Deadline: 1-Nov-22
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State, that annually provides 75 American and 75 German young professionals, between the ages of 18½–24, the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program.
Cultural Vistas has administered CBYX for Young Professionals for over 35 years. The German side of the program is administered by Cultural Vistas Europe.
Phases
- The program consists of three phases:
- Two months of intensive German language training: CBYX participants spend eight weeks studying German at the Carl Duisberg Centrum language school in one of three locations: Cologne, Radolfzell, or Saarbrücken. Participants are placed at the appropriate level, based on their German language abilities coming into the program and on their previous level of instruction, and they undergo intensive language training with other international students from around the world.
- One semester of classes in one’s academic or career field at a university, technical or professional school: Following completion of the language school phase, participants relocate to their permanent placement location for the remainder of the program. There, they will immerse themselves in German daily life and culture through studying and (later) interning in their career field. Between October and February, most participants study at a German university or Hochschule, gaining an understanding of the higher education system with regard to their career field.
- Three to five month internship in one’s career field: With the support of their regional program representative during the study phase, participants seek and apply to internship positions in the area of their permanent placement, and secure an internship that is ideally directly related to their career fields. Beginning in February or March, they complete an internship in a German-speaking work environment, ideally at a company or organization directly related to their career field.
- Internships and the companies in which participants complete them are as varied as the career fields represented by the group of 75 participants.
- CBYX for Young Professionals is especially suited to participants in business, engineering, technical, vocational, and agricultural fields, though applicants from all career fields who have some relevant experience in their field are encouraged to apply.
Benefits
- This funded fellowship opportunity annually covers basic living costs for all participants including:
- Round-trip international airfare from Washington, D.C. to Germany
- Language school costs for two months of intensive German language study
- Tuition costs for one semester of study
- Housing costs for host family, apartment, or dormitory during the pre-internship phases
- Note: program funding during the internship depends on earnings
- Monthly stipend to cover basic costs of living
- Program-related travel within Germany
- Health insurance in Germany
Eligibility Criteria
- CBYX is open to candidates in all career fields, and applicants from a broad range of backgrounds are selected for the program each year.
- U.S. citizenship
- Age 18½–24 on August 1st of program start year
- High school diploma
- Must exhibit clear career goals and relevant experience in their career field
- Experience can be in the form of work, internships, or volunteering
- Applicants should also have a strong interest in Germany and world affairs. Prior German language knowledge is not required, but is preferred.
- Participants are expected to act as “young ambassadors” of the United States in Germany, and to represent the diversity of the U.S. in factors including, but not limited to, career field, educational background, geographic location, disabilities, ethnicity, gender, race, religion and socio-economic status.
- Previous or Current State Department Exchange Participation or Employment
- Previous scholarship recipients of U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)-funded programs with a duration greater than eight weeks, including CBYX high school fellowships, are not eligible for this program.
- Current or recent employees (paid or unpaid), as well as their immediate family members, at the U.S. Department of State/U.S. Agency for International Development are not eligible.
For more information, visit https://culturalvistas.org/programs/abroad/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-young-professionals/