The AFBG Act (Promotion of Advanced Training), popularly known as the Meister-Bafög, is regularly reformed. The last time the subsidy rates for the Meisterbafög were increased was on 1 August 2016, for all those wishing to continue their training as technicians or business economists can apply for it. Especially families should be helped but also the students. The Career Bible tells you how you can get Master Bafög.
Requirements for the AFBG
According to the government, 170,000 people use it every year. The aim of the funding is to create more incentives for further training (especially beyond the universities) and to encourage start-ups in order to provide training places themselves as employers.
The Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz (AFBG) promotes craftsmen and other skilled workers who want to train to become master craftsmen or industrialists, technicians, business economists or state-certified educators.
The promotion is granted partly as a grant and partly as a low-interest loan by KfW. There is no age limit for this. Meister-Bafög also Ascent-Bafög can also be obtained by persons without a completed vocational training.
Prerequisite is several years of professional experience and the desired degree is based on the existing professional experience.
Also foreigners can be promoted under certain conditions with Meister-Bafög:
– Permanent residence in Germany.
– Existing residence title/permanent residence permit.
– They have been recognised as staying in Germany for 15 months and have been gainfully employed.
Who is entitled to Master Bafög?
Anyone who has completed vocational training or has a comparable vocational qualification can claim funding. Also Bachelor – Students as well as dropouts can apply for Meister-Bafög. However, the desired degree must be above the level of a skilled worker, journeyman, assistant or vocational school certificate. These are the following professions:
– banking specialist
– software developers
– master dental technician
– master baker
– environmental consultant
– educators
– controller
– marketing specialist
– specialist nurse
– industrial specialist
– company IT specialist
– office administrator
Further training may be full-time, part-time, distance learning, school-based or extracurricular. However, there are certain conditions for this training in order to ensure quality:
– Minimum duration – 400 lessons
– Full time – at least 25 lessons on 4 working days per month not longer than 3 years.
– Part-time – at least 18 lessons per month not longer than 4 years.
– Distance learning is promoted as a part-time measure.
– Media-supported courses will be supported if they are rounded off by mandatory media-supported communication lasting more than 400 hours. Regular performance reviews are needed.
Meister-Bafög – The Services
Applicants will receive the following services from Meister Bafög:
a.)Maintenance contribution
– The subsidy rate for singles – 768 euros per month. Of these, EUR 333 are loans, the remainder being KfW loans.
– Single parents receive a total subsidy rate of 1,003 euros,
– Married with 1 child get 1.360 Euro
– Married couples with 2 children currently receive 1,473 euros.
– Families with children receive 55 percent more per child, for the others (participants, spouses) 50 percent more. A married person with 2 children receives a grant of 711 Euro. Single parents receive an additional childcare supplement of 130 euros per month, irrespective of their income.
2.) subsidy
The maximum subsidy for the Training course and also examination costs is 15,000 euros. The subsidy for the “masterpiece” is 2,000 euros.
3.) performance bonus
There is a success bonus of 40 percent for successfully passing the final examination. This means that 40 percent of the loan is waived for course and examination costs.
4.) college students
Bachelor graduates receive support if they want to take a master class or conduct a comparable advanced training course. University dropouts are also supported.
5.)Tax allowances
The capital allowances amount to around 45,000 euros per participant. Spouses and children are granted property allowances of 2,100 euros. The income allowances – grantees have 290 euros free per month.
One can apply for the master Bafög at the responsible official office in the respective federal state. Do it in time to meet your financial obligations.