What Bildungsurlaub is - and who is entitled
In Germany, employees have a legal right to paid leave for further education (Bildungsurlaub / Bildungsfreistellung). Many use it for a language week abroad: your week of Italian with us becomes paid professional training.
Who is entitled: employees, usually after 6 months of employment, typically 5 days a year, combinable into 10 days over two years (so one or two course weeks). The right exists in 14 of the 16 federal states (not in Bavaria and Saxony).
In many cases the course cost is also tax-deductible as a professional expense (Werbungskosten): check with your tax adviser.
The week format
30 lessons per week - 6 lessons of 45 minutes per day, Monday to Friday (5 consecutive days), as the German standard for language education weeks requires.
For Bildungsurlaub the format is the group course (you join a class): this is the format recognized by the German federal states. General or thematic Italian (work, professional field). All levels, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C2): level test before you start. Campuses: Milan, Florence, Mantua, Turin. Individual tuition is available separately, but does not count as Bildungsurlaub.
At the end of the week you receive an attendance certificate with CEFR level, hours and dates, to present to your employer.
How to apply, in 3 steps
1 · Choose and book
Choose campus, dates and format and enroll. We give you straight away the two documents you need: the enrollment confirmation and the course recognition certificate (Anerkennungsbescheid).
2 · Notify your employer
Submit the two documents to your employer in good time: usually 4 to 8 weeks before the start (Bildungsurlaub cannot be claimed retroactively).
3 · Come and study
Take your intensive week in Italy. At the end of the course you receive the attendance certificate to give to your employer.
The four cities
Milan
International hub, in the center near the Duomo. Ideal for those working in business and fashion.
Florence
17th-century Piarist campus, with a park and on-site residence. Art, history and total immersion.
Mantua
UNESCO Renaissance city, the most 'English-free' of the four: real immersion.
Turin
An industrious, elegant city, a more mature profile, lower cost of living. Substance, not scenery.
Stay on campus (summer, Florence and Mantua)
In summer (late July and August) our campuses in Florence and Mantua free up: you can take the Bildungsurlaub week and stay on campus - lessons, meals and room in one place. In Milan and Turin accommodation is in the city (host family or shared apartment). This is the advantage the German providers, who place students in host families scattered across the city, cannot offer.
Prices
All the options below are the same Bildungsurlaub week (30 lessons, recognized format): only how you attend changes.
In a group (you join a class): 490 EUR per week, 880 EUR for 2 weeks.
Closed company group (your employer sends several staff, dedicated class, from 4 people): 440 EUR per person (larger groups on request). Still Bildungsurlaub: each employee uses their own days.
For all options: + 80 EUR enrollment fee (one-off). Accommodation on request: 215 EUR per week (campus residence in Florence and Mantua, or shared apartment in Milan and Turin) + 40 EUR fixed fee.
Frequently asked questions
Who is entitled to Bildungsurlaub?
Employees in Germany, usually after 6 months of employment. The right exists in 14 of the 16 federal states (not in Bavaria and Saxony). Part-time workers are also entitled, usually in proportion to their hours.
How many days do I have?
Usually 5 days a year, combinable into 10 days over two years: so you can cover one or two course weeks.
By when must I apply to my employer?
In good time, usually 4 to 8 weeks before the start. Bildungsurlaub cannot be claimed retroactively, so plan ahead.
Does a course in Italy count as Bildungsurlaub?
Yes, language courses abroad are recognized if they meet the format (5 consecutive days, 30 lessons per week). We offer it in the right format and provide the documents.
Which documents do I need?
The enrollment confirmation and the course recognition certificate (Anerkennungsbescheid) for your federal state: we provide both. The attendance certificate is added at the end of the course.
Can I bring my partner or family?
Yes. Bildungsurlaub applies to the entitled employee, but those traveling with you can also enroll or simply stay with you.
Recognition by federal state - in progress
We are obtaining official recognition of the course in the main German federal states. Bildungsurlaub does not exist in Bavaria and Saxony; in all the others it can be claimed. Write us the Land where you work: we confirm the recognition status and prepare the correct documents for your application.
Tell us your federal state
Write us your Land and the dates you have in mind: we tell you whether the course is already recognized there, prepare your quote (individual, group or company) and provide the documents for the application.