For aspiring students who live in Germany, one of the most popular ways to fund your tech bootcamp is a state-sponsored educational voucher called a Bildungsgutschein.
The term ‘Bildungsgutschein’ translates to ‘educational voucher’. The aim of the Bildungsgutschein is to train people with new skills to help them find a job or a new career path. We have helped opera singers, forklift drivers, chefs, vicars, military personnel, and many others move into rewarding tech careers.
In simple terms, this voucher allows you to take a course, tech bootcamp or any other educational program, and have the German state pay for its cost.
The Bildungsgutschein will cover the cost of all academic fees charged by the school you are applying to, for both full- and part-time options.
It does not cover such things as living or travel expenses.
You can use your Bildungsgutschein to apply for all of the bootcamps we currently offer:
The Bildungsgutschein is available only for German residents, meaning you cannot apply for it if you are living abroad. However it is not exclusive to German citizens, meaning you can still apply if you are a foreign national as long as you are living on German territory.
Kurzarbeit (‘short-term work’) is a condition of employment in which your company finds itself in economic distress and is forced to reduce both your working hours and your pay. If your salary is reduced to a point where you are unable to support yourself, the government will step in and compensate, offering you financial support while declaring you officially in Kurzarbeit.
Anyone who has worked for two or more years in Germany with a regular contract will be entitled to one year of financial support under Arbeitslosengeld I (AGL I). If you receive this benefit, you can apply for a Bildungsgutschein.
The Bürgergeld program usually follows on from Arbeitslosengeld I. Someone who has been on the latter scheme for the full year and was unable to find employment in that time will be moved on to Bürgergeld, which performs the same functions of financial support but tends to pay less.
Note that being moved on to the Bürgergeld program also entails being moved on from the Arbeitsagentur to a different unemployment agency called the Jobcenter. Both institutions are able to award educational vouchers.
Your contract will be officially ‘due to expire’ when its fixed term will end in 3 months or less. Similarly, if you have been informed your job is at risk of redundancy, inform the Arbeitsagentur. It’s worth pointing out that it is not very common for an educational voucher to be awarded before one reaches a state of unemployment, but it’s certainly possible to get the ball rolling in the application process.
Pre-book an appointment for a face-to-face consultation online at your local Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter or call on 0800 4 555500.
After you applied with us, we'll provide an offer or Bildungsangebot, for our course.
Time to convince the job agent at the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter to grant you the Bildungsgutschein. On this topic, check out our Bildungsgutschein tips and strategies guide.
Once you have received the Bildungsgutschein from the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter, tell us the good news!
We will happily sign your Bildungsgutschein and participation contract to clear your way.
All your training-related costs are covered. You’re now all set to launch your new programming career at WBS CODING SCHOOL.
Weiskopffstraße 16/17
12459 Berlin
Germany