By Ohad Grodzenski · Updated: October 14, 2026 · Reading time: ~4 min.
Can students or BAföG recipients receive the full heat pump grant?
Yes, absolutely normally! BAföG recipients as property owners are fully eligible for KfW funding. There is no separate "BAföG grant", but you can make full use of the regular KfW 458 funding. Here you'll learn everything important for 2026, simple, clear, with all current figures.
KfW 458 (formerly BEG EM) is the central funding program for installing a heat pump. As a property owner, even if you receive BAföG, you can apply for the full KfW funds. It's a direct grant that you don't have to pay back.
Important for BAföG recipients: The basic grant (30%) and the climate-speed bonus (16%) do not depend on income. For the income bonus, KfW does check: it requires the income tax assessments for the second and third year before the application (application in 2026: assessments for 2023 and 2024) for all relevant household members; payslips or BAföG notices are not accepted (source: KfW 458). For students this is usually good news: BAföG is tax-free under § 3 No. 11 EStG and does not appear in taxable income. If your average taxable household income over those two years is at most 30,000 EUR and you live in the house yourself, you get the full 40% income bonus and thus up to 80% (max. 22,400 EUR).
KfW 458: Up to 80% funding
Max. eligible costs: €28,000 per residential unit
Max. grant: €22,400 (80% of €28,000; only with the 40% income bonus, i.e. taxable household income up to €30,000 and owner-occupied; otherwise max. 70% = €19,600)
⚠️ Important: BAföG & KfW funding at the same time?
Yes! Technically, the KfW funding counts as a "contribution to housing costs" and is usually NOT counted as income for BAföG. But: ask your BAföG office whether you need to prove your capital assets (allowance: 15,000 EUR for single people).
30% base bonus
16% climate-speed bonus (gas/oil/coal replacement)
10–40% income bonus for owner-occupiers (40% up to €30,000, 30% up to €40,000, 10% up to €50,000 taxable household income)
Note: The income bonus is still 30% at a household income up to 40,000 EUR. Total funding is capped at 80% (70% unless income is €30,000 or less; source: KfW 458). As a student, that is often possible since you have hardly any income.
Anyone who installs a heat pump in an existing residential building, including BAföG recipients, students, or young property owners.
Special case with WEGs (homeowners' associations): If you own a condominium in a WEG, the WEG can apply for the funding, but you must be registered as the owner in the land registry.
Important: The application must be submitted to KfW BEFORE construction begins (contract signing with installer). Retroactive applications are not approved. Tip: Use our heat pump calculator beforehand to calculate your individual funding amount.
This is a fictional worked example, not a real person. Max studies in Berlin and inherited a small terraced house (120 m²). His old gas heating (JAZ 0.85) is broken. He applies for:
In this example Max saves 19,200 EUR and effectively pays only 4,800 EUR for a modern, climate-friendly heating system. The payback period is about 5-6 years thanks to the gas heating costs saved.
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Open free calculator now →This fictional worked example does not describe a real person. Sarah (24) studies in Berlin, receives 112 EUR of BAföG (after the 2022 BAföG reform) and inherited a small terraced house (built 1998, 110 m²). She wants to replace the old gas heating (efficiency 82%) with a heat pump.
1. Investment costs: 22,000 EUR (air-water heat pump, 12 kW, incl. hydraulic balancing)
2. BAföG income: 112 EUR/month = 1,344 EUR/year (far below the 40,000 EUR limit)
3. KfW funding:
4. Sarah's own contribution: 22,000 EUR - 17,600 EUR = 4,400 EUR
5. Supplementary loan (optional): The 4,400 EUR own contribution can be financed with the KfW supplementary loan 358/359: up to 120,000 EUR per residential unit, only available together with grant 458, with reduced interest for lower-income households (Source: KfW). KfW 270 is not meant for this; it requires feeding electricity or heat into the grid.
Sarah's own share: 4,400 EUR, either from savings or via the supplementary loan, which is then repaid in instalments.
No! The KfW funding counts as a "earmarked grant for housing improvement" and is usually not counted as income by the BAföG office. Sarah keeps her claim to the 112 EUR/month.
BAföG recipients may have assets of up to 15,000 EUR (allowance). The funding itself (17,600 EUR in the account) is earmarked and usually not counted toward assets, but ask the BAföG office whether you need a "proof of assets" confirmation.
❓ Do I get less funding as a BAföG recipient?
Not for the basic grant. For the income bonus, yes: KfW requires the tax assessments of years 2 and 3 before the application. Since BAföG is tax-free, most students' taxable income is far below 30,000 EUR, so the full bonus applies as long as you live in the house yourself.
❓ Does the grant also apply to small apartments or condominiums?
Yes, up to €28,000 per residential unit. Funding is also possible for condominiums or in a WEG (condominium association).
❓ Do I have to submit the application myself?
Your heating installer or an energy consultant usually helps you with this. The application runs completely digitally via "Meine KfW".
❓ How quickly does the money arrive?
After submitting invoices and proofs, usually within 3–6 months directly to your account.