Studienfinanzierung: Kabinett bringt Bafög-Erhöhung auf den Weg

Bafög recipients in Germany are set to receive increased funding next year, as the federal cabinet in Berlin has initiated a reform of vocational training financing. The draft legislation is expected to be discussed and passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat in the autumn. The living allowance portion of Bafög for those no longer living with their parents is set to rise from €380 to €440 per month for the summer semester of 2027.

The current Bafög basic need for students, which is currently €475, will be raised in two steps to match the current level of basic security: to €503 for the winter semester of 2027/28 and to €563 for the summer semester of 2029. Student Bafög is also being increased. Dorothee Bär, the Federal Research Minister, stated that the cabinet decision was a crucial step for Bafög to fulfill its promise of progress.

Bafög remains the central statutory provision for financing academic and vocational training, she added. The rise in the living allowance allowance was initially planned for the upcoming winter semester, but the coalition could not agree on the financing of the reform, leading to delays. Student representatives had long been pushing for a Bafög increase, citing the rising living costs, especially housing expenses.