Studying and Working
Rent, semester contribution, a new laptop: studying costs money. Here you can find out how to calculate your financial needs, what sources of funding are available and how much you are allowed to earn in addition to BAföG – with the figures for 2026.
without a reduction in BAföG.
What are your financial needs during your studies?
In three steps, you’ll know how much money you need each month – and how much of it should come from your side job.
Determine fixed costs
These include the rent and ancillary costs such as electricity, water, heating, telephone and internetas well as insurance, the broadcasting fee and travel costs, along with your expenses for food, clothing and learning materials.
Allow for variable costs and contingencies
Some things do not occur monthly: the service charge statement ("Betriebskostenabrechnung") (often in summer), the semester fee, books at the start of term. Also allow for repairs or a new laptop. Rule of thumb: a buffer of three monthly budgets. Major purchases, a stay abroad or a holiday should also be included in your annual planning.
Calculate your gap
Divide your annual requirement by twelve. From that, subtract your monthly income deduct, such as maintenance payments, child benefit, BAföG or a student loan. The difference is the amount that you can earn as extra money .
Your gap determines how many hours you should work per month. Ask yourself: How many days a week do you want to work? Where are the gaps in your timetable? Does the weekend work for you? Or would you rather do most of it during the lecture-free period? That is exactly what flexible shifts are for.
These sources can help you finance your studies.
Most students combine multiple sources. Here is the overview as of 2026.
Child benefit ("Kindergeld")
Your parents receive child benefit for you as long as you are in your first vocational training programme or undergraduate degree course – at most until your 25th birthday. Since January 2026, this amounts to 259 € per month. In special cases, such as after certain periods of service, the entitlement may continue for longer.
Financial Support ("Unterhalt")
Under Sections 1601 et seq. of the German Civil Code (BGB), your parents are obliged to finance your initial vocational education – this also includes your degree course. If they are unable to do so, or can only do so in part, you can apply for BAföG.
BAföG
How much you receive depends primarily on your parents’ income and your living situation. Requirements include, among other things, an eligible course of study, an appropriate residence status, and being under 45 when you begin your studies. Half is a grant, and the other half is an interest-free loan. You apply online via bafög.de or at your university’s student services organisation.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded by the state, foundations, companies and associations. Unlike BAföG, you do not have to pay anything back. In addition to good grades, many also require social or political commitment – so find out early, for example at your university, at university information days or in the Overview of the German National Association for Student Affairs ("Deutsches Studierendenwerk").
And the part-time job? Alongside maintenance payments, child benefit and BAfÖG, it is the most important source of income for most people. Make sure it fits in well with your studies – and keep an eye on the income limits for BAfÖG, family insurance and tax. You can find the figures below.
Two sources that you should examine closely.
A student loan has to be repaid – and students are only entitled to housing benefit in exceptional cases.
Studienkredit und Bildungsfonds
Many banks offer loans that allow you to cover your living costs while studying – in addition to BAföG as well. All offers work like a loan: you enter into a loan agreement, receive a fixed amount each month and repay it with interest after completing your studies.
Example: KfW Student Loan: €100 to €650 per month; you choose the amount yourself. You can apply for it until the age of 44, through banks or participating student services organisations. The interest rate is variable and is adjusted to the capital market twice a year.
Think carefully about whether you want to still be paying off a loan after graduation: over a longer period, the amounts can quickly add up.
Housing benefit ("Wohngeld")
Housing benefit is a subsidy towards rent. As a rule, students do not receive it if they are eligible for BAföG in principle – even if their BAföG application is rejected, for example, because of their parents’ income. Housing benefit may be available, among other circumstances, if
- you have exceeded the maximum funding period,
- you changed subject or discontinued your studies without an important reason,
- you had exceeded the BAföG age limit of 45 when you began your studies,
- you have not provided the required proof of academic achievement or are receiving funding from an organisation supporting gifted students,
- you only receive BAföG as a loan.
The amount depends on your rent, your income and the rent level in your area. Housing benefit is only available upon application to your local authority’s housing benefit office, from the month in which the application is submitted and generally for twelve months.
How much are you allowed to earn alongside BAföG?
You receive BAföG and still want to earn a little extra? That is possible – if you know the limit. Since January 1st, 2026, as an employee (i.e. not self-employed) you can earn up to the mini-job threshold of €603 gross per month without your BAföG being reduced. Over the course of the year, that amounts to €7,236.
What matters is your income over the entire approval period, i.e. the average – not any individual month. A month with more shifts during the semester break is therefore not a problem, provided that other months are below this level.
Please bear in mind: This information always depends on your personal circumstances. We provide you with an overview, but cannot guarantee its accuracy. BAföG calculators available online or your Office for Educational Support can provide an exact figure.
gross per year (12 months)
per month at €16/hour
Gross, in employment (not self-employed), average during the approval period. Source: bafög.de
Income, insurance, tax: an overview of the thresholds.
Besides BAföG, there are other limits that also determine how much you should earn.
What counts as income
For BAföG, it is not only your wages that count. Also Scholarships may be taken into account: Merit-based scholarships such as the Deutschlandstipendium are disregarded up to €300 per month; any amount above this counts as income. Anyone receiving support from a gifted and talented support organisation is not eligible for BAföG.
On the internet, you can find numerous BAföG calculators that give you an overview of your situation.
Insurance and tax
- Family insurance: You remain covered by your parents’ health insurance free of charge until the age of 25, provided you earn no more than €565 per month – or up to €603 in a mini-job.
- Pension insurance: In a mini-job, you are required to pay pension insurance contributions, but you can apply for an exemption.
- Working student job: During the semester, a maximum of 20 hours per week; otherwise, the social insurance benefits will be lost.
- Taxes: Up to the basic tax-free allowance of €12,348 per year, you pay no income tax.
All information is provided without guarantee, as of September 2026. In August 2026, the Federal Government adopted a BAföG reform providing for higher rates from 2027; the Bundestag and Bundesrat must still approve it. Your official notice is always binding.
We plan with you to ensure your job fits your finances.
We help you plan your finances. You can choose between different types of employment contracts – and together we will look at which model best suits your situation, for example if you want to stay below the BAföG or mini-job income limit.
In your online account, you can see at any time how much you have earned so far in the current month. Your payslips are available digitally. This way, you can keep track throughout the year and plan your semester breaks without exceeding income limits.
Where has the money gone again?
It’s the end of the month, and once again you’re wondering what happened to your money? Almost all students know the feeling. That’s why it pays to make targeted use of student discounts – banks and insurance providers often have special offers too.
Also ask around in your university town: many local businesses offer discounts specifically for students. And if you are still short of money at the end of the month, an extra shift with us is easy to find.
The student discount is worth it here
Ask for a student offer with every purchase.
Your current certificate of enrolment ("Immatrikulationsbescheinigung") is usually sufficient as proof.
