In short
Students aged 18 to 44 can use the KfW student loan, with a monthly amount of your choice from 100 to 650 euros. The effective annual interest rate has been 6.38 per cent since 1 October 2026 and is adjusted every six months. After the payout, a repayment-free grace period of 18 to 23 months follows. The figures come from the KfW leaflet and a KfW announcement.
| Key fact | Value | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| Age limit | no older than 44 on 1 April or 1 October before funding starts | KfW leaflet 174, version 11/2023, accessed 25 Oct 2026 |
| Monthly amount | 100 to 650 €, paid monthly in advance | KfW leaflet and KfW page, accessed 25 Oct 2026 |
| Effective annual interest rate | 6.38 % for contracts signed from 1 Oct 2026 (previously 6.53 %) | KfW, as of 1 Oct 2026, adjusted every six months |
| Grace period | 18 to 23 months, can be shortened to 6 months on request | KfW leaflet, version 11/2023 |
| Repayment | at least 20 € a month, for a maximum of 25 years or until age 67 | KfW leaflet, version 11/2023 |
Who can apply for the KfW student loan?
Adult students at a state or state-recognised university based in Germany can apply. According to the leaflet, three groups are eligible: German citizens with a registered address in Germany, EU citizens who have lived lawfully and been registered in Germany for at least three years, and “Bildungsinländer” (foreign nationals with a German university entrance qualification and a registered address in Germany).
Income and assets play no role for the loan, and no collateral is required. In exceptional cases, KfW can ask for additional documents. You can combine the loan with BAföG (German state student funding), and the leaflet names BAföG and the education loan (Bildungskredit) as examples. How BAföG works is explained in the guide BAföG 2026 (in German).
What is the age limit?
KfW funds students between 18 and 44. According to the leaflet, you must be no older than 44 on 1 April or 1 October before funding starts. The older you are, the fewer semesters qualify for funding (leaflet, version 11/2023).
| Age on the cut-off date | Funded semesters | Maximum in total |
|---|---|---|
| up to 24 | 14 | 54,600 € |
| up to 34 | 10 | 39,000 € |
| up to 44 | 6 | 23,400 € |
For postgraduate studies or a doctorate, up to 6 semesters apply. If you first apply at 24 or younger, funding ends after the 10th subject semester at the latest. The maximum amounts follow from the monthly amount times the months: 650 € times 6 months times 6 semesters equals 23,400 €.
Example with assumed data: You turn 45 on 15 October 2026 and want to start on 1 November 2026. The relevant cut-off date is 1 October 2026, when you are 44. According to the leaflet, you meet the age limit. If you were already 45 on the cut-off date, the loan is ruled out. Ask KfW directly before you apply whether it applies the cut-off date in the same way.
How high is the monthly amount?
You choose the amount between 100 and 650 € a month. It is paid monthly in advance and can be adjusted. How much you borrow also determines your later instalment. Plan rent, health insurance and other fixed costs first, and borrow only as much as the calculation really requires after BAföG, a side job and maintenance payments.
Worked example: 400 € times 36 months (6 semesters) is 14,400 € paid out. At an interest rate of 6.38 % a year, that comes to 918.72 € for one year on paper, without repayment and without compound interest. The actual total burden depends on the grace period, interest developments and your instalment.
How do the payout and the grace period work?
During your studies, you receive the chosen amount every month. After that, the grace period begins, in which you do not repay anything. According to the leaflet (version 11/2023), it lasts 18 to 23 months and can be shortened to as little as 6 months on request. The current KfW pages do not state a duration, so have KfW confirm the length of the grace period before you apply. During the grace and repayment phases, KfW can grant a deferral for economic reasons if you apply for it.
How is the loan repaid?
After the grace period, the repayment phase begins. It lasts a maximum of 25 years or until you turn 67, and the minimum instalment is 20 € a month. The instalment is adjustable, and unscheduled repayments are possible without limit. In the repayment phase, you can choose a fixed interest rate on 1 April or 1 October. Check the ratio of instalment to term with the KfW repayment plan before you sign.
What does the loan currently cost?
The effective annual interest rate for newly signed contracts has been 6.38 % since 1 October 2026. According to KfW, it consists of the six-month Euribor and a margin that only covers costs, and it is adjusted twice a year on 1 April and 1 October. The next adjustment is due on 1 April 2027.
| Valid from | Effective annual interest rate |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2024 | 6.85 % |
| 1 April 2025 | 6.31 % |
| 1 October 2025 | 6.04 % |
| 1 April 2026 | 6.53 % |
| 1 October 2026 | 6.38 % |
Because the interest rate is adjusted every six months, your burden fluctuates over the term. The comparison of student loans (in German) shows how the KfW loan sits alongside other options, and the guide Bildungskredit vom Bundesverwaltungsamt (in German) describes the state education loan.
What to do next
- First check whether BAföG is possible, because you can combine it with the loan. For students over 30, the guide Studium über 30 finanzieren (in German) explains the order.
- Work out your monthly shortfall and choose a loan amount below it, not at the maximum.
- Check your age and the cut-off date against the leaflet and request current terms from KfW.
- Ask to see a repayment plan and compare the grace period and instalment with your expected starting salary.
- Factor in health insurance, especially if student insurance ends in the semester of your 30th birthday: Krankenversicherung im Studium ab 30 (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Up to what age is the KfW student loan available?
KfW names students between 18 and 44. According to the leaflet (version 11/2023), you may be no older than 44 on 1 April or 1 October before funding starts. The older you are, the fewer funded semesters are available.
How much money does the KfW student loan pay each month?
You can choose the monthly amount between 100 and 650 € and adjust it later. It is paid monthly in advance. The total depends on the funding period. The maximum is 54,600 € for 14 semesters, 39,000 € for 10 and 23,400 € for 6.
How high is the interest rate of the KfW student loan?
Since 1 October 2026, the effective annual interest rate for newly signed contracts has been 6.38 %, down from 6.53 %. The rate follows the six-month Euribor plus a margin and is adjusted twice a year on 1 April and 1 October.
When does repayment begin?
After the payout, a repayment-free grace period of 18 to 23 months follows, which you can shorten to as little as 6 months on request. Repayment then starts at a minimum of 20 € a month, over a maximum of 25 years or until you turn 67.
Can I combine the student loan with BAföG?
Yes. The leaflet names BAföG and the education loan as programmes you can combine. The loan requires no collateral, income and assets play no role, and KfW can ask for additional documents in exceptional cases.
How the BAföG age limit works is explained in the guide BAföG über 30 (in German).
Related guides
- Studienkredite im Vergleich: Kriterien und Stand 2026 (in German)
- Bildungskredit vom Bundesverwaltungsamt (in German)
- Studium über 30 finanzieren: BAföG, Stipendium, Kredit und Nebenjob (in German)
- Studium finanzieren ohne BAföG: Diese Möglichkeiten gibt es (in German)
Sources and review
- KfW, leaflet Studienkredit (174), version 11/2023, kfw.de, accessed 25 Oct 2026
- KfW, questions and answers on the student loan with interest rate as of 1 Oct 2026, kfw.de, accessed 25 Oct 2026
Editorial team: Academycon
Last updated: 25 October 2026
If you want to see how a loan fits with your studies and insurance, start with the Academycon online check.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative. Terms change, so the current information from KfW applies.
