Germany delays its promised BAföG boost, with the biggest maintenance-grant increases now pushed to 2027-2029
By Muntasir • Published May 01, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Education Planning, Study in Europe, Scholarships & Funding, Education News & Policy
Germany's coalition agreed to raise BAföG grants, but pushed the largest increases from winter 2026-27 back to 2027 and later.
🏠 The housing allowance moves from €380 to €440 a month, now starting summer 2027 instead of winter 2026-27.
💶 The basic maintenance grant rises from €475 to €503 in winter 2027-28, then to €563 in summer 2029.
The maximum monthly BAföG payment eventually passes €1,100, up from €992.
BAföG mainly serves German nationals and long-term residents. Most short-stay EU students do not qualify.
A reform agreed, but delayed
Germany's coalition government agreed to raise BAföG, the state grant and loan system for students, but pushed the largest increases back from the planned 2026-27 winter semester to 2027 and beyond, reports The Local Germany . The plan still needs to pass the Bundestag, so treat the figures below as the agreed direction rather than a finished law.
What BAföG covers
BAföG pays living costs for students, in a mix of grant and interest-free loan, so most recipients repay only half of what they receive once they start working. It covers housing, food and general expenses, separate from any tuition fee, since most German public universities charge little or no tuition for a first degree.
What changes, and when
| Support | Current amount | New amount | Takes effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing allowance | €380/month | €440/month | Summer semester 2027 |
| Basic maintenance grant | €475/month | €503/month | Winter semester 2027-28 |
| Basic maintenance grant | €503/month | €563/month | Summer semester 2029 |
Combined with other components, the maximum monthly BAföG payment is set to eventually pass €1,100, up from €992 today, according to the same report. The original plan targeted the 2026-27 winter semester for the housing allowance increase, so students relying on it now wait an extra year for the higher rate.
If you already receive BAföG, the delay does not cut your current payment. It only pushes back when the higher amounts start. New applicants for the 2026-27 academic year receive the current, lower rates and move onto the higher figures only once each increase takes effect on the dates above.
Why the delay matters
BAföG covers living costs and, for students without family financial support, often decides whether they afford rent near campus. Delaying the housing allowance by a year matters most in cities where rent already exceeds the current €380 cap. If you receive BAföG, plan your 2026-27 budget around the current rates, not the higher ones due later, and check your Studierendenwerk for any local top-up support in the meantime.
Other changes in the package
Beyond the headline amounts, the reform touches how you apply and how long you keep your support without extra paperwork.
Income thresholds for eligibility rise automatically by 1.5% a year, starting 2028-29.
The application process moves fully online.
Students no longer submit progress reports from their fifth semester onward.
BAföG eligibility for EU students
BAföG is not open to every EU student in Germany. Non-German EU nationals generally qualify only if they, or a parent, worked in Germany, or once they lived in the country for an extended period. Short exchange stays under a semester or two rarely meet the bar. Check your eligibility with your local Studierendenwerk before you count on BAföG in your budget, and look at your home country's own study-abroad grants as a parallel option. Erasmus+ grants and national study-abroad loans run on separate rules and separate application windows, so check both routes early rather than assuming BAföG covers your stay by default.