Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Program
A Fully-Funded U.S. Department of State Scholarship Program
Jointly funded by the German Bundestag and the U.S. Congress, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is a full scholarship exchange program that offers young Americans the opportunity to live with a German host family and attend high school in Germany for a year. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by CIEE.
CBYX aims to foster cultural understanding and diplomacy while also promoting the German and English languages. Participants are also encouraged to learn about the political systems of their host country.
Become fluent in German, learn about another culture, and expand your horizons.
Eligibility
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be born between February 1, 2006- August 1, 2009
Please note that German language proficiency is not a requirement.
Important Dates
Deadline to Apply
November 1, 2023 (11:59 p.m. Pacific Time)
Semi-finalists Notified By
December 30, 2023
Semi-finalist Interviews*
January-February 2024
Finalists Announced By
Early-to-mid March
Pre-departure Orientation (Washington DC)
August 8-10, 2024
Language and Cultural Immersion Camp (Germany)
4 weeks: August 11 - September 8, 2024
Program End Date
Anticipated June 19, 2025
*Interviews will be conducted in-person in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Washington DC
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to the frequently asked questions and participants stories below, please read the CBYX Quick Fact Sheet (also available in Spanish). Here you fill find information on scholarship inclusions, program duration, application instructions, and more.
Apply
The application is due on November 1, 2023.
Read our Participant Blogs
Notions About Exhaustion
When people talk about their exchange year they mention one icebreaker (a funny story of them being wrong or messing up), one instance of how they changed, and about a... keep reading
To Switch or Not to Switch: An (Unofficial) Guide to Solving Host Family Problems
Host family troubles. While being the most feared part of one’s exchange year, it is unfortunately inevitable. Many hours of language camp consists of learning how to communicate, but it... keep reading
Mid-Year in Köln
Introduction In the CBYX program there are certain events we are expected to participate through throughout the year, those of which being; D.C. orientation, a month at language camp, a... keep reading