What is Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit)?
Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) is a legal entitlement in many German federal states, allowing employees to take paid time off work (typically 5 days, or could extend to 10 days) for further education and professional development.
Language courses count as recognised training because they improve your communication skills, confidence in an international environment and long-term career prospects.
Frances King is an approved English language school for Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) ‘Educational Leave’ courses.
Our intensive English courses of 30 lessons / week (25 hours) are designed to meet the Bildungsulaub (Bildungszeit) requirements:
- Structured, full-time tuition to improve your English language skills: speaking & communication, grammar & vocabulary, listening & pronunciation, reading & writing.
- Additional afternoon modules such as: Business English, Exam preparation (IELTS), English for You!
- Clear learning objectives
- Weekly start dates
- Courses designed to suit all levels of English
- Qualified and experienced teachers
- Confirmation documents to support your Bildungsurlaub application
Use your Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) in the UK to improve your professional English skills, strengthen your CV and gain confidence for international work.
Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) Eligibility
You can apply if you:
- Have worked for your employer in Germany for at least 6 months
- Apply at least 6 weeks before your course start date
- Attend a recognised Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) institution, like Frances King.
Your employer can only refuse in limited situations (e.g. small companies or operational conflicts).
Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) length of study
- Full-time employees: 5 days per year of continuous study
- Part-time employees: Proportional entitlement
- Combine 2 years and take 10 days Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) in London (example: Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) from 2026 + 2027 to attend a 10-day English course in London).
- Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) is in addition to holiday entitlement and public holidays
How to Apply for Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit)
- Choose your 5 or 10-day Intensive General English course (25 hours/week) and dates.
- Apply in writing to your employer (who has 2 weeks to respond).
- Contact us for official course documentation.
- Submit your application to your employer.
- Once approved, book your course at Frances King, in the following ways:
We have many years’ experience in supporting students from across Germany and our professional team at Frances King will guide you step by step, or we can put you in contact with one of our Authorised Partners in Germany who can also help you.
Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) Recognition by Federal State
| State |
Programme at Frances King |
Valid until* |
| Berlin |
5 or 10-day Intensive General English (25 hours / week) |
07/06/2029 |
| Brandenburg |
10/06/2027 |
| Bremen |
29/09/2026 |
| Hamburg |
Covered by accreditations
from all other German states |
| Hessen |
22/09/2026 |
| Niedersachsen |
31/12/2027 |
| Rheinland-Pfalz |
16/02/2027 |
| Saxony will offer Bildungsurlaub from 2027
State without Bildungsurlaub: Bavaria
*Recognition status is regularly updated |
You will find all our updated recognitions here.
These are also all the websites of the Federal States where our Bildungsurlaub (Bildungszeit) is published:
