Finding the right Weiterbildung in Germany is already complicated. For expats, there is often one additional question:

What happens if the course is taught in English?

You may have found an English-language course in data analytics, project management, UX/UI, cybersecurity, software development or another professional field. The provider tells you that the course can be funded with a Bildungsgutschein.

But does that mean the Agentur für Arbeit will actually fund it?

The short answer is:

An English-taught course is not automatically excluded from Bildungsgutschein funding. But the language of the course is only one part of the assessment. Your individual eligibility, the course itself, the provider, your professional goal and your employment prospects all matter.

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit states that the individual requirements for a Bildungsgutschein are assessed during a personal consultation. The selected provider and the specific Weiterbildung must also be approved for funding.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

Is a Bildungsgutschein only for courses taught in German?

The Bundesagentur für Arbeit's published Bildungsgutschein criteria do not state that every funded professional Weiterbildung must be taught in German.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

Instead, the BA focuses on questions such as:

• whether the Weiterbildung is necessary to end unemployment or prevent threatened unemployment;

• whether it improves your employability;

• whether you have received the required consultation;

• whether the provider is approved;

• whether the specific training measure is approved.

German law also requires approved training measures to be designed in a way that makes successful participation realistic and to be appropriate considering developments in the labour market.

§ 179 SGB III

So the useful question is not simply:

“Is the course in English?”

It is:

“Does this particular course make sense for my professional situation and realistic employment goal?”

§ 81 SGB III

Does that mean an English course will definitely be approved?

No.

A course provider may tell you that the course is AZAV-approved or “eligible for Bildungsgutschein funding.”

That does not mean you personally have already been approved.

Two separate questions are involved.

1. Is the provider and course approved?

A professional Weiterbildung funded under the Bildungsgutschein system generally needs the appropriate provider and measure approval.

The Bundesagentur explains that the provider and the specific course require approval by a fachkundige Stelle.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Accreditation and approval

2. Do you personally qualify for funding?

That is assessed separately by the Agentur für Arbeit.

The BA states that individual requirements are discussed during the consultation. If those requirements are met, a Bildungsgutschein can be issued.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

So:

AZAV-approved course ≠ guaranteed Bildungsgutschein.

Why might your German level still become part of the discussion?

This is where many expats become confused.

Imagine that:

• the course itself is completely in English;

• you understand the course perfectly;

• your professional experience is also mostly in English;

• but your German is currently A1 or A2.

You might reasonably think:

“Why should my German matter if the Weiterbildung itself is in English?”

The adviser may be considering a broader question: what is currently preventing you from finding sustainable employment?

The training measure itself must make sense in relation to participation and labour-market prospects. German law requires approved measures to be suitable for their target group and to take current labour-market developments into account.

§ 179 SGB III

This means language can become part of the conversation even when it is not the teaching language of the course.

For example, the adviser may want to understand whether:

• your target jobs genuinely operate in English;

• German is currently a bigger employment barrier than your technical qualifications;

• the course addresses a real skills gap;

• you can successfully complete the course;

• the qualification is likely to improve your employment prospects.

That does not mean there is a universal rule saying:

“You need B1 German before an English Bildungsgutschein course.”

The published BA Bildungsgutschein criteria do not state such a general threshold. Your individual situation and the particular training plan need to be discussed.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

An example many expats recognise

Suppose you worked for several years in an English-speaking technology company in Berlin.

You lose your job.

You have:

• 8 years of IT experience;

• fluent English;

• A2 German;

• experience in customer-facing technical roles.

You now want an English-language cybersecurity Weiterbildung because you want to move into a more specialised technical role.

There are two separate employability questions:

Question A: Do you need stronger technical skills to reach your target role?

Question B: Is your limited German currently preventing you from accessing enough jobs?

Both can matter.

Your job is not to pretend Question B does not exist.

Instead, prepare evidence explaining why the professional Weiterbildung remains relevant.

Show what your target labour market actually looks like

Do not make broad statements such as:

“Berlin tech is English-speaking.”

Instead, bring evidence.

Select several real vacancies for the type of work you intend to pursue.

