Germany Boosts Vocational Training Funding to €22,000 as Student BAföG Stalls
Published on 07/19/2026 at 20:13 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Vocational students aiming for master craftsman, technician or specialist qualifications will soon receive significantly more financial support from the German government — but those heading to university cannot expect a similar lift. Under a planned reform of the Aufstiegs-BAföG (advanced training funding), the maximum grant-and-loan package will rise to €22,000, while the regular student BAföG stays flat, Research Minister Dorothee Bär confirmed in early June.
The overhaul increases eligible course and examination fees from €15,000 to €18,000. Anyone passing their exam will now have 60 percent of their loan written off, up from 50 percent. For materials needed to create a masterwork piece, candidates can claim up to €4,000. A monthly child?care supplement will climb to €160. Officials say the changes are designed to substantially lower the financial barrier to career advancement.
The German Handicrafts Association (ZDH) broadly welcomed the financial boost but called for further improvements, particularly in streamlining bureaucracy and covering specialised further training. The reform arrives as the handicrafts sector continues growing: in the first six months of 2026, 67,800 new apprenticeship contracts were signed nationwide — a 4.9 percent increase year?on?year. Yet around 20,460 positions remained unfilled, underlining the persistent skilled?labour shortage.
While the government pushes ahead with vocational funding, student BAföG remains frozen. Minister Bär stated in early June that she no longer expects an increase, despite previous coalition promises. The contrast has drawn criticism from education?policy observers who note that both university and vocational training are vital for Germany’s future workforce.
Alongside the reformed Aufstiegs-BAföG, other support instruments will be available in 2026. The Qualifizierungsgeld offers income replacement of 60 to 67 percent during training, education vouchers can cover costs, and funding under the Social Code is an option. Regional bodies such as the NBank in Lower Saxony provide additional programmes, though their focus remains on home ownership and modernisation, not vocational training. Concrete pathways exist at specific institutions: in mid?August, a two?year full?time programme for state?certified vehicle?technology technicians — classed at level six of the German Qualifications Framework — begins in Leipzig, fully eligible for the new funding.
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