Please read all the information provided on this website carefully. You’ll find the link to the online application portal below.
Candidates who apply from 1st October until 15th November 2023 to do an internship starting in summer 2024 will be informed whether they are invited to an interview or not one week prior to the scheduled interviews in the respective country. Please find more information about the interview schedule below.
Serbia: 27th November – 1st December 2023
Croatia: 11th – 12th December 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 13th – 15th December 2023
Kosovo: 15th – 18th January 2024
North Macedonia: 22nd – 24th January 2024
Albania: 5th – 7th February 2024
Montenegro: 8th – 9th February 2024
Applying for the Internship Programme of German Business
Join our Internship Programme of German Business for the Countries of the Western Balkans and become a scholarship holder of our generation 2024. Apply for a paid three to six months internship in a German company in Germany starting 1st July 2024.
The call for application will be open 1st October until 15th November 2023.
Doing an internship in Germany will change your life:
- You will close the gap between your academic knowledge and the implementation of it on the labour market
- You will find out in which direction you would (not) like to go regarding your further professional career.
- You will increase your soft skills while living and working in Germany.
- You will be able to dive into the experience of living on your own and be responsible for all aspects of everyday life yourself.
- You will find friends for life!
By joining our Internship Programme of German Business, you will become one of the 65 scholarship holders from the Countries of the Western Balkans and Croatia who you will meet during the introductory week prior to the beginning of your internships. You will receive organisational and administrative support. Additionally, most of the costs prior and during your stay in Germany will also be covered.
This Programme will not end with your last day of internship. Upon your return to your home country, you will be integrated into a very lively regional alumni network which regularly offers a variety of further trainings to keep up to date with current economic developments and labour market needs of your home.
Are you interested? Do you need any further information? Check out the steps on how to apply and the information provided below. Feel free to come back to the project team with additional questions.
Who Can Apply?
- You are eligible to apply, if:
- You are either an undergraduate student (bachelor) and are enrolled at least in your 5th semester or higher when applying, or a Master or PhD student.
- You are a young graduate who has graduated in 2023.
- Your field of studies has a focus on economics, business administration, various fields of engineering such as electrical engineering, software engineering or chemical engineering, agriculture and food-industry, architecture or journalism. Check out the details on the right side.
- You are not older than 28 years at the time of application
- You have a good command of the English language. Knowing German is always an asset.
- Knowing German language is a precondition for an internship in the fields of architecture, auditing, or commercial law (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
- You are from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia and study or have completed your studies in one of these countries.
- You are not eligible to apply, if:
- You are from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro or Serbia, but are enrolled as a regular student at universities outside these countries.
- You already completed BA or MA more than 1 year ago.
- You completed your studies outside the region.
- You study in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia as a foreign student, but are originally from another country.
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing and Sales
- Human Resources, Business Psychology
- Consulting
- Commercial Law (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
- Finance
- Banking
- Insurance
- Financial Mathematics
- Auditing (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
- (no: Accounting)
- Power engineering
- Control engineering
- Electronic engineering
- Microelectronics
- Signal processing
- Telecommunications engineering
- Network Engineering
- Software engineering
- Artificial intelligence
- Databases
- Data Security
- Big Data
- Business Informatics
- Manufacturing
- Thermal Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Mechanics
- Design and Modelling
- Industrial Engineering
- Logistics
- Quality Management
- Process Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Food Technology
- Biotechnology
- (Applied) Biology
- (Applied) Chemistry
- Climate and Environmental Technology
- Civil Engineering
- Geodesy
- Architecture (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
- Journalism
- Political Science (interest in journalism)
- German Studies (experience in journalism)
- Wine and Fruit growing
- Agricultural economics
Benefits
The Programme provides comprehensive support and guidance in all organisational steps before and during the stay in Germany. Most of the costs during the preparation in your home country and your stay in Germany are covered by the Programme.
Organisational and administrative support
- The Programme supports you regarding:
- the entire process of application and internship time
- the communication with companies
- the search for accommodation, communication with landladies/ landlords, and the signing of rental contracts
- administrational procedures in Germany (health insurance, registrations, taxes)
- The Programme takes care of:
- the visa application process
- work permit
- travel arrangements to Germany and back home
- the mid-term meeting of your generation
- The Programme prepares you for your stay in Germany
exchange of experience with alumni and mentoring by alumni
preparatory meetings and team buildings in your home countries before leaving for Germany
introductory week (in Berlin and its surroundings: organisation, accommodation, travel arrangements). It will take place in the end of June 2024 and participation is obligatory for all scholarship holders
intercultural training during the introductory week
co-financing of a German language course during the internship
Financial assistance
- Finances:
- a monthly scholarship of 400 EUR is provided by the German government
- Companies either provide a sufficient paycheck for interns or take care of the costs of your accommodation and insurance
- Covered by the Programme:
- preparatory meetings in home countries
- flight ticket to Germany and back home
- introductory week in Berlin
- train tickets to the internship places
- mid-term meeting in Germany
- The visa is free of charge
- Participants cover:
- costs for the translation of documents
- travel expenses in home country to the interview, for the visa application, as well as to the airport and back home
Application Procedure
The application procedure consists of 4 phases. Please take your time to get fully acquainted with all phases of the application procedure before applying.
