For many people, not only in Germany, taking time off work and dedicate it to personal growth can feel like a luxury. But what if there was a way where your company would give you time off, extra vacation days, to travel abroad and still get payed your salary?
That’s exactly what the Bildungsurlaub program allows you to do. And when it comes to combining professional development with a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience, Bildungsurlaub in Valencia is an opportunity you won’t want to miss.
Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, offers the perfect setting to combine intensive language learning with cultural immersion. From sunny and welcoming beaches to vibrant historic neighborhoods like El Carmen, this city has both a relaxed atmosphere and a great cultural scene – making it the ideal location for your Bildungsurlaub.
What is Bildungsurlaub?
Bildungsurlaub – sometimes called Bildungszeit or Bildungsfreistellung – is a legal right in 14 of Germany’s 16 federal states. Employees can take up to five paid days of educational leave per year, and in many cases, you can combine two years’ entitlement to enjoy a full 10-day course.
The idea is simple: you attend an approved educational program, your employer keeps paying your salary, and you return with new skills that can benefit both you and your company.
Language learning abroad is one of the most popular ways to use this program. As long as the course meets your state’s requirements for content, duration, and daily instruction hours, you can take your Bildungsurlaub in Valencia and dedicate your working week entirely to improving your Spanish. And yes, still have fun and visit new places while doing so.
How Bildungsurlaub Works for Language Learning Abroad
Although each German state sets its own rules, the process is generally straightforward. First, you confirm your eligibility and check the requirements of the state where your workplace is based. Most states require a minimum of six to eight lessons per day, taught by qualified instructors, and courses must be officially recognized.
Once you’ve chosen a course – ideally from an institution with experience in handling Bildungsurlaub applications like Euroace – you submit the documents and timetable to your employer within the notice period, which is typically six to nine weeks before the course begins.
If approved, your salary continues while you attend your classes abroad. You cover the travel and course fees, but you gain the invaluable benefit of uninterrupted learning time in an immersive environment.
How to Apply to your Bildungsurlaub with Euroace
Applying for your Bildungsurlaub in Valencia with Euroace is simple. Contact the school to choose your course and request the recognition paperwork. Submit the documents to your employer within the legal deadline, book your trip, and prepare for a week or two that could change the way you see language learning – and perhaps even your career.
Why Take your Bildungsurlaub in Valencia?
Valencia enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year, with warm summers and mild winters that make outdoor living a way of life. Its size is perfect: large enough to offer cultural variety, yet compact enough to navigate on foot or by bike.
The cost of living is also significantly lower than Madrid or Barcelona, which means your budget stretches further – whether you’re booking accommodation, enjoying the local cuisine, or joining weekend excursions.
And the city has a lot of fantastic spaces to offer: the Turia gardens, the Malvarrosa Beach, La Albufera, the historic centre,… you can learn, visit the city and eat delicious Spanish food like Paella and Tapas and not break the bank.
Why Learning Spanish can Improve your Career
Travelling or having an experience in another country is not only about personal growth. Opting for Bildungsurlaub in Valencia is also a good career move.
Spanish is spoken by more than 560 million people worldwide and is the second most widely spoken language by native speakers. In professional contexts, it’s increasingly valuable for industries such as tourism, healthcare, trade, education, and politics.
If you study Spanish in Valencia, or if you improve the language, you put yourself in a better position when communicating with clients, coworkers or business partners from a spanish speaking country.
A big plus is that you’ll also gain cultural insights that can’t be taught in a classroom, with is pretty important when creating report between you and other people that have been where you have. You’ll be able to create better relationships with native spanish speakers.
Why Euroace is a Strong Choice
Located in the heart of Valencia, Euroace has been welcoming international students since 2005. As an Instituto Cervantes accredited school and official exam centre for DELE, CCSE, and SIELE, Euroace combines academic rigor with a warm, personal approach. Classes are kept small, with a maximum of eight students, ensuring plenty of speaking practice and individual attention.
For those using Bildungsurlaub in Valencia, Euroace offers intensive Spanish courses specifically designed to meet German state requirements, with daily contact hours structured to comply with official regulations.
The school’s central location means cultural experiences are never far away – whether it’s a lunchtime trip to the Central Market or an evening stroll through the Turia Gardens.
The Life of a Bildungsurlaub Student in Valencia
The beauty of choosing to study Spanish in Valencia is that every interaction becomes a mini-lesson. You’ll go to our language centre smack down in the centre of the city. You’ll have classes with native teachers and you’ll meet students from all around the world with a level similar to yours.
Every day, when your classes come to an end, the city becomes your Spanish school. You might join a guided walking tour, chat with locals over tapas, or explore nearby towns at the weekend. All of which you can do by joining Euroace’s weekly cultural activities.
During events like Las Fallas in March or La Tomatina in nearby Buñol, you’ll experience Spanish culture in its most vivid form – and have endless opportunities to put your new vocabulary to use. So, at the end of the day, you’ll learn Spanish while living like a local.
Planning Your Trip
The most successful Bildungsurlaub in Valencia experiences start with good planning. Begin by checking your state’s specific rules, as recognition criteria and deadlines vary. Contact Euroace for the necessary course recognition documents, and submit them to your employer as early as possible. Since Valencia is a popular destination year-round – especially during major festivals – booking your accommodation well in advance is recommended. At Euroace we can help make that process as easy as possible.
Many students choose to combine their Bildungsurlaub with a few extra vacation days, turning the experience into both a professional investment and a personal holiday.
Who is Eligible?
You can take Bildungsurlaub in Valencia if you are employed in one of the 14 participating German states, have worked for your current employer for the minimum required time (usually six months), and your employer meets any size requirements set by your state. If you’re in Bavaria or Saxony, where there’s no statutory Bildungsurlaub, you might still be able to arrange unpaid educational leave or negotiate professional development time.
So, should you take your Bildungsurlaub in Valencia?
We live in a globalized world, therefore language skills are more valuable than ever. Companies operate across borders, projects span continents, and cultural intelligence is becoming as important as technical expertise.
By using Bildungsurlaub to study Spanish in Valencia, you invest in a skill set that benefits you both personally and professionally. And unlike self-study or evening classes, the immersive approach gives you results in a fraction of the time.
