Bildungsgutschein: your bootcamp for free
What is 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, coding bootcamp or any other educational program, and have the German state pay for its cost.
WHAT DOES THE Bildungsgutschein COVER?
The Bildungsgutschein will cover the cost of all academic fees charged by the school you are applying to. It does not cover such things as living or travel expenses, although the Arbeitsargentur may reimburse the cost of our campus residence and travel to Berlin.
Our Admissions Officer will help you with this process if you intend to take that option.
Which bootcamps can be covered by the Bildungsgutschein?
Good news: you can use your Bildungsgutschein to apply for all the bootcamps we currently offer:
This is true for both full- and part-time options. So there is no restriction to the bootcamps you can apply for with a Bildungsgutschein.
Who can apply for a Bildungsgutschein?
A German Resident
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.
You are also either:
An employee on reduced hours
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.
On unemployment benefits
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. If you receive this benefit, you can apply for a Bildungsgutschein.
The Hartz IV program usually follows on from Arbeitslosengeld I. Someone who has been on the latter scheme for the full year (or six months) and was unable to find employment in that time, will be moved on to Hartz IV, which performs the same functions of financial support but tends to pay less.
Note that being moved on to the Hartz IV 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.
At risk of redundancy or your employment contract is due to expire
How do I get a Bildungsgutschein?
- 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.
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Apply on our website. Once you have applied with us successfully, we can provide an official Bildungsangebot, or offer, for our course.
- Not living in Berlin and want to take part in our on-campus phase? Ensure that your agent approves your stay in Berlin and will reimburse the expenses for accommodations and meals on the campus. We can support you with this if necessary.
- You cannot add this to your voucher after it is approved.
- Time to convince the job agent at the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter to grant you the Bildungsgutschein: tell them why you’re so keen on participating in one of our Bootcamps – after all, they want to know if it’s worth funding you. To help you be more successful, read 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.
- Congratulations! All your training-related costs are covered. You’re now all set to launch your new programming career at WBS CODING SCHOOL.
Checklist for your interview
To help take the stress out of preparing for your Bildungsgutschein interview we have prepared this handy list:
- If you don’t speak German, it is advisable to bring someone along with you who can translate during the appointment
- Proof that you are registered in Germany (Anmeldebescheinigung)
- Your up-to-date CV
- List of relevant job ads within the web development field You can take along some screenshots from Monster, Xing, Indeed, LinkedIn or StartupJobs (to name a few)
- Point out that the program takes 15 weeks (at a full-time pace of 40 hours per week)
- On-site element Let them know if you want to take part in the campus phase
- Emphasize our high graduate placement rate Over 40% of our graduates find a tech role within 1 month, and 90% within 6 months