RMore than initially planned, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has sent the draft bill for the Bafög amendment requested by the Budget Committee to the states University Rectors' Conference, the student associations and the municipal associations were sent for comment. You are now asked to comment before the draft is scheduled to go through the parliamentary process in February.

What is particularly new is a study start aid. This involves a thousand euros for trainees from financially weak families in order to reduce their hurdles in the transition to university studies. Specifically, it is about support in paying a rental deposit for the apartment or room, IT equipment and books, i.e. typical initial investments that are not covered by the monthly payments.