Overview
- Germany’s states approved an initiative in the Bundesrat calling on the federal government to move ahead with a comprehensive BAföG reform.
- Only about 12 percent of students currently receive BAföG, the lowest share since 2000, according to the Länder submission.
- State proposals include raising the housing allowance, aligning the basic need rate with social‑benefit levels, simplifying applications, granting multi‑semester approval periods, full digitalization, and limited data reuse with privacy safeguards.
- Thirteen nationwide organizations, including the DGB, Deutsches Studierendenwerk, the fzs and Arbeiterkind.de, have issued a joint declaration urging swift cabinet action so changes can take effect in the second half of 2026.
- Supporters cite sharply higher rents plus rising food and energy costs, with the DGB noting that nearly 40 percent of students are at risk of poverty, while no federal cabinet decision has been reported.