Study Abroad in Germany

Laying in central Europe, Germany is one of the largest European countries as well as one of the wealthiest in the world. The population of around 80 million people inhabits a territory extending approximately 357,000 square kilometers.

From the flat, fertile plains of the north to the snow-capped peaks of the Bavarian Alps, the German landscape is extremely varied. One of the country’s most famous and picturesque regions is the Black Forest in the southwest, which gets its name from the dark coniferous trees. Germany has many canals and rivers, which are vitally important for transporting cargo. Berlin is the capital city.

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*Video courtesy of Destination Germany

Program Details

  • Must be between the ages of 14 and 18
  • No prior German language required
  • Placed with volunteer host family
  • Optional Soft Landing Camp
  • Optional 2 week language and orientation camp
  • Optional sports guarantee

Dates

  • Academic Year: Sept– June
  • Fall Semester: Sept– Jan
    Soft Landing Camp: Not available due to the pandemic
  • Spring Semester: Jan – June
  • 3 month Fall program: Sept –Dec
    Soft Landing Camp: Not available due to the pandemic
  • 3 month Spring program: Jan– April
  • 2 month Fall program: Sept – Nov
    Soft Landing Camp: Not available due to the pandemic
  • 2 month Spring program: Jan – March
  • Fall Application Deadline: April 1st
  • Spring Application Deadline: October 1st

Program Costs

  • Academic Year – $7,500
  • Semester – $7,300
  • 3 months – $4,500
  • 2 months – $4,300

Required International Health/Liability Insurance:

  • Academic Year – $780
  • Semester – $390
  • 3 months – $230
  • 2 months – $155

$1700 deposit due with application

Optional additions:
– Soft Landing Camp in Mannheim – $560
– Metro Guarantee– N/A
– Regional Guarantee– $615
– Sports Guarantee– $280

**Prices are subject to change**

Program Includes

Public high school acceptance

Volunteer host family placement

Visa support documents

Pre-departure orientation

Local orientation upon arrival if not attending language course

Monitoring and supervision by local partner while in Germany

24-hour emergency support

Program Does Not Include

International airfare

Domestic transportation to host family and within Germany

School textbooks and lunches

Extracurricular expenses for clubs, sports, etc.

Passport/visa/resident card fees

Personal spending money

High School System

Even though the system of secondary education differs depending on each federal state, the basic structure is the same. There are four types of secondary schools in Germany; Hauptschule, Realschule, Gesamtschule and Gymnasium.

Students are admitted into one of these schools depending on their performance at elementary school. Students who have attained a high academic standard are allowed to attend Gymnasium. Hauptschule and Realschule end after the 9th or 10th grade respectively, at which time most students apply to do an apprenticeship. Gesamstchule has lower entering requirements and merges the previously mentioned kinds of schools.

High school classes usually start at around 8am and end at 1pm, but some classes may be held in the afternoon. There are mandatory subjects such as: German, Math, History, Sciences, Sports and a second language up to the 10th and 11th grade. Vocational subjects vary from school to school but may include music, computer science, dance, and sports.