Funding
KOMPASS funding for solo self-employed
If you meet the requirements, KOMPASS pays up to €4,500 towards your training. The money is paid back to you afterwards, not deducted from the invoice. Here is who qualifies, how the process runs and where people trip up.
All figures checked against the official BMAS programme page, 21 September 2026.
At a glance
- Up to €4,500 if you qualify
- Courses of at least 20 hours
- Completed within six months
- Voucher first, booking second
Eligibility
Do you qualify?
Solo self-employed, main occupation
Residence and business activity in Germany.
At least two years on the market
Counted from the start of your self-employment.
Max. one full-time equivalent
In employees. Above that, KOMPASS does not apply.
Once every twelve months
One funded course per twelve-month period.
The full requirements are on the official KOMPASS programme page (opens in a new tab).
Process
The route to funding, in this order
Mandatory initial consultation
With a KOMPASS advice centre, in person or online. They write a consultation record, check your eligibility and suggest suitable training. Approach one centre only. Multiple enquiries slow the whole process down.
Receive the qualification voucher
The centre reviews your documents and issues the voucher. Only then book the training. Do not enrol beforehand.
Complete the training
Within six months of the voucher being issued, at least 20 hours, with a certificate or proof of attendance.
Claim the reimbursement
Apply via the Z-EU-S portal at DRV Knappschaft-Bahn-See. They review and refund the eligible share, up to €4,500.
AI Masterclass
A programme that meets the criteria
The AI Masterclass runs 36 live hours across 12 weeks. That is comfortably above the 20-hour minimum and inside the six-month window KOMPASS requires.
If you meet the requirements, KOMPASS can reimburse up to 90 % of the course fee. The full amount is invoiced; the funding comes back to you as a reimbursement via DRV KBS.
For your consultation I prepare everything the advice centre asks for: syllabus, hours, learning objectives, price and proof of attendance. The decision is theirs, not mine.
AI Masterclass
€3,490 net
- 36 live hours
- 12 weeks, live and online
- Instalments possible
Eligible for KOMPASS funding for solo self-employed if the requirements are met. Details on the official programme page (opens in a new tab).
KOMPASS is a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (ESF Plus). Whether a course is funded is decided case by case by a KOMPASS advice centre. There is no legal entitlement. A prior consultation with an advice centre is mandatory; always approach one centre only.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Who can apply for KOMPASS?
Solo self-employed people who live and work in Germany, have been active on the market for at least two years, run their self-employment as their main occupation and employ no more than one full-time equivalent. Funding is possible once within any twelve-month period.
How much is it, and how does the money reach me?
The grant is up to €4,500. Importantly, it is a reimbursement, not a discount on the invoice. You pay for the training first and then apply for the partial refund through the Z-EU-S funding portal at Deutsche Rentenversicherung Knappschaft-Bahn-See.
Which courses qualify?
Courses of at least 20 hours that are completed within six months. What fits depends on your individual business need, and digital skills are explicitly included. There is no central database of eligible courses and no KOMPASS certification: you select the course together with your advice centre.
Am I guaranteed to get the funding?
No. There is no legal entitlement. Eligibility is decided case by case by the KOMPASS advice centre based on your individual needs assessment. On top of that, the monthly issuing of qualification vouchers is capped nationwide, so a quick decision cannot be promised. Plan for that.
Can I enrol before the paperwork is done?
No, and this is a common mistake. The voucher only covers training you have not yet registered for and that has not yet started. Consultation and voucher first, binding booking second.
Does the training run in English?
Yes. Consulting and training run in German or English. Written material can be provided in English. If you would rather have the first conversation in Portuguese, that works too: see the Portuguese page.
Not sure whether you qualify?
In a free first call we go through the requirements and prepare your conversation with the advice centre.
German version: KOMPASS für Solo-Selbstständige