Many costs are incurred at the start of your studies – such as for learning materials, a laptop or the rent deposit. The Study start-up aid (Studienstarthilfe)  supports young first-year students from low-income households with a one-off grant of 1,000 euros. And the best thing is: you don't have to pay back the grant!

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. You can easily apply via BAföG Digital:

Eligible are persons who

• are under 25 years old, 
• are enrolled for the first time at a university in a full-time degree programme 
• 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)
  • Child and youth welfare services (SGB VIII)