Berlin, 18 June 2026.
In light of the federal government's inconsistent course regarding the BAföG reform announced in the coalition agreement, a newly formed BAföG alliance has called on the CDU/CSU and SPD to keep their promises on BAföG. The federal government must demonstrate that it takes the concerns of the younger generation seriously, the alliance demands in a petition launched jointly with the campaign organization Campact:
weact.campact.de/petitions/versprochen-ist-versprochen-bafog-jetzt-retten
The alliance includes the free association of student unions (fzs), the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW), and the United Services Trade Union (ver.di). The petition is addressed to Minister for Research Dorothee Bär (CSU), Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), and parliamentary group leaders Jens Spahn (CDU) and Matthias Miersch (SPD).
Through this petition, the BAföG alliance is calling for a substantial increase in BAföG support:
- BAföG rates and the housing allowance must reflect the reality of students’ living costs – no BAföG below the poverty threshold!
- Parental income allowances must be significantly increased.
- Automatic and regular adjustments of BAföG rates, housing allowances and income allowances in line with inflation and income development.
- Full digitalization of the application, processing and approval procedures.
- Significant simplification of applications and longer approval periods.
- Adequate funding for student services organizations and BAföG offices.
Matthias Anbuhl, Chair of the Executive Board of the German National Association for Student Affairs, stated:
"The federal government's inconsistent approach to BAföG is a devastating signal to students and the younger generation as a whole. What they need is a reliable commitment from the government that the promised BAföG reform—with higher support rates and significantly simplified procedures—will be implemented. Frustration among students has now reached a deep level. Many students are already living on a very tight budget, and that budget is now at risk of breaking point. They depend on an increase in BAföG support and need a reliable government that provides them with this perspective."
This press release is available online:
www.studierendenwerke.de/beitrag/presse-statement-aus-fuer-die-bafoeg-reform