CBYX’s high school program is administered regionally by the well-established international exchange organizations listed below. All implementing organizations have long histories of experience in international education, as well as strong support networks in both the U.S. and Germany.

Your regional implementing organization is determined by your U.S. home state. Select your state on the Apply Today page for further details, including how to start an application.

You will depart in late summer (July, August or September) and return in June or July of the following year. Dates vary year-to-year, and according to your local organization; please see the How to Apply page for a sample timeline.

All high school participants will be assigned a locally-accredited high school, where most or all classes will be taught in German. You will be expected to attend classes, engage actively, and give your very best effort at academic achievement in your assigned class.

As the classes vary from one school and region to the next, it’s likely that participants won’t know which classes they’ll take until they arrive, and are not able to select preferred classes. Participants, including those recently graduated, may be enrolled in classes with local students one or two years younger than they are.

The CBYX high school 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
• A modest monthly stipend*
• 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.

Please see the About page for information about the scholarship, program components, and common costs.

*Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year program, a modest monthly stipend will be provided to cover personal items, additional transportation and/or other incidentals.

Participants will be responsible for some costs, including:

• Transportation to and from the U.S. city of international departure/return
• Funds for expenses beyond the provided monthly stipend (personal items, activities, etc.)
• Costs associated with obtaining a German residence permit/visa (participants should follow implementing organization instructions and timelines for this process)
• Required medical examinations and immunizations; costs for management of pre-existing medical conditions (such as medications)
• Costs associated with obtaining a U.S. passport in a timely manner

For individuals who demonstrate financial need, limited additional financial support is available for these expenses and can be applied for after an individual is informed of their selection for the program.

Please see the About page for information about the scholarship, program components, and common costs.

Upon arrival, you will be provided the name and contact details of a contact person available to you throughout your stay in Germany for assistance with any questions you may have. Program staff and volunteers both in the U.S. and Germany are available by phone or email to answer questions and provide support throughout the program. All U.S. and German program offices additionally provide 24/7 emergency hotlines.

Participants are enrolled in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive emergency notifications from the U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizen services are available to all participants, including emergency contact (U.S. Embassy Berlin emergency contact: 030 8305-0).

As the aim of the program is to provide an immersive experience, participants remain on the program for the duration of the program. You will not be permitted to return home for any reason, including for important events and activities, such as holidays, birthdays, graduations, family weddings, etc. Exceptions are only considered for family emergency situations, which are handled on a case-by-case basis together with your parent/guardian, implementing organization, and the U.S. Department of State.

We strongly encourage applicants to be in touch with their U.S. high school administration as soon as possible to discuss credit and to begin to plan accordingly. Our program implementers are not credit-granting institutions and only the U.S. institution where you seek credit can make credit determinations.

Participants should not expect that academic work performed during the program will transfer home. Many participants prefer to complete the courses required for graduation during the summer before departure or after their return from Germany. Some participants receive college credit for the German language skills acquired on the program.

All participants are discouraged from completing U.S.-based coursework while in Germany.

Scholarship selection announcements are typically made in March through May in the year of program departure. Please see the How to Apply page for a sample timeline.

See the “who administers the CBYX high school program” question within this FAQ for the contact details of the program’s implementer in your home state.
Learn more about Germany, U.S. and German relations, and stay up to date with the following additional resources.

• CBYX on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
• U.S. Department of State: Country and Area Information Website
• U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Germany: U.S. & Germany Policy and History Website
• Facts about Germany: Website
• Deutsche Welle (DW) News: Website, Facebook, Instagram
• deutschland.de Germany Portal: Website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Yes! The CBYX program is a reciprocal exchange; in addition to the 250 American CBYX high school students studying in Germany, a similar number of German students also come to the U.S. to live with volunteer host families and attend high school!

As a reciprocal exchange program, CBYX encourages the sharing of cultures and development of international friendships. While hosting a German exchange student is absolutely not a prerequisite for program participation, we encourage your family to consider this rewarding international opportunity. German students come with their own spending money and medical insurance. Volunteer host families provide them with a place to sleep, a place to study, meals, and support and encouragement throughout their year in the U.S.

Please visit the website of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to learn more!