BAföG and Broadcasting Fee: Are Students Really Exempt?
There's a widespread belief among German students that they're automatically exempt from the broadcasting fee. The reality is more nuanced: only certain BAföG recipients qualify, and the exemption requires an active application. This guide clarifies who's exempt, who isn't, and what options exist for students who don't qualify.
The Rule: BAföG Receipt and Not Living With Your Parents
Students who receive BAföG and do not live with their parents qualify for full exemption from the broadcasting fee (§ 4(1) no. 5 of the Broadcasting Fee State Treaty). The amount of the grant does not matter: partial BAföG (Teilförderung), where a parental contribution reduces the grant, qualifies as well.
This matters because a widespread myth claims that only full BAföG (Vollförderung) qualifies. The treaty does not say so. What does matter: the exemption is only granted on application, and students living with their parents cannot use it (their parents' apartment is already covered).
How to Determine If You Qualify
Check your BAföG-Bescheid (approval notice). If it grants you BAföG for the current period and you live in your own apartment or shared flat (not with your parents), you qualify for exemption — regardless of whether a parental contribution (Elternbeitrag) is deducted.
Important nuance: if your BAföG application was rejected, you do not qualify for the regular exemption. In that case, a hardship application (Härtefallantrag) is the only option if your income is below the social assistance level.
Applying for Exemption as a BAföG Recipient
Submit the following to the Beitragsservice: the exemption application form (available at rundfunkbeitrag.de), your current BAföG-Bescheid (not older than 3 months), a copy of your ID card, and your Beitragsnummer (if you have one — new students may not have registered yet).
The exemption covers the period of your BAföG approval, typically 12 months. When your BAföG is renewed (Weiterförderungsantrag), you must also renew your broadcasting fee exemption with the new Bescheid.
Options for Students Without BAföG
If you receive no BAföG at all, you still have options. Living with parents: If you live at home, the broadcasting fee is covered by your parents' household — you don't pay separately. Shared flat (WG): The €18.36/month fee is split among all roommates. With 3 roommates, that's just €6.12 each per month. Roommate with exemption: If a WG roommate is exempt (e.g., through Bürgergeld or BAföG), this only covers that person — the non-exempt roommates still owe the fee for the apartment.
Hardship case: If your total income (for example maintenance and any work income) falls below the social assistance level, you may qualify for exemption through the general hardship rule, even without BAföG.
Vocational Training Allowance (BAB) and Ausbildungsgeld
Students aren't the only young people eligible for broadcasting fee exemption. Recipients of Berufsausbildungsbeihilfe (BAB) — vocational training allowance for apprentices living away from their parents — also qualify for full exemption. The same applies to recipients of Ausbildungsgeld, which supports people with disabilities during vocational training. The application process is identical: submit your BAB or Ausbildungsgeld approval notice along with the exemption form.
Common Student Mistakes
Never registering: Many students move into their first apartment and never register with the Beitragsservice, assuming they're exempt. Eventually, the Beitragsservice catches up (through Meldeamt data) and sends a bill for the entire period. Assuming the exemption is automatic: As explained above, you must apply — even with full or partial BAföG. Students without any BAföG approval will be denied unless they qualify as a hardship case. Not reapplying after renewal: The exemption must be renewed each time BAföG is renewed. A gap in exemption means full fees are charged for the interim period. Ignoring invoices: Non-payment leads to formal notices and late fees. If you can't pay, contact the Beitragsservice to discuss options.
After Graduation
When your studies end and BAföG stops, the broadcasting fee exemption ends too. If you enter employment, you'll pay the full fee. If you're job-seeking and receiving Bürgergeld, you qualify for exemption through that benefit. The transition period between student life and employment is when many people fall into a gap — make sure to either reapply under a new qualifying benefit or start budgeting for the fee.
Student Housing (Studentenwohnheim) Special Rules
Students living in a Studentenwohnheim face a particular challenge. Each self-contained unit — even a single room with its own entrance — is considered a separate dwelling for broadcasting fee purposes. Shared kitchens or bathrooms elsewhere on the floor do not merge multiple rooms into a single dwelling. This means each room incurs its own €18.36 monthly fee unless the resident qualifies for exemption. Many Studentenwerk organisations are aware of this issue and provide guidance materials or pre-printed exemption forms at their front desks. If your student residence has a communal social room or common area, it does not count as your dwelling — only your registered room does.
The Student Budget Perspective
At €18.36 per month (or far less in a WG), the broadcasting fee is modest compared to other student expenses. If you qualify for exemption, claim it — €220 per year is meaningful on a student budget. If you do not qualify, split the cost in your WG and treat it as a fixed expense. Either way, do not ignore it — the consequences of non-payment far exceed the cost of the fee itself. Consider the total cost over a typical three-year bachelor's programme: a student paying the full fee alone spends €660, while a student in a four-person WG pays just €165 for the same period. Choosing WG living over a solo apartment saves almost €500 on the broadcasting fee alone — in addition to the rent savings.