Will 2026 be a more expensive year for students?

A higher basic grant and lower interest on student loans, but tuition fees are going up and rents continue to rise. Here’s what will change for students’ finances in 2026.

Basic grant increases

The basic grant will go up by a few euros this month. For students living at home, the amount will rise from 126 to 130 euros per month, and for those living away from home it will increase from 314 to 325 euros. The supplementary grant was a maximum of 475 euros and will now be 491 euros. All amounts are rounded to whole euros.

Tuition fees

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

Tuition fees are much higher for students who already hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree. They typically pay ten to twenty thousand euros, and these rates are also going up. The exact amount varies by institution.

Are you taking two degree programmes at the same time? Then you may complete the second one at the regular rate. You can also retrain for a career in healthcare or education at the statutory tuition rate.

Interest

Borrowing is slightly cheaper again this year: the interest rate is dropping from 2.57 to 2.33 percent. If you have a debt of 10,000 euros, that will increase to 10,233 euros after one year. Interest accrues during your studies and is adjusted each year – until you graduate or stop studying.

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

Rent

The housing market remains overheated, and not much is expected to change in the coming year – rents are likely to keep rising. However, slightly more students will be eligible for rent benefit this year. You must have your own front door to qualify, so those living in shared rooms are not eligible.

Previously, young people under 23 could only receive housing benefit if their rent was low (up to 477 euros). Now they may apply from age 18, even if their rent is higher. However, the benefit remains limited until they reach 21 – and that age limit is also new.

Health Insurance

The premium for the basic health insurance package varies by provider, but averages 157 euros per month. That’s about the same as last year. However, the healthcare allowance is dropping slightly: for the lowest incomes (which includes most students), it will go from 131 to 129 euros per month.

And also…

There are plenty of other things that could affect students’ wallets. The minimum wage is going up by a few cents. For an 18-year-old, it will be 7.36 euros per hour – 16 cents more than last year.

Calling or texting while cycling? That could cost you a 170-euro fine (more than the basic grant for students living at home). If your bike lights don’t work, add another 75 euros plus administration fees. These amounts will remain unchanged from last year.