BAföG for Career Advancement; Applying for Career Advancement Funding

Purpose

The Aufstiegs-BAföG, established under the Upgrading Training Support Act (AFBG for short), is a statutory cash benefit designed to provide financial support to individuals pursuing professional qualifications. The goal of the AFBG is to expand and enhance opportunities for advanced vocational training. This financial support boosts motivation to pursue continuing education and improves opportunities for career advancement.

Scope

Funding is provided for full-time and part-time continuing education programs offered by public and private providers that are specifically designed to prepare participants for examinations under public law pursuant to the Vocational Training Act, the Crafts and Trades Code, or for equivalent qualifications under federal or state law. Participation in full-time programs is generally funded for up to 24 calendar months, and in part-time programs for up to 48 calendar months (maximum funding period).

Under the AFBG, funding is provided for participation in continuing education programs offered by public or private providers that are specifically geared toward public-legal continuing education qualifications based on Sections 53 through 53d and 54 of the Vocational Training Act or Sections 42 through 42d, 42f, 45, and 51a of the Crafts and Trades Code, e.g., Certified Professional Specialist, Bachelor Professional, Master Professional, Banking Specialist, Master Craftsman or Master Technician, Technician, or toward an equivalent qualification under federal or state regulations, toward continuing education programs in accordance with the continuing education guidelines of the German Hospital Association, or toward continuing education programs based on state-approved examination regulations at recognized supplementary schools.

In addition, funding is subject to certain time and quality requirements:

• The program must comprise at least 400 instructional hours (minimum duration).
• For full-time programs, there must generally be at least 25 instructional hours per week over 4 business days (full-time training intensity). Full-time continuing education programs may not last longer than three years in total (maximum full-time duration).
• For part-time programs, courses must comprise an average of at least 18 instructional hours per month (part-time training intensity). Part-time programs may not last longer than four years in total (maximum part-time duration).
• Notwithstanding the above, programs that prepare participants for continuing education credentials leading to examinations governed by public law pursuant to Section 53b of the Vocational Training Act or Section 42b of the Crafts and Trades Code, as well as for equivalent continuing education credentials, are eligible for funding in a part-time format if they comprise at least 200 instructional hours and are completed within 36 calendar months.
• Distance learning courses may be funded as part-time programs if they meet the general funding requirements of the AFBG and also comply with the requirements of the Distance Learning Protection Act.
• Under certain conditions, funding is also available for programs that are partially conducted using media-based communication and that are not subject to approval as distance learning under Section 12 of the Distance Learning Protection Act (Section 4a AFBG), provided they are supplemented by in-person instruction and regular performance assessments are conducted.

Grant Recipients

In general, participants in full-time or part-time continuing vocational education are eligible to apply.

Eligible Costs, Type, and Amount

A contribution toward the costs of the course (program contribution) and a contribution to cover living expenses (living expenses contribution) are provided. The program contribution includes course and examination fees (excluding material costs) up to 15,000 euros and material costs for the creation of examination pieces (e.g., the so-called “masterpiece” in the skilled trades) up to 2,000 euros. Funding for the program fee is provided as a 50% grant. Funding for the living allowance is provided as a 100% grant.

Participants in full-time programs receive a living allowance that is based on income and assets, plus 150 euros per child up to age 14 for single parents as a grant; any amount above that is provided as a bank loan.

Eligible Candidates:

• The target vocational qualification must be at a higher level than a skilled worker, journeyman, or assistant examination or a vocational high school diploma. Therefore, completion of initial vocational training is often a prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination. Funding is not necessarily limited to the first advanced vocational training program but is generally available for any such program. Individuals who have already completed a self-funded advanced vocational training program do not lose their eligibility for funding as a result.
• If a continuing education goal has already been funded under the AFBG, preparation for a further continuing education goal within the meaning of the AFBG is funded if the intended continuing education goal builds upon the goal already achieved. This is particularly the case when a training objective at the next training level, as defined in Section 53a of the Vocational Training Act or Section 42a of the Crafts and Trades Code, is being pursued. Funding may be provided once at each of the three levels in succession if the intended additional continuing education goal builds upon the continuing education goal already achieved. This is particularly the case when a continuing education goal at the next level is being pursued (i.e., the sequence DQR 5 – DQR 6 – DQR 7, but not first DQR 7 and then DQR 6).

Only courses offered by certified providers that have an appropriate quality assurance system in place are eligible for funding.

The application must be submitted in writing or electronically (see “Online Procedure”) to the appropriate Office for Student Financial Aid.

If the applicant has not yet submitted all the documents required to decide on the application, the Office for Student Financial Aid will contact the applicant and request the missing documents.

 Other government agencies are generally not involved.

The application for the program contribution must be submitted no later than the end of the program or program phase.

The maintenance allowance is paid starting from the beginning of the month in which classes actually begin, but no earlier than the beginning of the month in which the application is submitted.

• The number and type of documents required depend on your personal circumstances and the type of education program.
  

  The following documents, for example, may be required:

  • Information on income and assets
  • Statement from the spouse or registered domestic partner
  • Supplementary form for foreign nationals
  • Certificate of enrollment in a continuing education program / participation in a distance learning course / media-based course
  • Proof from an educational institution of regular course attendance
  • Form to document the actual material costs incurred for the master craftsman examination project / practical vocational project
  • Confirmation of admission requirements