Student enrollment and financial aid updates in Germany

In North Rhine-Westphalia, approximately 703,400 students were enrolled in Bachelor, Master, or other degree programs during the 2025/26 winter semester. This included roughly 452,000 Bachelor students and 158,200 Master students. The Fernuniversität Hagen recorded the highest enrollment with 66,200 students, followed by the University of Cologne and RWTH Aachen University.

Regarding financial support, BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act) benefits are generally tax-free in Germany and do not typically require students to file a tax return. However, exceptions may apply if students receive non-repayable grants specifically designated for educational costs, such as book allowances from foundations or subsidies for course and exam fees, which must be accounted for when calculating tax-deductible educational expenses.