Aufstiegs-BAföG (advancement training assistance)
Aufstiegs-BAföG (AFBG) ·Administered by Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
Aufstiegs-BAföG (AFBG) is BAföG's sibling for professional advancement — not for university degrees. Course and exam fees up to €15,000 are covered half as a grant; the other half is available as an optional KfW loan, of which 50% is waived when you pass the exam. Full-time participants additionally get a means-tested maintenance contribution of up to €1,019 per month, plus €235 for a spouse, €235 per child and €150 childcare per child.
Who qualifies
- Preparing for one of more than 700 advanced qualifications — Meister, Fachwirt, Techniker, Erzieher and more
- Not for university degrees such as bachelor's or master's
- No age limit
- Maintenance contribution only for full-time courses, means-tested
How to apply
Apply via aufstiegs-bafoeg.de, which routes you to the AFBG office of your federal state.
Recent & announced changes
An AFBG reform draft (October 2026) would raise rates by around 8% and lift the grant share from 50% to 60% — not yet law.
Sources
- Wie wird mit dem Aufstiegs-BAföG gefördert? — BMBFSFJ (aufstiegs-bafoeg.de) (retrieved 10 July 2026)
- Aufstiegs-BAföG — BMBFSFJ (aufstiegs-bafoeg.de) (retrieved 10 July 2026)
Last verified 10 July 2026
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