Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) 2025/2026 and Beyond Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students – What is, Sponsored/Funded by, Purpose, Courses, Study Programs, Duration, Renewal Information, School/College/University, Category, Amount/Fees/Costs (Fully-funded or Partially-funded), Number of Awards, Benefits, Eligibility, Requirements, How to Apply, Selection Criteria, Application Date Opening and Closing, Deadline Extension, Website/Contact; Videos: 1 and Images: 1 – 4

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) 2025/2026 and Beyond Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students Videos: 1 and Images: 1 – 4

What is Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students?

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students is a cultural exchange scholarship program for motivated, high school US students and graduates in vocational fields, and young US professionals for an academic year home-stay program study in Germany to experience a culture and learn a language through a full immersion experience. “The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) is a reciprocal, fully-funded scholarship jointly supported by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag to strengthen ties between young people in the United States and Germany.” — U.S. Department of State

100% Fully-funded Cultural Exchange Program Scholarships 2024/2025 for International Students

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) offers two fully-funded exchange tracks to Germany: one for High School Students (Ages 15-18.5) and another for Post-secondary Young Professionals (Ages 18.5-24). Both programs offer an immersive year, host family living, and study abroad with the full support of the U.S. and German governments. Images: 1

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) 2025/2026 and Beyond Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students – What is, Sponsored/Funded by, Purpose, Courses, Study Programs, Duration, Renewal Information, School/College/University, Category, Amount/Fees/Costs (Fully-funded or Partially-funded), Number of Awards, Benefits, Eligibility, Requirements, How to Apply, Selection Criteria, Application Date Opening and Closing, Deadline Extension, Website/Contact; Videos: 1 and Images: 1 – 4

Sponsored/Funded by:

CBYX is jointly funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag, and in the United States is overseen by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Established in 1983, the CBYX program enables American and German youth to live with host families, attend school, and gain firsthand experience of each other’s culture, thereby deepening mutual understanding.” — German Federal Foreign Office

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

Fully Funded Exchange: The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship is jointly funded and managed by the U.S. Department of State and the German government, offering high school and post-secondary US students an immersive year of study in Germany. No previous language experience is required to apply for CBYX 2025/2026 and beyond. Images: 2

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) is jointly funded and managed by the U.S. and German governments

Purpose:

Jointly funded and managed by the U.S. and German governments, the CBYX scholarship is for motivated high school students who want to fully immerse themselves in German culture by living with a host family and attending a local high school.

CBYX is for a high school and post-secondary program to gain new perspectives on global current affairs and German social, economic and political life, learn the German language through immersion in the culture at school and at home for a greater sense of independence, empowerment, and global citizenship and for friendships through a shared lifetime experience towards becoming a true member of another culture.

The program aims not only to expand your worldview, but also to improve understanding between the United States and Germany through exchange activities.

Courses/Fields/Disciplines

Programs and courses in vocational fields for high school students and high school graduates as well as an academic year home-stay program for young professionals. There are also post-secondary school programs

Study Programs

CBYX Vocational Program, CBYX Young Professionals Program and Post-Secondary CBYX Programs. “The CBYX Young Professionals program offers U.S. participants a year of intensive language study, academic or technical coursework, and professional internships designed to build cross-cultural competence and career readiness.” — Cultural Vistas

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

A proud photo of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) participants and sponsors, representing the highly successful fully-funded study abroad scholarship in Germany. The program provides opportunities for US high school and post-secondary students to immerse themselves in German culture. Images: 3

Duration

1 year

Renewal Information (Renewability)

Annual scholarships

School/College/University

High schools in Germany

Category

Study abroad United States (US) students.

Amount/Fee(s)/Fund(s)/Worth

Fully-funded. The scholarship covers costs to participate in program activities, including:

• Round-trip international transportation between the U.S. gateway city and your host community in Germany
• Medical benefits
• Lodging and meals provided by a volunteer host family
• Approximately one-month of language training upon arrival in Germany
• Tuition and academic materials, if required for your host school
• Costs associated with obtaining a German residence permit/visa (participants should follow implementing organization instructions and timelines for this process)
• In-country support
• Transportation (while in Germany), lodging, and meals for participation in required program activities, such as the mid-year seminar and program-wide end of year activities in Berlin and Washington, D.C.

“CBYX provides comprehensive funding that covers international airfare, host-family accommodation, insurance, language training, and program-related travel throughout Germany.” — CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange)

Awards:

The CBYX program provides 350 scholarships for high school students, high school graduates in vocational fields, and young professionals for an academic year home-stay program. This comprises of 250 CBYX scholarships offered to high school students and scholarship offers for two post-secondary programs

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

Ready to study abroad! Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) participants show their German pride with flags, preparing for their fully funded academic year in Germany. Find out how US high school and post-secondary students can apply for the CBYX 2025/2026 scholarship to join the exchange. Images: 4

Number of Awards:

350 scholarships 

Benefits

As a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) high school program participant, the exchange year benefits will include:

• Placement with a carefully selected German host family
• Admission to a German high school
• Pre-departure training in the United States and orientation programs in Germany
• Language lessons upon arrival in Germany
• Cultural excursions to the German Bundestag and select German cities
• Meetings with U.S. and German government officials

While the participants will be responsible for some costs, including transportation to and from the U.S. city of international departure/return, money for personal upkeep, cost of required medical examinations and immunizations and costs for management of pre-existing medical conditions (such as medications) and costs associated with obtaining a U.S. passport in a timely manner, additional financial support for these expenses is available for individuals who demonstrate financial need and can be applied for after an individual is informed of their selection for the program.

