Advanced training grant: Fewer recipients, but a higher amount of funding

30 years of the Advanced Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegs-BAföG): In 2025, 186.100 people in Germany received funding. This is slightly fewer than in the previous year. On average, recipients received a grant of €5.200.

The number of people receiving government funding for their professional development, such as master craftsmen, technicians, certified specialists, or educators, declined slightly in 2025. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 186.100 people received funding under the Advanced Vocational Training Promotion Act (AFBG) – better known as the "Advanced Training BAföG" – last year . This was 3.600 fewer recipients than the previous year, representing a decrease of 1,9 percent. At the same time, the total amount of funding approved increased by 1,9 percent to approximately €1,1 billion.

The Federal Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegs-BAföG) is granted partly as a grant and partly as a loan.

The Federal Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegs-BAföG) is granted partly as a subsidy and partly as a loan. In 2025, recipients received an average subsidy of €5.200 , which was €100 more than in the previous year. In addition, loans averaging €1.800 per person were approved, also €100 more than the previous year. This funding covers course and examination fees, living expenses, childcare, and material costs for a master craftsman's examination project.

Questions about career advancement funding: The Federal Ministry of Education and Research provides a question and answer catalog on the Federal Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegs-BAföG) . There are also several explanatory videos.

The Federal Training Assistance Act (Aufstiegs-BAföG) has existed for 30 years. The number of recipients has increased significantly since then: in 1997, 49,300 people received funding through the program. By 2025, this number had risen to 186.100. Early childhood educators make up one-third of those receiving funding.

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The proportion of women has been steadily increasing since the program's introduction. In 1997, 17 percent of those receiving funding were female; by 2025, this figure had risen to 42 percent. 

Source: Federal Statistical Office (Destatis)

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