funding independently of their parents’ income.
What if your parents will not or cannot pay?
That alone is not enough. Funding is independent of your parents only in the cases named above. In all other cases, your parents’ income counts, even if they do not actually support you. For married parents, 2,540 € net a month remains exempt, plus 770 € for each additional child. Of the remainder, 50% stays exempt, plus 5% per child.
If your parents do not pay maintenance despite their obligation, there is a separate route through the BAföG office. Ask there about your options and what evidence you need before you lose time.
How do you apply for independent BAföG?
The application is submitted online via BAföG Digital. The Amt für Ausbildungsförderung at the Studierendenwerk processes it. Apply as early as possible, because the review takes time. Deadlines and documents are covered in detail in applying for BAföG (in German). The documents you need in addition depend on your route:
| Route | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| Age | No additional documents |
| Five years of work | Employment contracts, payslips, tax assessments |
| Apprenticeship plus job | Final apprenticeship certificate, proof of the working years |
| Evening grammar school, Kolleg | School certificate from the evening grammar school or Kolleg |
The office may ask for further documents. Give all information completely and truthfully, because false information can lead to repayment demands.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get BAföG over 30?
Yes, if your studies begin before your 45th birthday. Between 30 and 45 you are generally funded independently of your parents, with a maximum rate of 1,088 € and an assets allowance of 45,000 €. There are exceptions to the age limit in special cases, for example when raising a child under 14. If in doubt, ask the BAföG office.
Do holiday jobs count towards the five years of work?
No. Holiday jobs and training periods do not count. Full-time and part-time work and self-employment after your 18th birthday count, provided you financed yourself. The time may come from several periods, but it must be completed before your studies begin.
Do I have to repay independent BAföG?
Half of it, yes. The grant is paid half as a non-repayable grant and half as an interest-free state loan, just as with regular BAföG. In total you repay at most 10,010 €, at 130 € a month. If you earn little, you can apply for an exemption. The Bildungskredit (in German) can be a supplement, and it can be combined with BAföG.
Does it help if my parents do not support me?
Not on its own. Parental income only falls away in the cases set out by law, for example through age, work experience or a second education route. If your parents pay no maintenance, the BAföG office is the right point of contact to clarify your options.
What to do now
- Use the table to see which route fits you, and calculate your periods.
- Collect the evidence for your route before you apply.
- Apply via BAföG Digital, ideally before your studies begin.
- Call the BAföG office if your birthday or working phase is close to a limit.
Related articles
- BAföG 2026: entitlement, amount and repayment (in German)
- Bildungskredit 2026: requirements, application and interest (in German)
- Health insurance as a student over 30: obligation, costs and routes (in German)
- Studying without the Abitur: routes, requirements and funding (in German)
- Financing a degree over 30: BAföG, scholarship, loan and part-time job (in German)
- Parental allowance for BAföG (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
