In the German Bundestag on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU) said with regard to BAföG that everyone in Germany had to tighten their belts. A part-time job does no harm.
Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of the Board of Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW), explains:
“Facts are good for the political discussion about BAföG. That is why it should be noted:
- Around half of students with their own household have less than 930 euros a month.
- An average room in a shared flat in Germany costs 512 euros. The flat-rate housing allowance for BAföG is currently 380 euros.
- Students spend 53 percent of their income on rent, for trainees it is still 41 percent, and for the average population it is 25 percent. Here, too, the source is the Federal Statistical Office
- According to the latest social survey on the economic and social situation of students, published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, two out of three students work alongside their studies. On average 15 hours per week. Surveys show that working more than 10 hours a week can have a negative impact on academic success.
- According to official statistics, almost two out of three students are financially overstretched with their monthly rent payments.
Looking at these figures, how can you tighten your belt? Anyone who has less than 930 euros a month is generally living precariously. The budget is sewn to the edge and this seam is now threatening to burst. In its high-tech agenda, the German government wants to secure a supply of skilled workers. But today’s students are the engineers, doctors, AI experts and teachers of tomorrow. Our society cannot afford students dropping out due to a lack of money.
The entry into force of the BAföG amendment for the coming winter semester is now massively at risk. A BAföG amendment agreed by the federal government’s experts has actually been on the table since the beginning of December 2025 at the latest. Since then, the project has been stuck between the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Finance. It is high time that Dorothee Bär and Lars Klingbeil brought their discussion about the financing of the BAföG amendment, which has now lasted almost five months, to a good conclusion. Many students have existential worries and Black-Red must no longer ignore this. As a reminder: the planned increase in the BAföG flat-rate housing allowance would cost 67 million euros this year, two months’ fuel discount is almost 25 times as expensive. Black-Red must keep the BAföG promise.”
You can find this press statement online at:
