German student association calls for aid increases

Bursaries should not be exempt from rises in state benefits, group argues

The German Student Association (DSW) has called for student bursaries to be automatically raised in line with inflation and the cost of living, after the student aid (BAföG) scheme was a notable exception among German state benefits increasing with the new year.

“The basic BAföG requirement remains stagnant at €452 per month—that is €111 less than the citizen’s allowance. However, students are not second-class citizens; they do not eat, drink or heat less than other people who have to receive state benefits,” said DSW chairman Matthias Anbuhl in a statement.