Short answer: The study start grant under § 56 BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act, Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz) is a one-off grant of 1,000 euros that does not have to be repaid. It is for students who are under 25 when they start studying. You or your family must have received one of the listed social benefits in the month before the start of studies (status October 2026). Applications go through the responsible student services office, usually by the end of the month after the start of studies.
The study start grant is a payment not every new student receives. It depends on age, the type of study and receipt of a listed benefit in the month before studies begin. If you meet the conditions, know the short application deadline and apply early. This guide explains who qualifies, how to apply and what to watch out for.
The most important points
- The study start grant is 1,000 euros, a one-off grant that you do not repay.
- It requires full-time study and that you are under 25 when your studies begin.
- In the month before studies begin, you or your family must have received one of the listed social benefits.
- The application is made online through BAföG Digital, which requires a BundID account, at the responsible student services office.
- According to the procedure description, the deadline usually ends at the end of the month after the start of studies.
Who receives the study start grant?
The grant is for new students who take up full-time study at a university in Germany or abroad, or at an academy with a degree at university level. The age limit applies at the start of studies: you must not yet have completed your 25th year of life. You also need to have received one of the recognised benefits in the month before studies began, either yourself or through your family. The table summarises the conditions.
| Condition | What applies |
|---|---|
| Type of study | Full-time study at a university in Germany or abroad, or at an academy with a degree at university level |
| Age | You must not yet have completed your 25th year of life at the start of studies |
| Benefit receipt | In the month before studies begin, benefits received by you or your family |
| Amount | One-off 1,000 euros, not repayable |
| Duration | The procedure description names no time limit for the benefit |
Your own age matters, not the age of your parents. The benefit requirement can be met through your family, but the age requirement applies only to you.
Which benefits count?
The procedure description names these recognised benefits: citizen’s benefit (Bürgergeld), social assistance, basic security in old age and for people with reduced earning capacity, benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, the child supplement (Kinderzuschlag), housing benefit (Wohngeld) and services under child and youth welfare. What matters is that at least one of these was received in the month before studies began. Receiving it earlier or later does not count.
Receipt within the family counts explicitly. If you are unsure whether a notice received by your parents falls under one of these benefits, ask your student services office and attach the proof to your application.
What is the legal basis?
The study start grant is part of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The procedure description cites § 56 BAföG as the legal basis and describes the benefit as a one-off grant, not a loan, that does not have to be repaid. Whether the grant affects other benefits, such as citizen’s benefit or housing benefit in your family, is decided case by case by the responsible office. Only that office can give a binding answer.
How do you apply?
According to the procedure description, the application is made exclusively online through BAföG Digital. You need a BundID account for this. The responsible authority is the funding office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung), which is usually located at the student services of your university. In some states another body may be responsible. Your university or student services website shows which one applies to you.
The procedure description lists the following documents:
- The completed application in the online procedure
- Enrolment certificate or form 02 (Formblatt 02)
- Proof of receipt of the social benefit in the month before studies began
Before you submit, check that the course and the start of studies in your enrolment certificate match the details in your application. Clarify any differences in advance rather than afterwards.
Keep the deadline in view
The study start grant has a tight deadline. According to the procedure description of the city of Heidelberg, status 20 May 2026, the application deadline usually ends at the end of the month after the start of studies. Example: if studies begin on 1 October, the deadline is 30 November. This information comes from a procedure in Baden-Württemberg, so have your own student services confirm the deadline for your situation.
If your start of studies lies further back, clarify with the student services at once whether the deadline still applies to you. Missing the deadline puts the grant at risk. A short call or email with your start date and documents gives you clarity.
Two examples of the conditions
Example 1. Assumption: you start a full-time bachelor’s degree at a German university on 1 October and you are 22. In September, your family received housing benefit. Age, type of study and benefit receipt in the month before studies begin are then all met. According to the procedure description, the deadline usually runs until 30 November.
Example 2. Assumption: you start full-time study at 26, and in the month before, your family received the child supplement. Because you have already completed your 25th year of life at the start of studies, the study start grant does not apply, even though the benefit requirement is met.
Frequently asked questions
Does the study start grant apply from age 25?
According to the procedure description, no. At the start of studies you must not yet have completed your 25th year of life. If you are older, you do not meet this condition.
Does it apply to part-time study?
The procedure description requires full-time study. Part-time students are therefore not covered. If you are unsure about your type of study, clarify it with the student services in advance.
Do I have to repay the grant?
No. According to the procedure description, it is a one-off grant that does not have to be repaid. The description also names no time limit for the benefit.
Does it apply if I study abroad?
The procedure description includes universities in Germany and abroad. The conditions stay the same: full-time study, age at the start of studies and benefit receipt in the month before. Ask early which proof is needed for a foreign university.
Who do I contact with questions?
Your student services office or the funding office at your university is the right contact. There you can clarify whether another body is responsible in your case and obtain the current forms.
After your start: keep an eye on your finances
The grant is one building block, not a standing budget. New students should plan ongoing costs for rent, food, study materials and insurance. A step-by-step approach is set out in our guide Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps. The start-of-studies checklist (in German) helps you sort dates and documents. For other sources of funding, see scholarships for students in Germany.
Next steps
- Check whether you were under 25 at the start of studies and received one of the listed benefits in the month before.
- Confirm that your course is full-time study at a recognised university or academy.
- Set up a BundID account and submit the application through BAföG Digital.
- Clarify the deadline with your student services before it expires.
Related guides
- BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
- Student Support Rate (BAföG) 2026: Amounts and Example
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- Start-of-studies checklist (in German)
Sources: Procedure description, Studienstarthilfe, city of Heidelberg (in German, status 20 May 2026); § 56 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de (in German, status October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
