Basic student grant increases

The basic student grant will go up by a few euros this month. For students living at home, the amount increases from 126 to 130 euros per month. For students living independently, it rises from 314 to 325 euros per month. The supplementary grant was capped at 475 euros and is now increased to 491 euros. All amounts are rounded to whole euros.

Tuition fees

The statutory tuition fee this academic year is 2,601 euros. Next academic year (as of September 1), this will increase by 93 euros to 2,694 euros.

Tuition fees are thousands of euros higher for students who already hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree. They can quickly end up paying between 10,000 and 20,000 euros, and these rates will also increase. The exact amount varies by institution.

If you are enrolled in two degree programs at the same time, you are allowed to complete the second program at the statutory tuition rate. The same applies to students retraining for careers in healthcare or education.

Interest

Borrowing money becomes slightly cheaper this year: the interest rate drops from 2.57 to 2.33 percent. If you have a student debt of 10,000 euros, it will amount to 10,233 euros after one year. This interest accrues during your studies and changes annually—until you graduate or stop studying.

Once you finish your studies, the interest rate is fixed for five-year periods. If you stopped studying in 2025, your interest rate will remain at 2.33 percent until 2030. For many years, the interest rate was zero, but those days are over.

Rent

The housing market remains tight, and that is unlikely to change much in the coming year: rents will probably continue to rise. However, slightly more students will qualify for housing allowance this year. To be eligible, you must have your own front door, meaning students renting a room are not eligible.

Previously, young people under 23 only received housing allowance for low rents (up to 477 euros). Now, from the age of 18, they can also apply for housing allowance for higher rents. That allowance remains limited until they reach the age of 21 (this age limit is new as well).

Health insurance

The premium for basic health insurance varies by provider, but averages 157 euros per month. That is virtually the same as last year. The healthcare allowance does decrease slightly: for the lowest incomes (and therefore for most students), it drops from 131 to 129 euros per month.

And more …

There are many other factors that can affect students’ finances. The minimum wage will increase by a few cents. For an 18-year-old, it will be 7.36 euros per hour, which is 16 cents more than last year.

Using your phone to call or text while cycling can result in a fine of 170 euros (more than the basic student grant for students living at home). If your bike light does not work, an additional 75 euros is added, plus administrative costs. These fines remain the same as last year for now.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor