06. Parents’ or partners’ income

In addition to your own income, the income of your parents, or if you are married, the income of your spouse or, if you live in a registered civil partnership, the income of your partner is also taken into account.

What matters is the income from which penultimate Calendar year (2 years ago) in Start of the approval period (BWZ). The BWZ is the period for which the funding is available after BAföG is determined.

Example: If an application is submitted in 2024 for the summer semester 2024 or winter semester 2024/2025, the income from the calendar year 2022 is important.

The law provides for fixed allowances for the parents themselves and for any other dependent children to calculate the eligible income. The more of your siblings are still in education, the less your parents are obliged to finance your studies. Your entitlement to training funding would therefore increase. But even if you are the only child studying, it is worth checking whether you are entitled to BAföG have.

If your parents earn more than the allowances allow for, this will be offset against the support requirement and you will not receive the maximum rate. You can find the calculation in the notice. You may then be able to apply for an update or advance payment (maintenance advance).