Bildungsurlaub: a week that belongs to you.

Yes, in 14 out of 16 federal states, employees have a legal right to paid time off for recognized training. In nine of them you get 5 days per calendar year based on a five-day week, and in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Rhineland-Palatinate 10 days over two years instead. Whether full-time, part-time, or temporary: Bildungszeit shows you your entitlement in just a few clicks.

All federal states except Bavaria have educational leave laws — though under different names and with varying deadlines. Saxony passed a law in 2026 (effective 2027). Bildungszeit knows each state's specifics and only shows you courses recognized in your state.

Educational leave is a legal entitlement — your employer may only refuse in narrowly defined exceptional cases, such as urgent operational needs. In seven states, if the employer doesn't respond in time, the application is considered approved. The application you create through Bildungszeit is formally correct and references your state's legal basis.

In many states, no. There, you can freely choose the topic within the recognized types of education: language courses, health courses, or political education can be just as valid as professional training. The key requirement is that the course is recognized as Bildungsurlaub in your state. On Bildungszeit, you'll find only recognized offerings, filtered by your state.

During educational leave, you continue to receive your full salary — you only need to cover the course fees yourself. Many courses are tax-deductible, and depending on your state, additional funding programs are available. On Bildungszeit, you see costs transparently for every course and can compare offerings directly.

You choose a recognized course, compile the documents, and submit the application to your employer on time. Sounds complicated? Bildungszeit guides you through the entire process in about 15 minutes — from the right course to the finished, formally correct employer application.