Funding Opportunities
You are interested in training or further education at the Institute for EEG Neurofeedback IFEN. But what funding options are available? We have put together a selection here. Whether you can benefit from them depends on various factors and criteria of the respective funding institution.
Funding opportunities overview
On the website of the employment agency you will find an overview of all funding opportunities in Germany:
» to the overview at the employment agency
Nationwide funding
Funding through the Federal Education Premium Programme
The federal education premium makes it easier to finance individual, job-related further training. It includes the premium voucher and the savings voucher:
With the bonus voucher, the state covers half of the event fees*, up to a maximum of 500 euros. Those interested in further training therefore only pay part of the costs.
To apply for a reward voucher, you must
- be employed for at least 15 hours per week or be on parental or care leave and
- have a taxable income of a maximum of 20.000 euros (40.000 euros if jointly assessed).
You can use the savings voucher if you have subsidized savings under the Capital Formation Act. It allows you to withdraw saved funds early without losing the employee savings allowance.
What is supported by the education premium?
The education premium generally supports further training measures that are relevant to the current or future professional activity and that impart important knowledge and skills or expand competencies. This ranges from courses for a PC program to compact language courses to subject-specific training, such as a basic course for start-ups.
Is the education bonus also an option for you? The Preliminary check!
Get a reward voucher at a counseling center near you
A personal consultation is always required to receive a bonus or savings voucher. The consultation is free of charge for you.
Find the nearest advice center at: www.bildungspraemie.info/beratungsstellen.
For the consultation you need
- a valid identity card or another official photo ID (e.g. passport, driving license),
- an Proof of employment (e.g. pay slips - for self-employed persons e.g. annual financial statements, tax assessment) and
- an Income tax assessment for the last or penultimate calendar year.
Redeem the reward voucher with us
You can register with us using the bonus voucher. You only pay part of the costs. We take care of the rest.
The Federal Education Premium Programme is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Social Fund.
Further information and contact:
www.facebook.com/bildungspraemie
Free hotline: 0800 -26 23 000
Email: bildungspraemie@buergerservice.bund.de
*Note: For events taking place in the federal states of Brandenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein, bonus vouchers can only be used if the event fees do not exceed 1.000 euros. In the case of distance learning, the provider's headquarters is considered the place of implementation.
Important: Get advice first, then register!
Counseling centers at a glance
Funding opportunities by federal state
Baden-Württemberg
Funding program for specialist courses
With the support of the European Social Fund (ESF), the state of Baden-Württemberg promotes specialist courses for continuing vocational education by subsidising participation fees. The specialist courses offered must impart knowledge, skills and abilities for professional adaptation to technical developments, successful management or the further development of specialist knowledge typical of the profession.
Who is funded?
Employees from legally independent small and medium-sized companies, entrepreneurs, freelancers, people returning to work, people wanting to start a business and trainers. It is no longer possible to apply because the funds for this program have been exhausted.
Amount of funding: Funding is provided in the form of a subsidy of 30 percent of the participation fee.
Information: European Social Fund in Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria
Promoting continuing professional training for employees, particularly those from small and medium-sized enterprises
In terms of content, the continuing education projects must meet current technical, professional and methodological requirements and take into account new job profiles and market-relevant certificates.
Who is funded?
Employees, particularly those from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The focus is on imparting current professional standards or acquiring qualifications and other sought-after profiles in areas related to the industry and the company.
Amount of funding: Funding is provided in the form of a grant. The amount of funding is up to 50 percent of eligible expenses.
Information: Bavarian State Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Family and Integration (PDF)
Berlin
Educational leave
Employees are entitled to paid time off from work to attend recognized events for political education and/or professional development.
Who is funded?
All Berlin employees and trainees have a legal right to this, regardless of their age. Educational leave is ten working days within a period of two consecutive calendar years. Employees up to the age of 25 are entitled to ten working days per calendar year.
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary
Information: Educational leave Berlin
Brandenburg
Education voucher, promotion of individual qualification for employees
With the new "Brandenburg Education Voucher", the state is funding professional training courses that cost more than 715 euros and are completed by March 31.3.2015, XNUMX at the latest. Only one training voucher will be issued in the current calendar year. It cannot be split between several courses.
Who is funded?
Persons who are employed and subject to social insurance contributions and whose main residence is in the state of Brandenburg are eligible to apply.
Amount of funding: The education voucher covers a maximum of 70 percent of the course fees. There is no maximum funding limit. The training must initially be paid for out of pocket and the costs will be reimbursed after completion of the course.
Information: State Agency for Structure and Employment Brandenburg or Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Women and Family
Bremen
Bremen further education check
The “Bremen Further Education Voucher” promotes job-related further education. There are grants for courses and seminars that impart knowledge, skills or practical abilities. Further education offers that help to better reconcile family and work are also included.
Who is funded?
Applicants must live or work in Bremen, and companies must be registered in the state. Employees, self-employed people and job seekers with a maximum gross annual income of 25.600 euros are eligible.
Amount of funding: The maximum funding limit is 500 euros per year. The state of Bremen pays up to 50 percent of the training costs, the rest must be paid by the applicant or their employer. For people without completed vocational training, up to 70 percent of the costs are covered.
Information: City of Bremen
Hamburg
Educational leave and further training bonus
Professional training – for example during educational leave – is intended to help employees maintain, improve or expand their professional qualifications and mobility. The Hamburg training bonus also promotes professional training and qualifications.
Who is funded?
All workers, employees and trainees whose main place of work is in Hamburg have the right to a maximum of ten paid working days within two years to attend recognized events. The target group of the continuing education bonus is employees of small and medium-sized companies, with the focus being on low-skilled workers, people with a migrant background, employees on parental leave and single parents. Civil servants and public sector employees are excluded.
Amount of funding: 50 to 100 percent of the training costs are funded, but a maximum of 1.500 euros. Depending on the target group, the personal contribution can be up to 50 percent.
Information: Educational leave Hamburg and PUNKT Education Management
Hessen
Educational leave
Employees in Hesse are entitled to educational leave. They are entitled to be released from work in order to attend a recognized political education event or professional training course.
Who is funded?
Employees, trainees, home workers and those on equal terms who work in Hesse are entitled to educational leave.
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary for up to five working days
Information: Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Educational leave
The seminars within the framework of the educational leave are intended to serve the purpose of professional or socio-political further training or to qualify for voluntary work.
Who is funded?
Employees whose main place of work is Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can be released from their duties for five days per year.
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary
Information: Ministry of Labour, Equality and Social Affairs
Lower Saxony
Individual further education in Lower Saxony (IWiN)
In Lower Saxony, projects to strengthen the continuing education infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises and to provide professional training for individual employees are funded by state funds and funds from the European Social Fund (ESF). Individual continuing education measures must be oriented across companies, provide qualifications that are generally usable on the labor market, contribute to structural change and relate to the imparting of technical skills, social skills or methodological skills.
Who is funded?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with headquarters or permanent establishment in Lower Saxony
Amount of funding: Funding is provided in the form of a grant of up to 20 euros per hour and participant.
Information: IWiN
Nordrhein-Westfalen
Education vouchers
With the support of the European Social Fund (ESF), North Rhine-Westphalia provides grants for higher-level vocational training for employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 250 employees.
Who is funded?
Individual employees residing in North Rhine-Westphalia and small and medium-sized companies with a maximum of 250 employees subject to social insurance contributions and with a business location in North Rhine-Westphalia. In order to claim education vouchers, advice from an education advisory center is required.
Amount of funding: Funding is provided in the form of a grant of 50 percent up to 2.000 euros towards the training costs.
Information: Ministry of Labour, Integration and Social Affairs NRW
Rheinland-Pfalz
QualiCheck
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate promotes the participation of employees of all ages in individual further training measures through training vouchers (QualiScheck). The aim is to maintain and expand the professional knowledge and skills of employees and to adapt them to technical developments or to make a contribution to their professional advancement.
Who is funded?
Applicants must be registered in Rhineland-Palatinate or work there. Those who are marginally employed, small business owners, freelancers and public sector employees are also eligible.
Amount of funding: The state of Rhineland-Palatinate will cover up to 50 percent of the costs for further training, the rest must be paid for by each participant themselves. The training must be completed by the end of 2014. The maximum funding limit for the grant is 500 euros per year. The training must initially be paid for out of pocket and the costs are reimbursed after completion of the course.
Information: Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Demography
Saarland
Educational leave
Exemption may be granted for events of political and professional development.
Who is funded?
Employees, civil servants, judges and trainees, mainly in Saarland, are entitled to up to six days' leave per year for professional or political training.
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary for a maximum of three working days
Information: Ministry of Education and Culture
Saxony
Further Education Check Saxony
With the support of the European Social Fund (ESF), the Free State of Saxony promotes employment policy projects, including projects for in-company and professional training. Since May 2010, the state has been awarding educational vouchers for professional training.
Since August 2012, unemployed non-benefit recipients have also been receiving support to improve their career opportunities.
Who is funded?
Employees who do not exceed certain income limits or unemployed non-benefit recipients with their main residence in Saxony are eligible to apply.
Amount of funding: Employees with a gross income of no more than EUR 2.500 receive 80 percent of the training costs. Employees with an income between EUR 2.500 and EUR 4.150 receive 50 percent of the costs if they meet at least one of the following requirements: over 50 years of age; part-time, fixed-term or temporary work; with a first academic degree. Unemployed non-benefit recipients are reimbursed 80 percent of the costs, whereby the costs of the training must be at least EUR 650. The following applies to both target groups: the training must initially be paid for out of pocket and the costs are reimbursed after completion of the course. Training vouchers can generally only be applied for for projects that end by the end of September 2014 at the latest.
Information: Saxon Development Bank – Promotional Bank – (SAB) and bildungsmarkt-sachsen.de
Saxony-Anhalt
Educational leave
In Saxony-Anhalt, employees are entitled to five days of paid special leave per year for professional training.
Who is funded?
All employees who work in Saxony-Anhalt, except civil servants, judges, soldiers and those doing community service. The employer can refuse special leave if there are urgent operational reasons against it.
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary by the employer.
Information: Landesverwaltungsamt Sachsen-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein
Educational leave
The Schleswig-Holstein Further Education Act guarantees the right of every person to further education and includes general, political and vocational education equally.
Who is funded?
All employees in Schleswig-Holstein
Amount of support: continued payment of wages or salary for up to five working days
Information: State Government of Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia
Educational leave
A right to educational leave is to be passed by law in Thuringia. In the future, employees will be able to take five days off per year for educational measures: for work-related further training and for socio-political education.
Who should be supported?
Employees, trainees and home workers who have been employed for at least six months and whose place of work is in Thuringia or whose employer has its registered office in Thuringia.
Amount of planned support: Paid educational leave for up to five days per year
Information: Thuringian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
As of 05.06.2014 - Source: Employment Agency
Funding opportunities Austria
Upper Austria
50% funding for Educational measures of the IFEN by the state of Upper Austria.
Lower Austria
IFEN certified by the OFFICE OF THE LOWER AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT.
Education support
Information and application for Lower Austria education funding