Fewer Bafög recipients in Saxony

The number of Bafög recipients in Saxony fell slightly last year. In 2024, around 37,500 people in the Free State received the grant - two percent fewer than a year earlier, according to an overview by the State Statistical Office. The average monthly subsidy was €623, which was slightly lower (minus 1.1%) than in the previous year.

The amount of the individual grant depends, among other things, on the school attended, the accommodation (with parents or away from home) and the income of the recipients and their parents.

Most recipients are students

The majority of Bafög recipients in Saxony, around 28,000, are students, 9,500 of whom are still in school. After peaking in 2005 with almost 80,000 Bafög recipients in Saxony, the number has fallen in recent years - with slight fluctuations.

In Germany as a whole, the number of Bafög recipients fell last year to its lowest level since 2000. According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were 612,800 recipients, 22,800 or 4 percent fewer than in the previous year.

Processing mostly within two months

Critics see a need for reform in view of the decline in numbers - including the German Student Union. "BAföG has been weakening for a long time; it is too low and reaches too few students," criticized spokesperson Stefan Grob. He demanded: "BAföG must become higher, simpler and more digital."

There is also repeated criticism of the sometimes long processing times. According to the Saxon Ministry of Science, a complete application is usually processed within 2 months until approval. However, the processing time depends on many factors, said a spokesperson. For example, whether it is a first or follow-up application, how the applicant and parents cooperate and how many supporting documents have to be submitted.

In its coalition agreement, the German government had agreed on a reform of the Bafög. The flat-rate housing allowance included in the Bafög is to be increased from the current 380 to 440 euros per month from the winter semester 2026/2027. The so-called Bafög basic requirement of 475 euros per month is to increase in two stages from 2027.