Continuing education and training; application for an advancement grant

Participants in advanced vocational training measures (e.g. for master craftsman, technician, business administrator or educator) can receive financial support regardless of their age.

Description

Purpose

The Upgrading Training Assistance Act (AFBG) is the counterpart to the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) for advancement in vocational training. It takes account of the fact that those who have received vocational prequalification support are generally already "in the middle of life", in particular by means of supplements depending on their family situation, a higher asset exemption and support without an age limit. In addition, it provides financial support for the costs of the measures (course and examination fees) and equally supports upgrading training courses on a full-time and part-time basis.

Object

Funding is provided for full- and part-time advanced training courses run by public and private institutions that prepare participants for public examinations under the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz), the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) or for equivalent qualifications under federal or state law. Participation in full-time measures is generally funded for up to 24 calendar months, and in part-time measures for up to 48 calendar months (maximum funding period).

Under the AFBG, funding is provided for participation in further training measures run by public or private institutions which are aimed in a specific technical direction at obtaining further training qualifications under public law on the basis of Sections 53 to 53d and 54 of the Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz) or Sections 42 to 42d, 42f, 45, 51a of the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung), e.g. Geprüfte/r Berufsspezialist/in, Bachelor Professional, Master Professional. Bankfachwirt(in), Industrie- oder Handwerksmeister(in), Techniker(in), or for an equivalent qualification according to federal or state regulations, for further training according to the further training guidelines of the German Hospital Association or for further training based on state-approved examination regulations at recognized supplementary schools.

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

  • The measure must comprise at least 400 hours of instruction (minimum duration).
  • In the case of full-time measures, as a rule at least 25 teaching hours per week must take place on 4 working days (full-time continuing education density). Full-time continuing education courses must not last longer than three years in total (maximum full-time time frame).
  • Part-time measures must include an average of at least 18 instructional hours per month (part-time continuing education density). Part-time measures may not last longer than four years in total (maximum part-time time frame).
  • Measures deviating from this are,
  • The part-time courses must prepare participants for the German Crafts and Trades Code (Handwerksordnung) and for equivalent further training qualifications if they comprise at least 200 teaching hours and are completed within 36 calendar months.
  • Distance learning courses can be funded as part-time measures 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
  • certain conditions, measures which are partly carried out with the use of electronic media and which are not subject to approval as distance learning according to the Distance Learning Protection Act ( § 4a AFBG ), if they are supplemented by physical and virtual face-to-face teaching or by binding media-based communication comparable to this and if regular performance reviews are carried out.

Type and amount

A contribution is made to the costs of the course (measure contribution) and a contribution is made to cover subsistence needs (maintenance contribution). The measure contribution includes course and examination fees (excluding material costs) up to 15,000 euros. The funding of the measure contribution is provided in the amount of 50% as a grant. Funding for the maintenance contribution is provided in the form of a 100% grant.

Participants in full-time measures receive a maintenance contribution based on income and assets, plus 150 euros per child up to the age of 14 as a grant for single parents, and a bank loan for children up to the age of 14.

Prerequisites

The eligible group of persons is defined in § 8 AFBG.

  • The vocational qualification sought must be above the level of a skilled worker's, journeyman's or assistant's examination or a vocational school qualification. Therefore, a completed initial training is often a prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination. Not necessarily only the first advanced training is promoted, but in principle an advanced training. Those who have already completed a self-financed advanced training course do not lose their entitlement to funding as a result.
  • If a further training goal has already been funded under the AFBG, preparation for a further further training goal within the meaning of the AFBG is funded if the intended further training goal builds on the further training goal already achieved. This is the case in particular if a further training goal at the next further training level within the meaning of Section 53a of the Vocational Training Act or Section 42a of the Crafts Code is being pursued. Funding can be provided once for all three levels in succession if the further training goal being pursued builds on the training goal already achieved. This is particularly the case if a further training goal is aimed for at the next further training level (i.e. sequence DQR 5 - DQR 6 - DQR 7, but not first DQR 7 and then DQR 6).

Only courses offered by certified providers with a corresponding quality assurance system are eligible for funding.

Procedure

The application must be submitted in writing or electronically (see under online procedure) to the relevant Office for Educational Support. If not all required documents have been submitted by the applicant for a decision on the application, the Office for Educational Support will contact the applicant and ask for the submission of the missing documents. Other authorities are generally not involved.

Deadlines

The measure contribution must be applied for by the end of the measure or measure section at the latest. The maintenance contribution is paid from the beginning of the month in which the lessons actually start, but at the earliest from the beginning of the month of application.

Processing time

The processing time or the total lead time between the application and the issuance of the approval notice should be expected to be approx. 6 to 8 weeks.

Required documents

  • Number and type of documents required depends on personal circumstances and type of training

    For example, the following documents may be required:

    • Information on income and assets
    • Declaration of the spouse/registered partner
    • Additional sheet for foreigners
    • Certificate of attendance of a further education institution / participation in a distance learning course / media-supported course
    • Proof of regular course attendance from an educational institution
    • Form to prove the actual material costs incurred for the master craftsman's examination project / practical work
    • Confirmation of the admission requirements

Forms

  • Form, Bavaria-wide: Aufstiegs-BAföG - Antragsformulare
    Please note

    This form has to be signed and sent to the responsible authority. You can sign the form manually and send it by email/fax or sign the form electronically with your qualified electronic signature an send it by (secure) email. If the responsible authority has set up a De-Mail account, you can also send the form by De-Mail using an sender-confirmed message.

Online procedures

  • Aufstiegs-BAföG online

    This service supports you by helping you to enter your application data and checks it for completeness and plausibility. If you have an ID card with activated electronic proof of identity, you can send the forms and the documents to be enclosed electronically to the competent authority.

  • AFBG Digital

    AFBG Digital gives you the option of creating, editing and sending your AFBG application electronically in a straightforward manner via the internet browser on your PC or tablet. You must log in with your BundID.

Fees

  • none

Legal bases

Remedy

Opposition procedure (optional); filing an opposition

Option to choose between filing an opposition and direct legal action

Links to more information

Related issues

Status:29.11.2023

Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

  • Online transactions, Bavaria-wide
  • Online transactions, locally limited
  • Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Form, locally limited
  • Prefillable Form, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, Bavaria-wide
  • Legal bases, locally limited
  • Fees, Bavaria-wide
  • Fees, locally limited
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