Bildungsurlaub: Meaning, Offers & Why You Should Use It!
Bildungsurlaub – it may sound like a regular holiday at first, but it has a unique twist: it’s all about giving you, as an employee in Germany, the opportunity to participate in recognized training programs while still receiving your salary!
Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Answers to Key Questions About Your Bildungsurlaub
Am I Entitled to Bildungsurlaub?
In 14 out of 16 federal states (excluding Bavaria and Saxony), all employees have a legal right to Bildungsurlaub, regardless of the type of employment contract. This also includes apprentices and dual students. One exception is civil servants, who are often subject to different laws in many federal states. With our Entitlement Checker, you can quickly find out whether and how you can use Bildungsurlaub for your personal development.
How Many Days of Bildungsurlaub Do I Get?
In most federal states, you can use five days per year for Bildungsurlaub. In many cases, you can combine days from two years to attend a longer seminar of 10 days.
These days are designed to give you space for professional and personal development without worrying about your job.
Who Pays for My Bildungsurlaub?
Your salary continues as normal during Bildungsurlaub. Course fees and any accommodation costs are covered by you, but you can deduct them from your taxes. In some cases and in certain federal states, you may even be eligible for financial assistance. Find out here if you are eligible for funding.
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What Qualifies as Bildungsurlaub
From language courses in Spain to online programming courses — as long as the selected educational program is recognized by the relevant authority in your federal state, there’s nothing to stop your learning journey!
The range is huge! Recognized programs include seminars that serve either political or professional education. The subject doesn’t need to be directly related to your job, as seminars that have an indirect impact on your professional performance are also recognized.
Federal States Where Bildungsurlaub is Legally Recognized
Find out which laws apply in your federal state on the info page for your state.
You Might Also Be Interested In
Are you planning to take Bildungsurlaub and wondering if and how you can claim it on your taxes? Here’s everything you need to know.
When you take Bildungsurlaub, your employer continues to pay your salary. However, you cover the costs of the course, travel, and any accommodations yourself. But keep in mind, there are additional funding opportunities. Here’s everything you need to know.
Want to apply for Bildungsurlaub and need persuasive arguments for your employer? In most federal states, Bildungsurlaub is a legal right. Here’s everything you need to know.
We hope this has given you a good overview of the topic of Bildungsurlaub. If you have any further questions, feel free to send us an email.
About The Author
Nils is a digital entrepreneur who combines the digital world with his passion for personal development and work-life balance through meinbildungsurlaub.de. As the initiator of the platform, he wants to to help people achieve their professional and personal goals and promote the topic of Bildungsurlaub.