Apprenticeship Courses

Start your Nursing Career in Germany with SGAO Programme

Are you a Kenyan high school graduate interested in building a career in nursing in Germany?

The “Ensuring a Sustainable Pool of Nursing Professionals” (SGAO) project is a research project and a collaboration between Germany and Kenya that supports qualified young Kenyans in pursuing nursing vocational training (Ausbildung) in Germany.

Structure & Background of the SGAO Project

In 2022, AG‑Career Hub under the Diaspora Linkage Hub facilitated a strategic academic partnership between Hochschule Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in Germany and Mount Kenya University (MKU) in Kenya. The partnership was established to strengthen academic collaboration, foster knowledge exchange, and build long-term institutional links between the two universities. Read more about the partnership here.

Build on this partnership, in 2023, the SGAO research project was founded. Led by Hochschule Koblenz, AG‑Career Hub, Mount Kenya University, and other partners, the project develops sustainable pathways for Kenyan talent to enter the German healthcare sector and provides professional guidance and integration support in collaboration with Kenyan professionals in the Diaspora in Germany.

The program currently focuses on healthcare but plans to extend into other sectors in Germany, providing broader career opportunities for Kenyan youth who have already acquired German language skills in high school and are eager to grow their professional careers. Since the programme began, 81 Kenyan apprentices have successfully been placed in Germany, where they are currently doing their nursing training. See success stories below.

Requirements

To apply, you must:

Be a Kenyan cititzen
Hold a German language certificate at B2 level not older than one year from a licensed examination body
Hold a Kenyan High School Certificate (KCSE) with a minimum grade of C.
Be between 20 and 29 years old.
Demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing a career in nursing.

How to apply

The application portal usually opens in January and July each year, although application dates may change. The application portal and updated application dates will be announced on this website and through our partner organizations. Eligible candidates are invited to submit their applications during the announced application period. The application portal is currently closed. It will reopen in January 2027 for the 8th intake.

Please note: The application portal may close before the stated deadline if a sufficient number of applications has been received. We therefore encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as early as possible.

>>Application Portal currently not open for applications

Next Steps: Aptitude Assessment & Interview

After the application portal has closed, applicants who meet the requirements above will be invited to complete an aptitude test in both English and German. The English section assesses cognitive abilities, cultural adaptability, and interest in the nursing profession, while the German section evaluates language proficiency.

Based on the aptitude test results, shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Candidates who successfully pass both the aptitude test and the interview will be considered for enrollment into the programme and will start with the preparation course at our partner, the Mount Kenya University.

Please note that enrollment is subject to the availability of training slots provided by our partner institutions and employers.

Enrollment into the Pre-departure Programme

What happens after enrollment in the preparation course at MKU? After enrollment, participants will join a pre-departure preparation programme before relocating to Germany. The period from enrollment until the start of their nursing training in Germany takes approximately six months.

The pre-departure programme combines in-person and virtual classes delivered by Mount Kenya University's Thika Campus, Hochschule Koblenz, and AG-Career. The programme includes:

Technical German language training, including medical terminology and workplace communication
Basic nursing skills training
Intercultural preparation for living and working in Germany

During this period, participants will also receive support with the visa application process and the preparation of all required travel documents.

Nursing Apprenticeship in Germany

The nursing apprenticeship lasts three years and combines classroom instruction with practical training in hospitals and healthcare facilities across Germany. During the apprenticeship, participants will:

Receive a monthly training salary
Gain practical experience in different nursing departments
Be employed by one of our partner healthcare facilities
Receive ongoing support from our German and Kenyan partners throughout their integration and training

Arrival and number of current cohorts

The first cohort of Kenyan apprentices arrived in Germany in April 2024 and began their training.

To date, the programme is working with seven partner hospitals in Germany. For more insights from the first upto latest cohorts, click on the links below:

Nursing Ausbildung in Germany – SGAO Programme