QCG funding in Germany: get employee training subsidised up to 100%
Build your team’s AI and data skills without blowing your budget. The QCG funding scheme subsidises up to 100% of the training costs and up to 75% of wage costs, so your people learn and your business keeps moving.
What is QCG?
The Qualifizierungschancengesetz (QCG), or the Qualification Opportunities Act, is a law in Germany that supports companies in training employees for evolving job requirements, especially when skills need to keep up with digitisation, new tools, and changing roles.
In practice, Germany’s Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) can subsidise:
Training costs
Wage costs during the training period
Why build AI and data skills with QCG funding?
QCG funding makes it easier to upskill employees in future-oriented areas like data, automation, and digital workflows without treating learning as a “nice-to-have.”
Turn AI into a repeatable workflow
Teams need repeatable ways to use AI responsibly: clear problem framing, good prompting habits, quality checks and practical workflows that don’t break when the tool changes.
Reduce dependency on external service providers
When AI becomes business-critical, relying on third-party know-how is risky and expensive.
Make training financially realistic
Upskilling often gets delayed because it competes with other priorities. QCG reduces that barrier by subsidising training costs.
Offer employees a development path
Good people leave when they stop learning. Structured training gives employees a clear growth story inside your company, especially when roles are changing due to digital and structural shifts.
How much funding can your company get?
Funding depends on company size and the type of training. A common benchmark structure looks like this:
| Company size | Subsidy for training costs | Subsidy for wage costs during training |
|---|---|---|
| 1-49 employees | up to 100% | up to 75% |
| 50-499 employees | up to 50% | up to 50% |
| 500+ employees | up to 25% | up to 25% |
Employees over 45 or with severe disabilities may qualify for up to 100% course cost coverage, even in larger companies.
For training leading to a qualification, companies may also receive up to 100% subsidy for wage costs (independent of company size) if the employee did not previously have a professional qualification.
Who is eligible?
QCG generally supports employees in a current employment relationship who are subject to social insurance contributions, when the training meets requirements like:
The training is at least 120+ hours
The training provider and the training are approved for funding (AZAV-certified).
The training goes beyond short, purely workplace-specific adaptation measures.
As a rule, the employee’s last completed vocational training is at least 4 years in the past.
How to apply for QCG funding
QCG applications are handled directly through the Agentur für Arbeit.
Conduct a needs analysis
Start by identifying where skills gaps are slowing the business down. What’s changing in your processes, tools, or roles and what capabilities do employees need next?
Seek advice from the Agentur für Arbeit
Contact the Agentur für Arbeit for guidance on eligibility, subsidy levels, and the right funding route for your situation. Agentur für Arbeit contact (toll-free): 0800 4 555520.
Select an AZAV-certified training course
Choose the Turing College program that matches your needs and arrange the admissions process for your team.
Apply for funding
Submit the QCG funding application to the Agentur für Arbeit before the training starts. Once approved, you can move forward with the training plan.
Note: The Agentur für Arbeit also supports “joint applications” when multiple employees do similar training, so you don’t have to manage everything one-by-one.
Have more questions? Reach out to us: study@turingcollege.com
Government-funded programs
AI Engineering
3 months
Time commitment
Full time (30 hours per week)
Fixed schedule (weekdays 09:00-16:30)
Learning format
100% online, with 24/7 access to learning platform
What you’ll learn:
Foundations of LLM Application Development
Building Applications with LangChain, RAGs, and Gradio
AI Agents
Tools and languages
AI for Business
3 months
Time commitment
Full time (30 hours per week)
Fixed schedule (weekdays 09:00-16:30)
Learning format
100% online, with 24/7 access to learning platform
What you’ll learn:
Introduction to AI
Accessing and communicating data
AI for Analytical Insights
AI for Automation
Tools and languages
Make AI and data capability your business strength with QCG support
Want to know if the QCG could fund training for your team? We’ll share general guidance on eligibility and program fit.
FAQ
Is QCG only for big companies?
No. Funding levels often depend on company size, and smaller companies may be eligible for higher cost coverage.
Can QCG cover 100% of costs?
In some cases, yes. 100% funding applies in specific cases (e.g., small companies, partial qualifications, shortage occupations, etc.) and is subject to approval.
What are the minimum training requirements?
A common requirement is 120+ hours (often shown as 121 hours). Training must be AZAV-certified, and it must go beyond short, purely workplace-specific adaptation training.
Do we need approval before training starts?
Yes, your funding application needs to be submitted and approved before the course begins.
Who decides if we’re approved?
For employed participants funded under the relevant framework, the decision sits with the Agentur für Arbeit.
Can we apply for multiple employees at once?
Often yes, there are routes designed for multiple employees in similar courses so you don’t have to submit separate applications for each person.