Other scholarship benefits:

Gain a college advantage: This includes stand out college application, receiving college admissions counseling. CBYX also offers its alumni even greater recognition than other comparable programs. CBYX high school program alumni have a leg up in life

Access a vast alumni and professional network: Alumni of the CBYX high school program enjoy a lifetime of benefits. Upon completion of the program, alumni are admitted to the U.S. Department of State’s alumni community as well as the CBYX Alumni Association. Access to these networks connects alumni with other alumni who are leaders in their fields and with internships, opportunities for additional language study, fellowships abroad, independent grant opportunities and more.

Develop lifelong leadership skills: Engagement in CBYX workshops designed to strengthen your adaptability and develop your personal leadership skills and join intensive orientation activities to learn about the merits of youth ambassadorship and citizen diplomacy, and to be introduced to German customs and essential language skills.

Unique experiences: CBYX high school program participants will have the opportunity to meet with U.S. Department of State representatives and members of the German Bundestag and have an interactive session.

Eligibility

CBYX is committed to representing the vast diversity of the United States. All U.S. citizens regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity are eligible to apply.

You should be flexible, curious, open-minded, and have a sense of humour.

Requirements

CBYX Young Professionals Program

Designed for American high school graduates in all career fields, aged 18½-24.

CBYX Vocational Program

This component provides scholarships to graduating American secondary school seniors (aged 18-19 on August 1 of the program start year) with a vocational interest and/or specialization for a one-year professional study and training experience in their fields of interest in Germany.

Post-Secondary CBYX Programs

The scholarship offers for two post-secondary programs – Young Professional and Vocational Programs

Other Requirements

Strong candidates for this competitive, merit-based scholarship should demonstrate:

• Evidence of the qualities essential for adjustment to another culture, such as flexibility, curiosity, open-mindedness, sense of humor, and adaptability to cultural nuances
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Motivation for a cross-cultural experience, including a tolerance for adversity
• Ability to represent the U.S. with distinction
• Academic merit

No previous language experience is required.

How to Apply (Application Process):

Easy Steps:

Click here to apply

Selection Criteria

To be considered for the 2024-25 CBYX scholarship for high school for selection, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• Aged 15 to 18 ½ on August 1 of the program departure year (February 1, 2006 – August 1, 2009)
• A current high school student at the time of application, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Interested in learning the German language (no German language study/knowledge is required to apply)
• Comply with U.S. Department of State eligibility policy for American Outbound Youth Programs (click here to view that policy)

Application Date Opening/Application Date Closing (Deadline)/Application Selection Dates and Deadlines:

• Fall: Application becomes available online
• November: Applications are due
• January – April: Selection processes
• March – May: Selection announcements
• April/May – International Departure: Pre-departure preparations
• July – September: Group international departures for Germany
• June – July (Year Following): Group international return from Germany and program conclusion activities

The application for the 2024-25 program is currently closed. The eligibility for the 2025-26 program will be updated when the application becomes available

Deadline Extension:

Not stated

Website/Contact Information

Find more CBYX Scholarship information

Cultural Vistas
233 Broadway 21st Floor
New York, NY 20279
Telephone: 212-497-3572 for CBYX Young Professionals Program

Nacel Open Door, Inc.
101 5th Street East, Suite 1900
Saint Paul, MN 55101
Telephone: 800-622-3553 for CBYX Vocational Program

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) 2025/2026 and Beyond Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students – What is, Sponsored/Funded by, Purpose, Courses, Study Programs, Duration, Renewal Information, School/College/University, Category, Amount/Fees/Costs (Fully-funded or Partially-funded), Number of Awards, Benefits, Eligibility, Requirements, How to Apply, Selection Criteria, Application Date Opening and Closing, Deadline Extension, Website/Contact; Videos: 1 and Images: 1 – 4

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) 2025/2026 and Beyond Scholarships in Germany for High and Post-secondary School US Students – What is, Sponsored/Funded by, Purpose, Courses, Study Programs, Duration, Renewal Information, School/College/University, Category, Amount/Fees/Costs (Fully-funded or Partially-funded), Number of Awards, Benefits, Eligibility, Requirements, How to Apply, Selection Criteria, Application Date Opening and Closing, Deadline Extension, Website/Contact; Videos: 1 and Images: 1 – 4

Disclaimer / Notes & Limitations

• While many CBYX program features are described as “fully funded,” some personal costs are generally not covered — e.g., routine personal spending, passport/visa fees, and travel to/from the U.S. departure city. CIEE+1

• Coverage may vary slightly depending on which administering organization (e.g., CIEE, Cultural Vistas, etc.) you apply through, and participants (or their families) may need to confirm whether certain costs are included.

• Academic credit transfer: While participants attend German schools or vocational institutions, the transfer of credits back to a U.S. high school or college is not guaranteed and remains the responsibility of the participant. CIEE+1

• As with many scholarships, selection is competitive and based on merit, motivation, and other criteria such as flexibility, maturity, cultural adaptability, etc.