Further and advanced training; applying for promotion funding

Participants in advanced vocational training measures (e.g. to become a 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 upgrading vocational training. It takes into account the fact that those who are pre-qualified for vocational training are generally already "in the middle of life", in particular through supplements depending on their family situation, a higher asset exemption and funding without an age limit. It also provides financial support for the costs of measures (course and examination fees) and supports both full-time and part-time advanced training.

Object

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

Under the AFBG, funding is provided for participation in further training measures offered by public or private providers that are specifically geared towards further training qualifications under public law on the basis of Sections 53 to 53d and 54 of the Vocational Training Act or Sections 42 to 42d, 42f, 45, 51a of the Crafts Code, e.g. Certified Professional Specialist, Bachelor Professional, Master Professional. Bankfachwirt(in), Industrie- oder Handwerksmeister(in), Techniker(in), or prepare for an equivalent qualification in accordance with federal or state regulations, for further training in accordance with the further training guidelines of the German Hospital Association or for further training on the basis of state-approved examination regulations at recognized supplementary schools.

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

  • The measure must comprise at least 400 teaching hours (minimum duration).
  • In the case of full-time measures, there must generally be at least 25 teaching hours per week on 4 working days (full-time training density). Full-time training courses may not last longer than three years in total (maximum full-time time frame).
  • In the case of part-time measures, the courses must comprise an average of at least 18 teaching hours per month (part-time training density). Part-time measures may not last longer than four years in total (maximum part-time time frame).
  • This does not apply to measures,
  • The part-time measures are eligible for funding if they include at least 200 teaching hours and are completed within 36 calendar months.
  • Distance learning courses can be funded as part-time measures if they fulfill the general funding requirements of the AFBG and also meet the requirements of the Distance Learning Protection Act.
  • Under certain conditions
  • measures which are partly carried out using electronic media and which are not subject to approval as distance learning under the Distance Learning Protection Act (§ 4a AFBG), if they are supplemented by physical and virtual face-to-face teaching or comparable and binding media-based communication and regular performance reviews are carried out.

Type and amount

A contribution is made towards the costs of the course (measure contribution) and a contribution to cover maintenance requirements (maintenance contribution). The measure contribution includes course and examination fees (excluding material costs) up to EUR 15,000. Funding of 50% of the contribution to the measure is provided as a grant. The maintenance contribution is funded 100% as a grant.

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

Prerequisites

The group of persons entitled to claim is defined in § 8 AFBG.

  • The desired professional qualification must be above the level of a skilled worker, journeyman or assistant examination or a vocational school qualification. A completed initial training is therefore often a prerequisite for admission to the advanced training examination. Funding is not necessarily only available for the first advanced training course, but for all advanced training courses. Anyone who has already completed self-financed advanced training does not lose their entitlement to funding as a result.
  • If a further training objective has already been funded under the AFBG, the preparation for a further further training objective is funded within the meaning of the AFBG if the further training objective pursued builds on the further training objective already achieved. This is particularly the case if a further training objective 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 granted once at all three levels in succession if the further training objective being pursued builds on the training objective already achieved. This is particularly the case if a further training objective 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 online procedure) to the responsible Office for Educational Support. If the applicant has not yet submitted all the necessary documents for the decision on the application, the Office for Educational Support will contact the applicant and ask for the missing documents to be submitted. Other authorities are generally not involved.

Deadlines

The contribution to the measure must be applied for by the end of the measure or section of the measure 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 entire processing time between the application being submitted and the approval notice being issued can be expected to take around 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

Remedy

Opposition procedure (optional); filing an opposition

Choice between filing an objection and bringing an action directly

Links to more information

Status:29.11.2023

Responsible for editing:Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

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  • 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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