For most young adults, living in another country sounds like a dream. An impossible, expensive dream. But, it doesn’t have to be. If you’re interested in finding a program that would allow you to live, study, and work abroad without having to pay thousands of dollars, here is some information on the CBYX program and why it may be the right one for you.
What is the CBYX program?
According to their website, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange is a cultural exchange program offered by both the United States and German governments. This program offers three groups of individuals — high schoolers, gap year seekers, and young professionals — an opportunity to live, study, and/or work abroad.
The mission of this program is to foster and strengthen relationships between the United States and Germany through cultural immersion, language learning, and citizen diplomacy.
According to various websites, this is one of the most competitive programs one can apply for. Its overall acceptance rate is listed as being less than one percent.
What is the CBYX Young Professionals program?
Geared towards young adults who are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals is a year-long exchange that allows for participants to experience academic studies, professional internships, and cultural immersion within the country of Germany.
The program itself is split into three phases:
1. Language Learning:
Eight weeks are spent studying German at one of the three Carl Duisberg Centrum Language Schools.
This phase of the program is meant to rapidly improve the participants’ speaking, writing, and listening skills to allow for almost complete language immersion during the remainder of the program.
2. Studying:
Twelve weeks, roughly one semester, are spent attending classes at a preselected German university or trade school.
During this phase, participants are also expected to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours. This allows them to contribute to German society while also fostering both personal and professional relationships.
3. Interning:
Sixteen weeks, or the remainder of the program, are spent interning at a German company.
Prior to this phase of the program, participants work with their regional program representatives to seek out and apply for internships. While it is typically encouraged for the participants to find an internship in their desired career field, any type of internship is accepted.
Splitting the program into these three phases allows for participants to experience as authentic of a German experience as possible. It also allows for the fostering of international relations along with both a deeper understanding and appreciation for other cultures.
How much does the program cost?
All three of the CBYX programs, including CBYX Young Professionals, are completely free. Technically.
Round-trip airfare from Washington, D.C. to Germany, monthly stipends for groceries, basic health insurance, program related travel, and housing costs are all considered basic living expenses and they are all completely covered by the program.
There are a couple of things that the program doesn’t cover and encourages participants to save up for: airfare or travel expenses to/from Washington, D.C., health insurance for any preexisting conditions, personal travel/souvenirs, and even some housing costs should you wind up securing a paid internship.
That being said, there have been past participants who went through the program without any type of previous savings and/or who were permitted to work mini jobs (though this isn’t encouraged).
Who is eligible to apply?
Compared to most other study and work abroad programs, there isn’t a lot of eligibility criteria that potential participants must meet. The general guidelines are:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be between eighteen and twenty-four by August first of the program start year
- Be a high school graduate (with a diploma)
- Be interested in Germany
- Be someone who has at least an idea of what they would like to do career wise
The CBYX program prides themselves on the fact that they like to select their participants from as many different backgrounds as possible. They actively seek out those with different cultures, states, family incomes, and desired career fields.
How can I apply? And what do I need?
To begin the process of applying for CBYX for Young Professionals, you can head to the following website: https://culturalvistas.org/our-programs/internships-fellowships/congress-bundestag-youth-exchange-for-young-professionals-cbyx. Applications for the following program year open in July and close in November.
Before applying, make sure that you have an updated resume, a transcript that shows your four most recent semesters of study (if you’re not currently in college or haven’t completed your first year, you can also send in your high school transcript), a passport or birth certificate, a high school diploma or some other proof of graduation, and a letter of recommendation.
Depending on the CBYX program that you’re applying for, you may need to submit different materials. If you’re looking to apply for the high school program, you can head here to find out more about what you need. And if you want to know more about my own experience applying, you can head here.
Anything else?
To help you decide whether this exchange program is the right one for you, here are some other things to consider and keep in mind:
You don’t need to know German before applying or the start of the program. In fact, most of the participants selected have had no prior experience studying the German language. And whether you’re an absolute beginner or are nearly fluent, you will still spend two months attending a language learning school in Germany.
Unless there has been an emergency or a participant is being removed from the program, travel back to the united states is not allowed. But, they do allow travel across Germany and the rest of Europe. They typically ask that you notify them before leaving the country so they know where you are should anything happen.
Transferring credits from the German university you attend back to your current or future university is not encouraged. Should you decide to do this, the program typically cannot provide any help, and it will be up to you to reach out to the correct people in both schools.
Other than filling out a placement survey, most participants do not get a say in what city or town they will be placed in following their language learning program. they don’t even get a say in whether they’d like to live with a host family, in an apartment or dorm with others, or by themselves. Those who work the program try their best to put you in a place that they believe you will thrive and lines up with your preferences, but it isn’t always guaranteed. The only exception to this is if an internship is secured by May (three months before the program starts and almost an entire year before you even begin your internship). If this is the case, they will prioritize placing you in the city where your internship takes place.
While what I’ve written out is only a small portion of information about the CBYX program, I hope that it will all prove to be useful to you as you make a decision. I also encourage you to continue doing your own research. Read through the official program details on the website, reach out to past participants, peruse through online forums, and, of course, check out my other blog posts about the CBYX program.
All information gathered and shared came from the official program websites, program webinars, and previous participants.
