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Education subsidy

What is the education subsidy?

The education subsidy exists in North Rhine-Westphalia to attract more employees and business to professional further education. Half the private and business further education expenses are subsidised by the education subsidy, with up to €500* at the most though. What is important is the amount shown on the education subsidy document.


Who and what is funded?

Further education courses are funded that serve as professional qualifications and foster employability. The qualification content may for example include language and ICT courses, acquiring key qualifications, media literacy or learning and working techniques. Employees can personally use the education subsidy for their professional further education but SMEs with 250 employees who want to support their staff with further education can also make use of it. Entrepreneurs and the self-employed also have the opportunity to use the education subsidy in the first five years after starting up.

People who are assumed to be at high risk of unemployment can even apply for an education subsidy every year:

  • Older people aged 50 and over 
  • People with no professional qualifications
  • People who have not been working in the job they originally trained in for at least four years
  • Employees with temporary contracts
  • People returning to work
  • Employees with fixed term contracts

Since March 2015

The education subsidy funding has been reorganised as part of the new ESF funding phase. From 2015 it is aimed specifically at immigrants, the unskilled and semi-skilled workers, employees without any professional qualifications and people returning to work.

Immigrants can plug their gaps in qualifications and have the professional qualifications they acquired abroad recognised. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers can repeat their professional qualification with the education subsidy funding. The employees themselves benefit from this but companies do too of course.

The most important thing about funding (from January 2015):

  • The education subsidy exists in NRW for further education courses where the course fee is at least €500.
  • People whose annual taxable income does not exceed €30,000 (€60,000 with joint income) may be considered.
  • Employees with an annual taxable income of up to €20,000 (€40,000 with joint income) receive a state education voucher with a maximum subsidy of €500 (50 per cent of the course costs of €1,000 at the most).

How much can I save?

If the education subsidy is accepted by the further education provider, the state of NRW takes over 50 per cent of the course fees - €500* at the most per education subsidy. The education subsidy can be applied for annually during a consultation.


How does the education subsidy work?

It starts with a detailed and free consultation. Anyone interested and companies throughout the state are informed about suitable further education courses in the region by roughly 175 information centres (for example, chambers of commerce and adult education centres, business development agencies and education networks).

Following the consultation, you receive your education subsidy which you can use to educate yourself further at inlingua Cologne. You can use your education subsidy for all the language courses and further education, except one-to-one training or coaching, at inlingua Cologne.

*Note: Education subsidies that were issued before 31.10.14 for a funding total of up to €2,000 can still be cashed in and used.

Any further questions?

We would be happy to help you with any further questions regarding funding options and professional development offers. Just give us a call on 0221 2575790 or organise a personal consultation appointment with us directly in our inlingua language centre.

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