Many students receive a scholarship and also draw BAföG (German state training assistance). Whether and how the scholarship is counted decides the amount you actually receive. This guide explains the logic of this counting, shows a model calculation and tells you where to get the binding answer.
Short answer: It depends on the scholarship, not on one blanket rule. The provider, the type of grant and the amount all matter. The responsible BAföG office decides on the basis of your scholarship notice. Until then, declare every scholarship in your application.
The most important points
- A scholarship and BAföG are not automatically treated the same way. The type and provider of the grant are decisive.
- BAföG covers a documented need. Income, including a scholarship, can reduce the amount paid.
- Declare every scholarship in your application, even if you are unsure whether it will be counted.
- Report changes promptly to the office, such as a higher sum or the end of the scholarship.
- A model calculation shows the principle but does not replace the notice from your office.
How does counting work under BAföG?
BAföG calculates your need as a student and subtracts countable income. The rest is the amount paid. The need consists of the basic need and the housing allowance. For the maximum rate under 25 living away from home, that is EUR 855 per month. As of October 2026 the figures are EUR 475 basic need and EUR 380 housing allowance (source: BAföG law, rates from the 29th amendment).
In this system a scholarship is income that can be set against your need. Whether it actually is depends on the BAföG rules, which are applied differently depending on the scholarship. That is why the question cannot be answered with one blanket statement. An overview of the aid itself is in our guide BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained.
Which scholarships exist, and how do they differ?
Scholarships come from very different sources. The differences concern mainly whether public money is involved and whether the award depends on performance or talent. The table below helps you classify your own situation. It does not replace information from the office.
| Scholarship provider | Typical background | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship foundation for the gifted | talent and performance based, often publicly funded | Is the grant described as public funding, and which sum is stated? |
| Foundation or association | privately funded, sometimes with an educational mission | Does the notice say whether living costs, book allowance or a flat rate is paid? |
| University or Land | often through calls or prizes | Is there a duty to notify the BAföG office? |
| Company | training programme or link to the profession | Is the grant tied to a counter-service or employment? |
The table lists questions to check, not an assignment to counting rules. The binding answer is always the decision of the BAföG office on the basis of your scholarship notice.
Calculation example: how a scholarship can affect your funding
Assumption: you live away from home, you are under 25, and your need is EUR 855 per month. You receive a scholarship of EUR 200 per month that is counted in full against your need. Then the payment would fall from EUR 855 to EUR 655. This is a model for understanding only. It ignores allowances and is not the typical case for every scholarship.
| Item | Model without scholarship | Model with counted scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Need (EUR 475 plus EUR 380) | EUR 855 | EUR 855 |
| Countable income | EUR 0 | EUR 200 (assumption) |
| Calculated payment | EUR 855 | EUR 655 |
The EUR 200 difference is real only if the scholarship is actually counted. If it is not counted, your funding stays the same. Your office’s notice settles exactly this point.
Must I report the scholarship to the office?
Yes. Declare the scholarship in your BAföG application, even if you are not sure whether and how it will be counted. Leaving it out can lead to recalculation and reclaims, and it damages your relationship with the office. Ask the office for a written answer, which gives you a reliable basis for planning.
You also need to report changes. These include a higher sum, a new funding period or the end of the scholarship. Keep notices and proof so that you can show what you received if questions arise.
Check also whether the scholarship is paid as cash or in kind. Book allowances, rent subsidies or travel costs can be assessed differently from a monthly amount. List every item separately in the application so that the office can review each one.
What applies for tax and social insurance?
A scholarship can also have tax consequences or matter for social insurance. That is a separate question from counting under BAföG. An overview is in our guide Is a Scholarship Taxable? Tax and Social Insurance.
Whether a scholarship affects family insurance or student health insurance also depends on the individual case. Clarify this before you accept an award, so that you do not risk a gap in cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is every scholarship counted against BAföG?
No, this cannot be said across the board. Type, provider and amount of the scholarship are decisive. The office decides on the basis of your scholarship notice and the BAföG rules.
Can I receive a scholarship and BAföG at the same time?
Yes, that is possible if you meet the requirements of both forms of support. The combination does affect the amount paid. Clarify the counting in advance rather than after the first notice.
What happens if I do not declare the scholarship?
The office can then recalculate the funding for the affected period and reclaim amounts paid in excess. Declaring it in the application matters more than whether it is ultimately counted.
Does this also apply to scholarships from abroad?
Foreign scholarships must also be declared. The office assesses them case by case, looking in particular at currency, payment route and purpose. If the notice is not in German or English, submit it with a translation.
What to do now
- Keep your scholarship notice ready, including the amount, period and provider.
- Submit your BAföG application and declare the scholarship in full.
- Ask the office in writing how the scholarship is counted, and keep the reply.
- Use the model calculation until the notice arrives, and adjust your budget accordingly.
Related guides
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- How to Apply for a Scholarship: Tips That Impress
- Is a Scholarship Taxable? Tax and Social Insurance
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- Stipendium im Studium finden (in German)
Sources: Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), gesetze-im-internet.de, version as retrieved. The counting of individual scholarships is not regulated as a blanket rule in the statute, so for your case refer to the responsible office for training assistance.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
