Leaving school or graduating from higher education doesn't necessarily mean the end of your education in Germany. Indeed, even if you don't have any formal qualifications, there are plenty of options for continuing education in Germany, for people who want to pick up a new skill or further their careers.
Adult education in Germany
Adult education enables older people to improve and update their general, vocational, political or academic knowledge, pick up new skills and abilities, and find better-paying jobs or transition into new sectors.
In 2022, around 60% of all people aged between 25 and 64 were pursuing some sort of formal or informal adult education or training in Germany, according to Eurostat.
Continuing education is offered by multiple institutions in Germany, including:
- Adult education centres (Volkshochschulen)
- Public libraries and music schools
- Private instutitions
- Church institutions
- Trade unions
- Chambers of industry and commerce
- Universities
- Distance learning institutions
Adult education centres (Volkshochschule)
There are more than 900.000 adult education centres in Germany (Volkshochschulen), making them by far the largest providers of adult education in the country. These centres are supported by local governments and offer courses covering a multitude of topics, centred around seven key programme areas:
- Languages and German as a second language
- Health
- Culture and creativity
- Politics, society and the environment
- Work and career
- Basic education
- School-leaving qualifications
You can browse courses on the VHS website. A growing number are offered in English.
MBA programs in Germany
For people who want to take their career to the next level, there are a large number of business schools and universities in Germany that offer MBA programs. Germany is one of the most popular locations in the world for completing an MBA, as it is home to one of the globe's strongest economies and is a leader in the automotive and electrical industries. Browse MBA programs in Germany on our website.
Coding & programming courses in Germany
Demand for employees with skills in tech - everything from programming and web development to data analytics and data engineering - is at a record high, both in Germany and the rest of the world. If you're thinking of transitioning into a career in tech, check out our selection of some of the best coding and programming bootcamps in Germany, which are taught in English.
Paid educational leave (Bildungsurlaub)
In 14 of the 16 German federal states, employees have a legal right to attend continuing education courses for up to five working days per year with no loss in earnings, provided certain conditions are fulfilled. This time off is known as paid educational leave (Bildungsurlaub).
Funding continuing education in Germany
There are multiple options for funding further education courses in Germany, including: