If you are employed in Austria and would like to continue your education, your employer can release you from work for a period of 2 months up to 12 months.

Example:

  • You would like to complete a photography course or vocal training.  
  • You want to study art history. As you want to concentrate fully on your studies for the first two semesters, you apply for educational leave. 
  • You are in the final year of your master’s degree in fine art and all that remains is for you to develop and submit your diploma project. 
  • You would like to do a language course.

While you are on educational leave, you do not go to work, nor do you receive a salary from your employer. However, the AMS will support you with monthly education benefits. This is roughly the same amount as unemployment benefits. You must fulfil the following requirements in order to receive training allowance:

  • You worked for your employer for an uninterrupted period of 6 months immediately prior to the start of educational leave;
  • The training you would like to complete on educational leave comprises at least 20 hours per week or a comparable amount of time;
    • For example, you only have 6 hours per week of courses with compulsory attendance, but you have to take exams.
    • If you look after a child under the age of 8, this time is reduced to 16 hours per week.
  • You must take at least 2 months of educational leave. You can take a maximum of one year's educational leave within a four-year period. You can also take the leave in partial units of 2, 3, 4, or 6 months.
  • You must provide evidence of your training success;
    • Submit proof of successful training completion or confirmation of your progress;
    • If you are studying while on educational leave, you must complete examinations amounting to at least 8 ECTS credits per semester or prove that you have completed your diploma examination/project.

To do: Clarify in advance whether the AMS recognises your training for the granting of educational leave and what proof of success you need to provide. As soon as you have it, you must submit it yourself. Otherwise, you will not (continue to) receive education benefits. 

Info:  As with unemployment benefits, you may also receive additional income from self-employment or employment up to the marginal earnings threshold alongside your education benefits. See the chapter on additional income to unemployment benefits. The information there also applies to education benefits.