High School in Germany

School immersion in Germany – 14 -17 years – 2 months to 1 academic year

This programme is open to motivated students aged 14-17 with a good command of German (B1 level required) who wish to study from 2 months to 1 full academic year in a German secondary school, while sharing the life of a host family.

Why Germany?

Germany is one of the most powerful countries in the world. Over the last decades, the country has demonstrated an exceptional vitality on the economic, cultural and artistic scene.

It is also a country of great diversity that has been able to merge tradition and modernity with cultural creativity and business dynamism. Germany is constituted of 16 länder that enjoy a very large degree of autonomy. German is the most spoken language in Europe and boasts an official status in 6 countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

This programme places students in the following regions:

Bavaria (Augsburg and Nuremberg region)
Berlin (city of Berlin and surrounding areas)
Brandenburg (Potsdam region)
Hessen (Wiesbaden region)
North Rhine-Westphalia (Bonn & Cologne region)
Lower Saxony (Oldenburg region)
Rhineland-Palatinate (Montabaur and Koblenz region)

Students can choose their region of stay by mentioning 2 destinations in order of preference upon application, in the event that their first choice is not available.

Participants attend classes in a public German high school (Gymnasium, Realschule or Gesamtschule), usually in Grade 10 or 11.You will enrol in a school appropriate to your family’s place of residence, your academic achievement and your German ability. The schools are carefully selected to ensure the best possible study environment for exchange students.

A lot of subjects are on offer. Some of them are mandatory, others are elective. If you wish to attend particular a particular subject (Greek, Economics), please mention this on your application form. We will try our best to find a school that meets your academic needs.

German students have less lesson time than in other countries, but they only enjoy 6 weeks of holidays per year. Lessons last 45 minutes and usually take place from 8 am to 2 pm. Afternoons are free and students have the opportunity to take part in supervised workshops such as photography, programming, drama etc.

International students cannot take the final year exams (Abitur) which is a requirement to enter into German universities. They are, however, required to obtain high marks during evaluations.

German children attend primary school (Grundschule) for 4 years. Then, they are dispatched in the different secondary schools (Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule, Geamtschule), according to their abilities. Gymnasiums (8 to 9 years) prepare students for entry to university, education in Realschules (6 years) focuses on foreign languages, Economics or Social and Health Sciences, whereas Hauptschules (5 years) focus on vocational training. Gesamtschules combines all 3 types of education and is aimed at students who wish to avoid premature study guidance.

Hauptschule graduates can enrol in Realschules, just as Realschule graduates can enrol in Gymnasiums if they want to.

Students can replace several mandatory subjects by elective subjects according to their interests (foreign languages, natural sciences) in Grade 11.

Despite the fact that the ‘permanent conference for the different ministers of Education for each Bundesland’ has assured the harmonisation of school systems, the system can vary slightly from one Bundesland to another.

Your host family is the defining feature of your study abroad experience, helping you become fully accustomed to German culture and feel part of the local community.

Our partner organization’s volunteer host families are carefully screened and regularly inspected. Families take an active interest in choosing a student to host and sharing their homes, lives and culture with their guests.

The placements can be anywhere in Germany, depending on the host family’s region. Your stay may take place in an average sized town or even a small village. Wherever you are placed you will have the opportunity to experience the real German way of life with your host family.

Students have a single room with full-board.

The local coordinator is an experienced staff member who knows the host families and is in regular contact with the students and their host parents throughout the programme. They regularly organize meetings to ensure that your experience is going smoothly, both with your host family and at school. Your local coordinator is on hand to lend assistance in case of any issues and should be your first point of contact on the ground.

Our partner organization’s local coordinator are all experienced and fully qualified to assist international students on the ground, offering support and assistance quickly and efficiently should issues arise.

An emergency number will be given to you, to use in case of emergency.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

Be between the ages of 14 and 17 at time of departure
Have a good level of German (at least two years of study or B1 level). A good level of English is also required.
Demonstrate good school results for the past two years
Have the willingness to make new friends and share in the daily life of a host family
Able to prove that you have an interest in learning about other cultures and languages, that you are motivated, mature, and able to adapt.

Do you fit the criteria for participation? Think this high school abroad programme is for you?

Send us a registration form as soon as possible.
You will then receive a pre-confirmation form and an application form to be completed. We will invite you to pay €100 in order to take a proficiency test and to provide us with your school results for the past 3 years. The interview fee is non-refundable and is deductible from the final cost if enrolment is confirmed.
We will then invite you to come to our office in Brussels or Paris for the full interview. You must come to our office with the first part of the application form filled in.
If the interview is successful, we will ask you to pay a deposit (25% of the total amount, minimum €1,500) and to send us the relevant documents completed. This includes recommendation letters from your teachers, an introduction letter for your host family (in German), your medical history and other information needed to process your booking. As soon as we receive all the documents and the deposit, we will send the application file to our partner.
The final decision belongs to our partner
Once your application is confirmed, our partner will start to look for a host family and a school.

The deadline for submitting the your application file is:

15th of May for programmes starting in August
15th of November for programmes starting in January

Please note: Late applications are treated on a case by case basis and are subject to supplementary late fees.

The pre-enrolment applications must be completed and sent to our offices in Brussels or Paris at least 15 days before the deadline.

Candidates who do not meet the age or level requirements are invited to discuss other possible options with us.

Arrival: Saturday or Sunday before the start of the course

Departure: Saturday or Sunday following the end of the course.

Airport/station of arrival: depending on your host region. The arrival airport or station will be communicated to you at the time of placement.

Duration & Visa Information

EU citizens do not require a visa for this programme.

Students from non-EU countries will need a long-stay visa to cover the duration of your stay. Please contact the Embassy of Germany of your country for all information that you need.

All fees incurred during the visa acquisition process are at student’s expenses.

Dates & Prices 2021-2022

Dates 2021-2022

Holiday periods vary depending from one Bundesland to another.

Academic year: August/September to June/July

1 semester (between 20 & 27 weeks) : August/September to January/February; January/February to June/July

1 term (12 weeks) : August/September to November/December; November to January/February; January/February to April/May; April/May – June/July

Prices 2021-2022

Includes all taxes and registration fees

Tuition, room and board
Duration	Price
2 months	3395
3 months	4495
4 months	5495
5 months	6395
6 months	7395
1 academic year	10995
Supplements
Airport transfer (optional)	By request

Prices include:

English test and interview prior to placement
Enrolment and placement in a local school for the selected period
Homestay accommodation, full board
Support and assistance from your local coordinator (at least one meeting per month is organised)
Regular progress reports
Official certificate of completion at the end of your stay
School reports
Compulsory health insurance
Round-trip journey from the airport/train station closest to the family

Prices do not include: