Our Scholarship Experience

• Eligible if in Year 11 or Year 12 in Victoria and studying German (VCE, IB, VSL or equivalent)

• Fully-paid return airfares and subsidised camps

• Non-reciprocal exchange option - stand-alone travel experience

• Choosing to host automatically shortlists for interview stage

Each year, SAGSE offers approximately 20 scholarships to Victorian, and WA German-studying students in Year 11 and Year 12 to live and study in Germany for 10 weeks over the summer break. (Historically, scholarships have also been offered to students in NSW, ACT QLD, SA and NZ) Scholarship recipients receive fully-paid return airfares to their destination in Germany, and do not pay board to their host families. They attend a German school, and live with a scholarship-winning German host family. Although hosting an exchange student is a highly rewarding experience that we highly recommend, students are not required to participate in our hosting program to be able to apply for the scholarship (excluding WA).

During their stay, students attend a camp run by GASS Germany, have a week of independent free travel around the country, and conclude their exchange with a group trip to Berlin, which includes a reception at either the Australian Embassy. Students will require their own spending money whilst in Germany, as well as mandatory expenses for the subsidised GASS Germany Wintercamp (approx. $150) and Health and Travel Insurance (approx. $250).

The scholarship is awarded by each state's branch of SAGSE after a selection process. After initial applications are sought, students are then short-listed for interview by the selection panel. From this group the scholarship recipients are then chosen. To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in Year 11 or 12 level German Studies. Students are ineligible to apply if they have citizenship for a German speaking country. Although academic achievement and ability in German are important, a far greater emphasis is placed on communication skills, general knowledge of Australia and Germany's histories, cultures and current affairs, adaptability, maturity, initiative, and the ability to act as an ambassador for Australia.

Applicants who host a German student are significantly advantaged in the selection process, automatically advancing them to the final interview stage of selection. Click here for more information about hosting a German student.

More specific information and exact selection criteria are available on the SAGSE website.