Further education after graduation mainly comes in five forms. These include a master’s programme, a doctorate, certificate and specialist courses, part-time programmes and practical experience through an internship or traineeship. Which one fits depends on your goal, and there are more ways to fund it than many graduates expect: employers, training vouchers, education loans, scholarships and your tax return.
Key points in brief
- Decide first what you want further training for: deepening your subject, changing field or advancing in your job.
- For career starters, a conversation with your employer often comes first, because they may share the costs and the time.
- The training voucher from the Employment Agency applies to approved courses, and an advisory meeting beforehand is mandatory.
- An education loan at 4.09% effective (as of October 2026) is cheaper than the KfW student loan at 6.38%.
Which further education after graduation is worth considering?
Academic routes such as a master’s and a doctorate come into question, along with shorter certificate courses and practical placements. The table orders them by the goal you are pursuing.
| Option | Suits you if you … | What you should know |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s programme | want to deepen your subject or reorient yourself | Costs time and delays entry into work; also possible part-time |
| Doctorate | want to research or your field expects a doctoral title | Takes 5.1 years on average (as of 2023); a master is usually a prerequisite |
| Certificate or specialist course | want to prove a specific skill | Recognition and benefit depend strongly on industry and provider |
| Internship or traineeship | want to try out a field or look for an entry point | Pay and duration vary widely |
Whether a further qualification is worth it compared with starting work straight away is discussed in the article master or work straight away (in German). For the doctorate, you will find paths, titles and requirements under doctorate in Germany (in German).
Can I do a master part-time alongside work?
Yes, some universities offer master’s programmes part-time, by distance learning or with weekend attendance blocks. You keep working and study on the side, but you need discipline and understanding support around you.
Check before applying how much time per week is realistic and whether your employer will support you. Distance learning has an administrative point: at the FernUniversität in Hagen, for example, you need a digital confirmation from a statutory health insurer about your insurance status before enrolment, even if you are privately insured. The university itself states the costs.
Are certificates worth it after graduation?
Certificates are worth it if they prove a skill that is in demand in your industry and if the provider is well known. A look at current job advertisements shows which qualifications are actually asked for.
If you first want to test what suits you, free starting points can help. Where to find free courses (in German) is covered in a separate article. If your studies are still running, another article shows how to train further alongside your studies (in German).
How do you fund further education?
You can pay for further education through your employer, a training voucher, a loan, a scholarship or your own funds. The student services organisations recommend using loans only as a supplement: BAföG and scholarships take precedence, because they are cheaper.
| Route | For whom | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Working people | Contribution to costs or working hours, negotiable in individual cases |
| Training voucher | Unemployed people and those at risk of unemployment, under conditions also employees | Only approved courses, advice beforehand, voucher usually valid for 1 to 3 months |
| Education loan | Full-time students in an advanced phase, before their 36th birthday | 100, 200 or 300 euros a month, at most 24 months, 4.09% effective (October 2026) |
| KfW student loan | Students aged 18 to 44 | 100 to 650 euros a month, 6.38% effective for contracts from 1 October 2026 |
| Germany Scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium) | Students with achievement and commitment | 300 euros a month, independent of income, awarded through the university |
Further training with a training voucher
The training voucher confirms that the requirements for funding further vocational training are met. It is aimed at unemployed people and those at risk of unemployment; since 1 January 2025, customers of the job centre can also receive it. An advisory meeting is required before the start, at which the agency decides. This is covered in more detail in the article further training with a training voucher (in German), and the Employment Agency also provides the key points.
Costs covered include course fees including examination fees, travel costs and childcare. Training providers and courses must be approved. If you are employed, additional conditions apply: the course goes beyond a short adjustment at the workplace and lasts more than 120 hours, the vocational qualification is usually at least two years old, and there was no funded further training in the last two years. The employer can contribute.
Education loan and KfW student loan for a master’s
For a master’s programme, the federal education loan (Bildungskredit) is an option if you have not yet reached your 36th birthday. There is no income or asset check, and you can receive it alongside BAföG. Interest is deferred until repayment begins; repayment is 120 euros a month, starting four years after the first payment falls due. The interest rate is set every six months. Applications and conditions are available from the Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt).
The KfW student loan is considerably more expensive at 6.38%, but there is no income check and no collateral is required. Current conditions are published by KfW. For scholarships and their requirements, see the article finding a scholarship during your studies (in German).
Deducting further training costs from tax
Costs for a master or another second degree after a completed first training can be claimed as income-related expenses, without an upper limit. If they exceed your income, the tax office determines a loss, which can be carried forward to later years. So collect receipts for semester fees, specialist literature, laptop and travel. How this applies in your case is best clarified with the tax office or a tax adviser.
What applies to health insurance and child benefit during the transition?
With the end of your studies, student health insurance ends. If no other cover applies afterwards, statutory insurance continues automatically as voluntary insurance. If you are privately insured, you only return to statutory insurance in narrow cases, for example through employment subject to social insurance. What happens to your contract after graduation is explained in what happens to your PKV after your studies (in German).
For child benefit, the entitlement is generally linked to training or studies up to age 25. A break of up to four months between two training phases is harmless. For a second training, a limit applies of an average of 20 hours of gainful employment per week. The family benefits office can tell you how it classifies your path; the basics are under child benefit during your studies (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Which further education suits career starters?
For career starters, specialist courses and certificates that relate directly to tasks in the job fit well. Talk to your employer about budget and time off. A master or doctorate is more worthwhile if your career goal requires the qualification.
Can I fund further education with a training voucher?
Yes, if you meet the requirements and the course is approved. The Employment Agency decides case by case after an advisory meeting. Only then do you choose the course and provider.
How do I fund a master’s?
Typical building blocks are savings, a part-time job, a scholarship, the education loan, and a check with the BAföG office on whether funding is possible. The KfW student loan is more expensive and is more of a supplement.
Will I still receive child benefit after graduating?
That depends on what follows graduation. If further training or a degree continues, entitlement can exist up to 25. A break of up to four months between two training phases is harmless. The family benefits office decides on your case.
How to get started now
- Write down what you want to achieve with the further education and by when.
- Compare two or three offers by content, duration, costs and recognition.
- Ask your employer about budget and time off before you pay yourself.
- If you are unemployed or at risk of unemployment, book an advisory meeting with the Employment Agency.
- Clarify health insurance and child benefit before your enrolment ends.
Related reading
- Starting your career after your studies: how to get off to a good start (in German)
- Study loans compared: providers, interest rates and alternatives (in German)
- The best books for students: recommendations for learning and growth (in German)
- Part-time master: taxes, costs and insurance (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice or tax advice. The German version is authoritative.
