Study start-up aid

• Benefits according to the Second Book of the German Social Code (“citizen’s allowance”),
• Assistance with living expenses in accordance with the Third Chapter of the Twelfth Book of the German Social Code (“Social Assistance – Assistance with Living Expenses”),
• Basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity in accordance with Chapter Four of Book Twelve of the German Social Code (“Basic security benefits in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity”),
• Benefits for living expenses in accordance with Section 93 of the Fourteenth Book of the German Social Code (“Benefits under social compensation law for living expenses”),
• Supplementary assistance with living expenses in accordance with Section 145 (1) of the Fourteenth Book of the German Social Code in conjunction with Section 27a of the Federal Pension Act in the version applicable on December 31, 2023,
• Benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act

In addition, people who receive the study start-up grant before the start of their studies

• themselves or whose parents receive the child supplement under the Federal Child Benefit Act,
• receive housing benefit themselves or as a household member in accordance with the Housing Benefit Act or
• receive a child and youth welfare benefit specified in Section 91 (1) of Book Eight of the German Social Code and whose parents are not required to contribute to the costs from their income.

The study start-up grant can only be applied for electronically via → BAföG Digital – independently of any BAföG application. An application deadline applies to the application for study start-up aid: An application for study start-up aid can only be submitted by the end of the month following the month in which the course begins.

Please note that you will need a BundID to submit an application. The BundID is the federal government’s central account for identifying applicants when submitting an online application. Further information on the BundID can be found on the → BundID website.

→ Information on data protection when applying for study start-up assistance in accordance with Art. 13 and 14 of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The start-up grant is a one-off subsidy of 1,000 euros and is used to finance expenses typically associated with the start of studies (e.g. IT equipment, teaching and learning materials, rent deposit, relocation costs). BAföG is available for the regular costs of living and learning materials incurred during the course. Students entitled to Studienstarthilfe should therefore also apply for BAföG, as they are probably also entitled to BAföG. There is no offsetting of income or offsetting of Studienstarthilfe against other social benefits, so that the start-up grant of 1,000 euros is available in addition in any case.

The study start-up grant is a subsidy and does not have to be repaid. This does not apply in the event of misuse of the application, e.g. if the start-up grant has been applied for and paid out several times or if the conditions for granting the start-up grant were not met and this was misleading, for example.