Look at:

• required technical skills;

• preferred qualifications;

• required professional experience;

• German-language requirements;

• English-language requirements;

• certifications employers ask for.

A small number of highly relevant vacancies is more useful than printing 100 random jobs.

For example, you might show:

“These six roles require cloud-security experience. Five are advertised in English and do not list German as mandatory. My current experience covers X and Y, but I am missing Z, which this course teaches.”

That creates a much clearer discussion.

It still does not guarantee funding.

But it explains the connection between:

skills gap → Weiterbildung → target job.

Be prepared if many jobs actually require German

The research can also produce the opposite result.

Perhaps you find that:

• most relevant vacancies require B2 or C1 German;

• your technical qualifications are already strong;

• German is repeatedly mentioned in rejection feedback.

In that situation, you should expect the adviser to ask why professional Weiterbildung should be prioritised over language development.

Do not hide that evidence.

A useful appointment is not about “winning an argument” with the adviser. It is about identifying which intervention is most likely to improve your employment prospects.

You can still explain why the professional course is important while acknowledging the language issue.

Ask the course provider for written information

Before your Agentur für Arbeit appointment, ask the training provider for a clear course offer.

It should help you understand:

• exact course title;

• start date;

• duration;

• full-time or part-time format;

• online or in-person format;

• language of instruction;

• course modules;

• entry requirements;

• certification or qualification awarded;

• whether the provider is approved;

• whether the specific course is approved for Bildungsgutschein funding.

That last distinction matters.

The Bundesagentur explains that both the provider and the measure itself need the necessary approval.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Accreditation and approval

Do not rely only on a provider telling you:

“We accept Bildungsgutscheine.”

Ask about the exact course you want to attend.

What if the provider says “100% funded”?

Treat that as information about the course's potential funding route—not as confirmation of your individual approval.

The Agentur für Arbeit decides whether your personal funding requirements are met.

The BA explicitly says that individual eligibility is assessed during the consultation.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

A training provider cannot guarantee the outcome of that assessment.

Be cautious with statements such as:

• “Everyone gets approved.”

• “Your adviser has to fund this.”

• “Because the course is AZAV-certified, the Agentur cannot reject it.”

Those statements oversimplify the process.

What should you bring to the Agentur für Arbeit appointment?

For an English-language Weiterbildung discussion, prepare a focused package.

Your course information

Bring:

• the course offer;

• curriculum;

• duration and start date;

• teaching language;

• entry requirements;

• approval information.

Your professional profile

Bring:

• your current CV;

• relevant certificates;

• previous professional experience;

• existing qualifications.

Your target jobs

Bring several real vacancies showing:

• the job title you are targeting;

• required skills;

• relevant language requirements;

• qualifications you currently lack.

Your applications

If you have already been applying, organise:

• applications sent;

• interviews;

• rejections;

• actual employer feedback where available.

Do not invent a rejection reason if an employer did not provide one.

How should you explain why the course is in English?

A weak explanation would be:

“I prefer English because German is difficult.”

That may be true, but it does not explain why the Agentur should fund the professional qualification.

A more useful explanation might be:

“The course is taught in English, which I can follow professionally. The qualification addresses this specific skills gap. These are the roles I am targeting, these are the skills employers request, and these vacancies show the language requirements in that part of the market.”

This keeps the conversation connected to employability.

What if the adviser recommends a German course instead?

Do not immediately assume that the Bildungsgutschein has been rejected.

Ask what the adviser is actually proposing.

Useful questions include:

„Ist mein Deutschniveau der Hauptgrund, warum Sie die Weiterbildung aktuell nicht empfehlen?“
Is my German level the main reason you currently do not recommend the professional training?

„Sehen Sie die Weiterbildung grundsätzlich als sinnvoll an, wenn ich zusätzlich mein Deutsch verbessere?“
Do you generally consider the training useful if I also improve my German?

„Welche Voraussetzung müsste aus Ihrer Sicht noch erfüllt sein?“
Which requirement do you consider still unmet?

