From 2 September 2024, you can apply for the Studienstarthilfe (study start-up aid) via BAföG Digital.
The study start-up aid is a one-off grant of 1,000 euros for young first-year students from low-income households. The grant does not have to be repaid. It is intended to support you with expenses incurred at the start of your studies (e.g. learning materials, laptop, etc.).
The application deadline is the end of the second month of study. The study start-up aid is applied for independently of BAföG and does not count towards BAföG.
Eligible are persons who
- are under 25 years old,
- are enrolled for the first time at a university in a full-time degree programme in the winter semester 2024/25
- and can prove that they received one of the following social benefits in the month before the start of their studies
- Wohngeld (Housing benefit; received personally or as a household member)
- Kinderzuschlag (Child allowance; received by themselves or by their parents; not to be confused with ‘Kindergeld’!)
- Bürgergeld (Citizen's allowance; SGB II)
- Sozialhilfe (Social assistance; SGB XII: assistance for subsistence or reduced earning capacity or SGB XIV: victims/survivors of violent offences/neglect/vaccination damage)
- Benefits under the Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz (Asylum Seekers Benefits Act)
In addition, people who are accommodated in a child and youth welfare centre (SGB VIII) and whose parents do not have to make any contributions to measures can apply for the study start-up aid.
The details can be found in § 56 paragraph 1 BAföG.