For April 2027, the main change at the moment concerns student financing under BAföG (the federal training grant and loan scheme), as set out in the government draft of the 30th BAföG amendment. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat decide whether and in what form it comes. This monthly overview therefore lists only the points whose status is clear and separates draft from law in force.
Short answer: Under the government draft of the 30th BAföG amendment, the housing allowance for students living away from home rises from €380 to €440 per month on 1 April 2027. The draft is in the Bundestag and not yet adopted. Higher rates generally take effect for ongoing funding only in the next funding period. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points
- In the draft, the housing allowance for students living away from home rises from €380 to €440 per month on 1 April 2027.
- According to the draft, the performance certificate under section 48 BAföG also lapses on 1 April 2027.
- The health insurance surcharge for compulsorily insured students rises in the draft from €102 to €121 per month.
- The long-term care insurance surcharge rises in the draft from €35 to €39 per month.
- The draft is not adopted; the first reading in the Bundestag took place on 15 October 2026.
What is planned for April 2027?
According to the draft, the first article of the act takes effect on 1 April 2027. The figures come from the Bundestag printed paper 21/8405 and are draft values. The table shows the changes dated to this day:
| Component | Currently | Under the draft | Valid from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing allowance, living away from home | €380 per month | €440 per month | 1 April 2027 |
| Health insurance surcharge, compulsorily insured | €102 per month | €121 per month | 1 April 2027 |
| Long-term care insurance surcharge, compulsorily insured | €35 per month | €39 per month | 1 April 2027 |
| Reference rate without surcharges, living away from home | €855 per month | €915 per month | 1 April 2027 |
| Performance certificate under section 48 BAföG | applies | lapses | 1 April 2027 |
The reference rate combines the basic need and the housing allowance. Today that is €475 plus €380. Under the draft from April 2027 it would be €475 plus €440. The health and care insurance surcharges come on top and are not included in this calculation. The housing allowance is a fixed amount and does not cover the actual rent. Anyone who pays more bears the difference.
The draft also provides that applications can only be submitted through BAföG Digital (section 46 BAföG). If you plan an application for April 2027, keep the online route in mind once the rule is promulgated. Because these are draft values, the table may still shift as the act changes.
Does the higher allowance apply immediately?
No, not automatically. For ongoing funding, higher rates generally take effect only in the next funding period. Anyone who is already funded in April 2027 should therefore not count on the higher allowance before the new notice of award is issued.
Whether a newly filed application is already assessed at the higher rates depends on the funding period that begins with entry into force. Clarify this with the competent office early, before you base your rent or budget on it. An overview of the housing allowance and how it is calculated is in Living with BAföG: the €380 allowance against real rent (in German), which describes the rules as they stand today.
Which points do not belong to April?
Several other changes in the draft are not dated to April and therefore belong to other months. The basic need rises under the draft only from the winter semester 2027/28, from €475 to €503 per month. The housing allowance for students living with parents falls from €59 to €41 per month, also only once the second article takes effect on 1 August 2027. The details of the overall package are in BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When.
The April overview is therefore only one section of the year. Because the dates are spread across the year, it helps to read the monthly articles one after another. The draft’s timetable may still move before adoption, so the dates in the tables are a current status and not a promise.
How far has the procedure got?
The overview below shows the status of the legislation. It is a snapshot and does not replace information from the competent authorities.
| Step | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet decision | 12 August 2026 | completed |
| Bundesrat opinion | 25 September 2026 | completed |
| Printed paper 21/8405 in the Bundestag | 7 October 2026 | submitted |
| First reading in the Bundestag | 15 October 2026 | completed |
| Second and third reading | not yet scheduled | open |
| Promulgation and entry into force | Article 1 planned for 1 April 2027 | open |
The cabinet decision details come from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (short notice on the cabinet decision). In its opinion, the Bundesrat criticised among other things the reduction of the housing allowance for students living with parents, while the Federal Government rejects most of its demands.
Frequently asked questions
Is the housing allowance of €440 from April 2027 certain?
No. The draft is not adopted. The rule only becomes binding law once it is promulgated. Until then the current rates apply and remain the basis for every calculation.
Does my entitlement change automatically because of the allowance?
Whether you are funded and in what amount depends on your income and assets. The allowances in the draft are one component of that calculation and not the whole of it.
What happens to the performance certificate?
Under the draft, the certificate under section 48 BAföG lapses from 1 April 2027. Until entry into force, the current rules apply, under which the certificate is due after the fourth semester.
Where can I find the current status?
You can find the procedural position in the Bundestag printed papers, which document each stage, and on the pages of the responsible federal ministry. For questions about your personal funding, the competent BAföG office is the right contact and can tell you which funding period applies and from when new rates are considered.
What to do now
- Check whether the changes affect you: living away from home, compulsory insurance or certificates.
- Calculate your funding with the current rates until a law has been promulgated.
- Follow the procedural position in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
- Keep providing certificates under the current rules until changes apply.
- Clarify questions about your funding period with the competent office.
Related articles
- What changes in 2027? The full overview of all key dates
- BAföG Reform 2027: What Is Changing and When
- BAföG Reform 2026: What may change and what is settled
- Living with BAföG: the €380 allowance against real rent
- What is decided for 2027 and what is only planned? The status check
Sources: Printed paper 21/8405, 30th BAföG amendment (last updated: November 2026) (in German); Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, cabinet decision on the BAföG reform, 12 August 2026 (last updated: November 2026) (in German); Bundestag, hib short notice on the BAföG reform (last updated: November 2026) (in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
