Cybersecurity Course in Berlin in English, 100% Free with a Bildungsgutschein
Find your cybersecurity
Weiterbildung in Berlin
Do you live in Berlin, prefer to study in English, and want to move into cybersecurity? This is a cybersecurity course in Berlin in English (or German) and runs fully online. It takes 6 to 14 months, depending on the modules you choose. The program aims to prepare you for CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. If you are eligible, a Bildungsgutschein from the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter pays the tuition, so you would pay nothing for the course. The program is built for career changers. You do not need a technical background at all. Below you can read how funding works in Berlin, what you learn, and which jobs to aim for.
Check your eligibility here:
Can I do a cybersecurity Weiterbildung in English with a Bildungsgutschein?
Yes. Cybersteps is AZAV-certified. That certification is what a provider needs before the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter can pay for a course. So the program, also in English, can be fully funded with a Bildungsgutschein if you are eligible.
English at B1 level meets the language requirement. The other conditions still apply:
- You have a registered residence in Germany.
- You are registered as a job seeker, or you are in the process of registering.
- You are not a university student, as students generally do not qualify for the funding.
One honest point: the Bildungsgutschein is a discretionary decision. Nobody has a legal right to it. Your caseworker decides whether the training improves your chances on the job market. That is why a good preparation matters (see the next section).
If you want to compare English options across Germany, read our guide to Bildungsgutschein courses in English.
How to get the Bildungsgutschein in Berlin, step by step
1. Register as a job seeker. Register with the Agentur für Arbeit online, by phone (0800 4 555500) or in person. If you get benefits from a Jobcenter, your Jobcenter is your first contact. Berlin has 12 Jobcenters, one for each district, such as Mitte, Neukölln, Pankow and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. You can find the center closest to you by postcode on berlin.de. Since 1 January 2025, the Agentur für Arbeit also pays for further training of the people registered with the Jobcenter. Your caseworker will explain how this works in your case.
2. Apply to Cybersteps. The online application takes about 2 to 3 minutes. You then speak with an admissions advisor and do a 30-minute online assessment. Cybersteps prepares an application package for your first meeting. It includes documents and job postings that show the demand for cybersecurity staff.
3. Book your appointment. Ask the Agentur für Arbeit or the Jobcenter for a consultation about further training. Many appointments can be done online or by video call. Not every caseworker speaks English. If your German is limited, bring someone who can translate.
4. Prepare what to say and bring. Bring an updated CV, your certificates, proof of earlier jobs or internships, and your recent job applications. Explain in simple words why cybersecurity training improves your job chances. Show the job postings and the course outline. Name the provider you have chosen.
5. Wait for the decision. A decision can come right away or take a few weeks. A Bildungsgutschein is valid for three months. In that time you send it to Cybersteps, sign the training contract and start the course.
6. If your request is rejected. Ask for the reasons in writing. You can file an appeal (Widerspruch). The rejection letter states the deadline, so check it on the day it arrives. Add new evidence, for example more job postings or a clearer reason for your career change. Cybersteps helps you with the appeal.
You can find more detail on our Bildungsgutschein page and in the step-by-step Bildungsgutschein guide.
What you learn
The program has four modules. Each one ends with a certification, and the exam vouchers are included. These are the main topics:
- Foundations: networks, Linux and Windows, and Python. Module 1 ends with CompTIA Tech+.
- Attack and defence: social engineering, web hacking, vulnerabilities, and security monitoring with SIEM tools. Module 2 ends with CompTIA Security+.
- Cloud security with Azure: Microsoft Sentinel, identity and access management, and Microsoft 365 security. Module 3 ends with Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) plus AZ-104 or SC-200.
- Digital forensics and incident response: how to investigate an attack and respond to it.
- AI tools for cybersecurity: how to use AI for everyday security tasks.
- Specialisation: choose SOC, penetration testing, GRC or application security. Module 4 ends with the IHK Cyber Security Advisor or PECB ISO/IEC 27001.
- Career training: CV and LinkedIn workshops, job search and interview practice.
The full list is on the syllabus page.
Cybersecurity jobs and salaries in Berlin
Typical junior roles
- SOC analyst: watches security alerts and decides what is a real threat and what is a false alarm.
- IT security administrator: manages firewalls, access rights and virus protection in a company.