You apply:
-
- for participating in the Internship Programme of German Business generally
-
- for an internship in your respective field of study, not for specific positions or companies
After your successful application, you will be matched with companies which will participate in the respective year. Not every company participates every year. Candidates must not contact companies in advance. In order to get an overview which companies have been participation since 2003, you should study the list of companies very carefully and inform yourself about the desired industry in Germany.
You can only submit your application via our online application form. The application needs to be written in either English or German language entirely. Choose one language to set up your application. Prepare the following documents before filling in the online application. They are part of your application and need to be uploaded to the application platform.
Before you fill in the online application, you should prepare the following documents which you need to attach to your online application:
- Letter of motivation in English or German (as one PDF file)
The motivation letter is your most important document of application. It distinguishes you from other potential candidates. Make sure that your letter of motivation addresses the following five topics. Sign your letter at the end with a blue pen:- What is your motivation to apply for the Internship Programme of German Business?
- What is your working field (fields) of preference (e.g. marketing department in financial sector, research department in automotive sector) and what do you hope to learn during the internship? How will you use this internship opportunity to excel your professional development?
- What makes you a valuable asset to a company? Name and explain experience, skills and personal characteristics.
- How would you like to use your gained knowledge and contribute to our regional alumni network?
- How do you want to contribute to the development in your country in the near future?
- Curriculum vitae in English or German
Use the provided template and upload it as one PDF file: Download in Word.
Please note that only applications that use this template will be accepted. - Portrait photo
Provide a proper professional portrait photo of yourself (no selfie!) in a common graphics format (JPEG, PNG). - Scanned transcript of records
The transcript of records is the overview of the courses you have taken and marks you have achieved during your studies, issued by your faculty (as one PDF file)- Bachelor students: transcript of records of bachelor studies
- Master students: transcript of records of master studies AND transcript of records of bachelor studies
- PhD students: transcript of records of PhD studies AND transcript of records of master studies
If you just started your Master or PhD studies and can’t provide a transcript of records, please provide the most recent transcripts of records possible AND a confirmation of enrolment instead.
- English or German translation of transcript of records
The documents can be translated by yourself, not necessarily by an official translator. - Two recommendation letters from professors, supervisors or other relevant referees
One recommendation letter needs to be issued by a professor from university in the year of application. The other letters of recommendation by a second professor, a supervisor or another relevant stakeholder can be issued prior to that. Each letter of recommendation needs to have an official letter head and needs to be signed. Stamps are not necessary. - Optional: other scanned documents available, combined as one PDF file
E.g. language certificates for German or English, references, diplomas. You may upload the documents in one PDF. The document should not be zipped.
Before applying, please read all information provided on our website including the FAQs carefully and check if you are eligible to apply! Incomplete applications will not be considered!
The call for internships in 2023 is open from 1st October until 15th November (11:59 pm latest) 2023.
Learn more about the privacy policy when applying for the Internship Programme of German Business for the Countries of the Western Balkans.
All candidates will be informed about the outcome of the first selection round one week prior to the foreseen interview in the respective countries.
The interviews will only be conducted on certain days. They will take place in the capital of each country. All interviews shall take place physically. This also refers to potential candidates who might have an Erasmus semester abroad.
Slight changes might be possible! Invitations to the interviews will be sent one week prior to the start of the interviews.
Serbia: 27th November – 1st December 2023
Croatia: 11th – 12th December 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 13th – 15th December 2023
Kosovo: 15th – 18th January 2024
North Macedonia: 22nd – 24th January 2024
Albania: 5th – 7th February 2024
Montenegro: 8th – 9th February 2024
The selection committee consists of members of the project team, alumni of the Programme and representatives of the respective embassies, the GIZ, the bilateral Chambers of Commerce and some companies. The interviews last approximately 30 minutes and will be conducted either in English or German, depending on the language skills implicated in your application. Be prepared for that!
Candidates will be informed whether they are placed onto the shortlist or not latest by the end of February 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be matched to German companies. Most of the companies decide whom to invite to an interview based on the written application documents and the recommendation of the selection committee.
To be shortlisted is already a huge step but does not mean that a candidate is going to be granted an internship placement. Companies will make their decisions based on the application documents, interview results and their specific project requirements. Approximately 50 percent of the shortlisted candidates receive a scholarship and an internship placement.
The Programme will provide companies with profiles of shortlisted candidates in the beginning of March 2024. The decision-making process within the companies can last until the end of May 2024.