„Bezieht sich Ihre Einschätzung auf diesen konkreten Kurs oder auf das Bildungsziel insgesamt?“
Does your assessment concern this particular course or the training objective overall?

These questions help you understand whether the issue is:

• the course itself;

• the training objective;

• your German;

• your existing qualifications;

• labour-market prospects;

• or another requirement.

Can you improve German and complete professional training at the same time?

Possibly, but do not promise yourself a particular funding combination before discussing it with the responsible office.

Whether parallel training is realistic depends on:

• course schedules;

• availability;

• funding rules;

• your personal situation;

• the type of language support;

• whether both measures can actually be completed successfully.

The safest approach is to discuss your complete training plan rather than presenting each course as if it exists independently.

What if your adviser simply says “English courses are not funded”?

Ask for clarification.

You can politely ask:

„Können Sie mir bitte erklären, welche konkrete Fördervoraussetzung wegen der Unterrichtssprache nicht erfüllt ist?“

Could you please explain which specific funding requirement is not met because of the course language?

The aim is not confrontation.

You want to understand whether the adviser is referring to:

• your individual employability;

• successful participation;

• the course approval;

• labour-market relevance;

• or another specific consideration.

The official published Bildungsgutschein criteria focus on individual funding requirements, necessity and approved training—not a blanket German-only rule for all professional Weiterbildung.

§ 81 SGB III

What if your request is rejected?

First clarify whether you received:

• an informal assessment;

• a request for more information;

• or a formal decision.

If you received a formal rejection, read the decision and its information about legal remedies carefully.

A new appointment can help you understand the reasoning and present additional relevant information, but it does not automatically replace any formal deadline.

For a detailed guide, see:

Bildungsgutschein Rejected? How to Prepare for Your Next Agentur für Arbeit Appointment

Frequently asked questions

Can an English-taught course receive Bildungsgutschein funding?

An English teaching language is not listed in the BA's published Bildungsgutschein criteria as an automatic exclusion.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

The individual funding requirements still have to be met, and both the provider and the course must have the required approval.

Do I need B1 German for a Bildungsgutschein?

There is no general B1 requirement stated on the BA's Bildungsgutschein page for every professional Weiterbildung.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

A particular course may have its own entry requirements, and your language level can still be relevant to successful participation or your employment prospects.

Check the exact course and discuss your individual situation with your adviser.

Does AZAV approval mean the Agentur must fund the course?

No.

Provider/course approval and your individual funding decision are separate matters.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Accreditation and approval

Can Jobcenter customers also receive this funding?

Yes, provided the applicable requirements are met. Since 1 January 2025, the Agentur für Arbeit also provides this vocational-training funding for Jobcenter customers.

Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Bildungsgutschein

Can I choose any course once I have a Bildungsgutschein?

Not necessarily.

The BA states that a Bildungsgutschein can be limited by time, region and a particular educational objective. Your selected provider and training must also have the required approval.

§ 81 SGB III

Need help preparing for your Bildungsgutschein appointment?

Explaining your professional background, course choice and employment goal is already difficult enough without also having to manage unfamiliar German administrative language.

ExpatEaze provides German–English interpreting and practical appointment preparation for Agentur für Arbeit appointments in Berlin.

Support can include:

• reviewing your appointment letter;

• organising the relevant course information;

• preparing the key questions you want to ask;

• helping you present your professional background clearly;

• German–English interpreting during the meeting;

• helping you understand the administrative next steps afterwards.

For appointment support, see:

Agentur für Arbeit Appointment Support in Berlin

https://www.expateaze.de/agentur-fuer-arbeit-support-berlin

You may also find these existing ExpatEaze guides useful:

Bildungsgutschein with the Agentur für Arbeit: How to Prepare a Strong Application

and

Bildungsgutschein Rejected? How to Prepare for Your Next Agentur für Arbeit Appointment

ExpatEaze provides interpreting and administrative preparation. It does not decide whether you qualify for funding, provide individual legal advice or guarantee that a Bildungsgutschein will be issued.

Information checked: 23 September 2026. This article provides general information and practical language-support guidance. Individual funding decisions depend on the applicable rules and your circumstances.