The study start grant and BAföG are separate forms of support. Under the wording of § 56 BAföG, you can generally combine the study start grant and BAföG. Whether you receive both depends on whether you meet the conditions of each. This guide explains what the law regulates, where questions remain open and how to clarify them.
Short answer: Yes, you can receive both if you meet the conditions of each. The study start grant under § 56 BAföG requires benefit receipt in the month before studies begin, and under the wording BAföG is not one of those benefits. § 56 contains no rule that excludes simultaneous receipt. How the grant affects your BAföG entitlement is for the responsible office to clarify. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points
- The study start grant and BAföG are separate forms of support with their own conditions.
- Under the wording, receiving BAföG does not trigger the study start grant. The trigger is a benefit from the list in § 56 para. 1.
- § 56 contains no exclusion for receiving both.
- The study start grant must be applied for by the end of the month after studies begin. BAföG follows its own deadlines and funding periods.
- Whether the grant reduces your BAföG is examined by the responsible Office for Training Support in each case.
What does § 56 BAföG say about combining the two?
§ 56 governs the study start grant in a separate section. Paragraph 1 describes the eligible group, age and benefit receipt, while paragraph 3 covers the application procedure. A rule excluding simultaneous receipt of the study start grant and BAföG does not appear in the wording.
The legislator links the study start grant to social benefits in the previous month. BAföG is not on that list. Receiving BAföG alone therefore creates no entitlement. Conversely, the wording does not expressly address a case in which someone receives BAföG and the study start grant at the same time.
When do both forms of support come together?
The table shows three typical constellations. They do not replace an individual check, but they show which condition decides each case.
| Constellation | Study start grant under § 56 | BAföG |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25, housing benefit received in the previous month, BAföG applied for | Possible, if all other conditions are met | Assessed under the BAföG rules |
| Under 25, no qualifying receipt, BAföG approved | Not possible, because the previous-month receipt is missing | Possible, if the BAföG conditions are met |
| 25 or older at the start of studies, BAföG approved | Not possible because of the age limit | Assessed under the BAföG rules, general age limit of 45 under § 10 para. 3 |
Assumption: studies begin on 1 October 2026, the student is 22 years old, a parent receives the child supplement in September and the student also applies for BAföG. Under the wording of § 56, the study start grant can then be considered. BAföG follows its own rules, and the study start grant does not change them.
What does this mean for your financial planning?
If you expect both forms of support, do not simply add the amounts. The study start grant is a one-time grant, while BAföG is an ongoing payment calculated on its own basis. Part of BAföG is also an interest-free state loan. According to the BAföG portal, the loan share is 50 percent of the support, and the other half is a grant.
For planning, a short overview helps: which benefit starts when, which deadline applies and which evidence you need. You apply for the study start grant separately from your BAföG application.
Which documents do you need for both applications?
- Enrolment certificate: it covers both applications and proves first-time enrolment and the start of studies.
- Evidence of benefit receipt in the previous month: it must be attached to the study start grant application under § 56 para. 3.
- Income and asset documents for BAföG: which evidence the office requires is set out in the application procedure. Ask there before you submit.
This list does not replace a check by the office. If you submit both applications on the same day, keep copies of the evidence so that nothing is missing.
What happens if you drop out of studies?
Whether the study start grant must be repaid after dropping out is covered in a separate guide, Study start grant: must I repay it, even after dropping out?. BAföG has its own rules for repaying the loan share, explained in BAföG Repayment: Start, Instalments, Exemption and Partial Write-off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I receive the study start grant on top of BAföG?
Under the wording of § 56, no rule excludes both. What matters are the conditions of each form of support: for the study start grant, age, first-time enrolment and benefit receipt in the previous month, and for BAföG the rules of training support.
Is the study start grant offset against BAföG?
The wording of § 56 contains no offset rule. Whether and how the responsible Office for Training Support takes the grant into account in its calculation can only be clarified in the individual case with the office. Ask before you apply.
Do I have to submit two applications?
Yes, the study start grant and BAföG are separate procedures with separate applications. The study start grant is applied for via BAföG Digital, under § 56 para. 3 by the end of the month after studies begin.
What happens if BAföG is approved only later?
The deadline for the study start grant depends on the start of studies, not on the BAföG notice. Anyone who meets the deadline does not lose the grant just because BAföG arrives later. Submit the application on time for that reason.
What to do now
- Check whether you or a parent received one of the benefits listed in § 56 in the month before studies began.
- Clarify with the responsible Office for Training Support how the grant affects your BAföG.
- Submit the study start grant application via BAföG Digital by the end of the month after studies begin.
- Submit the BAföG application separately and keep the notices of both benefits together.
If you plan both forms of support, consider the two separately and combine the timeline for study start, deadlines and notices. That shows which date comes first and which evidence belongs to which application.
Related guides
- Study Start Grant: 1,000 Euros for First-Year Students
- Study start grant and the age limit of 25
- Study start grant without parental income
- BAföG application step by step: deadlines, documents, portal
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
Sources: § 56 BAföG (study start grant), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026; § 10 BAföG, gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026; Repayment of BAföG loans, bafög.de, status 2026 (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