- Junior penetration tester: attacks systems with permission to find weak points before criminals do.
According to StepStone (2026), a Junior Cybersecurity Analyst in Berlin earns a median of €51,100 gross per year. The range is €42,600 to €60,500. Pay depends on the employer, the role and your certifications. Our cybersecurity salary guide explains more.
These organisations have advertised Cybersecurity jobs in Berlin in 2026:
- Zalando: Berlin-based online fashion company with its own security teams. English is its business language.
- N26: Berlin-based digital bank with a security engineering department and staff from more than 90 nationalities. The bank operates in English, but some of its open Cybersecurity jobs are mostly senior, and some governance roles ask for fluent German.
- ALDB: provider of secure communication systems for emergency services. It advertised a Tier 1 security analyst role in Berlin.
- 50Hertz: electricity transmission operator in Berlin. It advertised an IT Security Advisor role.
- BIOTRONIK: medical technology company headquartered in Berlin. It advertised many Information Security roles.
Let’s be realistic about language. Startups and scale-ups such as Zalando and N26 work in English but many other Berlin Cybersecurity jobs, especially at utilities, public bodies and firms with German clients, are written and done in German and ask for it as well. So, we recommend improving your German skills anyway, regardless of the tuition language of your further education program. English gets you into the conversation but German widens your choice over time.
Meet people before you apply: OWASP Berlin is a good option that holds free meetups in English about once in each quarter. Additionally, BSides Berlin is a community-run security conference in the city. Both are good places to meet people who work in Cybersecurity.
Why Cybersteps
- Classes in English. You can learn in English or German. Live sessions are small and led by instructors with military and industry backgrounds.
- Reverse classroom. You prepare with videos and readings, join a live session with demos and questions, and then practise in labs. Every student also has a weekly 1:1 meeting with a mentor.
- Laptop included. Every student who enrolls in a 6 to 14 month program gets a laptop for the training. You can keep it after 6 or more months in the program. The conditions are on the syllabus page.
- Internship. Students who complete the full 12-month program and meet basic performance requirements get a 2-month internship at a partner company.
- Online, with a Berlin base. The program runs fully online, so you study from home and do not travel to class. Cybersteps is based in Berlin (Schloßstraße 50, 12165 Berlin). The same online program is open to students in other German cities.
See all details on the program page.
FAQ
What English level do I need? You need English at B1 level or higher. That is also the level the funding rules ask for, and it should be enough to follow a full course. You do not need any cybersecurity knowledge or programming experience. Basic computer skills and the wish to learn are enough.
Do I need German to get a cybersecurity job in Berlin? It depends on the employer. Some Berlin teams work fully in English, for example at Zalando. Many others ask for German, especially when they work with German clients or public bodies. German is not needed to join the course, but it gives you more job options later.
Can I do the course part-time? No. The program is full-time. Live classes, guided practice and review sessions run from 9:00 to about 17:30 on a fixed schedule. This does not fit with a parallel job or university studies. It is designed for people who can make it their main activity.
How long does it take? It takes 6 to 14 months, depending on the modules you choose. Looking for a cyber security bootcamp in Berlin? Bootcamps usually run 2 to 4 months. This program is longer, includes certifications, and offers an internship after the full 12-month track.
What if I am not registered as unemployed yet? Register as a job seeker with the Agentur für Arbeit first. You can do it online, by phone or in person. You can also qualify if you are at risk of unemployment. Being registered, or in the process of registering, is a condition for the Bildungsgutschein. An admissions advisor can guide you.
Ready to check if you qualify?
The application takes 2 to 3 minutes. An admissions advisor will contact you and explain the next steps.
Sources
Salaries
Employers
- Zalando, English is the business language
- Zalando, security team description (Director of Security Engineering & Operations ad)
- N26, Security Engineering department on the careers page
- ALDB, Security Analyst Tier 1
- 50Hertz, IT Security Advisor
- BIOTRONIK, Information Security Coordinator
Jobcenter and Agentur für Arbeit
- 12 Berlin Jobcenters, search by postcode
- Jobcenter districts
- Agentur für Arbeit phone number 0800 4 555500: Jobcenter Contact Information Page for Berlin and AFA Main Page
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Bildungsgutschein
Meetups
Ready to Build a Career in Cybersecurity?
