Meisterbonus: Up to €4,000 Bonus After Your Vocational Exam

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Have you passed your master craftsman exam, or are you in the middle of your professional advancement training? Then you know: the courses cost money, the exams are tough, and your evenings are full. What many people don't know: with the Meisterbonus (master craftsman bonus) and various loan forgiveness options under Aufstiegs-BAföG (Germany's upgrade training grant), you can get back up to 4,000 €. I'll show you exactly where to apply for what, which German states pay which bonuses, and how to leave no money on the table.

I'm Nina, I'm studying for my master's, and I have already guided quite a few friends through the jungle of continuing education funding. My buddy Tim left almost 2,500 € unclaimed after his technician training because he didn't know that Bavaria pays a master craftsman bonus. That won't happen to you.

What is the Meisterbonus and who gets it?

The Meisterbonus is a one-time bonus that some German states pay after successful completion of professional advancement training. The term "Meisterbonus" is a bit misleading, because it doesn't just apply to master craftsmen but to many advanced vocational qualifications that can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG. These include master craftsmen, technicians, business specialists (Fachwirte), commercial specialists (Fachkaufleute) and many other vocational advancement programs.

Bavaria has had the so-called Meisterprämie of 2,000 € since 2013. According to the Bavarian State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, more than 94,000 graduates had received this bonus by the end of 2023. You can see the exact figure on the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs' official page: https://www.stmwi.bayern.de/meisterpraemie. The requirements are that you passed your exam after September 1, 2013, that your primary residence is in Bavaria, and that the training was eligible for funding under the Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz (the German Upgrade Training Assistance Act).

Other German states also offer similar bonuses, though under different names and in different amounts. Saxony has paid a Meisterprämie of 1,000 € since 2020, Thuringia offers a 1,000 € continuing education bonus, and Rhineland-Palatinate paid a Meisterprämie of 1,000 € until 2022. That arrangement has currently expired in Rhineland-Palatinate, but it's worth checking the responsible ministry's website in case the program is relaunched.

Aufstiegs-BAföG: how loan forgiveness works when you pass

Besides the Meisterbonus, Aufstiegs-BAföG itself offers a financial incentive for good performance. Aufstiegs-BAföG consists of a grant that doesn't have to be repaid and a low-interest loan from the KfW (Germany's state development bank). If you pass your professional exam, the KfW automatically forgives 50% of the loan portion taken out for the exam fees. That is usually up to 1,000 € that you don't have to repay.

In concrete terms: the exam fees are funded in full as a grant and loan, up to a maximum of 2,000 €. Of that, 1,000 € is a grant and 1,000 € is a loan. If you pass the exam, 500 € of the loan is forgiven. In addition, since August 2020 there has been a further forgiveness of 50% of the remaining loan if you start your own business after passing the exam and hire at least one employee subject to social security contributions.

These rules are explained in detail on the official page of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research: https://www.aufstiegs-bafoeg.de. There you will also find the forgiveness calculator, which lets you work out exactly how much money you won't have to repay in the end.

Step by step: applying for the Meisterbonus after passing your exam

Applying for the Meisterbonus is straightforward, but you have to submit the application yourself. The bonus is not paid out automatically. In Bavaria it works like this: you submit your application online through the portal of the chamber of commerce (IHK) or the chamber of crafts (Handwerkskammer) where you took your exam. You need your exam certificate, a copy of your ID card and a registration certificate confirming your primary residence in Bavaria.

According to my research and feedback from friends, processing takes about 6 to 10 weeks. Tim from Munich submitted his application in March 2024 and had the money in his account by mid-May. The application itself takes less than 20 minutes if you have all your documents ready.

In Saxony the application goes through the Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB), in Thuringia through the Thüringer Aufbaubank (TAB). You will find the exact application forms and information sheets on the respective websites of the development banks. Important: the application generally has to be submitted within 12 months after passing the exam. If you miss the deadline, your entitlement lapses.

Which German states pay which bonuses?

Here is an overview of the current funding by state:

• Bavaria: 2,000 € Meisterprämie for all advanced vocational qualifications under the Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz
• Saxony: 1,000 € Meisterprämie, also for master craftsmen, technicians, business specialists and comparable qualifications
• Thuringia: 1,000 € continuing education bonus for successful graduates of advancement training programs
• North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and other states: there are currently no state-specific master craftsman bonuses here, but Aufstiegs-BAföG and the nationwide forgiveness options of course still apply

These figures come from the official funding guidelines of the respective state ministries and can be found on the websites of the responsible development banks. If you live in a state without its own bonus, continuing education alongside your job can still be worthwhile, because Aufstiegs-BAföG is available nationwide and already offers generous funding of up to 15,000 € for course and exam fees.

Applying for the advancement bonus: typical mistakes and how to avoid them

From conversations with fellow students and acquaintances who have already gone down this path, I know three common stumbling blocks. First: submitting the application too late. The deadlines are meant seriously. In Bavaria the deadline runs from the date you passed the exam, not from the date you receive the certificate. Those are often two different dates.