In May and June 2024, the scholarship holders will be prepared for the internships and their stay in Germany within their respective countries of origin. The Programme handles most of the logistical and administrative tasks.
All scholarship holders attend the introductory week in Berlin and its surroundings which will take place in the end of June 2024. Participation in the introductory week is obligatory for all scholarship holders. After the introductory week, you travel to your final destination in Germany and start your internship on 1st July 2024. There shall be no exception to this rule.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, young graduates who graduated after 1st January 2023 are eligible to apply.
Applicants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia who study or have completed their studies in one of these countries are eligible to apply.
Only students and young graduates from one of the above mentioned countries are eligible to apply.
You are not eligible to apply, if you are enrolled as a regular student and intend to complete your entire studies in a country outside the region. The same applies to candidates who have graduated outside the region. If you work outside the region, you are also not eligible to apply for the Programme.
Yes, you are eligible to apply, if you are enrolled as a regular student in one of the countries of the region and spend one or two semesters as an exchange student outside the region.
Yes, you are eligible to apply.
No, only students or graduates with their first work experience from the following fields can apply:
Business Administration, Economics and Law
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing and Sales
- Human Resources, Business Psychology
- Consulting
- Commercial Law (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
Finance
- Finance
- Banking
- Insurance
- Financial Mathematics
- Auditing (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
- (no: Accounting)
Electrical Engineering
- Power engineering
- Control engineering
- Electronic engineering
- Microelectronics
- Signal processing
- Telecommunications engineering
Computer Science and Business Informatics
- Network Engineering
- Software engineering
- Artificial intelligence
- Databases
- Data Security
- Big Data
- Business Informatics
Mechanical Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Thermal Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Mechanics
- Design and Modelling
Industrial Engineering and Logistics
- Industrial Engineering
- Logistics
- Quality Management
Technology, Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Process Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Food Technology
- Biotechnology
- (Applied) Biology
- (Applied) Chemistry
- Climate and Environmental Technology
Civil Engineering and Architecture
- Civil Engineering
- Geodesy
- Architecture (minimum required knowledge of German language: B2)
Journalism
- Journalism
- Political Science (experiences in journalism)
- German Studies (experiences in journalism)
Agriculture
- Wine and Fruit growing
- Agricultural economics
Yes, students and graduates from universities/colleges of applied science (polytechnic) who meet the other requirements are also eligible to apply.
The transcript of records is an overview of the courses you took as well as the grades. This document is issued by your faculty. The translation into English or German can be your own and does not need to be certified or an official translation. Only if you are shortlisted, you will have to send us the official translation.
The applicant must have a very good knowledge of English. German is an advantage, but not a precondition. Candidates who apply for internships in commercial law, auditing or architecture must have a good knowledge of German (minimum of language knowledge is B2), too.
Letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, a portrait photo, transcript of records (original and translation), as well as two letters of recommendation. Other documents are optional. Applications are only to be submitted online via the homepage www.stipendienprogramm.org and the provided link to the online application.
The letter of motivation is one of the main criteria which distinguish you from other candidates. Therefore, make sure that your letter of motivation addresses the following topics:
- What is your motivation to apply for the Internship Programme of German Business?
- What is your working field (fields) of preference (e.g. marketing department in financial sector, research department in automotive sector) and what do you hope to learn during the internship? How will you use this internship opportunity to excel your professional development?
- What makes you a valuable asset to a company? Name and explain experience, skills and personal characteristics.
- How would you like to use your gained knowledge and contribute to our regional alumni network?
- How do you want to contribute to the development in your country in the near future?
Following a successful online application, interviews will be held. Should this also prove to be successful, the candidate is placed on the shortlist. Afterwards, the final decision is made by the companies.
One week before the interviews in the respective country the candidates receive either an invitation to an interview or a rejection. The interviews are held in the capital cities of the respective countries. Only in case traveling is not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews might be online.
To be shortlisted does not mean that a candidate is going to be granted an internship placement. Companies will choose candidates from the shortlist according to their requirements and internship specifications. Usually, half of the shortlisted candidates receive a scholarship and an internship placement.
All participants receive a monthly scholarship which is sufficient to cover the costs of living. Furthermore, the companies cover the cost of accommodation and health insurance for the interns or pay a monthly pay check. The Programme covers the costs of the flight tickets to Germany, the costs of a German language course of up to 200 EUR, the costs during the introductory week in Berlin and its surroundings and other gatherings organised by the Programme.
Not covered are costs for the translation of application documents, the travel costs to the interviews as well as travel costs for applying for visa.
No, the Programme does not organise a language course. Scholarship holders are free to find an appropriate German language course in their internship cities. The Programme will cover the costs up to 200 EUR.
The Programme starts with the introductory week in Berlin in the end of June. Participation in it is mandatory for all scholarship holders. The internships start on 3rd July 2023 and last between 3 to 6 months, depending on the demands of the companies.