Bafög is not enough: Students live cheap in Trier!

Bafög is not enough: Students live cheap in Trier!

In a current analysis by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), it becomes clear that the BAföG is not sufficient in most German cities to cover rents for shared rooms. Although BAföG rates have been raised to a maximum of 992 euros since October and the flat rate of living has increased from 360 to 380 euros, the financial support for many students remains inadequate. In Trier, however, the Situation for some students looks a little better, since the median rent for a shared apartment in the student union is around 265 euros-well below the average of 400 euros on the free market.

The situation is tense, however: If you want a room in the Trier student work, you have to expect a waiting time of two semesters, as all 1,573 places are occupied. Only about 11 percent of the 15,494 students in Trier live in a dorm. Andreas Wagner, Managing Director of the Trier Student Center, warns of the growing gap between the BAföG flat rate and the actual rental costs, which forces students to find additional sources of income. Wagner calls for a fundamental reform of study financing and more funded living space for students to improve the situation. Further information can be found at www.wochenpiegellive.de .