Bildungsurlaub en Alemania

Bildungsurlaub in Germany

What is the “Bildungsurlaub” Program?

The Bildungsurlaub is a program in which German employees can take 5 additional days of paid vacation per year, or 10 days in 2 years. It is a program recognized by the German government and is valid in 12 regions of Germany (Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein). Employees who live and work in these communities can solicit Bildungsurlaub.

The program requires that the employee use these vacation days for continuing learning courses related to their profession. Each region has a list of recognized courses and among them are Spanish courses. The course must be at least 6 hours per day and 5 days per week. The recognition of a course in one region can be valid for other regions, as in the case of Hessen, a region which accepts the courses recognized by the Hamburg region.

żCan I follow the “Bildungsurlaub” Program with an Escuela Internacional Spanish course?

Yes, you can register for the following Escuela Internacional courses in Spain recognized under the Bildungsurlaub program.

1. Hamburg (and Hessen): Intensive Course, Summer Intensive Course and DELE Exam Preparation Course.
2. Berlin, Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein: Intensive Course and Summer Intensive Course

ż How should I register for an Escuela Internacional course with the “Bildungsurlaub” program?

If you have been working for longer than 6 months in a company which is located within a region that recognizes the Bildungsurlaub law, you just follow these steps:

1. You must inform your superiors of your intention to take vacation days under “Bildungsurlaub” at least 6 weeks before the start of the course. You must tell them the exact dates, duration and the type of course you wish to follow. You can choose between 5 or 10 days (as long as you haven’t followed a Bildungsurlaub course program the previous year).
2. Register for the Intensive Course or the Summer Intensive Course (or DELE Preparation Course for Hambourg) with Escuela Internacional in Alcalá de Henares, Salamanca, or Málaga. Let the school know that you are intending to solicit the Bildungsurlaub program.
3. Escuela Internacional will send you a Course Confirmation to show your company.
4. At the end of the course you will receive a certificate with the dates of the course you attended, and if you present the Bildungsurlaub form it will be signed at the school.

Please contact us for more information about the Bildungsurlaub program. We would be happy to send you any additional information you may need.