Study Spanish with a Bildungsurlaub
If you are looking to improve your Spanish language skills while making the most of time off from work, Bildungsurlaub offers the perfect opportunity. This German concept, essentially meaning "educational leave," allows employees to take time off specifically to engage in professional development or personal growth. For many, it’s the ideal way to study Spanish abroad without sacrificing annual leave.
Bildungsurlaub is a unique benefit in many German states, allowing employees to take additional leave for educational purposes. Typically, you’re granted up to five extra days of paid leave per year (ten if you combine two years’ worth) to study a subject relevant to your professional or personal development - language courses included!
States that Don’t Offer Bildungsurlaub
Let’s get this out of the way first: unfortunately, Bavaria and Saxony do not currently offer Bildungsurlaub, so employees in these states aren’t eligible. Additionally, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has a special rule: Bildungsurlaub can only be taken within 500 kilometres of the state’s borders. This unfortunately rules out all of Spain as an option.
How Bildungsurlaub Works in Other States
For residents of Germany's other states, the process is fairly straightforward. Many language schools in Spain offer state-certified courses that are designed to meet the requirements of Bildungsurlaub. This typically means a course with 30 or more lessons per week, which ensures intensive learning. Plus, in some states, you may even be able to take ten days of Bildungsurlaub in a single year by using the next year’s entitlement early.
Spanish Bildungsurlaub Packages
With so much choice, picking a Spanish course is never easy. Which is why we have created some package deals to help you. No hidden costs, just the full price for a Bildungsurlaub with all fees included!
Key requirements for Bildungsurlaub courses
- Certification: The course must be certified as a Bildungsurlaub. In some cases, it’s acceptable if the course is certified by another state.
- Lesson requirements: Courses need a minimum of 30 lessons per week to qualify, guaranteeing that you’re getting enough classroom time to make real progress.
- Full participation: To keep your Bildungsurlaub valid, attendance is mandatory throughout the course. If you do not turn up to classes, you will not receive the certificate at the end, meaning that your employer could revoke your extra vacation days.
Next Steps
The first thing you should do is talk to your employer, and find out what they need from you. You will probably need to provide them with a certificate from the school - we can provide this for you.
Any questions? Please feel free to reach out to us here. We would be happy to help!
