Congress-Bundestag Youth ExchangeCBYX

CBYX at a Glance

Host

Jointly funded by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the German Bundestag; the high school program is run regionally by AFS-USA, CIEE and YFU-USA, with AFS-USA covering California

Field

German language and cultural immersion; exchange year

Grades and age

Aged 15 to 18½ on August 1 of the departure year (born February 1, 2009 to August 1, 2012 for 2027–28); a current high school student with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. No German is required

Citizenship and residency

US citizens only, and applicants must meet the State Department's eligibility policy for outbound youth programs: the programs are designed for students who have not lived abroad for six months or longer in the last five years, and past academic year exchange participants are not eligible.

Cost

The scholarship covers round-trip travel between the US gateway city and the host community, room and board with a host family, about a month of language training on arrival, tuition and materials, and travel, lodging and meals for required program activities; a modest monthly stipend has been added since 2025–26. Travel to and from the US departure city, the German residence permit or visa, medical exams and passports are not covered; limited extra support is available to selected students with financial need.

Dates and format

A full academic year living with a host family and attending a local German high school, with most classes taught in German. Students usually leave between July and September and return in June or July of the following year. This is a school-year program, not a summer program.

Application dates

Applications for 2027–28 are open; the extended deadline is 11:59 pm Pacific on November 3, 2026. Selection runs January to April, and announcements come March to May.

Application materials

Choose your state on the official site and apply online through the regional implementing organization (AFS-USA for California). Strong candidates show qualities needed to adjust to another culture, strong written and oral communication, academic merit and the ability to represent the US; the official pages we read do not list specific documents.

Size and selectivity

The 2027–28 announcement says 210 high school scholarships are available; the FAQ refers to 250 American CBYX high school students in Germany. The two pages differ, so check the implementing organization's latest information. Application numbers and admission rates are not published.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · usagermanyscholarship.org

How to Apply to CBYX

• CBYX is a school-year program, so the student spends a full year at a German high school. Before applying, ask the school how credit will be handled; the program stresses that only the US school can decide.
• The 2027–28 deadline is November 3, 2026. California students apply through AFS-USA, so select your state on the official site early and follow that organization's steps.
• Reviewers look for adaptability, communication skills and academic merit, and no German is required. Use specific cross-cultural experiences and examples of handling difficulty to show adaptability.