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Funding for Continuing Education and Training

Continuing Education and Training

Whether you are interested in Meister, technician or software qualifications, or university studies – the BMBF offers attractive support opportunities to help you advance your career.

Opportunities

  • The Initiative for Excellence in Vocational Education and Training is the BMBF’s tool for further enhancing support for skilled workers in gaining qualifications to become excellent experts, executives, or entrepreneurs.
  • The Upgrading Training Assistance Act (AFBG) of the BMBF supports those who wish to advance their career. Together, the Federal Government and the Länder provide funding for more than 700 programmes leading to further training qualifications.
  • By offering even more scholarship programmes for talented professionals, we ensure that vocational training and academic education enjoy equal status.
  • Life chances BAföG will be a new instrument aimed at making it possible to also provide funding for selfmanaged continuing training activities that are neither related to the current job nor aimed at gaining a degree.

Want to advance your career and become a skilled professional or a team leader? And you’re wondering how to fund your plans – from course and exam fees to travel expenses?

With the Upgrading Training Assistance Act and a number of scholarship programmes, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) provides significant funding opportunities, both across the board and for the best talent.

Upgrading Training Assistance Act to advance your career

The Upgrading Training Assistance Act (in German at www.gesetze-im-internet.de), AFBG for short and commonly referred to as AufstiegsBAföG in German, provides participants in upgrading training measures with funding towards the cost of the training measure and living expenses. The AFBG establishes an individual’s legal claim to assistance while attending upgrading vocational training courses. Around 192,000 individuals received funding in 2023. AFBG funding supports people preparing for over 700 different continuing training qualifications, including Meister, early childhood educators, business management specialists, technicians, and commercial clerks.

Scholarships open up individual opportunities (support for talent)

The BMBF has been providing scholarships for skilled professionals for several decades. They are awarded based on merit in training and at work.

A scholarship offers financial support and so much more! This includes:

  • interesting seminars for professional and personal development, ranging from time management and selforganization to company visits and how to establish a startup,
  • opportunities for exchange and networking with other scholarship holders in similar life circumstances,
  • opportunities for participating in seminars and stays abroad through organizations for the promotion of the gifted.

Those under the age of 25 looking for professional development opportunities shortly after completing their training can benefit from a continuing training scholarship (in German, at www.sbb-stipendien.de) (Weiterbildungsstipendium).

If you have at least two years of work experience under your belt and are planning to take up studies at a public or staterecognised higher education institution, you should look into the professional advancement scholarship (in German, at www.sbb-stipendien.de) (Aufstiegsstipendium).

SBB Foundation for the Promotion of Talent in Vocational Training

The Foundation for the Promotion of Talent in Vocational Training (in German, at www.sbb-stipendien.de) (Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung, SBB) coordinates the two scholarship programmes and serves as a link to business and industry. Its shareholders are the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), the German Confederation of Chambers of Skilled Crafts (DHKT) and the Federal Association of Liberal Professions (BFB). The Foundation cooperates with the around 300 chambers in all of Germany as well as with the bodies that are responsible for vocational education and training (VET) and with the organizations for the promotion of the gifted in higher education, which are in the process of expanding their programmes to also support apprentices in VET and skilled workers.

Offers for financing further training

Attractive funding opportunities for continuing training: more than 3.7 million people have received funding for upgrading training to become skilled professionals, executives, business owners or vocational trainers since the 1990s. 

3,7 millions of supported people

Additional funding opportunities

In addition to the Federal Government, the Länder and regions also offer financial support. Perhaps your employer can provide support, too. You can get more information from, for example, the employment offices, your employer’s HR unit, and the chamber or other body responsible for training in the relevant profession.

The national online platform for continuing education and training, mein NOW, also provides plenty of information.

By the way, expenses for continuing education and training are taxdeductible.

Contact information

Any questions about upgrading training assistance pursuant to the AFBG?
Call the free hotline at 0800 622 36 34
(Monday-Thursday 8.00-18.00; Friday 8.00-16.30)

Any questions about the continuing training or professional advancement scholarships?
SBB Foundation for the Promotion of Talent in Vocational Training
Hotline: 0228 62931 0 (during normal business hours)
Email: info(at)sbb-stipendien.de

Editorial deadline for this text: 01.11.2024

Further information

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