Most German student exchange programs are set up for students to immerse themselves in the culture for a few weeks or maybe a month, but very few offer the opportunity to stay for an entire year. That is exactly what the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) offers to about 250 high school students, ages 15-18, every year.
The CBYX program is geared towards students interested in government and politics, and provides one of a kind access to government officials from both countries. It was originally founded back in 1983 by the United States Congress and the German Bundestag in commemoration of 300 years of the first German settlement in America. It is a fully funded scholarship program, and when you take into consideration that the program lasts 12 months, that is a great deal!
Participants are placed with a carefully selected host family and are enrolled into the local high school. If you are not fluent in the German language before you begin, you will be by the time the year is up. Students will receive language lessons upon their arrival and will of course pick up so much of it as they immerse themselves in the daily culture that Germany has to offer.
Applications must be completed between December and February depending on your state, and the chosen students are announced in March and April. There are not too many requirements, other than having at least a 3.0 or higher GPA and basic communication skills, so if you are interested, you can find out all of the details in the source link below.
Source: Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
