Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You can attend courses at the Adult Education Centre if you are at least 16 years old, regardless of previous education or profession. Exceptions are parent-child courses and the offers of the “junge vhs” (young vhs).
Details can be found in the implementation regulations on fees of the Berlin Adult Education Centres.

• Telephone: (030) 90277-3000
• E-mail
  A reservation is normally valid for 3 calendar days. During this time you have to register.

You have two options for course registration:

• Online registration via a personal user account.
  Detailed information on the online registration procedure can be found on the page Book and pay online.

• Written registration by post, fax or e-mail
  Complete our registration form including SEPA mandate (direct debit mandate). If you are entitled to a discount, please enclose appropriate current proof. Send the form

• by scan or photo as an attachment by e-mail:vhs@ba-ts.berlin.de
• by post or letter box: Barbarossaplatz 5, 10781 Berlin
• by fax: (030) 90277-8944

In any case, you will receive a written confirmation of registration – your “ticket” to the course.
If a course is already fully booked, you will automatically be placed on the waiting list and informed accordingly.

The costs of the courses are listed on the website in the course details.
Payment is made by SEPA mandate (direct debit mandate). You will find the mandate on the registration form or online for download. Cash payment is not possible.

You will find the exact details in the course description. You can find an overview of all learning locations on our Learning Locations page.

You will receive a reduction if you provide proof of eligibility with your registration. The proof must not be older than six months. A subsequent reduction is not possible.

Eligible for a reduction are:

1. Recipients of social welfare and basic income support as well as members of the joint household of a recipient of benefits,
2. Recipients of unemployment benefit II and social benefits as well as the members of the community of need,
3. Recipients of benefits under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz) and the members of the community of need,
4. Recipients of unemployment benefit; recipients of sickness benefit whose entitlement to unemployment benefit is suspended for the duration of the receipt of sickness benefit are treated as recipients of unemployment benefit,
5. Recipients of housing benefit and the members of a beneficiary’s community of need,
6. Recipients of the child supplement and the members of the community of need,
7. school leavers without a training place or job until they start further training, at the longest until twelve months after finishing school,
8. pupils,
9. full-time students at state and state-recognised colleges and universities,
10. trainees,
11. persons doing voluntary military service and persons doing federal voluntary service or a voluntary cultural, social or ecological year,
12. children not yet of school age in parent-child programmes.

Courses in the department of German as a foreign/contemporary language are generally reduced.

The accompanying person of a severely disabled person with the mark “B” on the severely disabled person’s ID card can attend free of charge.

No, unfortunately not for organisational reasons. Use our counselling appointments to find the course that matches your expectations and knowledge.

If you are not sure which course is the right one for you, use the specialist counselling in the programme areas.
In the department of German as a foreign language, it is not possible to register without prior counselling for most courses.

For most courses, the school holidays are also course holidays. Please enquire with your course instructor.
Special holiday courses are an exception.

There is a minimum number of participants for each course. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the course may be cancelled.

If there are free places, it is possible to join some courses at a later date. For more information, please contact the relevant programme department.

If you cancel in writing or in person and present the confirmation of enrolment, you will get your money back. However, the Adult Education Centre retains an administration fee: Up to 14 days before the start of the event € 6.00, thereafter € 12.00. Fees under € 12.00 are due in full.
No refunds will be made from the day the event begins.
Cancellations by telephone are not possible.

If you attended at least 70 percent of the lessons, you can receive a free certificate of attendance. Your attendance will be checked against the attendance list. This may take some time.
For certificates requested later than 12 months after the end of the course, a processing fee of € 10.00 will be charged.

Our General Terms and Conditions are available in simple language as well as standard language.

If you have not booked a course in person at the office, you can cancel the contract within 14 days. You do not have to give reasons for this. You will find the exact information in simple language under Cancellation Policy and standard language under Cancellation Policy.