Second: submitting incomplete documents. The registration certificate has to be current, generally no older than three months. If you have moved in the meantime, you have to prove your new residence. The exam certificate has to show the exact date you passed; a provisional certificate often isn't enough.

Third: not actively claiming the KfW forgiveness. The 50% forgiveness of the exam fee loan does happen automatically after you pass, but only if the KfW receives the information that you passed. That goes through the responsible office for training assistance (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) where you applied for your Aufstiegs-BAföG. You have to submit a copy of your exam certificate there. Without this step, nothing happens.

Practical example: how much you can get back in total

Let's take a concrete example. Lisa from Nuremberg completed her training as a certified marketing specialist (Fachwirtin) in 2023. The course costs were 6,800 €, the exam fee 700 €. Through Aufstiegs-BAföG she received a total of 3,400 € as a grant and took out 3,100 € as a loan. After passing the exam, 350 € of the loan was forgiven, which is 50% of the loan for the exam fee. She also applied for and received the Bavarian Meisterprämie of 2,000 €. In total, Lisa therefore received 5,750 € in cash or as forgiveness, although the total costs were 7,500 €. Her out-of-pocket cost in the end was just under 1,750 €.

If Lisa were to start her own business now and hire an employee, she could have a further 1,375 € of her loan forgiven. That is of course only worthwhile if self-employment is planned anyway, but it shows how much money is in the system.

How much money is there in total after completing advancement training?

The total from the Meisterbonus, Aufstiegs-BAföG forgiveness and other bonuses can add up to over 4,000 € if all conditions are met. In Bavaria, for example: 2,000 € Meisterprämie, up to 1,000 € forgiveness on the exam fee loan and further forgiveness depending on business start-up. On top of that come the already generous grants during the training.

Even in states without their own bonus, you can save several thousand euros by making smart use of the Aufstiegs-BAföG rules. The most important thing is to get informed early and submit all applications. It sounds bureaucratic, and it is a bit, but the hourly wage for this bureaucracy easily comes to 200 € or more.

Other funding besides the Meisterbonus

Besides the Meisterbonus and Aufstiegs-BAföG, there are other funding options that you can combine. The federal Bildungsprämie funds continuing education with up to 500 € for people with low incomes. If you work during your training, your employer may also cover part of the costs, or you can apply for educational leave (Bildungsurlaub).

Some chambers of crafts and chambers of commerce additionally award scholarships to particularly successful graduates. These are often tied to a certain grade average or an above-average exam result. The amounts range from 300 € to 1,500 €, depending on the chamber and funding pool. It is worth asking your chamber directly.

If you need to create some financial breathing room during your training, take a look at realistic savings reserves that help you bridge shortfalls without getting into financial trouble.

FAQ: the most important questions about the Meisterbonus

Can I still apply for the Meisterbonus if I finished years ago?

No, in most German states a deadline of 12 months after passing the exam applies. In Bavaria the Meisterprämie was only introduced in September 2013, and exams before that are not eligible. So if you finished in 2010, you are no longer entitled to it.

Do I have to pay tax on the Meisterbonus?

Yes, the Meisterbonus is taxable. It counts as other income under § 22 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG). In practice this means: if you have other income in the year of payment, you must declare the bonus on your tax return. Depending on your personal tax rate, this can lead to an additional payment. Expect about 20-30% tax on the bonus, depending on your total income.

Does the Meisterbonus also apply to advancement training in the healthcare sector?

Yes, as long as the training is eligible for funding under the Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz. This includes qualifications such as business specialist in health and social services or state-certified business administrator for healthcare management. You can find a list of all eligible training programs on the website of the BMBF (the Federal Ministry of Education and Research).

Can I combine the Meisterbonus and Aufstiegs-BAföG?

Yes, this is expressly permitted and even encouraged. The Meisterbonus is an additional benefit from the state and is paid out independently of Aufstiegs-BAföG. So you can claim the full federal funding plus the state bonus.

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

Then you have no entitlement to the Meisterbonus, nor to the forgiveness of exam fees under Aufstiegs-BAföG. The loan for the course costs remains and has to be repaid. If you pass the exam on your second attempt, you can then apply for all forgiveness and bonuses.

Conclusion: up to 4,000 € is possible if you go about it the right way

The Meisterbonus and the forgiveness options under Aufstiegs-BAföG are real money that you shouldn't let slip away. In Bavaria, a 2,000 € Meisterprämie plus Aufstiegs-BAföG forgiveness is easily within reach, and in other states at least the nationwide funding. What matters is that you meet all deadlines, submit complete documents and don't let the bureaucracy put you off.

My tip: right after the exam, make a to-do list of all the applications you have to submit. Put the deadlines in your calendar and tick the items off one by one. If you do this consistently, you will have several thousand euros more in your account in a few weeks. And if you are looking for other funding options on the side, also take a look at realistic options for a second degree or second training, in case you are planning another qualification after your advancement training.