A Community College Initiative in Germany

CDS International partners with the LANDESSTIFTUNG Baden-Württemberg and the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) to offer the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM "Work Immersion Study Program" (WISP) exclusively to students at community colleges. WISP is a 3-month work/study immersion program in Germany that provides participants with the unique opportunity to gain practical work experience in their career field, improve their German language skills, and experience German culture firsthand. The program runs from June through August.

The program starts with a one-month language course at the Carl Duisberg Centrum, a language school located in Radolfzell, Germany. Participants then complete 2-month internships in a variety of business and technical fields with German host companies in the Baden-Württemberg region.

Generous financial support is provided by the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM, a LANDESSTIFTUNG Baden-Württemberg program. The Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM provides financial support for about 1,000 foreign students each year to study in Baden-Württemberg and to participate in programs such as WISP. By supporting students and young professionals participating in international exchanges, the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM hopes to foster international understanding. Please visit the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM to learn about the foundation at www.bw-stipendium.de.

The non-profit Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg is one of the largest foundations in Germany. It is the only significant foundation that – with an extraordinary diverse range of topics – continually, impartially and exclusively invests in the future of Baden-Württemberg and, in doing so, in the future of its citizens.

All interested community college students are qualified to apply to WISP as long as they meet the basic program requirements. We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity and apply today!

Responsibilities Of:

Participant:

• Submit an online application online by December 15, 2007. All supporting materials must be sent to CDS by the above date. All paper applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2007. Further information on the program and the application process can be found in the Program Overview.
• Pay the required $300 program fee upon acceptance to the program
• Pay a $100 deposit upon acceptance to the program. The deposit will be refunded to you by the end of the program if it did not have to be used (e.g. to cover damages in accommodation, unexpected travel, etc.)
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn/improve German skills
• Take part in all activities as required by the program
• Represent your home country in a responsible way
• Arrange and pay for travel to and from New York
• Write and send in a program report upon completion of the program
• Non-U.S. citizens have to take care of any visa required by the German government. Visa processing takes time! Contact your German consulate in March and ask specifically about visa requirements for an internship with an exemption from the work permit (Freistellung von der Arbeitsgenehmigung).

CDS and Partner Organization:

• pre-departure orientation mailing
• pre-departure orientation seminar in New York
• flight from New York to Germany/ Germany to New York
• one-month language course at the Carl Duisburg Centrum, Radolfzell in Germany, including accommodation
• two-month internship placement in your field with a German host company, supported by a stipend
• arrangement of housing in Germany
• work authorization
• health insurance
• assistance with bureaucratic matters
• evaluation seminar at the end of the program
• support throughout the program in Germany and in the US
  

Application


Thank you for your interest in WISP. To complete the application online, to download an application or request that one be sent to you, please click on the link below:

Apply to the program