Germany funds trade training harder than almost any country on earth. Retraining can be fully paid. The Meister course is mostly covered. Here is every major programme, what it pays, and where to apply — all official sources.
The education voucher from the Agentur für Arbeit or Jobcenter. Covers course costs for approved retraining (Umschulung) and further training in full — often plus travel and childcare costs. Ask your case worker (Berufsberatung) before booking anything.
For upgrade training — Meister, Techniker, Fachwirt. Course and exam fees up to €15,000: half as a grant, half as a low-interest KfW loan, and half of that loan is forgiven when you pass. Full-time students also get a maintenance grant of up to €1,019/month that is never repaid. No means test on the course-fee portion, no age limit.
A scholarship for young tradespeople who finished their Ausbildung with strong results — up to €9,135 over three years for further training, from Meister prep to technical courses. Apply through the Kammer that registered your apprenticeship.
If your apprentice pay doesn’t cover living away from home, BAB from the Agentur für Arbeit tops it up — rent, travel, and living costs, calculated on your situation. A grant, not a loan.
Most Bundesländer pay a cash bonus when you pass your Meister exam — on top of Aufstiegs-BAföG, not instead of it. Amounts vary by state (for example NRW and Bavaria pay different rates). Your Handwerkskammer has the current figure for your state.
If you’re employed and your job is changing, the Agentur für Arbeit can fund further training while you stay employed — course costs plus wage subsidies to your employer during training. Ask your employer to raise it with the BA employer service.
| Item | Typical cost | After funding |
|---|---|---|
| Course + exam fees (example: €12,000) | €12,000 | €6,000 grant + €6,000 KfW loan |
| Pass the exam → 50% of the loan forgiven | — | −€3,000 |
| Meisterprämie from your state (varies) | — | −€1,000 to −€4,000 |
| Effective out of pocket | Often roughly €0–€2,000 |
Illustrative only — real figures depend on your course, state, and circumstances. Confirm with aufstiegs-bafoeg.de and your Kammer.